Himara (Greek: Χειμάρρα, Albanian: Himarë) is one of Europe's best beach destinations that won't destroy your wallet. Crystal-clear Ionian water, uncrowded coves, fresh seafood, and a laid-back atmosphere — all at a fraction of what you'd pay in Croatia or the Greek islands. Whether you're backpacking on 30€ a day or treating yourself to a proper holiday, Himara delivers more per euro than almost anywhere on the Albanian Riviera. Here's exactly what everything costs and how to stretch your money further.
Daily Budget Breakdown
| Category | Budget (30€–50/day) | Mid-Range (70€–120/day) | Luxury (200€+/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Hostel dorm or basic guesthouse (11€–25) | Boutique hotel or apartment (40€–90) | Luxury hotel with pool & spa (150€–350) |
| Food | Street food + self-catering (8€–15) | Mix of restaurants + cafes (20€–35) | Fine dining + cocktails (50€–80) |
| Transport | Walk + occasional bus (0€–3) | Scooter rental (20€) | Rental car (30€) |
| Beaches | Free access, bring your own towel (0€) | Sunbed at a nice beach (5€–10) | Premium sunbed + boat taxi (15€–30) |
| Activities | Free hikes + exploring (0€–5) | Group boat tour (30€) | Private boat + diving (100€+) |
| Drinks | Coffee + a beer (3€–5) | Cocktails + wine (8€–15) | Rooftop bar rounds (20€–40) |
These are real daily costs based on current prices. The currency in Albania is the lek (ALL), and the exchange rate is roughly 1€ ≈ 100 ALL. Euros are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and tour operators, but you'll get better value paying in lek.
Accommodation Costs
Himara has options at every price point. The town is compact enough that location rarely matters — you're always close to a beach.
| Type | Price Range | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | 11€–20/night | Clean, social, free breakfast at some. Himara Downtown Hostel is the standout. |
| Budget guesthouse | 25€–40/night | Private room, often family-run, local character. |
| Mid-range hotel | 40€–90/night | Sea-view balconies, AC, some with pools. |
| Boutique hotel | 70€–130/night | Rooftop bars, small spas, curated feel. |
| Luxury hotel/resort | 150€–350/night | Infinity pools, spas, fine dining, beachfront. |
Budget tip: Shoulder season (June and September) prices drop 30–50% compared to peak July–August. A 90€/night boutique hotel in August might run 45€ in June. For a detailed breakdown of the best options at every price point, see our where to stay guide and full hotel listings.
Budget tip: Apartments with kitchenettes (bookable on Booking.com) often cost the same as a basic hotel room but let you save on food by cooking breakfast and lunch. A week in a 30€/night apartment with a kitchen can save you 100€+ on meals versus eating out every time.
Food & Drink Costs
Eating in Himara is affordable across the board. Street food is genuinely cheap, sit-down restaurants are reasonable, and even upscale dining is a fraction of Western European prices.
Typical Food Prices
| Item | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Gyros / souvlaki wrap | 300–500 ALL | 3€–5 |
| Pizza (whole) | 500–800 ALL | 5€–8 |
| Restaurant main course | 800–1,500 ALL | 8€–15 |
| Seafood platter | 1,200–2,000 ALL | 12€–20 |
| Fine dining main | 2,000–3,000 ALL | 20€–30 |
| Coffee (espresso/macchiato) | 100–150 ALL | 1€–1.50 |
| Beer (local, at a bar) | 200–400 ALL | 2€–4 |
| Gelato (1 scoop) | 150–250 ALL | 1€.50–2.50 |
| Bottle of water (shop) | 50–80 ALL | 0€.50–0.80 |
Budget day of eating (8€–15): Bakery pastry for breakfast (100–200 ALL), gyros for lunch (400 ALL), a simple pasta or grilled meat for dinner (800–1,000 ALL), and a coffee (100 ALL). Total: roughly 1,400–1,700 ALL (14€–17). Drop that further by buying bread, tomatoes, and cheese from a mini-market for lunch.
Mid-range day of eating (20€–35): Cafe breakfast with eggs and coffee (500 ALL), a proper restaurant lunch with a beer (1,200 ALL), gelato in the afternoon (200 ALL), and a nice seafood dinner with wine (2,000–2,500 ALL). Total: roughly 3,900–4,400 ALL (39€–44) — but you can easily trim this to 25€–30 by skipping one restaurant meal.
Where to eat well on a budget: The gyros shops along the promenade serve enormous wraps for 400–500 ALL. The bakeries (furrë buke) sell byrek (savory pie) for 100–150 ALL — that's a filling breakfast for 1€. For sit-down meals, check our best restaurants guide and full restaurant listings for specific recommendations at every price point.
Tipping: Not expected in Albania. If the service was genuinely good, leaving 10% is appreciated but nobody will look at you sideways for not tipping.
Beach Costs
Here's the best part: all beaches in Albania are free to access by law. Nobody can charge you for entering a beach or walking along the shore. The only costs are optional sunbed and umbrella rentals.
| Beach Item | Price (ALL) | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Beach access | Free | Free |
| Sunbed + umbrella (basic beach) | 500–1,000 ALL | 5€–10 |
| Sunbed + umbrella (premium beach club) | 1,500–2,000 ALL | 15€–20 |
| Gjipe Beach parking | 400 ALL | 4€ |
| Kayak rental (per hour) | 500–1,000 ALL | 5€–10 |
Budget tip: Bring your own towel and lie on the free section of the beach. Every beach has areas without sunbeds. The town beaches (Spile, Potami) have plenty of free space. At Livadhi Beach, the western end is less developed and has large stretches of open pebble.
Budget tip: Himara's best beaches cost nothing to reach on foot. Spile Beach is a 1-minute walk from the promenade. Filikuri, one of the most beautiful coves on the coast, is a free 20-minute hike from town. See all options in our beach guide and beaches directory.
Transport Costs
Himara itself is walkable. Everything in town — beaches, restaurants, the promenade, the old castle — is within a 15-minute walk. Transport costs only matter for getting there and for day trips to more remote beaches.
Getting to Himara
| Route | Transport | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tirana → Himara | Bus | ~15€ (1,500 ALL) | 4–5 hours |
| Saranda → Himara | Bus / minibus | 8€–10 (800–1,000 ALL) | 1.5 hours |
| Vlora → Himara | Bus / minibus | 8€–10 (800–1,000 ALL) | 2 hours |
Buses run daily but schedules are informal — confirm times locally or at your accommodation. See our full getting here guide for details on routes, schedules, and alternatives.
Getting Around Himara
| Option | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Town, Spile Beach, Old Town, promenade |
| Scooter rental | ~20€/day (2,000 ALL) | Day trips to nearby beaches |
| Car rental | ~30€/day (3,000 ALL) | Flexibility, multiple beach stops, families |
| Boat taxi to Gjipe/Filikuri | 5€–10/person | Remote beaches without hiking |
Budget tip: If you're staying 3+ days, a scooter at 20€/day is the most cost-effective way to explore. You can hit Gjipe, Jale, Dhermi, and Livadhi without relying on taxis. Split a car rental with travel companions and it can drop below 10€/person per day.
Budget tip: Many beaches are reachable by foot or short hike. Filikuri is a 20-minute hike, Llamani is a 5-minute drive (or 20-minute walk from Livadhi). Save the scooter/car for days when you want to go further afield — Dhermi, Drymades, or Porto Palermo.
Activities & Excursion Costs
Himara's biggest advantage: the best activities are cheap or free. Hiking, swimming, exploring the old castle, and watching sunsets cost nothing.
| Activity | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking (Gjipe canyon, Old Town, coastal trails) | Free | Some of the best hikes on the Riviera |
| Swimming & snorkeling | Free | Bring your own mask, or buy one for 500–1,000 ALL |
| Old Town / Himara Castle | Free | Walk up from the promenade, panoramic views |
| Group boat tour (half day) | ~30€/person | Visits 3–4 beaches, swimming stops |
| Private boat charter | 200€+/boat | Full-day, customizable, 4–8 people |
| Scuba diving (intro dive) | From 110€ | PADI-certified operators |
| Paragliding | 99€–145 | Tandem flight, launch from the mountains above Himara |
| Kayak rental | 5€–10/hour | Available at Spile and Livadhi beaches |
For the full rundown of what to do, see our activities page and boat tours guide.
Budget tip: The group boat tour at 30€/person is the single best-value excursion. You visit multiple otherwise-hard-to-reach beaches (Gjipe, Filikuri), swim in open water, and typically get 4–5 hours on the water. It's cheaper than renting a car and more memorable.
Budget tip: Paragliding at 99€–145 sounds expensive, but consider that the same activity costs 180€–250 in Turkey or Switzerland. If you're going to do it anywhere, this is the place.
Money-Saving Tips
1. Travel in Shoulder Season (June or September)
This is the single biggest money saver. Accommodation drops 30–50%, restaurants are less crowded (faster service, sometimes better food), and the beaches are emptier. Weather is still excellent — daily highs of 25–30°C and warm water.
2. Pay in Lek, Not Euros
While euros are accepted nearly everywhere, the conversion rate at shops and restaurants is often rounded against you. Withdraw lek from ATMs and pay in local currency. You'll save 3–8% on most transactions.
ATM warning: ATMs in Himara sometimes run dry during peak season, especially on weekends. Carry a cash backup — either euros to exchange or extra lek withdrawn in Tirana or Saranda before arriving. Check our practical info page for more details.
3. Self-Cater Breakfast and Lunch
Buy bread, tomatoes, feta, and fruit from the mini-markets. Himara has several small grocery shops where a day's food costs 300–500 ALL (3€–5). Save the restaurant budget for dinner, when the promenade atmosphere makes dining out worth every lek.
4. Bring Beach Essentials
A beach towel, snorkel mask, and reusable water bottle save you 5€–15 per day on sunbed rentals, gear rentals, and bottled water. These are small costs individually, but over a week they add up to 50€–100.
5. Walk and Hike
Himara is walkable. The castle, the promenade, Spile Beach, and the old town are all connected on foot. For a proper adventure, hike to Filikuri Beach or down the Gjipe canyon — both free, both unforgettable.
6. Eat Where Locals Eat
The gyros stands and bakeries along side streets serve better food at lower prices than the waterfront restaurants. Ask your host where they eat — you'll end up at places charging 500–800 ALL for a meal that costs 1,200+ ALL on the promenade.
7. Share Costs
Scooter rental, car rental, private boat charters, and even sunbed pairs all become dramatically cheaper when split. A 200€ private boat charter for 6 people is 33€/person — barely more than a group tour but fully customizable.
8. Use Cash for Small Purchases
Card acceptance has improved, but many small shops, bakeries, and beach vendors are cash-only. Carrying cash avoids the frustrating situation of paying a markup at the one place that takes cards, or walking 10 minutes to find an ATM.
Himara vs Other European Beach Towns
How does Himara actually compare? Here's a side-by-side with popular Mediterranean alternatives.
| Expense (per day) | Himara, Albania | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Santorini, Greece | Algarve, Portugal | Amalfi Coast, Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget hotel/hostel | 11€–40 | 30€–80 | 40€–100 | 25€–60 | 40€–100 |
| Restaurant meal | 8€–15 | 20€–35 | 18€–30 | 12€–22 | 18€–35 |
| Beer at a bar | 2€–4 | 5€–7 | 5€–8 | 3€–5 | 5€–8 |
| Coffee | 1€–1.50 | 2€–3.50 | 3€–5 | 1€.50–2.50 | 2€–3 |
| Sunbed rental | 5€–10 | 15€–25 | 15€–30 | 10€–20 | 20€–35 |
| Local bus ride | 1€–2 | 2€–4 | 2€–3 | 2€–4 | 3€–6 |
| Group boat tour | 30€ | 50€–80 | 60€–100 | 40€–60 | 60€–100 |
| Budget daily total | 30€–50 | 70€–120 | 80€–140 | 50€–80 | 80€–150 |
Himara consistently comes in at 40–60% cheaper than comparable Mediterranean destinations. The water quality matches or beats most of these places. The main trade-off is less developed infrastructure — fewer luxury brand shops, less nightlife, rougher roads. For most travelers, that's a feature, not a bug.
Sample Budget Itineraries
Backpacker: 7 Days for ~250€ (35€/day)
- Accommodation: Hostel dorm, 15€/night = 105€
- Food: Street food + self-catering, 12€/day = 84€
- Transport: Bus to Himara (15€) + walking = 15€
- Activities: Free hikes, one group boat tour (30€) = 30€
- Drinks & extras: 2€–3/day = 16€
- Total: ~250€
Mid-Range Couple: 7 Days for ~1€,200 (85€/day per person)
- Accommodation: Boutique hotel, 80€/night = 560€
- Food: Mix of restaurants + cafes, 50€/day = 350€
- Transport: Scooter 4 days (80€) + bus to Himara (30€ for two) = 110€
- Activities: Boat tour (60€), paragliding for one (120€) = 180€
- Total: ~1€,200 (600€/person)
Luxury: 7 Days for ~3€,000+ (215€/day per person)
- Accommodation: Luxury hotel, 250€/night = 1€,750
- Food: Fine dining + wine, 100€/day = 700€
- Transport: Rental car (210€) = 210€
- Activities: Private boat (200€), diving (110€), paragliding (145€) = 455€
- Total: ~3€,100 (1€,550/person)
Currency & Payment Practical Info
- Currency: Albanian lek (ALL). 1€ ≈ 100 ALL.
- Euros accepted: Yes, at most hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. But exchange rates are better at ATMs.
- ATMs: Available in Himara center, but they can run dry in peak season (July–August). Withdraw enough for 2–3 days, and carry a backup in euros.
- Cards: Accepted at hotels and larger restaurants. Smaller shops, bakeries, and beach vendors are often cash-only.
- Tipping: Not expected. 10% is appreciated for excellent service but entirely optional.
For more details on currency, safety, SIM cards, and other logistics, see our practical info page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need per day in Himara?
Budget travelers can get by on 30€–50/day including accommodation, food, and basic activities. Mid-range travelers should budget 70€–120/day for a comfortable trip with restaurant meals, a hotel room, and some excursions. Luxury travelers can spend 200€+/day on high-end hotels, fine dining, and private experiences.
Is Himara cheaper than Greece?
Yes, significantly. Comparable Greek island destinations (Santorini, Corfu, Zakynthos) cost 50–80% more for accommodation, food, and activities. Himara offers similar water quality and scenery at Albanian prices. A 35€/day budget in Himara would require 70€–90 in Greece.
Can I use euros in Himara?
Euros are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. However, you'll usually get a better exchange rate by withdrawing Albanian lek from ATMs. Small shops and bakeries generally prefer lek. Carry both currencies for flexibility.
Do ATMs work in Himara?
Yes, there are several ATMs in the town center. However, they can run out of cash during peak season weekends. Withdraw enough for a few days at a time, and bring backup cash (euros) in case ATMs are temporarily empty.
Is Himara expensive in August?
August is peak season and the most expensive month. Accommodation prices roughly double compared to June or September. Restaurants and activities stay about the same price year-round. If your dates are flexible, June and September offer the best balance of good weather and lower prices.
What's the cheapest way to get to Himara?
The bus from Tirana costs about 15€ and takes 4–5 hours. Buses from Saranda and Vlora are 8€–10. These are the most affordable options. Renting a car from Tirana gives you flexibility but costs 30€+/day plus fuel. Check our getting here guide for all options.
Are beaches really free in Albania?
Yes. By Albanian law, all beaches are public and free to access. You never pay an entrance fee. The only costs are optional sunbed and umbrella rentals (500–2,000 ALL / 5€–20), and parking at some beaches like Gjipe (400 ALL). You can always lay your own towel on the free section of any beach.
Is Himara safe for budget travelers?
Very safe. Himara is a small, quiet town with low crime. Solo travelers, backpackers, and families all feel comfortable here. The main "risks" are sunburn and overeating. Standard travel precautions apply — don't leave valuables unattended on the beach, keep an eye on your belongings in crowded buses.
