3 Day Himara Itinerary + Things to do
Himara is one of the most relaxing beach towns along the Albanian Riviera. There’s beautiful mountains here, kayaking opportunities, hidden beaches, and a quiet atmosphere perfect for travellers looking to escape into nature. In this blog post I’ll outline things to do in Himara plus give you a perfect 3 day Himara itinerary.
I only planned to stay in Himara for 3 nights, but ended up staying an entire week as I couldn’t get enough of the relaxing atmosphere and beauty surrounding me. This 3 day Himara itinerary is a speed tour through the town’s highlights, however you could easily add a few more days in Himara to relax and enjoy the local surroundings.
Skip Ahead:
- How to get to Himara
- Where to stay in Himara
- Things to do in Himara
- The perfect 3 day Himara itinerary
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Albania Google Map – 200+ pins
Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Albania?
Then my Albania map is for you!
Get my 200+ recommendations all in one place for:
- Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
- Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
- Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
- Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details
Quick Albania Travel Guide:
**Find my recommended Albania itineraries linked in the section below**
Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable travel insurance before your trip. This insurance is trusted by backpackers and adventure sport enthusiasts around the world. You can also use my link to receive 5% off SafetyWing policies. Here’s a blog post with more trustworthy travel insurance options you can compare.
Best Time to Visit: May to September.
Best Activities: Looking for the best tours and activities around Albania? See my Viator shop for my top recommendations.
Currency: Albanian LEK (aka ALL). This is a closed currency so you’ll need to wait until you’re in Albania to withdraw/exchange money. Make sure you exchange any leftover money before you leave the country too. Credins ATMs don’t have a service charge.
Transportation: to enter the country you’ll find 1 international airport in Tirana, 1 port in Saranda (daily ferry arrivals/departures to Corfu, Greece), and a bus line from Montenegro. Buses are very cheap here, but unreliable and taxis are pricey in comparison. Driving is chaotic and there are no trains within the country.
Phone: purchase a local SIM card from Vodafone – the plans are cheap and they include lots of data, however international minutes are typically not available. Vodafone storefronts can be found in bigger cities (Tirana, Saranda, Shkoder, etc).
Language: Albanian, however you can get by with English. Google translate is recommended for smaller cities/villages.
Safety: I found Albania to be very safe. I and my fellow travellers had no trouble with theft and I felt comfortable walking around as a solo female at night. People are generally very welcoming here, but always keep your wits about you – no matter where you travel.
Helpful Info: don’t drink the tap water or bring a purifying bottle like this one. Most hostels/guesthouses/hotels have laundry facilities.
Purchase my Albania map which is downloadable to google maps on your phone. It has 200+ pinned locations around the country – all available at your fingertips.
Packing Guide: here’s my ultimate packing guide/travel essentials.
Albania is one of the last “undiscovered” countries in Europe. Plan your trip while prices & tourism levels are low!
Helpful Albania Blog Posts
Albania Itineraries: 1 week south | 1 week north | 2 weeks whole country | 1 month for backpackers
- My Ultimate Albania Backpacker Guide
- 15+ Helpful Tips You Should Know BEFORE Travelling Albania
- 30+ Best Things to do in Albania: Excursions, Tours, and Destinations
- 17 Best Places in Albania
- Hiker’s Guide to the Albanian Alps
- Valbona to Theth Hiking Guide
- 10+ Albania hikes Worth Doing
- Lodging: best hostels for backpackers | luxury hotels
How to get to Himara
Himara is located pretty much dead centre along the Albanian Riviera between Vlora and Ksamil. There are direct bus routes here from Tirana and Saranda, however you can also get here via bus from various cities and towns around Albania. The route might just involve a connecting bus or two.
If you’re driving it’s approximately 3.5hrs from Tirana or 1.5hrs from Saranda. I recommend making use of the public bus system in Albania rather than driving, however if you’re hoping to rent a car in Albania I always recommend using this site.
If you’re driving from the direction of Tirana you’ll come across the Llogara Pass (located here) standing at 1,027m. The pass offers beautiful views over the sea and the drive to get there travels over a narrow, windy mountain road. The public bus does not take this road so the only way you can see it is by renting a car or renting a scooter once you’re in Himara.
The bus system in Albania can be a bit unreliable. Bus routes only just started to appear online/on Google maps (as of 2024), but I still recommend checking in with the locals regarding pickup times and locations to ensure the information you’re seeing online is accurate.
What to do in Himara
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Where to Stay in Himara
Himara is loaded with cute hostels, mid-range hotels, and luxurious establishment so no matter what type of traveller you are, you can find your perfect match.
- Camping – pitch a tent at Pine Side Camp and sleep directly next to the Albanian Riviera.
- Budget/Hostels – I stayed at Himara Hostel and loved it. Sun Bakers is nearby too.
- Luxury – ARXONTIKO has a sea view, whereas Soñar en el mar, Sea View Hotel, and Palermiti Luxury Rooms are directly on the beach.
- Cultural – stay at the historic Castle of Himara with fabulous views overlooking the city as well as the Ionian Sea.
This is the best Himara itinerary for travellers and backpackers.
Things to do in Himara
These are the best things to do in Himara incorporating both adventure and relaxation.
activities for Himara itinerary.
Popular Albania Tours
From Berat: 4×4 tour: Mount Tomorr & Sotira Waterfall | Bogove Waterfall & Osumi Canyon | Osumi Canyon Rafting
From Permet: Benja Hot Springs & Lengarica Canyon | Horseback Riding | River Rafting
From Tirana: Gamti Mountain & Bovilla Lake Hiking Tour | Bike Tour | Traditional Cooking Class | Zipline
From Tirana or Shkoder: Day trip to the Blue Eye of Theth & Grunas Waterfall | Shala River Day Trip
From Vlora: Boat tour to Haxhi Ali Cave & Sazan Island – Karaburun | Snorkelling
From Saranda/Ksamil: Paddle boarding the Islands | Butrint, Ksamil, Blue Eye, Lekuresi Castle – 1 Day | Day Trip to Gjirokaster | Catamaran to Korez & Kokomo Beach
UNIQUE: Multi-day hiking tour: Peaks of the Balkans
You can find more Albania tours I recommend here
Visit the Beaches in Himara
As I previously mentioned Himara is located in the centre of the Albania Riviera between Vlora and Ksamil. This makes Himara the best town to stay in if you’re hoping to explore a variety of beaches in the vicinity while you’re there.
The beaches along this stretch of the Riviera are mostly rocky with striking blue water and a beautiful coastline. There’s a mix of touristy beaches with what seems to be a million beach chairs, but there’s also ample “hidden” beaches that are accessible only by kayaking or walking.
These are the beaches in and around Himara that are worth adding to your Himara itinerary:
- Directly in town: Spile beach, Sfageio beach, Prinos beach, and Potam beach which are all within a quick walking distance.
- Accessible via walking or kayaking: Livadi Beach, Aquarium Beach, and Gjiri Filikuri Beach.
- Reached via kayaking or driving: Llamani beach, Gjipe beach (requires hiking if you drive), and Jale beach.
- Reached by car: Borsh beach, Palasa beach, Dhermi beach, and Drymades beach.
Best beaches in Himara and best things to do in Himara.
Go Kayaking in Himara
One of my favourite things to do in Himara is kayaking. I spent a whole day in Himara kayaking to the nearby beaches and it’s one of my fondest memories from my entire 1.5 month backpacking trip there.
Kayaking in Himara is an efficient and fun way to see the beaches in the area. I ended up kayaking from Himara to Gjipe beach and stopped at nearly all the commercialized and hidden beaches along the way.
You can rent kayaks from various rental facilities along the beach, but these kayaks are typically rented/charged by the hour which can add up quickly depending on the length of time you plan to be out on the water. I stayed at the Himara Hostel where I rented kayaks for next-to-nothing.
More information regarding kayaking in Himara can be found in my Himara kayaking guide
Kayaking is easily one of the best things to do in Himara.
Walk to the Himara Castle & Himara Old Town
The Himara Castle is a must when you’re in Himara. It’s about a 40 minute uphill walk from town – I recommend going early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the sweltering midday summer heat.
At first the Himara Castle looks more like ruins than anything, however as you start to walk around you’ll notice family homes, cafes, and old Serbian churches scattered throughout the nearby area – deemed the “old town.”
This is also a beautiful place to watch sunset.
Albania Google Map – 200+ pins
Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Albania?
Then my Albania map is for you!
Get my 200+ recommendations all in one place for:
- Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
- Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
- Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
- Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details
Find Gjiri Filikuri Beach
Gjiri Filikuri beach is one of those “hidden” beaches I made note of earlier. The only way to access Gjiri Filikuri Beach is by walking or kayaking.
If you’re searching for things to do in Himara that involve a little adventure, visiting Gjiri Filikuri beach is the perfect activity as the walk to Gjiri Filikuri Beach involves a bit of scrambling.
Gjiri Filikuri beach is a quieter option than the busy commercialized beaches in the Himara’s town centre. Although it’s becoming more popular as time progresses, there are no facilities or beach chairs giving the area a much more natural feel.
More information regarding how to get to Gjiri Filikuri Beach can be found in this guide
Walk Along the Coast
A simple thing to do in Himara is walk along the coast for sunrise, or better yet sunset. There’s plenty of beautiful beachfront to watch the sun set from in Himara, plus the locals and tourists emerge each day for an evening walk – referred to as “xhiro.”
Just after sunset is when all of Albania comes alive. The patios are packed and everyone is out for a leisurely stroll. Walking by the waterfront is the perfect way to end each day in Himara.
Take a Day Trip to Palermo
Near Himara is Porto Palermo; a beautiful bay with plenty of small beaches and a castle to explore. You’ll need a car to get here as there’s no public bus. If you’d like to rent a car in Himara I suggest using this site to find the best rental prices.
See Llogara Pass
As I mentioned before, Llogara Pass stands at 1,027m along a mountain road overlooking the sea. It’s approximately a 1hr drive from Himara.
If you don’t want to rent a car, you could always hire a scooter from a local shop which is a cheaper option too. I personally think this is a great activity to add to your Himara itinerary. If you rent a car or scooter you could also use it to explore more beaches along the way.
The Perfect 3 Day Himara Itinerary
This Himara itinerary showcases the highlights of Himara with blend of adventurous and relaxing activities to suit every type of traveller.
Himara itinerary for backpackers.
Day 1 in Himara
Assuming you’ll be arriving in Himara around midday from elsewhere in the country, I recommend checking into your accommodations, then going out for a wander around the local area. Grab a bite to eat and take advantage of the $1 ice cream – I won’t lie grabbing a cheap cone is one of my favourite things to do in Himara.
After you’ve seen the local area head on over to Gjiri Filikuri Beach and spend a couple hours enjoying one of the quieter beaches in the area.
Upon returning to town, grab dinner near the beach and go for xhiro.
I recommend staying at the Himara Hostel (budget) or the Seaview Hotel (beachside option).
Day 2 in Himara
On day 2 of this Himara itinerary, plan to go kayaking along the coast. This is of course weather dependant. Aim to go kayaking on the day with the best weather while you’re in Himara; low wind, no storms, etc.
You can opt to kayak all the way to Gjipe beach or go for a leisurely, quick paddle around the local area. I opted to paddle to entire distance to Gjipe beach which took an entire day. After you’re finished kayaking plan to spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. Himara is after all one of the most relaxing destinations in Albania making it a perfect place to chill.
Day 3 in Himara
Day 3 on this Himara itinerary is about the views. First grab a scooter or rental car then drive to the Llogara Pass (scooter is the better option if you feel comfortable riding one). This should take at least 2hrs, but you can keep the scooter for longer and visit other beaches in the area too.
When you return to Himara you can spend more time on the local beaches, then in the evening walk up to the Himara Castle for sunset.
Typically my Albania itineraries are jam packed, however I’ve left extra time in this 3 day Himara itinerary. If you’re not in a rush, I’d recommend using Himara as a place to relax and regroup before continuing on (especially if you’re backpacking) solely because of the relaxing, beautiful atmosphere that surrounds you here.
and that concludes my Himara itinerary. Enjoy!
Albania Google Map – 200+ pins
Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Albania?
Then my Albania map is for you!
Get my 200+ recommendations all in one place for:
- Outdoors: hiking trails, waterfalls, secret beaches & national parks
- Places: ancient cities, beach towns & historical sites
- Things to do: viewpoints, unique activities & tours
- Planning: lodging, restaurants, bus stops & tedious details
What to do in Himara for a 3 day Himara itinerary.
Happy adventuring!
Taylor ♡
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About the Author
HI, I’m Taylor – the voice behind The Holistic Backpacker.
After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring.
I now spend my days travelling the world, climbing mountains, and spending nights under the stars in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.
I created The Holistic Backpacker so I could share my adventures and help connect people like you with the same amazing experiences.
