ALBANIA

Himarë is a smaller town with a slower pace compared to its neighboring resort cities. Though there is still a good amount of cafes, bars and stores along the Main Street, it is more relaxed, cheaper and much less crowded-even during the peak summer season months-than Ksamil or Vlorë.

Before I start writing about the beautiful beaches, best things to do, or really anything, I am going to write about Himarë’s castle and Old Town first. The site was one of my favorite places that I visited in Albania-The town has insane history, one of my favorite parts about my visit was learning about, and experiencing a lot of it first hand and up close.

Set on southern Albania’s riviera just above Kakome Bay sits Krorëza Beach (Plazhi i Krorëzës), a secluded beach surrounded by beautiful steep rolling hills that overlook the bright, clear turquoise water of the Ionian Sea and the Greek islands of Corfu and Erikoussa in the distance. 

Hands down, hiking through the Accursed Mountains from Valbonë (Valbona) to Theth in Albania is one of the most memorable things that I have done throughout my travels so far. The Albanian Alps are surreal, they have an energy that is not explainable no matter what I write.

Tucked away on the super southern coast of Albania, Filikur Beach is around a 25 minute walk from the main stretch in the center of Himarë (and only around a 10 minute walk down from Filikur Hostel).