Himare: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Himarë is two places: a small modern town on the bay and the old castle town on the hill above. This route starts on the beach, climbs to the old town and comes down again to the coves north of the bay. It is easy by car, and the climb can be walked in about 40 minutes. Half a day, with swims.
The ten best sights in Himare
1Himarë CastleThe old town on the hill above the bay; houses, churches and views
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2Church of All Saints
Inside the castle walls; usually locked, but the courtyard is open
3Porto Palermo CastleAli Pasha's fort on a little peninsula; ten minutes south
4Borsh CastleRuined walls on a hill over the olive groves; short walk up
5Panaia Monastery, DhërmiA small monastery church on a rock above Dhërmi, with a sea view
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6Himarë Beach
The town beach in the bay; shallow and easy
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7Livadhi Beach
A long pebble beach just north of town, quieter than the centre
8Jalë BeachA small cove under Vuno; road down is narrow
9Gjipe BeachAt the mouth of a canyon; about 30 minutes on foot from the car
10Llogara PassThe road crosses the mountains here; stop for the view of the whole riviera
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Himare →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Himare:
Free walking tours in Himare
Bay and old town
Himarë is two places: a small modern town on the bay and the old castle town on the hill above. This route starts on the beach, climbs to the old town and comes down again to the coves north of the bay. It is easy by car, and the climb can be walked in about 40 minutes. Half a day, with swims.
- Himarë Beach · Himarë is the centre of a Greek-speaking community on the Albanian coast, and you will hear Greek in the cafés along the bay. Start with a coffee here before the climb.
- Potami Beach · Potami means river in Greek: a stream reaches the sea at this end of the bay. It is the quieter beach of town, in walking distance.
- Himarë Castle · The old town sits on a hill over the coast, a defensive position used since antiquity. Its people held on to a degree of self-rule under the Ottomans, and some families still live inside the walls.
- Church of All Saints · One of several churches inside the walls of the old town. Even when it is locked, the terrace in front looks down on the whole bay of Himarë.
- Livadhi Beach · Livadhi means meadow, after the flat land behind the beach where olives grow. It is a long walk-in beach of white pebbles, a few minutes north of the centre.
- Jalë Beach · A small cove below the village of Vuno, reached by a steep and narrow road. End the day here with a swim.
South along the riviera
South of Himarë the coast road passes a singing village, a Cold War secret and a fort of Ali Pasha. Then come the old village of Qeparo and the long beach of Borsh under its olive trees. The road winds but is good. A full day, ending in the water.
- Pilur · Pilur is a village on the slope above Himarë, known in Albania for its polyphonic singing, a tradition proclaimed by UNESCO in 2005. Come up in the morning for the view over the coast.
- Porto Palermo submarine base · During the Cold War the Albanian navy cut a tunnel into the hillside of this bay so submarines could hide inside. From the road above you can see its dark opening in the rock.
- Porto Palermo Castle · Ali Pasha of Tepelenë built this triangular fort in the early 19th century to control the bay and the coast road. It sits on a small peninsula joined to the shore by a strip of land.
- Qeparo · Upper Qeparo is the old village of stone houses on the hill; in the 20th century most families moved down to the coast. Drive up the switchbacks to walk its lanes.
- Borsh Castle · The ruins on the hill above Borsh are of a castle that guarded the valley. Below them spread the olive terraces for which Borsh is known.
- Borsh Beach · Borsh has the longest beach on the Albanian riviera, several kilometres of pebbles. Even in August there is room to spread out.
North to Caesar's Pass
North of Himarë the mountains drop straight into the sea. The road runs through stone villages above the most famous beaches of Albania, then climbs in hairpins to the Llogara pass and its pine forest. Gjipe needs a walk, so wear shoes. A full day by car.
- Vuno · Vuno is a village of stone houses on the slope over Jalë. The mountain road north passes right through it, so stop for coffee in the square.
- Gjipe Beach · The beach lies at the mouth of a narrow canyon, and there is no road down to it. Park above and walk about half an hour; the canyon behind can be explored on foot.
- Dhërmi Beach · Dhërmi is the village on the hill; the beach below has become the busiest on this stretch of coast. Swim before lunch, when it is still calm.
- Panaia Monastery, Dhërmi · A small monastery church on a rock above the village, reached by a path. From its terrace you look down on Dhërmi and the sea.
- Llogara Pass · The pass is also called Caesar's Pass: in 48 BC Julius Caesar landed his army on the beach at Palasë below, chasing Pompey. The road climbs to over 1,000 metres in a series of hairpins.
- Llogara National Park · Black pine and fir forest on the north side of the pass, cool even in summer. Look for the wind-bent pine trees that grow almost flat along the ground.
Getting to Himare and getting around
- Minibus stop · Minibuses along the coast to Sarandë and Vlorë stop here; few a day, ask in the cafés
Cheap eats in Himare
Himarë eats like a Greek island: grilled fish, feta, olive oil from its own groves and souvlaki in pita. The cafés on the bay are where people spend the evening. A coffee is about 100-150 lek, a souvlaki a few hundred; fish is priced by the kilo, so ask before you order.
- Furre Buke · Bread and byrek from the oven, about 100-150 lek
- I Love Souvlaki · Pita souvlaki, about 300-400 lek
- Pizza and Burek · Slices and byrek, about 150-300 lek
- Brothers Grill & Fast Food · Grill plates and wraps, about 350-700 lek
- Pasticeri Himara · Coffee and cakes by the bay, about 100-300 lek
Museums in Himare
- Himarë Castle · Old town on the hill; walk the walls
- Porto Palermo Castle · Ali Pasha's fort; small entry fee
- Church of All Saints · In the castle; view over the bay
- Panaia Monastery, Dhërmi · Small monastery on a rock over Dhërmi
Nature and day trips near Himare
- Gjipe Beach · Canyon beach, reached only on foot or by boat
- Llogara National Park · Pine forest on the pass; cool air
- Borsh Beach · The longest beach on the riviera
Things to do in Himare with kids
- Porto Palermo submarine base · A submarine tunnel in the mountain
- Qeparo · Old stone village to explore on the hill
- Himarë Beach · Shallow water in the town bay
Where to eat in Himare
- To Steki sti Gonia · Taverna in town; grilled meat and salads
- Fredi's Seafood · Fish and seafood by the bay
- Lefteri · Family taverna in the centre
- Arxontiko · Greek-style dishes south of the centre
Frequently asked questions about Himare
What is there to see in Himare?
The top sights in Himare are Himarë Castle, Church of All Saints and Porto Palermo Castle. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Himare?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Himare without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Himare?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Himare, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Bay and old town.
How do you get to Himare and get around?
The main ways are Minibus stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Himare, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Himare that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Himare for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.