Himara is a small town on Albania's Ionian coast, squeezed between mountains and the sea along the SH8 highway. The old town sits on a hill: stone houses, Orthodox churches, and the ruins of Himara Castle. Below lies the promenade, beaches, and the main tourist infrastructure. The town retains a Greek character – part of the population is ethnic Greek, and taverna menus are often bilingual. Beaches here are pebbly with crystal-clear water. Within a 20-minute drive you'll find Gjipe Beach, Jale Beach, and Livadi Beach. To the south – Porto Palermo Castle, to the north – Llogara National Park with its pass at 1,027 m elevation.
The nearest airport is Tirana (TIA), 220 km away. There are no direct buses from the airport: you need to get to Tirana's bus terminal and catch a service to Himara (4.5–5.5 hours, around 1,200 ALL / ~€11). Buses run 2–3 times daily with unreliable schedules – check with operators Olgeno Travel or RivieraBus. The alternative is renting a car (from €20/day) – the route through the Llogara Pass takes 3–3.5 hours and is a spectacular drive in itself. A taxi from the airport costs around 17,000 ALL (~€160). Best time for beach holidays is June and September: warm water, lower prices than July–August. For connectivity in Himara, arrange a SIM card or eSIM in advance – EU roaming doesn't apply here.
