LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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11 BEST THINGS TO DO IN HIMARE: WHERE TO EAT, SLEEP AND RELAX.

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Himare is an unassuming town on the Albanian Riviera. So unassuming that we nearly missed it when we spent the summer travelling around Albania. Thankfully, we didn’t, as it has so much to offer.

It is one of those beach towns that makes your holiday easy. A small town, but packed with plenty of restaurants and accommodation and easily accessible on foot. It doesn’t have a feeling of being a resort. There are no high rise hotels, or tacky bars. Instead, Himare is laid back, unpretentious, easy and just beautiful.

We felt so relaxed in Himare that we extended our stay. Should we return to Albania, this will be the first place on our itinerary. And, it is always the place on the Albanian riviera that I recommend to friends.

Here’s our guide to visiting Himare – where to eat, sleep and drink and the 11 best things to do in Himare.

Short on time?

Himare, Himarë, and Himara?

Don’t panic – all three are the same place. But you’ll see Himare, Himarë, and Himara used interchangeably on road signs and in guide books. For ease, I am using “Himare” throughout this blog post!

Is Himare worth visiting?

In short, yes Himare is worth visiting. We stayed here for a while during our month long trip to Albania in 2024 and Himare was one of the places that we would love to return to.

Choose Himare if you are looking for:

• Relaxed but vibrant nightlife
• Picturesque beaches
• Ease of access by public transport
• Loads of great restaurants
• An unpretentious beach town
• Budget options for accommodation
• A great base from which to explore the Albanian Riviera

11 best things to do in Himare

Here are 11 of the best things to do in Himare on the Albanian Riviera.

1 / Eat at a quaint Greek taverna

Many people in Himare are ethnically Greek subsequently there’s a strong Greek influence in the town. One of the ways that this manifests is through the fantastic food. There are many tavernas serving Greek food along the seafront.

Get a little off the main promenade, and you’ll find Taverna Velco. A traditional Greek taverna serving fresh food and delicious wine. The staff here are wonderful, super welcoming and engaging. We would strongly recommend checking out this restaurant in Himare – but make sure you book a table, it gets super popular.

2 / Play volleyball

In high summer, head over to Prinos Beach (one of the central ones in town). There you will find a volleyball net set up. Normally there will be some kind of game going on – a relaxed affair, nothing serious – and you can get involved. Or, grab a ball from the supermarket nearby and start your own game.

3 / Take a stroll along the promenade

Although Himare has a feeling of being a small and quaint beach town, there is actually 2km of coast line available. Running parallel to the coast is a delightful promenade. One of my favourite things to do on this sort of vacation, is to take a slow walk early evening before dinner. At this time of day, temperatures are cooler and you an enjoy the sun setting over the water.

In Italy, they call this kind of walk a Passegiata, in Albania, it is referred to as Xhiro. This directly translates to “walk”, but is used to denote the specific sunset meander! The most serene time of day, and an opportunity to take “golden hour” photos.

With 2kms of promenade in Himare, you can expect to spend about one hour walking the length of it and back. Sounds like a great excuse for an ice cream to me!

4 / Laze at one of the beaches

What trip to the Albanian riviera would be complete without spending some time relaxing on the beach? Pack a cool box and a few beach towels and you’re set for the day.

Despite having a small town feel, Himare actually has five beaches. During our trip, we tried each of them and can confirm that they do have slight differences. Spile Beach is the most central in town – lay your towel here if you want to have easy access to cafes or shops. A little further along, we liked Prinos Beach. It felt quieter and bit more local, plus has wonderful views back to the mountains.

Top tip – as most of the beaches in Himare are public, you won’t find that many sun loungers and umbrellas to rent. We recommend buying an umbrella from one of the local supermarkets or convenience stores. They are inexpensive, and if you plan to spend a few days reclining, then an umbrella will make things more comfortable.

5 / Spend the day at a beach club

If you’d rather keep things a little more glamorous than a towel on the beach, then choose a beach club in Himare. The best beach club in town is probably Mumbas Beach Club – which is found on a small cove a little way to the east side of Himare.

As of 2024, you can expect to pay around 1000 LEK for two sunbeds and an umbrella. A pretty reasonable price comparative to other resorts.

If you’re keen for more choice for beach clubs, head to nearby Jala Beach – a short walk or drive (more on that below.)

6 / Hike to Livadi Beach & Jala Beach

Livadi Beach is a very undeveloped beach with cute tavernas, a short 30 minute walk from Hiamre. Visit here for peace and quiet and lower prices than Himare.

Around 30 minutes further from Livadi, you can walk on to Jala Beach. Jala was one of our favourites, albeit it is a little expensive for sunbeds. But the water is some of the nicest we found in the area. Crystal clear and calm.

The route is easy to follow and doesn’t require any particularly arduous walking. It is more of a walk than a hike. Pack a picnic, or some cool drinks, plenty of sunscreen and your beach towel and set off for the day.

7 /Brunch in a colourful cafe

There are so many inviting cafes along the waterfront of Himare. Be sure to enjoy a languid brunch at least once during your stay. If you love coffee and cake, then Kafe Pasticcieria 28 is the best place to gravitate towards. They offer a pretty terrace, or if you’d prefer the inside is very nicely air conditioned!

Further along the promenade, check out Hercules Restaurant, which offers a more hearty brunch selection, like avo on toast.

8 / Stand up paddle boarding

The sea around Himare is relatively calm, making it a wonderful spot to try stand up paddle boarding. Explore the coves and coastline from a different perspective, out on the water.

Around Spile Beach, you’ll find Himare Stand Up Paddle Board and Kayak agency. They offer rental of boards for paddle boarding or kayaks. The cost, as of 2024, is 30 Euros Per Person and children are free.

9 / Visit nearby Gjepe Beach

Gjepe is an incredible cove, I’d go so far as to say that it is iconic in terms of the Albanian Riviera. Calm water, vibrant blue and lush sand – a day spent in Gjepe is total escapism.

Gjipe can only be reached by foot but you can get close to it by car or cab. There’s a car park 1.5km from the beach with a short trail to the beach. The main road is around 3km away, with a scenic hiking trail leading to the beach.

Gjipe is a stunning beach, rugged and a lot less developed than nearby beaches as it’s so remote. From Himare, it is difficult to get here on public transport, but you have a few options.

Firstly, you could hire a scooter for the day to explore the coastline. Secondly, you could take a taxi to and from Gjipe. Or, for the more adventurous, technically you can walk from Himare to Gjipe. It is around 14km, and a mix of trails. Some parts are difficult, with steep climbs and overgrown trails (Jala to Gjipe). Honestly, we wouldn’t really recommend this having done it ourselves. I would much rather arrive by scooter, taxi or car.

10 / Visit Porto Palermo

Around a 15 minute drive, or 2 hour walk from Himare is Porto Palermo. Porto Palermo boasts the historic Porto Palermo Castle, also known as Ali Pasha Castle. Positioned on a rocky promontory with stunning views of the bay, this remarkably preserved fortress traces its origins back to the early 19th century.

Today, visitors have the opportunity to wander through the castle’s ancient walls, towers, and dungeons, while relishing the breathtaking panoramic vistas of the coastal expanse and majestic mountains.

The ticket price is around 300 LEK, making it an inexpensive day out.

11 / Drink cocktails at sunset

Himare has many inviting cocktail bars dotted along the coast. The nightlife is laid back and unpretentious, which we rather liked. Here are a few nice spots to try:

• Lido Cocktail Bar – smart vibes, close the water
• Thea Rooftop Bar – rooftop fun, better for later night
• Rescue at the Beach – on the beach, a more relaxed vibe

Where to stay in Himare

Mid-Range: Himare has lots of low key apartments, some with sea views and they are mostly quite inexpensive. Sea View Breeze is one such option. For just a little more money, Argjile Rooms is a fancier option, with a swimming pool.

Luxury: A little out of town, but perched on a hill, is Wait and Sea, a hotel with an exclusive feel.

⛺Camping in Himare is also very popular. We stayed at some fantastic campsites in the area. More on that here!

How to get to Himare

From Tirana, we would suggest opting for the direct bus to Himare if you can. It departs twice per day at 05:30 and 13:00 and costs 1000 lek. The bus departs here on the outskirts of Tirana, and arrives directly to the centre of Himare. You can expect the journey to take around 4 hours. Do check the times at the bus station if you can, as they do tend to change frequently!

Of course, if you have a hire car, you can also drive. Expect it to take a little less time by car, around 3.5 hours from Tirana airport.

If you’re coming from elsewhere in Albania, for example Saranda or Vlore – we have more information in this blog post about getting around the coast of Albania.

FAQs and Top Tips about Himare

Are the beaches public in Himare?

The beaches in Albania are public, with the exception of a few small stretches taken up by beach clubs. This is one of the reasons that we loved Himare, compared to areas like Ksamil, which has fully private beaches.

Best time of year to travel to Himare?

The best time of year to visit Himare are the summer months. Ideally, June to September are the best time to visit. With temperatures in high 20s to low 30s (centigrade) during the day, it is perfect for sunbathing. Just keep in mind that July and August are peak season and it’s best to book accommodation ahead of time.

How many days should you spend in Himare?

You could very easily spend a full week or two weeks in Himare during summer months. Particularly if you’re happy to enjoy some light sight seeing and some heavy time on the beach!Of all the beach towns in Albania, we think Himare makes the best base from which to explore the Albanian Riviera.

If you have a week or two in Albania and want to see more of the country, then we would suggest spending three to four days in Himare. You can find our two week itinerary for exploring Albania here.

Albania Travel Guide

If you’re looking for a more detailed travel guide for Albania, you can now purchase our Short Guide to Albania. A 119 page ebook, detailing the best experiences in Albania, vital information to help you travel and suggested itineraries. Buy it now in our online shop.

Want to visit countries nearby?

If you’re looking to extend your trip and visit some more countries in The Balkans, why not consider some of these beauties:

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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