If you're planning a night out and wondering about himara nightlife cost, the short answer is: shockingly affordable. Himara (Greek: Χειμάρρα, Albanian: Himarë) is one of the few Mediterranean beach towns where you can drink proper cocktails on a rooftop with sea views, dance at a beach club until sunrise, and take a taxi home — all without flinching at the bill. A full night out here costs less than a single round at most European beach resorts. Here's exactly what you'll spend, broken down by category, so you can budget with real numbers instead of vague promises of "cheap Albania."
Quick Cost Summary
| Category | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktail | 600–900 ALL | 6€–9 |
| Beer (draft) | 200–350 ALL | 2€–3.50 |
| Wine (glass) | 300–500 ALL | 3€–5 |
| Espresso martini / specialty | 800–1,200 ALL | 8€–12 |
| Cover charge | 0 ALL | 0€ |
| Beach club sunbed minimum | 500–1,000 ALL | 5€–10 |
| Taxi (town center to Livadhi) | 500–800 ALL | 5€–8 |
| Taxi (town to Jale Beach, late night) | 2,000–3,000 ALL | 20€–30 |
| Tip (standard) | Round up or 5–10% | — |
The currency is the Albanian lek (ALL), and the exchange rate hovers around 1€ ≈ 100 ALL. Most bars in the town center accept cards, but beach bars are often cash-only. Bring lek.
Cocktail Prices
Cocktails in Himara run 600–900 ALL (6€–9) at most bars. That's for a properly mixed drink — a gin and tonic, an Aperol spritz, a mojito — served at a place with actual ambiance, not a tourist trap with plastic chairs.
Here's what to expect at specific venues:
| Venue | Cocktail Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mojo Cocktails Bar | 500–800 ALL (5€–8) | Best value on the waterfront |
| Lido Lounge | 800–1,200 ALL (8€–12) | Higher end, drops during happy hour (1–8 PM) |
| Locca Rooftop | 600–800 ALL (6€–8) | Same prices as boulevard bars — remarkable for the views |
| Thea Rooftop | 600–900 ALL (6€–9) | Open until 3 AM, no markup for late hours |
| UMI Sushi & Cocktail | 700–900 ALL (7€–9) | Happy hour 6–7 PM drops prices by ~30% |
| Coba Rooftop | 600–900 ALL (6€–9) | Deep house included, no surcharge |
| Havana Beach Club | 700–1,000 ALL (7€–10) | Spile beach, DJ sets on weekends |
The happy hour play: Lido Lounge runs happy hour from 1 to 8 PM — that's a seven-hour window. UMI does 6 to 7 PM. If you time your first drinks around these windows, you'll save 200–400 ALL per cocktail. A 700 ALL gin and tonic at UMI drops to around 500 ALL during happy hour. That's a 5€ cocktail on a rooftop at sunset. Good luck finding that in Croatia.
Specialty cocktails — espresso martinis, signature house creations, anything with premium spirits — push into the 800–1,200 ALL (8€–12) range. Still less than a basic mojito in Dubrovnik or Mykonos.
For a full breakdown of every bar, see our Himara nightlife guide.
Beer & Wine Prices
Beer and wine are where Himara's value becomes almost absurd.
| Drink | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Draft beer (Korca, Tirana) | 200–300 ALL | 2€–3 |
| Imported beer (Heineken, Peroni) | 300–400 ALL | 3€–4 |
| Craft / specialty beer | 400–500 ALL | 4€–5 |
| House wine (glass) | 300–400 ALL | 3€–4 |
| Better Albanian wine (glass) | 400–600 ALL | 4€–6 |
| Wine bottle (restaurant/bar) | 1,500–3,000 ALL | 15€–30 |
A 250 ALL draft Korca at a beachside bar is one of the best deals in European nightlife. Albanian wines are underrated — the reds from Berat and the whites from the coast are genuinely good, and a glass at 400 ALL is cheaper than the price of a tip at a London wine bar.
Pro tip: If you're on a tight budget, stick to beer and local wine. You can have a full evening — four or five drinks — for 1,000–1,500 ALL (10€–15). That's a night out for the price of a single cocktail in Santorini.
Cover Charges
There are none. Zero. Not a single bar, rooftop, beach club, or dance spot in Himara charges a cover fee. Not Rescue @ The Beach (the closest thing to a proper club), not BOHO Livadh on a packed Saturday night, not any rooftop bar. You walk in, you sit down, you order when you're ready.
This is standard across the Albanian Riviera. The concept of paying to enter a bar simply doesn't exist here. If you're coming from places like Ibiza, Hvar, or even Athens, this alone shifts the economics of a night out significantly.
Beach Club Minimums & Sunbed Costs
Beach clubs in Himara don't operate on the minimum-spend model that's common in Greece or Croatia. There's no "spend 50€ to keep your sunbed" pressure. That said, some beach clubs during peak season (July–August) have soft minimums — they expect you to at least order a drink or two if you're using their loungers.
| Beach Club | Sunbed Cost | Minimum Spend | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havana Beach Club (Spile) | 500–800 ALL (5€–8) | None enforced | DJ sets, social |
| Rescue @ The Beach (Himara Beach) | Free with drinks | Order a drink | Club energy after dark |
| BOHO Livadh (Livadhi) | 500–1,000 ALL (5€–10) | Soft minimum ~1 drink | Premier beach club |
Compare this to Dhermi's beach clubs — Folie Marine or Puro — where a sunbed can run 2,000–3,000 ALL (20€–30) with enforced minimums. Himara's beach club scene delivers the atmosphere without the financial gatekeeping. For a broader look at beach options, see our beach clubs guide.
Taxi Costs at Night
Taxis in Himara are where costs can surprise you if you're not prepared. The town itself is walkable — every rooftop bar and cocktail bar in the center is within a 10-minute walk of each other. But beach bars and beach clubs require transport, and late-night taxis charge a premium.
| Route | Daytime Price | Late Night Price (after midnight) |
|---|---|---|
| Town center ↔ Livadhi Beach | 300–500 ALL (3€–5) | 500–800 ALL (5€–8) |
| Town center ↔ Spile promenade | 200–300 ALL (2€–3) | 300–500 ALL (3€–5) |
| Town center ↔ Potam Beach | 300–500 ALL (3€–5) | 500–800 ALL (5€–8) |
| Town center ↔ Jale Beach | 1,500–2,000 ALL (15€–20) | 2,000–3,000 ALL (20€–30) |
| Town center ↔ Llaman Beach | 300–500 ALL (3€–5) | 500–800 ALL (5€–8) |
The Jale problem: Jale Beach is a 20-minute drive from Himara center. If you go to Favela Beach for a DJ night and need a taxi back at 2 AM, expect to pay 2,000–3,000 ALL (20€–30). That single ride costs more than your entire evening of drinks. Plan accordingly — either drive (designate a sober driver) or stay somewhere closer.
Taxi tips:
- There's no Uber or Bolt in Himara. Taxis are informal — ask your hotel or bar staff to call one.
- Agree on a price before getting in. There are no meters.
- Late-night availability is limited. After 1 AM, taxis become scarce. If you're at BOHO Livadh or Rescue until 3 AM, arrange your ride in advance.
- Splitting a taxi with other bar-goers is common and expected. A 500 ALL ride split four ways is 125 ALL each — basically free.
For more on getting around, see our practical info guide and getting around Himara.
Tipping at Bars
Tipping in Albania is appreciated but not expected the way it is in the US. At bars and beach clubs in Himara:
- Standard: Round up to the nearest 100 ALL. A 750 ALL tab? Leave 800.
- Good service: 5–10% on the total bill.
- Table service at beach clubs: 10% is generous and will be noticed.
- At the bar (standing): Rounding up or leaving small change is enough.
Nobody will chase you down for not tipping. Nobody will give you a look. But bartenders in Himara work long hours through brutal summer heat, and a small tip goes a long way — 100 ALL means more here than it does elsewhere.
Budget Night Out vs. Splurge Night Out
Here's what an evening actually looks like at two different price points.
Budget Night: ~2,000–3,000 ALL (20€–30)
| Time | Activity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 PM | Sunset from Locca Rooftop — 2 beers | 500 ALL |
| 8:30 PM | Walk to Spile, gyros from a street spot | 400 ALL |
| 9:30 PM | Mojo Cocktails Bar — 1 cocktail | 600 ALL |
| 10:30 PM | Walk along the promenade, maybe one more beer | 250 ALL |
| 11:30 PM | Walk home (everything's in the center) | 0 ALL |
| Total | ~1,750 ALL (17.50€) |
You just had a four-drink evening with sunset views, street food, and a waterfront cocktail for under 20€. That's the Himara promise.
Splurge Night: ~8,000–12,000 ALL (80€–120)
| Time | Activity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 PM | UMI happy hour — 2 cocktails + sushi rolls | 1,500 ALL |
| 7:30 PM | Taxi to Lido Lounge — 2 cocktails each | 2,000 ALL |
| 9:00 PM | Dinner at a seafront restaurant — wine included | 3,000 ALL |
| 10:30 PM | Taxi to BOHO Livadh | 500 ALL |
| 11:00 PM | BOHO — 3 cocktails, beach club until 2 AM | 2,500 ALL |
| 2:00 AM | Taxi back to town | 700 ALL |
| Total | ~10,200 ALL (102€) |
That's a six-hour evening with happy hour cocktails, proper dinner, a beach club, taxis, and nine drinks — for roughly 100€. In Mykonos, that's the price of getting past the door.
How Himara Compares
| Expense | Himara | Dhermi | Saranda | Dubrovnik | Mykonos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocktail | 6€–9 | 8€–12 | 5€–8 | 12€–18 | 15€–25 |
| Beer | 2€–3.50 | 3€–5 | 2€–3 | 5€–7 | 7€–10 |
| Cover charge | 0€ | 0€ | 0€ | 0€–10 | 10€–30 |
| Taxi (short) | 3€–5 | 5€–10 | 3€–5 | 8€–12 | 10€–15 |
| Full night out | 20€–50 | 30€–60 | 20€–40 | 60€–120 | 100€–200+ |
Himara sits in the sweet spot: cheaper than Dhermi (which has fancier beach clubs with higher markups), comparable to Saranda, and a fraction of anything in Croatia or Greece. For more on budgeting your trip, see our Himara on a budget guide.
FAQ
How much does a night out cost in Himara?
A budget night out runs 2,000–3,000 ALL (20€–30) including a few drinks and street food. A mid-range evening with cocktails and dinner costs 4,000–6,000 ALL (40€–60). Going all out with beach clubs, taxis, and multiple venues tops out around 10,000–12,000 ALL (100€–120). No venue charges a cover fee.
Are cocktails expensive in Himara?
Not at all. Standard cocktails cost 600–900 ALL (6€–9), and happy hours at Lido Lounge (1–8 PM) and UMI (6–7 PM) drop prices further. Specialty drinks max out around 1,200 ALL (12€). These are proper cocktails at bars with views — not watered-down tourist traps.
Do I need cash for nightlife in Himara?
Mostly yes. Town-center bars and rooftops increasingly accept cards, but beach bars and beach clubs are often cash-only. ATMs are available in Himara center. Carry at least 3,000–5,000 ALL (30€–50) in cash for a night out. The Albania cash vs card guide covers this in detail.
How much do taxis cost in Himara at night?
Short rides within town run 300–500 ALL (3€–5) during the day, rising to 500–800 ALL (5€–8) after midnight. The expensive exception is Jale Beach — a late-night taxi back costs 2,000–3,000 ALL (20€–30). There's no Uber or Bolt, so ask your hotel or bartender to arrange a ride.
Is there a cover charge at Himara bars?
No. Zero venues in Himara charge a cover fee — not the rooftop bars, not the beach clubs, not Rescue @ The Beach (the main dance spot). This is standard across the Albanian Riviera. You pay only for what you drink.
Explore the full nightlife scene in Himara, check out the complete Himara nightlife guide for bar reviews and recommendations, or plan your spending with our Himara on a budget breakdown.
