4.3
Drymades Beach
The relaxed white-pebble strip just north of Dhërmi Beach — the same clear turquoise water, with beach clubs set among olive and pine.
4.3 (157) · Google rating
Day Trips
The best escapes within reach of the village — the Llogara Pass, hidden Gjipe Beach and its canyon, Himarë and Porto Palermo Castle, the beaches of Palasë and Jal, and the ruins of Butrint in the far south.
Compare day trips at a glance
Every trip, nearest first — how far it is, what it's best for, and the typical guided-tour price.
| Destination | Distance & time | Best for | Tours from | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates' Cave | ≈2 km · by boat | Boat trip, Sea cave, Swimming | — | — |
| Drymades Beach | ≈3 km · ~10 min north | Beach clubs, Swimming, Clear water | — | 4.3 |
| Gjipe Beach & Canyon | ≈3 km south · boat or ~30 min hike | Swimming, Snorkelling, Hiking | — | — |
| Palasë Beach | ≈3 km · ~10 min north | Swimming, Quiet, Clear water | — | — |
| Jal Beach | ≈11 km · ~20 min south | Beach clubs, Party, Camping | — | — |
| Llogara Pass | ≈15 km · ~40 min north | Scenic drive, Mountains, Paragliding | — | — |
| Himarë | ≈18 km · ~25 min south | Beaches, Old town, Tavernas | — | — |
| Livadhi Beach | ≈18 km · ~25–35 min south | Families, Watersports, Swimming | — | — |
| Porto Palermo Castle | ≈30 km · ~35 min south | History, Castles, Photography | — | — |
| Vlorë | ≈50 km · ~1–1.5 h north | City day, Promenade, History | — | — |
| Sarandë | ≈70 km · ~1.5–2 h south | Promenade, Dining, Ferry to Corfu | — | — |
| Ksamil | ≈80 km · ~2 h south | Swimming, Turquoise water, Islets | — | — |
| Butrint | ≈95 km · ~2 h south | History, Ancient ruins, UNESCO | — | — |
| The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) | ≈95 km · ~2–2.5 h south | Nature, Karst spring, Photography | — | — |
The Best Day Trips
Dhërmi is a fine base for the Albanian Riviera — here are the day trips worth building into your stay, with how far each one is and how to get there.
The mountain road above the coast
Llogara Pass
half to full dayscenic drive
A mountain pass of around 1,000 metres in the Ceraunian range, about 40 minutes north of Dhërmi, where the road climbs off the coast into pine forest and opens onto panoramic views over the Ionian Sea. A short but spectacular drive, easily combined with a stop at a viewpoint or a walk in the national park.
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Browse activities →A hidden cove between the cliffs
Gjipe Beach & Canyon
half to full dayboat or hike
A hidden pebble cove at the mouth of a canyon between Dhërmi and Himarë, reached either by boat along the coast or on foot down the gorge. One of the quietest, most striking swimming spots on the Riviera — bring water and shade, as there is little development.
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Browse activities →The main Riviera town
Himarë & Porto Palermo Castle
full dayday out
Himarë, the main town on this stretch of the Riviera, sits about 20 minutes south of Dhërmi with its castle, beaches and waterfront tavernas. A little further on, the castle at Porto Palermo stands on its own headland in a sheltered bay — an easy pairing for one day.
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Browse activities →Quieter beaches nearby
Palasë & Jal Beaches
beach daybeach day
Two of the nearest beaches worth the short drive: Palasë, just below the Llogara Pass, and Jal a little to the south — both broad pebble bays with clear water and a more relaxed pace than the busier stretches of coast.
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Browse activities →The far south
Sarandë, Ksamil & Butrint
full daylong day trip
A longer day south — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours' drive — to the seaside city of Sarandë, the turquoise coves of Ksamil, and the UNESCO-listed ancient ruins of Butrint set among lagoons and woodland. Best as a full day, ideally with an early start.
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Browse activities →Or Browse by Type
All 14 destinations grouped by what they are — heritage sites, mountains, gorges, and the coast.
Coast & Sea
Beaches and seaside towns along the Riviera within an easy drive of the village.
Himarë
The main town on this stretch of the Albanian Riviera, about 20 minutes south of Dhërmi — beaches, a hilltop old town and castle, and the coast's best tavernas.
Jal Beach
The Albanian Riviera's best-known party cove — a compact pebble bay of clear turquoise water below Vuno, with beach clubs, camping and DJ energy in summer.
Ksamil
Albania's most Caribbean-looking beach town — turquoise water and tiny swimmable islets at the far south of the Riviera, about 80 km from Dhërmi via Sarandë.
Livadhi Beach
The long, easygoing family beach on the edge of Himarë — a wide pebble bay of shallow water and watersports, about 25 minutes south of Dhërmi.
Palasë Beach
The long, calm white-pebble beach just north of Dhërmi — the first shore below the Llogara descent, widely reported as Albania's first Blue Flag beach.
Sarandë
The south's biggest resort town and the Corfu ferry port — a lively seafront base and the gateway to Ksamil, Butrint and the Blue Eye.
Caves & Coves
Sea caves and hidden coves reached by boat from the coast.
Canyons & Hikes
The canyon down to Gjipe and the walking trails around the village.
History & Heritage
Riviera castles and the ancient ruins of the far south.
Butrint
A UNESCO-listed ancient city half-swallowed by forest and lagoon near Sarandë, with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian layers on one walkable loop.
Porto Palermo Castle
Ali Pasha's triangular fortress on a near-island headland in a sheltered Ionian bay near Himarë, with a Cold War submarine tunnel across the water.
The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër)
Albania's most photographed spring — a vivid, bottomless-looking blue pool feeding a clear river through the forest near Sarandë, south of Dhërmi.
Vlorë
The gateway city where the Albanian Riviera begins, north of Dhërmi over Llogara — a 3.8 km promenade, an island monastery and independence history.
Mountains & Passes
The Llogara Pass and the mountain roads above the coast.
Day Trip FAQs
What is the best day trip from Dhërmi?
The Llogara Pass is the standout short trip — a mountain road of around 1,000 metres, about 40 minutes north, with sweeping views over the coast. For a beach day, Gjipe Beach and its canyon are hard to beat, and Himarë with the castle at Porto Palermo makes an easy day to the south.
How do you get to Gjipe Beach?
Gjipe sits in a hidden cove at the mouth of a canyon between Dhërmi and Himarë. You can reach it by boat along the coast, or on foot by hiking down the gorge. There is little development, so bring water and shade.
Is Himarë worth visiting from Dhërmi?
Yes. Himarë is the main town on this part of the Riviera, about 20 minutes south, with its castle, beaches and waterfront tavernas. It pairs well with the castle at Porto Palermo a little further on.
Can you visit Butrint from Dhërmi in a day?
Yes, though it makes a long day — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours' drive south. The UNESCO-listed ruins of Butrint sit near Sarandë and Ksamil, so many travellers combine all three into one full day with an early start.
Which day trip is best for swimming?
For clear, quieter water head to Gjipe, or the nearby beaches of Palasë and Jal. Further south, the coves of Ksamil are famous for their turquoise water and make a good pairing with a Butrint visit.
Day-trip guides
In-depth guides to the trips worth the drive — how to go, what to see, and how to do it without a car.
Day Trips
The Best Day Trips from Dhërmi: The Riviera & Beyond
The best day trips from Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera — the Llogara Pass, hidden Gjipe Beach, Himarë, Porto Palermo Castle, and ancient Butrint.
5 min read
Sights
The Best Beaches near Dhërmi: The Albanian Riviera's Coves
A guide to the best beaches around Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera — Dhërmi Beach's white pebbles, the Drymades strip, and the wild Gjipe cove.
5 min read
Planning
The Best Time to Visit Dhërmi, Albania: A Seasonal Guide
When to visit Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera — why late spring and early autumn are the sweet spot, what peak summer is like, and how quiet winter gets.
5 min read
Planning
Getting to Dhërmi, Albania: The Llogara Pass Route
How to reach Dhërmi on the Albanian Riviera — driving from Tirana airport over the Llogara Pass, the SH8 coast road, and the Corfu ferry.
6 min read