Beaches in Vlorë

The city of Vlorë lies on the geographical border of the Albanian coast. To the north, long, sandy beaches stretch out along the vast coastal plain, while to the south the shore is steeper and more rugged and the sea is clearer. The border between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas is also located here. The most beautiful beaches are situated on the remote Karaburun Peninsula, which you can visit on a boat trip. Apart from Vlorë, the biggest resorts in the area are Radhimë and Orikum. The Zvërnec beach is also popular, especially with campervans.

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Seman Beach

The four-kilometre-long sandy beach of Seman is a popular destination for Fier residents during the summer months. The bottom drops only slowly so the beach is popular with children. The beach is up to several hundred metres wide, with several lagoons between the beach and the pine forest. An interesting feature is the bunkers, which “drown” in the sea due to erosion.

Hidrovor Beach

The calm Hidrovor beach is up to 200 metres wide and a several kilometres-long strip of sand that separates the northern part of the Narta Lagoon and the adjacent salinas from the Adriatic Sea. The problem is the unpaved access road and the amount of rubbish, which apparently no one cleans up properly. On the other hand, there is a decent restaurant which is open in season.

Zvërnec Beach

The beautiful and relatively little-visited Zvërnec Beach, also called Dalan Beach, is located on a narrow spit that separates the Narta Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. It is mainly sought out by nature lovers and people with campervans, as it lacks any beach infrastructure. Like the adjacent Porto Novo beach, the crescent-shaped Zvërnec Beach is bordered on both sides by weathered sandstone cliffs. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Vlorë.

Old Beach in Vlorë

Old beach (Plazhi i Vjetër) in Vlorë stretches northwest of the port and is partly bordered by a pine forest, which was planted here years ago as a defence against coastal erosion. It is a flat and sandy beach perfect for evening walks in the setting sun.

New Beach in Vlorë

The palm-fringed New Beach (Plazhi i Ri) in stretches for several kilometres between Vlorë’s port and the Uji e Ftohtë (Cold Water) road tunnel. The adjacent promenade is known as Lungomare.

Radhimë Beaches

While most of Vlorë lies in the coastal plain, the mountains rise immediately south of the city. The coastline here is dramatic, consisting of a large number of inlets with often only a few dozen metres of beaches. They tend to be as clean as the water in this part of Vlora Bay. Development is rampant here, hotels or guesthouses have sprung up on every available plot of land. Of all the beaches, Bora Bora and Radhimë are probably the most popular.

Orikum Beach

A popular pebble beach in the resort of Orikum separates the Pashaliman Lagoon from the Vlorë Bay. There is a wide range of accommodation and dining options, plus Albania’s only yacht marina is right next door. The excavations of the ancient city of Oricum can be found near the western end of the beach.

Karaburun Beaches

The isolated Karaburun Peninsula is dotted with beautiful beaches with crystal clear water. They are best to be reached by boats from Vlorë. The most popular beach here is St. John’s Beach at the very tip of the peninsula, and also St. Vasil Beach on the shores of the Gulf of Vlorë. On both of the beaches is a bar in high season, from Vlorë, Radhimë or Orikum daily boats depart there. One of the few beaches accessible on foot is Brisan Beach, it takes about two hours to walk from Orikum.