Quick answer
The quietest Albanian beaches are reached by boat or on foot, such as Grama Bay and Gjipe. For easy family beaches with sand and services, choose Durrës or Ksamil. Use the filters below to choose by how you want to get there.
Last checked 2026-10-19. Prices and times can change.
The Albanian beaches with no road, no sunbed rows and no entrance fee — you get there by boat, by kayak or on your own two feet. Filter by how you want to arrive and what you want to find when you do.
How do you want to get there?
Any way Hike in Boat taxi or kayak 4x4 track or rough road Swim or paddle across
What's underfoot?
Any shore White pebble Sand Rock slabs
Must have
Natural shade Completely wild Outstanding snorkelling
10 of 10 coves match.
Gjiri i Gramës (Grama Bay) Karaburun peninsula, Vlorë Boat taxi or kayak Hike in White pebble No shade No facilities Snorkelling: Outstanding
A white pebble bay inside a military-protected marine park, with ancient sailors' names carved into the marble cliffs behind the beach.
Effort Boat from Orikum or Radhimë (about 1 hour), or a long exposed hike across the peninsula.
Getting there Almost everyone arrives on a day boat from Orikum, Radhimë or Vlorë. There is no road in.
Bring All your water and food, sun shelter, water shoes. Nothing is sold here.
Best time July to September, calm mornings. The crossing is cancelled in strong wind. 40.3467° N, 19.3400° E
Gjiri i Dafinës & the sea cave Karaburun peninsula, Vlorë Boat taxi or kayak Swim or paddle across White pebble Some shade No facilities Snorkelling: Outstanding
A small hidden beach tucked inside a turquoise sea cavern. The light inside the cave turns the water electric blue around midday.
Effort Boat only. Most tours stop for 30–60 minutes and let you swim into the cave.
Getting there Day boats from Orikum, Radhimë and Vlorë combine it with Grama Bay and Haxhi Ali cave.
Bring Mask and snorkel, a dry bag, shoes you can swim in.
Best time June to September. Never swim into the cave in swell. 40.3894° N, 19.3222° E
Gjipe beach & canyon Between Dhërmi and Himarë Hike in Boat taxi or kayak 4x4 track or rough road White pebble No shade Summer bar Snorkelling: Good
The most famous of Albania's hard-to-reach beaches: a pebble cove where an 80 m canyon meets the sea. A small camp and bar run in summer.
Effort 25–35 minutes downhill from the parking above, on loose stone. The walk back up is the hard part.
Getting there Drive or taxi to the monastery turn-off, then walk. Boat taxis run from Himarë and Dhërmi.
Bring Proper shoes for the descent, water, a head torch if you stay for sunset.
Best time June to early October. Go before 10:00 or after 17:00 in August. 40.1206° N, 19.6606° E
Filikuri beach South of Himarë Boat taxi or kayak Hike in Swim or paddle across White pebble Some shade No facilities Snorkelling: Outstanding
A tiny cove enclosed by white cliffs with a sea arch and cave beside it. Clear enough to see the bottom at five metres.
Effort Boat taxi from Himarë (10–15 minutes), or a steep goat path with a short scramble.
Getting there Boat taxis leave from Himarë's small harbour through the day in summer.
Bring Everything: no bar, no water, almost no flat ground.
Best time Mornings, June to September. 40.0836° N, 19.7139° E
Kroreza (Krorëz) beach South of Lukovë, Sarandë district Boat taxi or kayak Hike in 4x4 track or rough road White pebble No shade No facilities Snorkelling: Good
A long untouched white pebble bay backed by empty hills — one of the last big Riviera beaches with nothing built on it.
Effort Rough unsurfaced track down from the SH8 (4x4 or a 40-minute walk), or a boat from Sarandë.
Getting there Turn off the coast road south of Lukovë. Do not take a small hire car down the track.
Bring Shade, water, food. Fill up in Lukovë.
Best time June to September; it stays quiet even in August. 39.9622° N, 19.9167° E
Kakome bay Between Lukovë and Sarandë Boat taxi or kayak Hike in White pebble No shade No facilities Snorkelling: Outstanding
A sheltered emerald lagoon with an abandoned monastery on the hillside above it. Access has changed with resort development — check locally.
Effort Boat from Sarandë or Lukovë, or a steep path down from the road above.
Getting there Boat taxis and day cruises from Sarandë stop here. Land access can be restricted.
Bring Water, snorkel, shoes for the path.
Best time Calm days, June to September. 39.9403° N, 19.9569° E
Gjiri i Bristanit (Bear bay) Karaburun peninsula Boat taxi or kayak White pebble No shade No facilities Snorkelling: Outstanding
A wild cove with old military bunkers cut into the rock and water so clear the boat looks like it is floating in air.
Effort Boat only, usually as a stop on a Karaburun–Sazan day trip.
Getting there Karaburun day boats from Orikum, Radhimë and Vlorë.
Bring Mask, sun cover, your own lunch.
Best time July and August, when the boats run daily. 40.4189° N, 19.3333° E
Gjiri i Shën Ndout (St Andrew's bay) Between Palasë and Dhërmi Hike in Boat taxi or kayak White pebble No shade No facilities Snorkelling: Good
A deep cleft in the cliffs with a chapel ruin above it, right below the Llogara road but almost always empty.
Effort About 30 minutes down a rough path from the coast road, steep in places.
Getting there Park on the SH8 above and walk down; or a short boat hop from Palasë.
Bring Grippy shoes, water, a hat.
Best time May to October. 40.1806° N, 19.6222° E
Rana e Hedhun North of Shëngjin, Lezhë Hike in 4x4 track or rough road Sand Some shade No facilities Snorkelling: Fine
An enormous sand dune spilling out of pine forest straight into the Adriatic — the only place like it in Albania, and nothing like the Riviera.
Effort Short walk through pine forest from the track end above the dune.
Getting there Drive north from Shëngjin towards Rrëshen beach, then walk in through the pines.
Bring Water; the sand gets very hot. Mosquito repellent at dusk.
Best time June to September; lovely and empty in May. 41.8394° N, 19.5903° E
Gjiri i Akuariumit (Aquarium bay) Between Livadh and Jale Hike in Swim or paddle across Rock slabs No shade No facilities Snorkelling: Outstanding
A small rocky inlet named for how much you can see under the surface. Better for snorkelling than for lying down.
Effort Ten minutes over the rocks from Livadh beach, or swim round the headland.
Getting there Walk south from Livadh beach along the shoreline rocks.
Bring Water shoes, mask, a towel you don't mind on stone.
Best time Calm mornings, June to September. 40.1339° N, 19.6511° E
Summer 2026 ranges, paid in cash. Agree the price and the pick-up time before you step aboard.
Check the wind, not the sky Boat trips to Karaburun and the cliff coves are cancelled in strong north wind even on a cloudless day. Ask in the harbour the evening before.
Water shoes are not optional Most of these beaches are pebble or rock, and sea urchins sit in the shallows. Bring shoes you can swim in.
No shade, no water, no shop On the wild coves there is nothing at all. Carry 2 litres per person, food, and something to sit under.
Never swim into a cave alone The sea cave at Dafina and the arch at Filikuri are calm one minute and surging the next. Go with the boat crew, not by yourself.
Tell the skipper your pick-up time Phone signal drops in the coves. Fix the return time before you step off the boat and keep cash to pay on return.
Carry your rubbish out There are no bins in a marine park. Everything you bring in comes back out in your bag.
Access routes and prices change every season, and some bays are being developed. Confirm locally before you set out. Boat-trip links are partner links — booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.