2 Day Vlora Itinerary + Things to do - The Holistic Backpacker

Vlora (or Vlorë) marks the northernmost point of the Albanian Riviera where sandy beaches and boat trips are the main appeal. In this blog I’ll tell you all the best things to do in Vlora plus outline a 2 day Vlora itinerary suited toward backpackers and travellers alike.

Vlora is a destination that’s often overlooked by backpackers, however if you have additional time to see more places in Albania, I’d definitely recommend adding Vlora to your itinerary. The city makes me think of a “classic beach vacation” spot as there’s tons of open beach space and a long row of beachside restaurants making everything very convenient here.

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How to get to Vlora
Where to stay in Vlora
Things to do in Vlora
2 day Vlora itinerary

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~ Taylor ♡

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

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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

How to get to Vlora

Vlora is located a 1.5hr drive from Himara, 2hrs from Tirana, and 3hrs from Saranda. There are direct bus routes to Vlora from these locations however you can also get to Vlora from various other cities and towns around the country. Your route may just involve a connecting bus or two.

I recommend taking the bus over driving in Albania as driving here can be chaotic. If you’d prefer to drive and need to rent a car, I’d recommend finding rentals from this site for the best local rates.

The bus system in Albania can be unreliable. Routes are just starting to appear online/on Google maps (as of 2024), however I’d recommend checking with the locals to ensure the pickup times and locations you see online are correct.

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Taylor ♡

Where to Stay in Vlora

When I visited Vlora I stayed at Vlora Backpackers. The hostel itself isn’t anything special however the owner is fabulous! He’s very helpful and has excellent recommendations for things to do in Vlora. The vibe of the hostel was social and relaxed, plus they had the cutest little puppies running around.

Alternatively if you’re looking for something mid-range or more private than a hostel, you can check out Deluxe Apartment or Hotel Artisti.

If you’re looking for a little razzle dazzle, Hotel Aross and the Maritim Resort are the best luxury 5 star hotels in Vlora.

Vlora itinerary for backpackers.

Things to do in Vlora

These are the best things to do in Vlora from boat trips to beaching.

ps – I’ve marked everything mentioned in this post on my Albania map.

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

MORE UNIQUE ALBANIA TOURS

Cruise the Karaburun Peninsula to Sazan Island

This is by far the best thing to do in Vlora, and the activity that inspired me to take a trip to Vlora in the first place.

While in Vlora you’ll notice a piece of land jetting out from the mainland toward the south. This is called the Karaburun Peninsula and the best way to access it is via boat trip. Along its coast there are caves and private beaches – it’s much more secluded than the beach area on the mainland. There’s also an island off the coast called Sazan which was previously a military base. Most tours bring you to the island where you can tour the old buildings and see real bunkers.

There are both speed boat trips and regular boat trips that take you to the Karaburun Peninsula. Speedboat tours can be booked online in advance, the larger boats are booked in person at the docks. I recommend the speedboat tours as they’ll only take half a day opposed to a full day and you’ll have a smaller group to explore with.

You can book the Vlora boat here

VLORA BOAT TRIP

Things to do in Vlora or backpackers.

Visit Vlora Old Town

Vlora has an old town which is around a 40 minute walk from the tourist centre of Vlora. There are colourful buildings in Vlora’s old town along with shops and cafes.

Many travellers opt to visit Vlora Old Town during the evening as it’s a nice place to grab a drink. I visited early in the morning to avoid the heat. This was a nice time to visit as the area was quiet, but only a couple cafes were open.

Things to do in Vlora.

Hit the Beach in Vlora and Grab a bite to Eat

In Vlora’s tourist centre there’s a long stretch of sandy beach lined with oodles of restaurants and ice cream bars. Most of your time in Vlora will be spent at this beach or grabbing a bite to eat nearby.

My favourite thing to do in Vlora was honestly visiting the ice cream bars then going for a walk along the beach with my cone. The ice cream bars here are essentially entire restaurants serving a multitude of ice creams and various other sweet treats. Occasionally they served different food items as well, but ice cream was their main focus.

Try Paragliding

If you’re searching for something to do in Vlora involving a bit of adrenaline, you could try tandem paragliding. I personally didn’t paraglide in Vlora but I have done it in Austria and had an absolutely epic time.

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

DOWNLOAD ALBANIA MAP

see what other travellers are saying about my map

Go for a Sunset Swim in Vlora

A quick and easy thing to add to your Vlora itinerary is a sunset swim. The beach in Vlora is located right next to most of the hostels and hotels in the area meaning you’ll only have to walk a couple minutes for a refreshing dip in the sea.

Vlora also gets incredible sunsets so the evening is the perfect time to go.

Go for a Sunset Xhiro

Xhiro – aka an evening walk – is a beloved pastime in Albania. Each evening as the sun goes down tourists and locals alike emerge to enjoy socializing in the cooler evening temperatures.

Vlora is a great place to go for an evening xhiro or grab a bite to eat on one of the many outdoor patios. The row of restaurants next to the beach gets pretty lively in the evening so this is the perfect place to spend the remainder of your day in Vlora.

Drive Llogara Pass

Llogara Pass in Albania — Views from Llogara Pass

Llogara Pass, standing at 1,027m within the Ceraunian Mountains, is a great place to find an elevated sea view. The drive to Llogara Pass from Vlora is approximately 1hr south in the direction of Himara. The road there follows tight turns and steep grades up a mountain road.

To get here you’ll need to rent a car (I recommend using this site to find the best rates) or rent a scooter from one of the rental shops in Vlora.

Take a Walking Tour of Vlora

If you’re looking to learn the ins and outs of Vlora you can add this walking tour to your Vlora itinerary. The knowledgeable local guide will teach you all about the area and show you the highlights.

2 Day Vlora Itinerary

This 2 day Vlora itinerary includes all the best things to do in Vlora during your trip.

Day 1 in Vlora

Assuming you’ll arrive around midday in Vlora I recommend first checking into your accommodations or at least dropping your bags off, then heading out for a walk along the local beaches. Go for a swim or grab a bite to eat at one of the many beachside restaurants.

I recommend staying at Vlora Backpackers or Hotel Aross.

Afterwards you could opt to rent a bike and cycle down the coast or spend the evening walking over to the Vlora Old Town where you can grab a drink or dinner.

Day 2 in Vlora

Boat Cruise along the Karaburun Peninsula

On day 2 of your Vlora itinerary board a boat and head to the Karaburun Peninsula to explore the caves, beaches, and Sazan Island. You can book a tour in advance to secure a spot or book when you arrive at the docks in Vlora.

When you return to Vlora spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, then go for a sunset swim and evening xhiro along the beachfront.