Aerial view of a turquoise cove with a boat and white-pebble beach on the Albanian Riviera near Himara

Cosa fare

Gite in barca alle grotte nascoste, immersioni nelle acque dello Ionio, trekking tra foreste alpine ed escursioni ai siti UNESCO.

Gite in barca

Grotte marine, calette irraggiungibili a piedi e soste per il bagno lungo la costa ionica.

Looking up through the natural rock skylight inside Pirate's Cave near Gjipe on the Albanian Riviera
boat-tour

Pirate's Cave Boat Tour

Half-day group boat tour from Himara dock visiting the iconic Pirate's Cave and Blue Cave, with swimming stops along the Ionian coastline.

2.5-4 hrs~30€/person
Pirate's CaveBlue CaveSwimming stops
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Tour boat anchored in the clear water of Grama Bay
boat-tour

Grama Bay Full Day Tour

Full-day boat excursion to Grama Bay, Aquarium Beach, and Crystal Bay with extended swimming and snorkeling time at each stop.

5-6 hrs~60€/person
Grama BayAquarium BeachCrystal Bay
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Golden-hour sun setting over the Ionian Sea behind the Ceraunian coastline, seen from a boat's wake off Himara
boat-tour

Sunset Cruise

Evening cruise along the Himara coastline timed for golden hour and sunset, with the Ceraunian Mountains dropping into the Ionian the whole way.

2.5-3 hrs
Sunset viewsCoastline
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Immersioni e snorkeling

Acque ioniche calde, operatori certificati e snorkeling lungo le piattaforme rocciose di Filikuri.

Clear turquoise water at Filikuri Beach, a snorkelling spot
diving

Snorkeling at Filikuri Beach

Self-guided snorkeling at Filikuri Beach, one of the best spots on the Albanian Riviera for underwater exploration with colorful fish and rocky formations.

Free (bring own gear)
Colorful fishRocky formationsClear turquoise water
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Trekking

Sentieri tra i pini di Llogara e percorsi nei canyon che scendono verso spiagge senza strada.

Hiking trail through pine forests in Llogara National Park
hiking

Llogara National Park Hiking

Multiple hiking trails through Llogara National Park, from easy walks at Caesar's Pass to the challenging full-day ascent of Mount Cika at 2,044 meters.

FreeApril-June & September-OctoberEasy to challenging
Mount Cika 2044mCaesar's PassFlag pines
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Narrow canyon trail leading to Gjipe Beach on the Albanian Riviera
hiking

Gjipe Canyon Trail

Scenic coastal trail from Vuno village through Gjipe Canyon to the secluded Gjipe Beach, with panoramic views of the Ionian coastline along the way.

1-2 hrsFree
Canyon walkBeachPanoramic views
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Parapendio

Vola sopra la Riviera albanese dalle alture del Passo di Llogara.

A tandem paraglider in flight above the white shingle and turquoise shallows of the Riviera coast
paragliding

Tandem Paragliding

Tandem paragliding flights launching from Llogara Pass at approximately 1,000 meters altitude, soaring over the Ionian coast with GoPro footage included.

99-145€July-October
1000m altitude15-30 min flightIonian coast views
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Sport acquatici

Kayak, paddleboard e la costa da esplorare con i tuoi ritmi.

Sea kayaking along the dramatic coastline between Himara and Gjipe Beach
water-sports

Sea Kayaking & SUP

Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals along the Himara coastline, with popular routes from Himara to Gjipe Beach and Porto Palermo Bay.

~30€/person
Himara to GjipePorto PalermoCoastal scenery
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Cultura e patrimonio

Secoli di storia tra castelli, chiese e antiche fortificazioni.

Stone walls and Byzantine church ruins at Himara Castle overlooking the coast
cultural

Himara Castle & Old Town

Walk through the historic old town perched on Barbaka hill to explore the castle fortifications dating to the 5th century BC, Byzantine churches with faded frescoes, and panoramic views stretching to Corfu.

Free to wander; a gate fee of about 300 ALL is collected some peak-season days
Byzantine churches5th century BC fortificationsPanoramic views
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Porto Palermo Castle on its peninsula overlooking the turquoise bay
cultural

Porto Palermo Castle

Visit the triangular fortress built by Ali Pasha of Tepelena in the early 19th century on a small peninsula, with preserved vaults and a nearby Cold War submarine tunnel.

300 ALL (~3€)
Ali Pasha fortressSubmarine tunnelBay views
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Athali Monastery on Athali Mountain above Himara with the Ionian Sea in the distance
cultural

Athali Monastery Hike

A moderate uphill hike from Himara's Spile neighborhood to the 18th-century Athali Monastery on Athali Mountain, offering some of the best panoramic views of the Ionian Sea and Corfu.

3-4 hrs round tripFree
18th-century frescoesPanoramic sea viewsAthali Mountain
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Escursioni in giornata

Siti UNESCO, sorgenti naturali e città di pietra a breve distanza da Himara.

Ancient ruins at Butrint UNESCO World Heritage Site near Saranda
day-trip

Butrint UNESCO Site Day Trip

Day trip to Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site south of Saranda, featuring Roman baths, an amphitheatre, and ruins spanning from the 8th century BC to the Venetian period.

~1.5 hrs drive1000 ALL (~10€) entrance
Roman bathsAmphitheatre8th century BC acropolis
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The Blue Eye spring, deep blue water rising through pale karst rock
day-trip

Blue Eye Spring Day Trip

Visit the mesmerizing Blue Eye natural spring, a deep karst pool of vivid blue water at a constant 10 degrees Celsius, easily combined with a stop in Gjirokaster.

~1.5 hrs drive50 ALL (~0.50€) entrance
Natural spring10C waterCombine with Gjirokaster
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Stone houses and cobblestone streets of Gjirokaster UNESCO city
day-trip

Gjirokaster UNESCO City

Explore the UNESCO-listed Stone City of Gjirokaster, home to one of the largest castles in the Balkans, a 500-year-old Ottoman bazaar, and remarkably preserved stone architecture.

~2-2.5 hrs drive
Stone CityOne of Balkans' largest castlesOld Bazaar
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Prossimi festival ed eventi

Feste annuali che animano la Riviera albanese con musica, cucina e tradizioni.

Himara International Music Festival

Aug 20-26, 2026

Classical, folk, and jazz performances by international and local musicians at Himara Castle and All Saints' Church, above the Ionian Sea.

himarafestival.com

South Outdoor Festival

Jun 22-26, 2026

Over 80 outdoor activities in Borsh, including hiking, diving, paragliding, and live music stages.

southoutdoor.al

OFF/LINE Beach Festival

Jul 3-4, 2026

A free two-night electronic beach festival at the Carpe Diem beach club in Borsh, run by the South Outdoor team. House and Afro house DJs play a single beachfront stage from sunset into the night.

instagram.com/offlinemusicfest

Mjalt'Fest (Honey Festival)

Early July 2026

Local bio honey producers from across southern Albania sell their products in Dhermi, with tastings and traditional food.

Orthodox Easter

Apr 12, 2026

Traditional church services throughout Himara's Byzantine churches, followed by family gatherings, feasts, and the exchange of red eggs.

Jal Jam

Sep 11-12, 2026

A free two-day electronic festival on Jalë beach, run by the Tirana collective Bodrumiii across Social Camping Jal and Lemon at the Beach. House and disco over two stages, daytime beach sets and a late main stage, with camping and cabins on site.

instagram.com/jaljamfest

Kala Festival

Jun 3-10, 2026

A week-long boutique festival on Dhërmi Beach with stages spilling onto Drymades and Gjipe. House, disco, dub and UK garage from an international lineup, sold as accommodation-inclusive packages.

kala.al

Anjunadeep Explorations

Jun 11-16, 2026

The Anjunadeep label's six-night Albanian run across Dhërmi's beach, a mountain terrace and a boat-access forest amphitheatre. Melodic, deep and progressive house.

explorations.anjunadeep.com

Sundance Festival

Jul 9-12, 2026

A four-day electronic festival on the pine-covered island of Zvërnec near Vlorë. Techno and melodic house across three stages with round-the-clock music.

sundance-festival.com

Turtle Fest

Jul 28-31, 2026

The longest-running Albanian-run electronic festival, on Drymades Beach near Dhërmi. House, techno, trance and drum & bass across two stages for its 10th-anniversary edition (18+).

turtle-fest.com

Zamna On The Beach (x Moyo)

Aug 21-22, 2026

The Mexican Zamna brand's Albanian beach edition at Moyo on the Drymades–Palasë coast. Melodic techno and house by the Ionian.

moyo.al

Dormition of the Virgin (Panagia)

Aug 15, 2026

The Dormition of the Virgin, known as Panagia or Shën Mëria, is the Riviera's biggest Orthodox pilgrimage feast. It draws gatherings to the hilltop monasteries above Dhërmi (Panagia Drymadon) and Himara (Athali) on 15 August.

Wine & Stories of Berat

Oct 3-5, 2026

Albania's flagship wine festival in Berat's Mangalem old town. Around 28 wineries pour across the UNESCO 'town of a thousand windows' over an autumn weekend.

berat.al

Solar Music Festival

Aug 15-16, 2026

Saranda's home-grown electronic festival on the central waterfront. Two nights of DJ sets, daytime beach sessions and boat parties on the Ionian, organised by the municipality with World Bank / Albanian Development Fund support.

instagram.com/solarmusicfestival

Attività a Himara: domande frequenti

Cosa fare a Himara?

Il mare è l'attrazione principale: giri in barca verso grotte marine e calette tranquille, bagni e snorkeling in spiagge dalle acque limpide e crociere al tramonto. A terra ci sono il sentiero del Canyon di Gjipe e le escursioni nel Parco Nazionale di Llogara, il parapendio in tandem dalle alture di Llogara e luoghi storici come il Castello di Himara e Porto Palermo. La maggior parte dei visitatori alterna un paio di giornate tra spiaggia e barca a un'escursione o alla visita di un castello.

Quali gite di un giorno si possono fare da Himara?

Tutte raggiungibili verso sud: Butrinto, l'antica città patrimonio UNESCO vicino a Sarandë; l'Occhio Blu, una sorgente naturale dai colori intensi; e Gjirokastër, la città ottomana di pietra dell'entroterra, anch'essa UNESCO. Più vicino, il castello di Porto Palermo e Borsh sono comode mezze giornate lungo la strada costiera SH8.

Ci sono buoni sentieri vicino a Himara?

Sì. I più belli sono il sentiero del Canyon di Gjipe fino alla spiaggia e quelli del Parco Nazionale di Llogara; dalla spiaggia di Spile parte inoltre una camminata di circa due ore verso il Monastero di Athali, nell'entroterra. Diversi sentieri costieri collegano gli antichi villaggi collinari alle rispettive spiagge. Primavera e autunno sono le stagioni più piacevoli per camminare.

Si può fare parapendio o sport acquatici?

Dalle alture di Llogara sopra la costa si fa parapendio in tandem, con uno dei punti di decollo più alti della Riviera; in più kayak da mare, stand-up paddle e snorkeling in posti come Filikuri. Durante la stagione, stabilimenti e operatori di barche sul lungomare noleggiano l'attrezzatura e organizzano uscite.

Bisogna prenotare le attività in anticipo?

A luglio e agosto conviene prenotare giri in barca, parapendio e gite organizzate almeno un giorno prima, perché le fasce del mattino si riempiono per prime. Escursioni, bagni in spiaggia e visite in autonomia non richiedono prenotazione. Fuori dall'alta stagione di solito si organizza quasi tutto con poco preavviso.