Guide To Vlorë

Where To Stay And What To Do While Visiting This Gorgeous Town On The Albanian Riviera

Vlorë is one of the bigger towns on the Albanian Riviera and makes a terrific family-friendly stop. It’s less crowded than Sarandë but still has plenty to keep you busy—beaches, history, and lots of new hotels to choose from- all in a stunning setting.

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Why Stay In Vlorë

As the heart of Albanian Independence and with rapid development over the past decade, Vlorë is a nice mix of history and modernism in a stunning setting. It is big enough that you have lots of different options and price points for hotels (which is nice for families), but you can still find some quiet spots. 

I drove through almost every town on the Albanian Riviera, big and small, and I am glad I chose Vlorë to stay in. I spent a couple of beautiful days relaxing on the beach, exploring a historic monastery on an island, and hiking some gorgeous coastal trails littered with derelict bunkers, relics of Albania’s communist past. 

Basic Orientation

Vlorë  is where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet, making it an important geographical point not just for Albanian (it is often referred to as the northern end of the Albanian Riviera), but for the Mediterranean as a whole.

Vlorë sits by a massive bay 

The city extends along the bay, between the sand and the mountains, and faces the undeveloped Karabarun peninsula. The bay is guarded by Sazan Island, a former military base that is now slated for a resort.

Karaburun- Sazan Marine Park

Sazan Island and the peninsula are part of Karaburun- Sazan Marine Park, a nature reserve for terrestrial and marine life, including birds, dolphins, and the very rare Mediterranean monk seal. You’ll find plenty of boat tours from Vlorë  to visit the former military base on Sazan Island as well as the sea caves and pebble beaches on the peninsula. 

Important landmarks in town

The port is located in the centre of Vlorë and has fairly large ferries coming in from Italy regularly as well as cruise ships. Old Town/ the historic quarter is located about 1.4 miles up a pretty, tree-lined boulevard from the port.

There is a large pedestrian area by the water with beautiful new landscaping, including an earthen pyramid, trees, basketball courts, kid fountain area, and lots of cafes. The Independence Museum is here in this pedestrian area.  

Where to find the hotels? Everywhere!

There has been extensive building in the last decade as news of the Albanian Riviera’s gorgeous beaches and cheap prices has spread. The whole bay is lined with hotels and small resorts now.

Lodgings are more densely packed in around the port and the center of Vlorë and more spread out as you go south towards the small towns of Radhime and Orikum that are at the far end of the bay. 

*TIP- The satellite views on Google Maps are decently accurate but a lot of the street views or images are not. Anything older than 2021 is iffy. There is a whole boulevard along the water now for instance, and so many more hotels. 

Beaches in Vlorë

The main two beaches in central Vlorë are Plazhi I Ri (“New Beach”) to the south of the port and Plazhi i Vjeter (“Old Beach”) on the other side of the port to the northwest. Plazhi means “beach” in Albanian.

Plazhi i Ri (“New Beach”)

Plazhi i Ri aka “New Beach” has had a ton of recent landscaping with a large promenade and a bike path along the wide sandy beach. It is definitely new and shiny and can get busy.

The wide and sandy beach here is probably the cleanest here and you’ll find plenty of sunbed rental places. The beach can get a little crowded but its very similar to Italian or Greek beaches.

There is an awesome, 2 way bike path separate from the road, a wide promenade, and lots of hotels and restaurants in this area plus art sculptures and parks. It is a great place to explore. 

Plazhi i Vjeter (“Old Beach”)

Plazhi i Vjeter (aka “Old Beach”) is less busy, has some old buildings interspersed with new hotels and is a little less shiny but still a nice wide and sandy beach. There is also some public parking right by the beach, or even on the beach in some cases. 

Plazhi Boves

If you keep walking on the beach farther north beyond Plazhi i Vjeter, you come to what is called Plazhi Boves on the map. This is a forested area with camping and a couple of small, beachfront restaurants with sunbed rentals.

The beach here can be a little iffy in terms of trash; meaning it is clean by the newer hotels and apartment blocks but you will find some trash in the undeveloped or run down spots. 

Orikum and Radhimë

These are small villages at the southern end of the bay that have some of the most rapid development in the area. Google Maps is especially inaccurate here as the road is new and there is so much building going on. I think Orikum has a nicer beach then the area around Radhimë– it is wider and less crowded.

In between Radhimë and Plazhi i Ri (“New Beach”), you will see small coves with tiny beaches among the cliffs. Parking is not great here and the nearby hotels have claimed most of the available sand with sunbeds so these aren’t great unless you are staying there.

Where To Stay In Vlorë

Plazhi i Ri (“New Beach”) in central Vlorë

Do you want to be near restaurants, cafes, and shops? Then stay closer to Plazhi i Ri (aka “New Beach”) near the center of Vlorë. Plazhi i Ri is probably the most expensive part of town to stay in though

*TIP- Some hotels are on the beach while others are across a wide boulevard from the beach. Make sure to look at the address on Google Maps and not just go by the pictures as many will show their private sunbed area on the beach but the hotel itself is not on the beach. 

Almost all hotels will have lounge chairs and umbrellas for its guests set up on the beach. Just check that they are included in the room price as some will have that as an additional expense. You can usually rent one independently or through your hotel for as little as 300- 500 LEK for the day. 

Plazhi i Vjeter (“Old Beach”)

On the northern end of the bay on the other side of the port, you’ll find Plazhi i Vjeter (aka “Old Beach”) a wide sandy beach that is a bit mixed in terms of development. There are some nice hotels here but also some rundown places that haven’t been redeveloped yet (I give that 5 years max though). There is also some public parking right by the beach, or even on the beach in some cases. 

I stayed at the Sea & Sand Hotel in this area, a newer hotel that had a nice balcony right on the beach as well as a nice restaurant. It is a great spot for a relaxing beach vacation but it is a little far from the center of town if you wanted to explore on foot. (Albania is also SUPER hot in the summer, people, and I say that as a southerner.)  

It is a quick taxi ride though from the hotel to the historic Old Town or busier New Beach area. And the hotel comes with underground parking, a huge plus. Sunbeds are also included with your stay as is a great breakfast. No pool though. 

Orikum and Radhimë

At the southern end of the bay, a 20-30 min drive from the center of Vlorë, you will find the beaches of Radhimë and Orikum. These two villages are quieter than the main beaches of Vlorë and the hotels along here are mostly brand new as this is rapidly developing. There are some larger resorts with impressive pools in this area. The beachfront road is new as well and sand seems to have been brought in to make the beaches wider. 

You get terrific views of the Karaburun Peninsula and the sunset from here. Dining might be a bit limited to your hotel or neighbouring hotel restaurants though. There is a minibus that runs from both of these areas into central Vlorë so it is pretty easy to get to without driving. 

In Between Plazhi i Ri and Radhimë

The shoreline between these two wide sandy beaches gets a bit rocky, with small coves and tiny beaches interspersed. Many of the hotels in this area are perched on top of the cliffs and the views can be beautiful. These hotels often have a pool and many have access to small private beaches. A great place to look if you want views and a smaller, cosier beach. 

What To Do In Vlorë

1. Take a day trip to Sazan Island and Karabrun Peninsula

Easily one of the most popular day trips in Vlorë. There are numerous boat operators available online, through your hotel, or walking along by the port and New Beach. These are kid- friendly outings as long as they can swim and tolerate all day out in the boat. 

Most of the trips start with a visit to Sazan Island where you can swim for a little bit or walk around the abandoned military buildings. Then you proceed over to Karabrun Peninsula to visit a famous sea cave and explore the beautiful coastline of this undeveloped peninsula.  Most generally end the day with a stop at one of the small beaches found in the coves.  A couple of the more popular ones have a beach bar in the tourist season. 

2. Visit St. Mary’s Monastery, Narta Lagoon, and the Vjosa-Narta Natural Area

You will need to drive (or arrange a taxi or tour guide) to this picturesque monastery located on an island in the middle of Narta Lagoon, an important bird habitat with its own population of flamingoes. It is about 25 min north west of the center of Vlorë. There is a large parking area by the monastery and a little food truck with snacks and coffee. 

St. Mary’s Monastery

The wooden walkway out to the island will have you stopping to take quite a lot of pictures. You can visit the small church on the island itself but not any of the other buildings or the rest of the island. The church is Byzantine in design and thought to date from the second half of the 14th century. 

Remember to read the signs before you walk onto the island itself as the monks ask you not photograph while on the island itself, to wear appropriate clothing, don’t bring pets, and generally be respectful of this place of worship. 

There is no entrance fee to the island and the church but donations are asked for. Hours are generally daytime 7 days a week, 8-4 from Nov to April and 8-8 from May until November.

Narta Lagoon

One of the most important wetlands in Albania, the large Narta Lagoon is a great place for bird- watching, especially in the winter. And now it is home to a permanent colony of flamingoes, although I didn’t see them on my trip. They must have been on the far side of the lake from where I was. It really is a huge body of water although it is mostly very shallow, perfect for flamingoes. 

There are a couple of guided kayak trips I found through a google search leaving from Vlorë but I couldn’t get it to work with my schedule. I would love to do this in the winter though. 

Coastal Walk and Abandoned Communist Bunkers In Vjosa- Narta Natural Area

When you leave the monastery and lagoon, you can continue exploring the natural preserve adjacent to it. From the monastery, go back towards the main road but turn right on the dirt road that follows the lagoon’s shoreline. 

Take the first left heading towards the lighthouse at the top of the cliffs. Before you get there, you will see a parking area. Park here and walk along the path along the shore heading north and you will soon find two concrete bunker entrances in the hillside. These are left over from Albania’s communist days when the dictator Enver Hoxcha built approximately 30, 000 bunkers around the country to be on the alert for possible invasion. 

I walked into the entrances just about 20 feet to look at the writings on the wall. Drawings of military aircraft, submarines, and ships from America and the USSR along with dimensions line the walls, reminding you how closed off Albania was to the rest of the world, even fellow communist countries. 

I have read you can walk through the tunnel and come out on the other side of the hill but being myself and a bit of a scaredy cat, I only went a tiny bit of the way. Clearly locals had been hanging out there though as there were cans and chips bags. Also lots of bird and donkey poop. 

3. Museum of Independence

Vlorë was the site of the 1912 Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire and this small museum recounts the story. It is pretty cheap to go in (< $5) and would be worth it for anyone interested in the story. Located right by the water near the port. 

The pedestrian area around the museum has all been recently redone and has really pretty landscaping with lots of trees, an earthen pyramid to climb, and cafes dotting the area. 

4. Visit The Historic Old Town

Set up the hill from the port, the Old Town has also been fixed up in recent years (it’s a recurring theme in Vlorë!). You’ll find a historic clock tower, an Ottoman mosque designed by the same architect as the Suleman mosque in Istanbul, and the massive monument to Independence. 

There are some good restaurants and shops in the streets nearest the plazas surrounding these sites. If you want traditional Albanian food, these restaurants are probably your best bet. The small plazas are nicely done with marble and the houses nearby have been brightly painted. 

5. Kanina Castle

About a 20 minute drive up into the hills above Vlorë, you will find the ruins of a castle with a fantastic view. There isn’t much left of the walls of this castle which probably dates from Roman times but may have even earlier Illyrian history. 

It cost 300 LEK (about 3 euros) to go in. Parking is below the castle.

I didn’t make it up here but I wish I had if only for the view out over the bay and the Karaburun Peninsula.

More Info About Albania And Other European Destinations We Loved

Tirana

I spent a week in the capital and did just about everything on the tourist list. This is my list of best things to do in Tirana, especially if you have kids.

We stayed in an amazing Airbnb in Tirana, centrally located with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Find out where and other places we looked at- Where To Stay Tirana