Porto Palermo: The Best Beaches of the Albanian Riviera

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Ready to uncover the quieter sides of the Albanian Riviera? Visit Porto Palermo with its many stunning beaches, historic castle and turquoise waters.

The Albanian Riviera has deservingly entered the stage of some of the best beaches in Europe. Albania’s coastline is certainly impressive, extensive, and most importantly, offers a variety of incredible beaches. Porto Palermo in Albania is a secluded bay that’s often merely looked at when passing through from Himara to Saranda.

For travelers who appreciate wild and quiet beaches in Albania over the tourist hotspots, Porto Palermo is the destination.

In Porto Palermo, you will not find beach clubs grasping onto every inch of real estate from shore to shore but instead, simply gorgeous beaches for the public to enjoy.

In this short guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting Porto Palermo, Albania.

🤝 Not interested in a self guided trip to Porto Palermo in Albania? Opt for a guided excursion of the Albanian Riviera instead.

Where Is Porto Palermo in Albania?

Porto Palermo is a bay along the Albanian Riviera, in the southern half of the country. The bay can be found between the town of Himarë and the bigger city of Sarandë. Porto Palermo Bay is, for the most part, easily accessible because it’s situated right beneath the SH8 motorway. The area is comprised of two small peninsulas that are undeveloped, an islet on which the Castle of Porto Palermo sits, and of course, a handful of beaches.

From the capital city of Tirana, Porto Palermo is located nearly 250 km and 3.5 hours south. Ksamil, Albania’s most popular destination for beachgoers, is located 1.5 hours south of Porto Palermo.

Porto Palermo, Albania History

The Castle of Porto Palermo

Porto Palermo in Albania is unassumingly steeped in history, with more than one significant landmark. The bay may be widely visible from the motorway, but its most prominent feature, the castle, is often overlooked.

The fortress goes by the name of The Castle of Porto Palermo, which dominates the small peninsula’s landscape. The castle is built in a triangular shape and believed to have been built by the Venetians, notably by and for Ali Pasha.

Ali Pasha has a few stamps of his legacy throughout Albania and was one of the country’s most iconic rulers during the Ottoman Empire.

The historic castle has gone through its fair share of turmoil, defense, and repurposes throughout the years. From serving as a fortress during Turkish invasions, to Italian soldiers taking cover during World War II, the Castle of Porto Palermo is deservingly an interesting attraction.

The fortress is accessible to curious visitors and costs around €3 per person. The top of the castle offers majestic panoramic views, but the interior of the fortress emits a bit of a gloomy feeling.

There is much left to the imagination about the events of history as you walk through the dark, cold, and stone-constructed rooms. Even as recently as during the communist regime, it is said that the Castle of Porto Palermo was tragically used as a prison.

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Military Use of Porto Palermo

Additionally, Porto Palermo Bay houses a submarine bunker that was used until the end of communism in Albania. The area has, however, remained under military control since the 1990s, and the property is off-limits to civilians.

Nestled in the top corner of the bay is where you’ll see a glimpse of the bunker, carved into the hillside, and a few structures in nearly abandoned condition. Still, on any given day, you’ll still see at least one person at the military base protecting the land.

The restriction of public access has left this section of Porto Palermo in a pristine environmental state that’s unfortunately only possible to enjoy from afar.

Map of Porto Palermo Beaches

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6 Must See Porto Palermo Beaches

❗️READ FIRST: One of the most confusing things for tourists to decipher when visiting Albania, is the interchangeable names of places, mostly when it comes to beaches. Unless a beach is privately owned, public beaches tend to have duplicate names or “made-up” names that are updated randomly.

In the list of beaches below, we have included the names of the Porto Palermo beaches as seen on Google Maps. More importantly, we have included the links to their location, and this is what you should use as a reference to actually find them.

1. “Porto Palermo Beach”

Located HERE on Google Maps.

Hands down, this spot is one of the top 10 best beaches in Albania. By almost anyone’s definition, every aspect of it makes it the perfect beach. Starting with accessibility, the beach is located just below the motorway, which means you can easily get to it by car without having to hike.

The entire beach is free to visit and is not filled with umbrellas or sun beds for rent, which doesn’t make it feel like a tourist destination. Drinks and unfussy dishes are served at the modest cafe right behind the beach, which fortunately also doesn’t play loud music.

The beach itself is comprised of small pebbles and offers a gentle entrance into the water for young kids.

2. “Palermo Beach” (by The Castle of Porto Palermo)

Located HERE on Google Maps.

This is the nearest beach to the Castle of Porto Palermo. The small islet on which the fortress is built is connected by a thin strip of land, which happens to have created one beach on both sides of the connecting land.

One of the beach’s biggest advantages is its location. Being protected as a cove, the water here is nearly always calm and provides excellent swimming conditions. If you’re planning a trip to the fortress, visiting this beach is a stop along the way. Furthermore, you can complete the afternoon if you combine it with lunch at the nearby restaurant.

3. “Beach Porto Palermos 3”

Located HERE on Google Maps.

At the southern end of the bay is where you’ll find this gorgeous public beach. It is extremely easy to get to as you can drive all the way up to it or park just above it in the parking spots along the SH8 motorway.

The beach is protected from wind and waves, which makes it an amazing place to go with kids or for snorkelling. Given its low-key stature, it’s also frequented by sunbathers with dogs and the occasional cow or two.

4. “Beach” (Beach Bar San Sairus)

Located HERE on Google Maps.

There is a small waterfront restaurant at the top of the beach that goes by the name of Beach Bar San Sairus. They serve simple seafood and traditional Albanian dishes, as well as drinks. The beach is still wild, but a majority of the space is taken up by this beach bar, which charges access to their umbrellas and lounge chairs.

Travellers who enjoy the full-service aspect of beach clubs will really enjoy this small slice of paradise that’s off the typical tourist path.

The road to get here is not paved, barely marked, and feels like more of a trail. Therefore, reaching this beach feels like you’re discovering an exclusive piece of Albania’s coastline.

5. “Mini Plaża”

Located HERE on Google Maps.

To fully enjoy this beach visit, it is recommended to arrive early and claim your spot. With good timing, this beach has the potential to become your own private oasis. As the name implies, this is a small beach with enough space for fewer than ten people. There is a beautiful yet compact beach head where you can lay out or set up an umbrella.

Once this fills up, it can be difficult to experience the beach, especially if you are traveling with kids or need easy access to the water.

Nonetheless, you will see many locals and Italian tourists arranging umbrellas and chairs along the rocky shoreline.

6. “Mateus Beach”

Located HERE on Google Maps.

If this beach were to be continuously mentioned on your Instagram feed, it would make Porto Palermo a top destination in Albania within a week. During our time of visit, this beach was named Mateus Beach on Google Maps but honestly, it can be referred to as just heaven!

The incredible view, white pebbles, and marvelously blue water are truly hypnotizing.

It is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary wild beaches in Albania and is worth the journey to get there. Most people will leave their car parked by the main road and hike down to the beach in 15 – 20 minutes.

Alternatively, the path is manageable with a 4×4 vehicle and leads you directly to the top of the beach. The last leg of the journey to get to Mateus Beach requires a short descent along some big boulders.

We recommend visiting this beach in the morning hours, before 11 am, or in the early evening after 3 pm. During midday, it is not uncommon to see tourists from off-roading tours enjoying the beach for 30 minutes at a time and then departing.

More Beautiful Places to See Near Porto Palermo

Beaches in Himare

Travellers seeking the best city in Albania for beaches should look no further than Himarë. The city itself and the surrounding municipality are filled with exquisite beaches and swim spots. It is also widely underrated compared to Ksamil down south. There are fewer paid beaches, fewer tourist traps, and more natural beauty to relish in.

Himarë is also one of the more interesting places for accommodation options. There are as many glamorous beachfront properties as there are private hideaways in the hills.

👍 Read More: Best Beaches and Things to Do in Himarë

Old Town Himare

Away from the beach crowds of the coast is the old town of Himarë, located on the mountainside above. The Himara Castle may be the main attraction, but the entire area is worth visiting and wandering through.

From ancient ruins and interior church fresco paintings to breathtaking views, it’s one of the best places along the Albanian Riviera to escape to when you need a break from the beach.

At the edge of Himarë’s old town is Café Butterfly, located in the living quarters of a family’s home and on their breathtaking terrace. A visit here for drinks and homemade desserts is worth being an itinerary item in itself.

Aquarium Beach & Jale Beach

Jale is one of the most frequented spots along the Albanian Riviera for beachgoers who want it all in one place. The bay is blessed with pristine waters and is well-maintained due to the high number of privately owned beach clubs.

A never-ending list of restaurants lines the pedestrian promenade throughout the entire neighborhood, creating a quintessential beach town feel. Jale Beach is especially perfect for groups of friends and couples looking for a relaxing yet entertaining stay at the beach.

Just down the road from Jale is the sought-after Aquarium Beach. Although it sounds ironic, Aquarium Beach has turned into one of the most popular secluded beaches in Albania. Even though it’s no longer a secret, it is still one of the most picturesque wild beaches (by definition) on the Albanian Riviera.

Unless you are traveling in a 4×4 vehicle, it’s not possible to drive all the way to the beach, and some amount of walking is required. Upon reaching Aquarium Beach, you’re met with a spectacular view of a magical cove with clear water and golden sand.

🐠 Read More: How to Visit Jale Beach and Aquarium Beach

Qeparo Beach and Borsh Beach

The stretch of coastline from Qeparo to Borsh is enormous. Instead of cramming onto beaches in other parts of southern Albania that don’t exceed 200 meters wide, it’s puzzling why more people don’t choose to visit larger beaches like Borsh.

The water along the beach is, after all, the same beautiful Adriatic Sea you’ll encounter throughout the entire Riviera.

Borsh, in particular, is significantly less touristy than more popular beach areas and offers an authentic feel. While sitting on the shore of Borsh Beach with plenty of room around us, we consistently found ourselves surrounded by more Albanians than Western European vacationers.

Qeparo and Borsh are both outstanding destinations to check out for travelers looking to experience Albania without overpriced grilled fish and loud beach clubs.

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Upper Qeparo Village

Upper Qeparo is a small village that sits high up on the hill and overlooks Qeparo’s coastal town. It is accessible by car, but we also noticed that it’s a stop along the guided off-roading tours.

The village is quaint, peaceful, and delightfully historic. We consider this humble town one of the best hidden gems along the Albanian Riviera, as many travelers tend to stick to the beaches.

If you make the trek to Upper Qeparo, it’s recommended to sit down at one of the only two family-operated restaurants. Both of which serve the most authentic and delicious meals you’ll have during your time in Albania.

For tourists staying the night, this quaint neighborhood offers a variety of magnificent villas, rustic bed & breakfasts, and hotels.

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Where to Stay Near Porto Palermo, Albania

Palermiti Luxury Rooms – Best Luxury Stay (CHECK PRICES)

Ionian Terrace – Best Seafront Views (CHECK PRICES)

Rustic Holiday Villa – Best Mountain Villa (CHECK PRICES)

Hotel Mesun Himare – Best Quiet Hotel (CHECK PRICES)

How to Visit Porto Palermo in Albania

Flying to Tirana

Getting to Albania is made easy with Tirana International Airport, also referred to as Rinas Airport. Tirana’s international airport is in the top 10 busiest airports in the Balkans which makes a relatively busy transportation hub. Therefore, finding direct flights to Albania from within Europe is quite common.

Nonstop flight paths to Tirana include departures from Prague, Frankfurt, Naples, Barcelona, Vienna, Athens, and more. For travellers looking to visit Albania from outside of Europe, it’s likely that you’ll have a stop over in one of these major cities before arriving in Tirana.

Admired budget airlines like Wizz Air serve Tirana’s airport and continue to make European air travel inexpensive, even in peak season.

The airport is located over 3 hours north of Porto Palermo. If you plan on spending a majority of your time in southern Albania or the Riviera, it’s recommended to rent a car from Tirana Airport and drive.

Driving

We wholeheartedly believe that Albania is meant to be explored by car. If you are particularly keen on visiting places like Porto Palermo, it would be challenging to do so without driving. Reaching Porto Palermo (or the Albanian Riviera in general) from Tirana is uncomplicated and manageable for confident drivers.

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Upon exiting the city of Tirana, the entire route to southern Albania is along major roads that are paved and well-marked.

The only aspect that may make the drive slightly adventurous is the number of twists and curves. It is nothing to worry about as long as you do not drive ridiculously fast.

The route from Tirana to Porto Palermo will pass through the coastal city of Vlora. At this point, you have the option to drive close to the coastline, which will take you through Llogara Pass, an unbelievable cliffside route with panoramic views.

Alternatively, you can head inland once you reach Vlora and take the route through the valleys instead. The latter option is quicker but will mean you miss out on the Llogara Pass viewpoints.

By Ferry

Porto Palermo can also be reached by ferry travel. Both sides of the Adriatic Sea are accessible to one another by a handful of ferry routes. If you are interested in visiting Albania from Italy, it’s possible to hop on a ferry from one of the ports in Puglia (southern Italy) and arrive at a port in Albania.

Durrës and Vlorë are the bigger ferry destinations in Albania, and if you’re planning on getting to Porto Palermo, book a ferry to Vlorë. By car, it then takes 1.5 hours to drive south towards Porto Palermo.

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Voyaging to Albania by ferry is most cost-effective for people travelling with a car. The ticket price for taking a car ferry isn’t necessarily affordable, but, it is still cheaper than the cost of fuel.

For foot passengers, it doesn’t make all too much economical sense to take the ferry to Albania unless you’re really set on having the experience itself.

Porto Palermo, Albania Travel Resources

☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage

✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com

🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com

🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio

🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries

🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago

☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo

📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator

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