The Republic of Albania has a considerable coastline that stretches for 450 km (including lagoons) and extends along the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. It is easy to tell the seas apart thanks to their different characteristics.
The Adriatic beaches tend to be sandy with shallow waters, making them suitable for family holidays.
The main beaches are those of Velipoja, Shën Gjin, Durrës, Golem, Spillenja, Divjaka, Vlora, among others. Besides the beaches, the Adriatic coast is rich in lagoons and other natural ecosystems providing wonderful opportunities for those passionate about the study and observation of birds, as well as those interested in eco-tourism.
Velipoja beach is the northernmost beach of the country situated 22 km away from city of Shkodër. There are about 250 sunny days and temperatures above 20°C normally begin in mid-May. The beach, with 4 km of high quality sand, is suitable for family vacations and is generally visited by northern Albanians.
Shëngjin beach is another sandy beach near the district of Lezha, situated 8 km away from the historic town of Lezha. Shëngjin beach is well known for its high quality sand and has 200-300 sunny days per year. North of Shëngjin, ahead of Renci hills, lays the wonderful beach called Rana e Hedhun (Powdered Sand), which is well protected from the winds of that area.
Lalëzi bay is another attractive area of the Adriatic coastline situated between Rodon and Bishti i Pallës Cape. Rodon Cape is a wonderful, natural masterpiece of 7.5 km length and it is a huge draw for those who enjoy diving. The beaches of Lalëzi bay are sandy, some surrounded by strips of pine trees.
Durrës beach, situated only 39 km away from Tirana is the biggest and the most frequented beach in the country. It has a length of 6 km with a considerably wide strip of sand. The sea depth increases very gradually, which makes this beach very safe for families and kids. In Durres, there are three major beaches:
North of Durrës, the beach of Currila is deeper and is quite protected by warm wind coming from the land.
South of Durrës you will find two other beaches: Golem and Mali i Robit, with characteristics similar to the beaches around the Durrës area.
Vlora is the second biggest harbor of the country and one of the most important points for Albanian tourism offering both “sea and sun”. The beach area near the city is well known for its new and modern hotels along with other facilities like bars, restaurants, clubs, and cafes. This is one of the most exciting tourist areas of the country. That area starts directly south of the city along the small and rocky beaches of the Bay of Vlorë. Further down the harbor of Orikum you will find a recently built yacht harbor.
