We will be in Albania in May and will have a couple of days at the end of our trip to spend some time on the Albanian Riviera. Any suggestions on which beach town to stay? We are not looking for a party - just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful beaches. I am a scuba diver and am also looking for a recommendation for a reputable dive operator. I will need to rent all my equipment except my regulator and dive computer.
Posted by
TX, USA
5792 posts
I have very limited experience with the beaches but also will be there May or June most likely.
I spent 2 nights in Ksamil in May, 2023, and relaxed at the beach one day. It was really nice - but it had been unusually rainy that year and thus uncrowded. I hit one day of gorgeous sun and very few people at the beach (Plazhi Paradise Beach). I’ll be looking at Himarë, Vlorë, and Durrës, as I start to decide for 2026. I don’t know anything about diving, though.
I hope you’ll come back and share what you decide on beach location.
I missed that you earlier asked about car rental. I will probably rent from Karruka at the Tirana airport. My daughter had a good experience with them last year. She and a friend drove in Kosovo, and N Macedonia as well.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1700 posts
I too stayed in Ksamil. This was in 2021 when countries were just opening up after Covid (Aug timeframe ). All of Kosovo and Albania were very crowded mainly with locals since I’m assuming they couldn’t travel to other countries.
Ksamil and the beaches were crowded; though I liked the location. The water was warm and great for swimming. I can’t comment on other areas or on snorkeling areas.
I did a one way car rental from Sixt, picking up in Tirana and dropping off at the ferry port in Sarande. I’ve had good experiences with Sixt in quite a few places around the world.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24811 posts
I have a suggestion, but I will send it in a PM.
Posted by
4 posts
Ksamil is pretty but it can get packed fast, like you blink and it’s towels everywhere. I’d aim for Himarë or Dhermi if you want more space. Also idk if every dive spot is mind blowing there, so I’d pick the town vibe first, then dive when the sea looks calm.