Beaches of Northern Albania
Northern coast of Albania offers a completely different character than the south.
This area is characterized by endless long, wide beaches with fine sand and a very gradual entry into the sea, which are ideal conditions for families with children and elderly people. Young people also take advantage of the shallow sea near the shore for various sports activities and entertainment.
Velipojë
It is located in the north of Albania near the city of Skadar. It is a long sandy beach with a gradual entry into the sea, ideal for families with children. The beach is easily accessible by car and you will find a range of accommodation facilities and restaurants in the area. Sunbeds with umbrellas are standard, but you will also find beaches untouched by commercialism nearby. The question is whether they will be maintained.
Rana e Hedhun
It is located near the city of Shëngjin. This unique beach is mainly known for its large sand dune, which slopes directly into the sea and is located in the northern part of the beach. It is only accessible on foot. In the southern part there is a spacious recreational beach, which is accessible by car and offers accommodation facilities, bars and restaurants. In summer it is full of sunbeds and umbrellas.
Shëngjin
Shëngjin beach in northern Albania is a popular tourist destination with a long sandy coastline and a relaxing atmosphere. Thanks to the gradual entry, it is ideal for families with children. In its vicinity you will find plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants. It is a great place for sunbathing, swimming and walks along the sea. An attractive walk can be the Rana e Hedhun dune.
Mys Rodon
Cape Rodon is a great place for nature and history lovers combined with beaches. The main beach is Rera e Bardhe (White Sand), whose northern part is accessible from the parking lot on foot and has no infrastructure. The parking lot is also an ideal starting point for visiting the castle and the church of St. Anthony. The southern part of the beach is accessible by car. Here you will already find restaurants, bars and sunbeds with umbrellas.
Gjiri i Lalëzit
Sandy beaches in Lalëzit Bay are lined with pine groves that provide pleasant shade on hot summer days. The northern part of the bay offers many resorts and restaurants serving fresh seafood, Italian cuisine and of course also Albanian specialties. There is no shortage of paid sun loungers and deck chairs.
Hamallaj beach
Hamallaj Beach is an ideal place for a relaxing holiday. A long sandy beach with shallow water is perfect for families with children. Sun loungers and deck chairs are a must, but pine trees also provide shade here. In the immediate vicinity of the beach you will find bars and restaurants as well as accommodation in modern apartments.
Portez beach
The beach is known for its peaceful atmosphere and absence of hotels. It is therefore an ideal place to relax away from the crowds. A restaurant "hovers" above the beach and a bar is available directly on the beach. The gradual slope of the seabed is great for children, older people and also for groups of young people who want to engage in water sports. In the shallow area there is usually a volleyball net available.
Currila beach
Currila Beach is a popular place for family recreation. The beaches are sandy and the water near the shore is shallow. The bay is relatively calm despite having plenty of bars and restaurants during the season. Durrës center is nearby, so this beach can be combined with accommodation in the city. There is plenty of accommodation in the beach area. Deck chairs and sun loungers are a must.
Durrës City Beach
The city beach in Durrës is very popular with foreign visitors as well as Albanians. A drawback of the promenade is the significantly absent greenery in some parts. An advantage is shops of all kinds. On the beach you will find public areas without deck chairs as well as commercial zones with paid deck chairs and sun loungers. There is no shortage of restaurants, beach bars and cafes.
Shkembi i Kavajë
Together with the city beach and the beach in Golem, this beach is one of the longest and most visited beaches in Albania. In total, these beaches have around ten kilometers. This beach is also sandy with a gentle slope. Its advantage is the proximity to Tirana. Residents of the capital travel here most often during weekends. Restaurants, bars and paid deck chairs are a must. As are public zones.
Golem, Mali i Robit
This beach is also sandy with a gentle slope. It is connected to the beach at Shkembi i Kavajë and the beach at Qerretu by a common promenade. The evening atmosphere is very lively and social during the season. There are plenty of opportunities to visit bars and restaurants of various categories. Live music is almost everywhere here. The beach has public areas as well as zones with paid deck chairs and sun loungers.
Qerret
This is the southernmost beach in the Durrës-Kavajë area. It is sandy with a gentle slope. There are plenty of new modern hotels and apartment buildings, restaurants and bars, and also more greenery. Due to its greater distance from the city, it is relatively less visited by locals and can therefore be less crowded even during the season. However, resorts are growing rapidly, so this could change soon.
Kemp Pa Emer
If you want to move from the busy beaches of Durrës to the end of the world in half an hour, head to the Pa Emër camp. It is a family campsite located on the coast south of Durrës and offers parking spaces for motorhomes. The adjacent beach is surrounded by lush greenery. The most attractive part of the camp is an artificial island, which is accessed by a wooden walkway. On the island you will find a restaurant and bar and a pier with sun loungers and umbrellas. From the pier you can also jump into deeper water.
Gjeneralit beach
General's Beach is one of the most interesting beaches in northern and central Albania. It is hidden in a small cove surrounded by rocky hills. It offers a sandy-pebbly beach, which is not entirely common in this area. Due to its location and absence of hotel resorts, it feels very peaceful and remote. You will find a restaurant and buffet with typical Albanian dishes on the beach, as well as a bar on the pier. Great is the possibility of accommodation in bungalows.
Spille beach
The beach near the village of the same name is relatively long and sandy. The descent is mild, but still somewhat steeper than in Durrës. In summer, the beach offers paid sun loungers with deckchairs, around which there is more space than, for example, in Durrës. However, shade is also provided by pine trees, which line the entire beach and give it a more natural character. You will find plenty of bars and restaurants here. Accommodation and a campsite are available near the beach. Parking is not a problem even in the season.
Divjakë beach
It is located in the Divjaka-Karavasta National Park. It is a long and wide natural sandy beach with pine forests. Accessible by car, but the infrastructure on and around the beach is less developed. However, you will find open restaurants with bars on the beach in the season. The main catering facilities are located along the road from the beach to the Divjakë-Karavasta park information center. There are also limited accommodation facilities. The advantage of the beach is the absence of hotels.
Seman beach
The sandy Seman beach in the Fier region is extremely wide and long and is surrounded by pine forests. It does not offer any comfort and infrastructure is limited. However, you will find bars here in the season, as well as sun loungers with deckchairs. The atmosphere will probably be enjoyed by freestyle travelers and visitors to Albania who do not favor resort culture. It is easily accessible by car.
Hidrovor beach
The sandy Hidrovor beach, located in the Zvërnec area, offers an escape from civilization and a natural atmosphere. It probably will not satisfy more demanding recreationalists and resort lovers, even though restaurants with bars are available near the beach in the season. The atmosphere will certainly be appreciated by lovers of wilderness and unpretentious freestyle beach culture. The view of Sazani Island is amazing.
Dalan beach
This beach has a very free atmosphere. Until recently, it was a mecca for campervanners and free-spirited travelers. Today, however, entry to this area is prohibited and it is rumored that the construction of a luxury resort is planned here under the direction of the son-in-law of American President Donald Trump. For now, it is accessible on foot from the nearby Zvërnec lagoon.
Narta beach
In this zone is the border between the Adriatic and Ionian seas. It is a sandy beach with a gentle entrance with a view of Sazani Island. Narta beach is a frequent refuge for visitors staying in Vlorë. Shade is provided by a pine grove or commercial sun umbrellas above deckchairs. Restaurants and bars are of course available.
Do you want to leave the sea to seek adventure?
The northern coast of Albania serves as a strategic gateway to the country’s greatest natural and historical treasures. If you plan to intersperse relaxation on the sand with a more active program, the inland offers several essential destinations.
If you don’t want to explore these places on your own, you can set out for adventure directly with us. Our main starting point for all excursions is the city of Durrës. Just choose your destination and we’ll take care of the rest.
- History and tradition: Just a short distance from the coast lies historic Krujë with its iconic castle and Ottoman bazaar. For architecture lovers, Berat is an essential stop, a UNESCO-listed city famous for its white houses and “thousand windows”.
- Gateway to the mountains and Lake Skadar: The north is dominated by the historic city of Shkodër (Lake Skadar) located on the shores of the largest Balkan lake. Above the city rises Rozafa fortress, which offers panoramic views of the confluence of three rivers and the beginning of mountain massifs.
- Albanian Alps (Prokletije): From the northern coast, the majestic Albanian Alps are within reach. Villages like Theth or Valbonë are starting points for the most beautiful treks in the country. This area is home to wild peaks, deep valleys and the iconic Grunas waterfall.
- Adrenaline in nature: For adventure seekers, the wild Holta canyon is an ideal destination. It offers a unique passage through narrow rocky gorges with turquoise water and thermal springs. When planning a canyon visit, it is essential to monitor the weather forecast, as flash floods are a risk during heavy rains.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the northern coast is famous for its wide beaches with fine dark sand. Unlike the rocky south, the entry into the sea here is very gradual, which is ideal for families.
The north is the best choice for children in all of Albania. Beaches like Velipoj\u00eb, Sh\u00ebngjin or Durr\u00ebs have shallow water where you have to walk dozens of metres before it reaches your waist. The sand is also great for playing.
Locals believe that the dark sand on Velipoj\u00eb beach is rich in iodine and other minerals that help with rheumatism and joint problems. You can often see locals burying themselves in the sand.
If you\u2019re looking to escape the seaside resorts, head to Rana e Hedhun beach (known for its dunes) or the Kepi i Rodonit peninsula, where nature is much wilder and less developed. Gjeneralit beach or Pa Emer campsite, a few kilometres south of Durr\u00ebs, is also a great option.
Yes, the northern coast is more exposed than the Ionian bays in the south. In the afternoon, a refreshing breeze often blows, which you\u2019ll appreciate on hot summer days, but the sea can be a bit rougher because of it.
The water is clean, but due to the fine sand and shallow bottom it doesn\u2019t look as clear as in the south. The sand stirs up in waves, so the sea doesn\u2019t have that typical turquoise \u201cglassy\u201d look, but it is very refreshing.
Generally yes. Resorts like Sh\u00ebngjin, Velipoj\u00eb or Durr\u00ebs are more affordable than Ksamil or Dh\u00ebrmi, both for accommodation and in restaurants and for sunbed rentals.
It is one of the most unique beaches in Albania near the town of Sh\u00ebngjin. It is distinctive for its high sand dunes that slope from the foot of a mountain directly into the sea. It\u2019s a great place for photos.
A narrow asphalt road leads to Cape Rodon. At the end, a small entry fee is paid to enter the protected area. From the car park, it\u2019s a short walk to Skanderbeg\u2019s castle and the wild beaches.
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