Potam · Himarë · Albania
One road
between your
balcony and
the water.
A family-run hotel on the coast road at Potam, on the southern edge of Himarë. Three floors of balconies face the Ionian across a single strip of tarmac; the hotel's own umbrellas and loungers are on the pebbles opposite, and the kitchen underneath has been cooking for the village since 2008.
The whole distance
Five beaches inside a kilometre and a half, and the first is across the tarmac.
The umbrellas and the loungers on the pebbles opposite belong to the hotel, and they come with the room rather than by the day. Cross the coast road and they are already set out.
- Prinos50m — the closest
- Potam150m
- Maracit250m
- Spille750m
- Gjiri i Filikurit1.4km
Seven rooms, one decision
Which way do you want to face?
Every room type at Dhima is sold by its aspect. Everything else — the air conditioning, the fridge, the bathroom, the satellite television — is the same on both sides of the building.
Facing the water
Sea
Balconies on the front of the building, over the coast road and straight on to the water. Three types, all with a balcony.
Facing the ridge
Mountain
The inland face, over the olive terraces to the limestone ridge behind Potam. Quieter on an August weekend, and one of the four has no balcony.
Downstairs, and open to the village
The kitchen has been cooking here since 2008.
Greek and Italian, a copper-domed oven at the back, and a terrace that fills up on an August evening whether or not you are staying upstairs. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, high tea and cocktails — and vegetarian dishes on request.
What comes out of it
Sea bream, whole and grilled
Ceviche
Frutti di mare
Prawn risotto
The mark on the sign
A copper D, cut through, hanging over the terrace since the restaurant opened.
It reads Dhima Hotel · Restaurant – Pizzeria under three stars, and it has been the only piece of design the family ever needed. Here it is, with the sea showing through.
What is here
What comes with the room
The hotel has its own stretch of beach opposite, with umbrellas and loungers set out through the season.
Every room has air conditioning, heating, a fridge, a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer, a flat-screen television with satellite channels, and a mosquito net. All but one have a balcony.
There is a restaurant, a bar and a coffee house on the ground floor, room service upstairs, and packed lunches if you are out for the day. Special diets are cooked to order on request.
WiFi is free throughout the building. There is a lift to every floor, a shared lounge, baggage storage, express check-in and check-out, and a laundry service.
The building is wheelchair accessible and the upper floors are reached by the lift. Rooms are non-smoking, and there are family rooms that sleep five.
Breakfast is included with every room. Greek, English and Albanian are spoken at the desk.
The practical part
Worth knowing before you book
- The hotel takes cash, in the rooms and in the restaurant. There are ATMs in Himarë town, a ten to fifteen minute walk along the coast road.
- Pets are not allowed.
- Check-in runs from 13:00 to 20:00, and it helps to say in advance roughly when you will arrive. Check-out is between 07:00 and 11:00.
- The minimum age at check-in is 18. Children of all ages are welcome, and cribs are free on request.
- Potam is a lively strip in high summer. The street and the beach carry on late on Friday and Saturday nights in August; the mountain-facing rooms are the quieter side of the building.
- The bathrooms are not all the same age. Several have been redone in marble and others have not, so ask which one you are getting if it matters.
- The Triple Room with Mountain View is the one room type without a balcony.
- Location9.2
- Free WiFi9.0
- Cleanliness8.8
- Comfort8.7
- Staff8.5
- Value for money8.4
- Facilities8.3
Within reach
Around Potam
150 m
Potam Beach
The long pebble curve the village takes its name for — clear water, thatched umbrellas, and a row of beach bars that keep going after dark.
A ten to fifteen minute walk
Himarë Town & Spile
The town beach, the harbour and the promenade where Himarë gathers each evening. Guests walk it rather than drive it.
Above the old town
Himarë Castle
The hilltop Kastro — stone lanes, Byzantine churches, and a view that takes in the whole coastline at once.
South along the coast road
Porto Palermo Castle
Ali Pasha's triangular fortress on its own peninsula, with a sheltered bay on either side of it.
North, on foot or by boat
Gjipe Beach
A cove where a limestone canyon meets the sea, reached down a steep track or — far easier — by boat from Himarë.
North of Himarë
Livadhi Beach
The wide bay on the far side of town, and a long open sweep of shingle once you are on it.
Getting here
On the SH8, the beach opposite
Potam sits on the coast road just south of Himarë town. The hotel is on the inland side, under the flat white canopy with the terrace beneath it, and the beach is straight across.
- SH8, Potam, Himarë 9425
- 40.0970° N, 19.7538° E
- 3QW3+QG Himarë, Albania
- 13:00 – 20:00 · 07:00 – 11:00
- Cash only
Before you book
Questions people actually ask
How far is Dhima Hotel from the beach?
The water is directly opposite the front door, across the coast road. Prinos Beach is 50 metres away, Potam Beach 150 metres and Maracit Beach 250 metres. The hotel's own umbrellas and loungers are on the pebbles at Prinos, and it is a single road to cross to reach them.
Are the sunbeds and umbrellas included?
Yes. Dhima Hotel has a private beach area on the pebbles opposite, and the umbrella and loungers there come with the room rather than being charged for by the day. They are set out through the season, so there is no need to book or pay for a bed on arrival.
Is there a restaurant at Dhima Hotel?
Yes — Restaurant Dhima occupies the ground floor and its terrace, and it is open to visitors as well as to guests. The kitchen cooks Greek and Italian, has a copper-domed pizza oven, and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, high tea and cocktails. Vegetarian dishes are available.
Do the rooms have sea views?
Some do. Dhima Hotel has seven room types and each is sold by which way it faces: Double, Twin and Family rooms with a balcony and a sea view, the same three facing the mountain, and a Triple Room with a mountain view. Sea-facing rooms look across the coast road to the water.
How do I get to Potam and Himarë?
Potam sits on the SH8 coast road just south of Himarë town, in Vlorë County. Most guests arrive by car or on the coastal bus along the SH8, and ferries from Corfu land at Sarandë further down the coast. The hotel stands on the inland side of the road at 40.0970° N, 19.7538° E, with the beach directly opposite.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in at Dhima Hotel runs from 13:00 to 20:00. It helps to say in advance roughly what time you will arrive so someone is on the desk to meet you. Check-out is between 07:00 and 11:00. The minimum age at check-in is 18, and children of all ages are welcome.
Does Dhima Hotel take cards?
The hotel takes cash, for the room and for the restaurant, so plan to settle both that way. There are ATMs in Himarë town, a ten to fifteen minute walk north along the coast road, and more of them around the harbour and the Spile promenade.
Is Dhima Hotel a good place to stay in Himarë?
Guests on Booking.com score Dhima Hotel 8.4 out of 10, Very Good, and rate the location 9.2 — its strongest mark. It is a three-star family hotel rather than a resort: the appeal is being across one road from the water, with the umbrellas included and the kitchen downstairs.
Are pets allowed at Dhima Hotel?
No — pets are not allowed at Dhima Hotel. If you are travelling the Albanian Riviera with a dog, there are guesthouses along the same stretch of the SH8 at Potam and Himarë that do take them, and it is worth arranging one before you set out in high season.
When is the best time to stay at Potam?
June and September give warm sea without August's crowds, and the restaurant terrace is easier to get a table on. July and August are the busiest months, and the strip carries on late on Friday and Saturday nights; a mountain-facing room is the quieter side of the building then.