Albania has been on the rise as a tourist destination these last couple of years. It’s still quite a bit behind compared to the rest of Europe, but it’s no-doubt getting there. Among Albanian resorts, Sarandë, located on the Albanian Riviera, is one of the most popular ones. What beaches will you find there? Which ones should you choose? We’ll go over exactly that in today’s post.
Sarandë Beach
Public beach in Sarandë
Sarandë Beach is the most popular beach in Sarandë that both locals and tourists flock to in summer. You can very easily access the beach from most hotels in the city. It offers a wide sandy stretch, though there are also segments with pebbles. The descent to the sea is very gentle, so it’s safe for children. Children will also be delighted as the waters are so clear here that you can easily peak through and see the bottom. It’s a perfect beach for all your standard beach needs.
Lukova Beach
A wide beach near Sarandë
Lukova Beach is located outside Sarandë, about 30 minutes away by car. It’s well worth the trip, though, as it’s simply majestic and often quite empty. The beach is wide and offers access to two eating places. In the high season, you can also find kayak and SUP board hires. It’s also a safe beach for children thanks to its gentle descent.
It’s the beach of choice for anyone who’s looking to flee from the big city vibe.
Krorëza Beach
A secluded beach near Sarandë
Speaking of such untouched beaches, the Krorëza Beach is another such gem. It’s a stretch of white sands with gentle boulder-strewn hills. It’s a largely uninhabited beach on the Albanian Riviera, just above Baie de Kakomë. The beach is separated from the mainland by rocks from three sides and can only be reached by boat. You can find many boats offering transport there in the high season from the promenade in Sarandë. There are also several larger boats with fixed schedules (including a few pirate ships) offering trips for larger groups. Most boats, small and large, depart between 8am and 10am and stop several times between Sarandë and the Krorëza beach.
Kakome Beach
A private little beach near Sarandë
Another relatively secluded beach, surrounded by mountains. It’s a very short straight shoreline with beautiful turquoise water and small pebbles, so you should bring some special shoes. The descent to the sea is not a gentle one, so we’d not recommend it for young children. It is, however, another great beach for those of you who would rather have the beach empty for yourselves, even in the high season. You can find sunbeds and umbrellas in the summer, as well as a restaurant and public toilets.
Secret Beach
A hidden beach near Sarandë
Not far from the Lukova Beach is another hidden secret beach. It’s not that big a secret, as it can be found on google maps, but it can only be reached by sea. This makes it regularly empty until a touring speed boat comes around, but it’s still perfect to just stay on for a while with no living soul in sight. There are no facilities here, so it’s not exactly the best for a whole day on the beach though.
Monastery Beach
A fantastic beach near Sarandë
The Monastery Beach is located about 5.6 miles from Sarandë, about a 20 minute drive. The easiest way to get here is by car, but there’s also a bus which leaves every hour from Sarandë between 8:30am and 6:30pm. The bus stops at the main road, leaving you with a 5 minute walk to the beach. You can also get here by taxi, but that’ll cost you about £15 one way.
The beach is relatively small and surrounded by rocks on both sides. It’s covered with large round pebbles. The waters here are calm and wonderfully pleasant thanks to the rocks stopping waves. Most of the beach is filled with sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, but there are also spots on the sides which are free for you to spread your towel out. If you’re visiting in the high season, though, we’d recommend arriving early in the morning, as it can get a bit crowded. That’s a non-issue outside of July and August though.
Mirror Beach
The most beautiful beach near Sarandë
The beach is not easily accessible due to the difficult road – it’s narrow, with step hills along the way and a dirt track at the end.
Mirror Beach is about a 20-minute drive away from Sarandë. The beach is not easily accessible due to the difficult road – it’s narrow, with step hills along the way and a dirt track at the end. We recommend leaving your car at the top of the hill and walking down to avoid this. You can also get here by bus, but the bus stops on the main road, not so close to the beach. You can also hire a taxi to drop you off and come to collect you at a set time.
The beach itself is beautiful – covered with small white pebbles and surrounded by rocky cliffs on both sides. The waters here, crystal clear at that, have a very gentle descent, so it’s suitable for children. The sea, however, is not so calm and larger waves do form, especially in the evening. In high season, colourful sun loungers and umbrellas fill out almost the entire beach, so try to arrive early to get a good spot. There’s also a hollow tunnel in the rocks on the side; at low tide, you can use it to get to the neighbouring beach, called the Seagull Beach.
Ksamil beach
A beach near Sarandë
At the very end, a gem and one of the best beaches in Albania – Ksamil. It may not be located in Sarandë itself, but it is close enough and certainly worth a visit. You can read more about it in our post on the best beaches in Albania.
The Albanian Riviera really does have plenty to offer. These have just been the beaches near Sarandë itself, while many, many more are present all around. Boat trips are a good idea to see the various beaches that are usually hard, or even impossible at times, to reach otherwise. Often, the only way through land are rough dirt roads which require off-road cars in order not to damage your undercarriage.
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