At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Largest town on this stretch of the Riviera — beaches, hilltop old town, tavernas |
| From Dhërmi | ≈15–20 km south on the SH8 · ~20–30 min |
| Without a car | Summer furgons run the coast road (schedules informal); taxis cheap for groups |
| Beaches | Livadhi, Spile (town), Potami, Filikuri |
| Old town | Walled Kalaja quarter + ruined castle above the seafront |
| Best for | Beaches, old town, tavernas, an easy day trip |
| Time needed | Half to full day |
The easiest win from Dhërmi
Of all the outings from Dhërmi, the run to Himarë is the easiest: it's only about 20 minutes south down the coast, the largest town on this stretch of the Albanian Riviera, with its own string of beaches, a hilltop old town crowned by a castle, and the best concentration of tavernas on the coast. It makes a relaxed half- or full-day, and it's the obvious first day trip if you're finding your feet.
A car or scooter is easiest, but this is also the one day trip genuinely doable without a car: the summer furgons on the coast road run between the two, and a taxi is cheap for a small group.
Beaches, old town and tavernas
Himarë has more beaches than Dhërmi, spread along the town and the coast just south — Livadhi, the long family-friendly strand on the way in; Spile, the walkable town beach; Potami, a popular pebble beach with beach clubs; and Filikuri and the coves, best reached by boat.
The part that makes Himarë more than a beach stop is the old town (Kalaja) on the hill above the seafront — a walled quarter of stone houses and Orthodox churches inside a ruined hilltop castle, with long coastal views. It's an atmospheric hour's wander, best in the late afternoon. Wear proper shoes for the steep, cobbled climb.
For food, Himarë has the best-value tavernas on this part of the coast — a place people drive to for dinner. Expect fresh grilled fish and honest prices, paid in cash in lek.
Extend it south
Because Himarë is a hub, it makes the natural launchpad for pushing further south: Porto Palermo Castle is only about 8–10 km beyond, and the hillside village of Qeparo sits just past that. It's the first real town on the Dhërmi to Sarandë run. If you're weighing where to base yourself, the Dhërmi vs Himarë comparison digs into the trade-offs.
