Himarë

Himara is a city on the coast of Albania in the Albanian Riviera. It is part of the Albanian Riviera with the most beautiful beaches in the area: Spile and Marachi beach are local in Himarë; Livadhi and Jali beach are close by and pretty too. Especially in the low season, you will have the beaches all to yourself! Thanks to its seclusion, the nature around Himarë is still relatively untouched. The crystal blue waters make Himara a popular holiday destination and remains a relatively undiscovered part of the Mediterranean.

Understand
Himara or Himarë is a bilingual (Albanian and Greek) town that sits between the Ceraunian Mountains and the Ionian Sea.

The region of Himarë is predominantly populated by an ethnic Greek community. There are a lot of traditional taverns or fish restaurants in the centre of Himarë—all serving tasty food.

By bus
There is no official bus stop but all busses stop at least at the (red supermarket at the road behind the beach). Arriving in Himarë, let the driver know where you'd like to get drop off.

Public transportation buses connect from Vlorë or Tirana (there are few a day depending on the season, see bus section of Tirana article). It is the cheapest, but not the fastest way—from Tirana 1,200 lek and about 5 hr bus ride).

Furthermore, there are connections from/to Gjirokastër, Elbasan, and Athens daily.

There are multiple buses a day from/to Sarandë (1½h, 700 lek). As of August 2022, the buses to Sarandë are scheduled at 07:00, 09:00, 11:30, 13:00 (and more in the afternoon). Not all busses coming from e.g. Vlorë stop in Himarë, especially if they are already full. Ask your accommodation hosts for up-to-date details.

By car
Himarë is located on the SH8 highway (next to the riveria).


 * Tirana – 4½ hr,
 * Vlorë – 2 hr,
 * Sarandë – 1¼ hr,

Following the road from Tirana or Vlorë, you will pass the Llogara-path and (2,045 m) which has a wonderful view of the Ionian Sea. You will find a few restaurants where you can stop for a quick bite before continuing on the road. The road also borders the beautiful Parku Kombëtar Llogara National Park.

By bicycle
Himare lies at the EuroVelo cycling routes 8.

See

 * Himara old town.jpg


 * A few miles south of Himara, in the bay of, a small peninsula, there is a fort that is said to have been built by Tepedelenli Ali Pasha at the beginning of the 19th century. However, it is likely to be much older, probably built by the Republic of Venice at about the same time as the similarly constructed fortress in Butrint.




 * Vranisht Dolmen - At the top of Mount Mesimer there is a giant stone, several tones, erected horizontally and standing on two vertically raised stones. From the locals it is called The Stone In the Sky" and from researchers he is estimated to be a Dolmen. So this object seems to have been raised in prehistoric periods as well as some others across Europe and beyond (similar to Stonehenge) has been an object of worship, the cult, for the ancient inhabitants of these parts. To date, Vranisht Dolmen is considered to be the only one, not only in Albania but perhaps even wider in the Balkans.


 * Ali Pasha's Tower – Ali Pasha's Tower or Vlashaj's Tower is located in the village of Qeparo about 1 km north of it. There is no reliable data on the reasons why Ali Pasha built this beautiful villa in this area as close to the coast and a small Ionian harbor, as well as near the rugged mountain terrain of Labëria, difficult to overcome and penetrate in depth. It is not excluded that this flat in the form of a fortress, in a geographic position that controls very well the possible stretches that can be approached from the village of Qeparo, with a large yard and with high perimeter walls, separated from the village and in a strategic position, it can hardly be taken lightly by aggressors. It, in a simple analysis, seems to have been built as a base with special strategic interests for Pashain of Ioannina, for the shadows of an eminent danger when she would have to abandon the country and go to the west through the sea, as it is not so far from here, is Porto Palermo, where Ali Pasha also built a coastal military fort, which he considered important for Ionian control and as a possibility for his departure to the west. Another possibility should have been the need to have a cottage near the coast, for vacations, as not far from here he had completed his marriage ceremony with Vasilic, exactly at the Church that is at the entrance of Porto Palermo.
 * Pirates' Cave – It is a natural carstic cave made famous by the book of Petro Marko and then by the film of the same title. It is on the same hill with the Monastery of St. Theodore. Set on steep rocks, in a deep sea, the cave has important tourist values that remind you the Middle Ages. According to the legend, the cave was once a haven of pirates and ships. It can only be reached by the sea.

Do

 * Himarë center & promenade – You can walk next to the beach and drink coffee in one of the coffeebars in the centre
 * Cycling
 * Kayak – You can rent "sit on top" kayaks on the beach. The costs for a 2–person boat range from 400–800 lek/hr. From the southern end of the Himare city beach you can reach the secluded in half an hour one way.

Hiking:
 * – Walk along the beach, start in Himara cross to. (1 hr), on to Aquarium/Guma and  (2 hr) until you reach Gjipe (4 hr)—the hiking trail is partly marked. It continues to Dhërmi (6 hr). In Himarë the trail starts behind the . The first kilometer is not on the coast but you will get there after 15 minutes. Gjipe beach is an incredibly natural landmark with an untouched canyon next to it. However, in high season it tends to be full with lots of boat trippers arriving and loud music.


 * – A sleepy mountain village with a beautiful view over the scenery of the Albanian Rivera. To reach Pilur, there is a hiking trail inland, which is not always easy to spot, but the view is worth it.

Go next
From north to south:
 * Tirana – The vibrant and contrasting capital of Albania.
 * Vlorë – A lively seaside city, nice beaches south of town. Passenger ferries to and from Italy dock here.
 * Vuno – A sleepy and small mountain village with adorable view and traditional atmosphere (just 30 minutes from Himara).
 * Gjirokastër – A city in stone, an absolutely must see during your trip through Albania
 * Sarandë – A bigger city on the seaside with a ferry port (ferries go to the Greek island of Corfu).