Velipojë is one of the largest seaside resorts in northern Albania and a popular tourist destination not only for residents of nearby Shkodër. It is situated amidst a wetland landscape at the mouth of the Buna River, which is rich in fauna and flora. Numerous hotels, eateries, pubs and discos have sprung up around the several-kilometre-long Velipoja Beach as a result of a building boom.
The formerly small village of Velipojë becomes a bustling resort every summer, frequented by Albanians from the north of the country and Kosovo. The sandy beach itself is almost completely filled with parasols in summer. Regretfully, a lot of garbage goes along with all of this.
TIP: The western end of the beach is quieter and wilder. If you’re looking for an even quieter spot, head to the charming Rrjoll beach east of the adjacent Vilun Lagoon (Laguna e Vilunit).
If you grow weary of lying by the sea, Vilun Lagoon (to the east) and the nature reserve Buna River Delta (to the west) are both very close to Velipoja. These locations are great for birdwatching, and if you’re lucky, you might even see the turtles that come to the sandy, protected beaches to lay their eggs. This is the northernmost portion of the wetland system that stretches almost the whole length of the Adriatic coast of Albania.
Minibuses run to Velipojë from Shkodër at regular intervals.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay in Velipojë.
Flights
Find the cheapest flight to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Titulní foto: @velipojabeach