Best Day Trips Under 90 Minutes from Himara (2026)

The Riviera's best day trips from Himara fit within 90 minutes of driving — one-way — which means you can leave after breakfast, see something substantial, and be back for a sunset dinner in town. This guide covers the eight day trips worth your time, what each gives you, and which ones to pair together to make a single efficient day.

All times are driving time from Himara center, not walking or transit time.

Quick Comparison Table

1. Drymades Beach, Dhermi (25 minutes)

The beach that put the Albanian Riviera on social media. White pebbles, clubs, restaurants, water that looks retouched. Dhermi is 25 minutes north on the SH8, and Drymades is the main draw.

Best time: mid-morning arrival, full beach-club day, late-afternoon return What to pair with: quick stop at Dhermi Village on the way back, or sunset dinner in Vuno What not to do: show up at noon in August and expect parking

Full detail in the Drymades Beach guide.

2. Gjipe Beach (45 min + 30 min hike, or 20 min boat)

Gjipe is the Riviera's most-photographed hidden beach — a wedge of sand between towering cliffs, accessible only by a 30-minute hike from the parking area or by boat from Himara. No road goes to the beach itself. That's the whole point.

Drive: 45 minutes from Himara to the Gjipe trailhead parking Hike: 30 minutes down (easier); 40 minutes back up (harder) Boat alternative: from Himara harbor, 20 minutes each way — see Himara boat tours

Best time: start by 9am if driving and hiking. August midday is brutal for the hike back up. Essentials: water, sunscreen, hat, shoes you can walk in (not flip-flops)

Full detail in the Gjipe Beach guide.

3. Porto Palermo Castle (25 minutes)

An Ottoman-era castle on a peninsula 25 minutes south of Himara. The drive there is half the experience — a narrow road out onto the peninsula with water on both sides. The castle itself is small, compact, and can be walked in 45 minutes.

What's there:

• The castle (Ali Pasha's fortress, built on older foundations)
• A nearby abandoned submarine tunnel (a Cold War curiosity)
• A beach at the base of the castle — small, pebble, quiet

Best paired with: lunch in Qeparo on the way back, and a swim at Qeparo beach Worth it?: yes, for anyone interested in Ottoman history or military sites. Skip if castles bore you.

Full detail in Porto Palermo castle guide.

4. Qeparo Old Village (20 minutes)

Qeparo Old Village sits above the modern coastal town of Qeparo, about 20 minutes south of Himara. Stone houses, narrow lanes, a Byzantine-era church, and views over the Ionian that most Riviera viewpoints don't quite match. Almost no tourism infrastructure — a few small guesthouses, a kafene or two.

What to do: wander the lanes for an hour, find a family-run taverna for lunch, walk the hillside trails Best paired with: Porto Palermo Castle (5 minutes away) for a half-day combo Who it suits: travelers who want quiet and atmosphere rather than a checklist site

5. Saranda + Butrint UNESCO Site (75 minutes)

The biggest-bang-for-distance day trip. Saranda is 75 minutes south on the SH8 and hosts the Riviera's main city, plus Butrint (UNESCO World Heritage) — one of the Mediterranean's most intact Greco-Roman archaeological sites.

The day:

• 75 min drive Himara → Saranda
• 2–3 hours at Butrint (south of Saranda, 20 minutes further)
• Lunch in Saranda
• Optional Blue Eye detour on the way back (adds 40 min)
• Return to Himara in the afternoon

Essentials: leave by 8am, bring sunscreen and water, wear walking shoes for Butrint Skip if: heritage sites don't excite you (the beach is the point of the Riviera for many travelers)

6. Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër, 80 minutes)

A natural spring 80 minutes east of Himara, off the SH8 toward Gjirokaster. The "blue eye" is a 50+ meter deep pool where the spring surfaces — the color shift from dark blue center to turquoise edges is striking.

What to do: walk the short trail to the viewing platform, swim (brave — the water is 10°C year-round), eat at the small cafe Best paired with: Saranda day (Blue Eye is on the route) or a Gjirokaster day trip Realistic expectation: it's a 15-minute visit stretched to an hour by the cafe and photos. Don't go there alone for 3 hours.

7. Llogara Pass (40 minutes)

Not a destination so much as a drive. Llogara Pass is the dramatic mountain crossing north of Dhermi that descends from the Ceraunian range onto the Riviera. The viewpoint at the top gives you the panorama of the Ionian you see on every Albania tourism poster.

Best combined with: a morning drive to Llogara, breakfast at the top cafe, then continue to Vlora for lunch or back to Himara for dinner The experience: 20 minutes of climbing, a viewpoint stop, 20 minutes of descending Why go: if you're renting a car and want a driving experience, this is the drive

Full detail in Llogara Pass drive guide.

8. Borsh Beach (35 minutes)

Borsh is the Riviera's longest beach — roughly 7 km of pebble coast south of Himara and just past Piqeras. Not the most photogenic beach on the Riviera, but if you want space, walking, and a beach that isn't crowded even in August, Borsh delivers.

What's there: beach, a few tavernas, a handful of hotels Best for: travelers who've "done" the main beaches and want somewhere to walk without seeing another towel for a kilometer Skip if: you want beach-club atmosphere (Borsh is quiet by design)

Suggested Day-Trip Pairings

Don't try to do all eight in one trip. Here are efficient combinations:

What to Bring on Any Riviera Day Trip

• Water (1L per person minimum in summer)
• Sunscreen + hat
• Walking shoes for sites with any path (Gjipe, Butrint, Qeparo Village)
• Swimming clothes + towel (most day trips have a swim option)
• Cash in Albanian lek (many small sites only take cash)
• Phone fully charged — you'll be taking photos all day
• A spare layer for Llogara Pass (cooler at altitude even in summer)

Driving Tips for These Routes

• The SH8 is narrow and twisty. Drive daytime, stay right, overtake carefully.
• Parking at popular sites (Drymades, Porto Palermo) gets tight in August — arrive early.
• Fuel up in Himara before Gjipe or Saranda days; rural stations are less predictable.
• For Butrint specifically, double-check the park's closing time — it varies by season.

Full road-condition detail in Albania road conditions 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best day trip from Himara if I only have one day?

If beach-focused: Drymades. If adventure-focused: Gjipe. If heritage-focused: Saranda + Butrint. For most first-time visitors, Gjipe gives the most memorable single day.

Can I reach these day trips without a car?

Most require a car or scooter. Drymades and Porto Palermo are reachable by taxi at reasonable cost. Gjipe requires either a boat from Himara or a drive + hike — no public transport option. Saranda has bus connections.

How far is Saranda from Himara?

About 75 minutes by car on the SH8 coastal road — roughly 75 km. Buses run the same route in ~90 minutes.

Can I combine Porto Palermo and Qeparo in one day trip?

Yes. They're 5 minutes apart. A half-day plan — morning Porto Palermo, lunch in Qeparo Old Village, afternoon return to Himara — is one of the most efficient combinations on the southern Riviera.

Which day trip is best for families with kids?

Porto Palermo + Qeparo (easy, short drives, interesting without being strenuous) or Borsh Beach (space to run around). Avoid Gjipe with young children — the hike back up is significant.

Also See

• Drymades Beach guide
• Gjipe Beach guide
• Porto Palermo day trip from Himara
• Llogara Pass drive guide
• Himara to Saranda transport
• Albanian Riviera things to do