The year · October is underlined
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Himarë |
Dated facts · every figure carries the day it was checked
| What | Value | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Crowd rating | Moderate at peak; moderate price inflation, impact assessed as manageable | 2026-08-25 · Himara.net, Albania overtourism 2026 |
| A day here | 50-80 euros per person including a bed, meals and beach access | 2026-08-25 · Himara.net, Albania overtourism 2026 |
| Sunbeds | 700-1,200 lek per set in 2026, against 500-800 lek in 2023 | 2026-08-25 · Himara.net, Albania overtourism 2026 |
| Beer in a bar | 250-400 lek in 2026, against 150-250 lek in 2023 | 2026-08-25 · Himara.net, Albania overtourism 2026 |
Crowd and price · what peak season actually costs here
| Peak crowd | |
|---|---|
| Shoulder crowd | |
| Trend | rising |
Rated moderate at peak with moderate price inflation, and assessed as manageable overall. The villages further south, Borsh, Qeparo and Vuno, stay uncrowded even in August.
Getting there
car, bus. On the SH8 between Vlorë and Sarandë. From the north, the Llogara tunnel has bypassed the pass since July 2024, and the road over the top is now the scenic way round rather than the only one. Buses run the coast road in season; a car makes the coves either side reachable.
Parking: Paid parking behind the main beach; the smaller coves are roadside only.
Photography
Best light: golden, sunset.
The bay faces west, which makes the last two hours the shot and the middle of the day almost unusable on the water. Check drone requirements with the AAC before travelling.
Drone: not confirmed. Albania's registration requirement is reported differently by every secondary source, so verify with the AAC before you fly.
Himarë is the base the Riviera's own numbers point at. Sunbeds run roughly a third of Ksamil's rate, the crowd rating is moderate rather than severe, and behind the beach there is a town that goes about its business rather than a strip built for one season.
The coves either side are the reason to have a car: Gjipe reached on foot down a canyon, Porto Palermo on its causeway, and the quieter villages further south. Borsh, Qeparo and Vuno are still rated largely unaffected by the crowding that has changed Ksamil, and none of them is more than half an hour away.
It is not a secret and it is not empty in August. It is the difference between busy and saturated, which on this coast in high summer is the whole decision.
Nearby
AI imageLlogara PassThe old SH8 over the top, through black pine and down in switchbacks to the Riviera. Since July 2024 a tunnel carries the through traffic, so the pass is now the drive you choose.
AI imageSarandëThe south's port and its practical base: ferries from Corfu, Butrint and Ksamil within half an hour, and a waterfront that fills in July.