What Porto Palermo Bay Is
Porto Palermo Bay is the deeply sheltered inlet on the southern Albanian Riviera, about 12 km south of Himara. It's the most history-dense single location on the Albanian coast accessible by boat from Himara, packing three distinct attractions into one half-day tour:
- Ali Pasha's Castle — triangular fortress with three round corner bastions, built early 19th century on the central peninsula
- Submarine Tunnel — 650-metre Cold War-era naval bunker at the northern end, built 1969–1988 with initial Chinese assistance
- Five inner coves plus Porto Palermo Beach, all sheltered behind the bay's geometry
It's also the bay you go to when sea conditions block northern routes. The peninsula and surrounding cliffs shield the inner waters from open-Ionian swell, so Porto Palermo tours keep running on days when Pirate's Cave and Grama Bay tours cancel.
Position and Geometry
Bay opens at coordinates 40°3′36″N, 19°47′6″E (40.06°N, 19.785°E). Inside:
- Central peninsula — sandy beach, camper parking, and Ali Pasha's castle. Three round bastions at the corners. Origin date debated; some Venetian/Turkish foundations possibly date to 1662, but the present structure is the early-19th-century rebuild by Ali Pasha to control the local Himara population
- Submarine tunnel — northern end. 650 m+ long, 12 m high. Built to house four 75-metre Whiskey-class submarines with internal supply systems. Soviet origin (Whiskey subs delivered to Albania post-1955), Chinese-assisted tunnel construction, Albanian-finished after the 1961 Soviet split
- Eastern shoreline — rocky, with the natural Porto Palermo Cave and access to the inner coves
- Southern end — Porto Palermo Beach
- Five inner coves — small private bays with the bay's clearest swim water, included on private and longer charters
What the Half-Day Tour Looks Like
A typical Porto Palermo tour from Himara, in order:
- Departure — ~25-min coastal run south from Himara's mini-dock
- Bay approach — peninsula and castle come into view
- Castle — slow circumnavigation of the peninsula, photo stops
- Submarine tunnel — boat to the entrance, brief explanation, photos
- Porto Palermo Cave — 10–15 min photo stop on the eastern shoreline
- Swim stop — usually one of the inner coves or Porto Palermo Beach
- Return — ~25-min run back to Himara
Total: 3–4 hours. Pricing €20–40 per person on shared tours, €120–200 on small private charters.
Why It's a Reliable Tour
The bay's protected geometry makes Porto Palermo the most weather-tolerant of all Himara boat tours.
| Sea state | Northern tours (Pirate's, Grama) | Porto Palermo |
|---|---|---|
| Calm | Both | Both |
| Light NW wind | Both | Both |
| Moderate NW (15–20 kt) | Routes shorten | Unaffected |
| Heavy NW (20+ kt) | Cancelled | Usually still runs |
| South wind (Sirocco) | Variable | Bay still mostly sheltered |
Operators sometimes book a Porto Palermo tour as the default choice for risk-averse travellers or for groups with seasickness concerns. The bay is also a popular sunset cruise destination because the calm water and dramatic castle silhouette photograph well in evening light.
Bookable Tour Variants
- Porto Palermo half-day from Himara (3–4 hrs) — castle, tunnel, cave, swim stop. €20–40/person
- Porto Palermo private charter — same itinerary plus extended time at the inner coves. €120–250 small group
- Sunset cruise — afternoon departure, castle and bay at golden hour. €25–35/person
- Coastline + Porto Palermo combo — full-day southbound including Filikuri and Llamani
Beyond the Boat: Overland Visits
Many visitors combine the boat tour with overland visits the same week. The castle is accessible to tourists for a fee; the submarine tunnel is sometimes accessible via guided overland tours when the military restriction allows. See our companion articles for the overland-side details.
