Albanian Riviera Road Trip — 7-Day Self-Drive Itinerary 2026
The complete Albanian Riviera road trip — 7 days from Vlorë to Saranda via Llogara Pass, Dhërmi, Himarë, Porto Palermo, Ksamil and Butrint. Day-by-day plan.
The Albanian Riviera is 70 kilometres of cliff-hung coastline between Vlorë and Saranda, with hidden coves, mountain villages and beaches that look photoshopped. The road that connects them — the legendary SH8 over Llogara Pass — is one of Europe's great drives.
This is the 7-day plan we've given to dozens of friends. It works.
Quick facts
- Length: 7 days, 6 nights
- Total drive time: ~9 hours over 7 days
- Best season: Late May to mid-October
- Start/end: Tirana airport (TIA) — 2.5h drive to Vlorë to start, 5h drive back from Saranda
- Car rental: €25–45/day. Pick up at Tirana airport. Compare rental prices.
- Budget per person: €350 backpacker / €600 mid-range / €1200 luxury
Day 1 — Tirana arrival → Vlorë
Drive: 2h 30min from Tirana airport (mostly highway).
Land at TIA mid-morning, pick up the rental car, drive south. Bypass Tirana, take the SH4 to Vlorë. Stop in Apollonia ruins (an underrated archaeological site, half the price and one-tenth the crowds of Butrint).
Check into a Vlorë hotel along the Lungomare (the seaside boulevard). Walk it at sunset — it's the best 3km of urban coastline in Albania.
Dinner: Restorant Tradita Gjirokastrite for traditional. Or Mussa Beach for seafood.
Day 2 — Llogara Pass → Dhërmi
Drive: 1h 30min including stops.
This is the day you've been waiting for. Drive the SH8 over Llogara Pass — 1027 metres of climbing through pine forest, then the dramatic descent to the Riviera with the sea suddenly opening below you. Stop at the Llogara Pass viewpoint for the photo.
Continue to Dhërmi. Check into a beach hotel (try Hotel Luxury or one of the boutique stone houses inland). Spend the afternoon on Drymades beach (calmer, prettier than Dhërmi's main beach) or Gjipe beach (a 30-minute walk down a goat track to a hidden cove — bring water).
Evening: Sunset cocktail at Havana Beach Bar. Dinner in Old Dhërmi village (Taverna Bujar).
Day 3 — Himarë & Porto Palermo
Drive: 30 min south.
Move to Himarë for two nights. It's less developed than Dhërmi, more local feel. Check into a hotel near Spille beach.
After lunch, drive 15 minutes south to Porto Palermo Castle — Ali Pasha's 19th-century fortress on a tiny island connected by a causeway. Free to enter, magical at sunset.
Back to Himarë for a quiet seafood dinner.
Day 4 — Beach day Himarë + Llamani
No driving. Beach day.
Two options: Spille beach in town, or drive 5 minutes to Llamani beach (smaller, more private). Spend the day swimming, eating fresh fish at a beach taverna, and recovering.
Alternative: book a boat tour (€30–50 per person) to swim in Akuariumi cove and explore caves only reachable by sea.
Day 5 — Saranda & Lëkurësi
Drive: 1h 30min south.
Continue to Saranda. The drive is pretty — winding cliff road past Borsh, the longest beach in Albania.
Check into a Saranda hotel (book somewhere with a sea view — that's the whole point). Afternoon coffee at the seaside promenade.
Evening: Drive (or taxi) up to Lëkurësi Castle for sunset over the Bay of Saranda and Corfu in the distance. The castle is now a restaurant — book a table in advance.
Day 6 — Ksamil islands & Butrint
Drive: 30min round trip.
Morning: drive to Ksamil, 20 minutes south. Park near the centre. The famous Ksamil islands are a 5-minute swim or a €5 boat shuttle from Pasqyra beach. Spend the morning swimming to the islands and snorkelling.
Lunch: any beach taverna in Ksamil. Splurge on grilled fish and a bottle of Albanian rosé.
Afternoon: drive 15 minutes inland to Butrint National Park (UNESCO). Allow 2–3 hours. The Greek theatre, Roman baths and Venetian fortress are all in walking distance.
Optional: stop at Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye) spring on the way back — a freshwater spring so clear it looks like glass. €2 entry, 10-minute walk from the parking lot.
Day 7 — Saranda → Tirana
Drive: 4h 30min (with one stop) or 5h direct.
Last morning: coffee on the Saranda promenade, last swim. Then drive north back to Tirana airport.
Optional stop: Gjirokastër is only 1h inland — if you have time before your flight, the stone city is worth a half-day detour. If you stay overnight in Gjirokastër, this becomes an 8-day trip.
What it costs
| Style | Total cost (per person, 7 days) |
|---|---|
| Backpacker (hostels, furgons, beach taverna meals) | €350–500 |
| Mid-range (3-star hotels, mix of meals out, rental car shared) | €600–900 |
| Luxury (boutique stays, fine dining) | €1200+ |
Where to stay (our picks)
- Vlorë: Hotel Bologna or Vlora International (€60–100)
- Dhërmi: stone-house boutique inland or beach hotel (€70–120)
- Himarë: Hotel Mediterrane (€50–80)
- Saranda: Hotel Brilant Saranda or AlfaHotel (€60–100)
- Ksamil: book 2 months ahead. Try Hotel Helios (€100+).
Compare prices on Booking, Agoda and Hotels.com.
When to drive this
- Best: late May / early June, or mid-September. Warm sea, fewer crowds.
- Avoid: late July to mid-August unless you've booked everything 3 months ahead.
- Off-season (Nov–April): the Riviera shuts down — most hotels closed.
Tips that save you grief
- Book Ksamil hotels 2 months ahead in summer. Everything else can be done 2–3 weeks out.
- Fill up petrol in Vlorë before crossing Llogara Pass — fewer stations on the Riviera.
- Cash for villages: ATMs only in Vlorë, Himarë and Saranda. Bring €200 cash.
- Drive carefully on Llogara: trucks and buses overtake on blind corners.
- Rent a car with comprehensive insurance — €5/day extra is worth it.
What to add if you have more time
- +1 day for Berat (UNESCO city) — detour from Vlorë on day 2
- +1 day for Gjirokastër — between days 6 and 7
- +2 days for Theth–Valbona hike (separate trip from northern Albania)
- +1 day for a Corfu day trip (ferry from Saranda)
Plan your trip
Tours & activities in Albania
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