Pack the sunscreen, load up Google Maps, and hit the road south from Tirana. Each of these beaches is worth the drive with Lemon Car Rental.
Palasa Beach
Riviera Highlight Hidden Gem
Palasa Beach is one of the most beautiful hidden gems on the Albanian Riviera, known for its dramatic cliffs and bright blue water. It feels peaceful and uncrowded, which makes it a great stop for travelers who want a quieter beach experience. A rental car is the best way to get here, since the road is winding and much easier to manage by car than by bus.
Drive tip: From Himara, it's 20 minutes south on the SH8. Look for the sign just after the Palasa village turnoff. With a car rental from Tirana or the airport, you can reach it comfortably and arrive early for for glassy water.
Drimades Beach
Crystal Waters
Drimades Beach, also known as Drimadhe, is a long white-pebble beach near Dhërmi with clear turquoise water and a relaxed summer atmosphere. It is ideal for a full beach day, especially if you want beach bars, sunbeds, and a scenic Riviera setting. A car rental in Albania makes it easy to stop here and continue further along the coast.
Arguably the most consistently stunning beach on the whole Riviera not too crowded, not too remote. A must-visit on any Albanian road trip.
Drive tip: Park at the Dhërmi village lot above and walk down, or use the paid beach parking. Approximately 3.5 hours' drive south of Tirana Airport in a rental car.
Dhërmi Beach
Most Popular Riviera Hub
Dhërmi Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Albania and a favorite stop on any Albanian Riviera road trip. It combines a long beach, lively beach clubs, fresh seafood, and beautiful sunsets, making it ideal for couples, groups of friends, and families. The village sat above the beach reached by a twisting road is filled with old stone houses and great local restaurants serving traditional Albanian cuisine.
Drive tip: The road from Tirana to Dhërmi (SH4 to SH8) is scenic and well-paved. Your Lemon rental car handles it easily, allow 3-4 hours from Tirana Airport (TIA).
Gjipe Bay
Hike & Swim Secret Cove
Gjipe Bay is one of the most dramatic and unforgettable beaches in Albania. Hidden between high cliffs and reached by a hike from the nearest road, it offers a truly wild nature experience. Since public transport does not reach the trailhead easily, a rental car is the most practical way to visit Gjipe
Secret Cove This is exactly the kind of place that makes Albania so special. Pack snorkeling gear, wear sturdy shoes for the trail, and bring food and water there are no facilities.
Drive tip: Drive to the Gjipe trail car park, located between Dhërmi and Himara on the SH8. A rental car is essential there's no public transport to this trailhead.
Jale Beach
Party Beach Summer Favourite
Jale is the Riviera's festival beach home to Open Air Festival and a string of beach bars that keep the energy high well into the night. By day, the water is warm and clear, and the sandy-pebble shoreline is perfect for swimming.
If you're traveling between July and August, Jale is an essential stop. Budget travelers love the camping options right on the beach. Rent a car at Lemon and get ready for clear waters.
Drive tip: Jale sits roughly midway between Dhërmi and Himara. With Lemon rental car, you can stay in Himara and drive over for the evening returning safely at your own pace.
Llamani Beach
Peaceful Escape
Llamani is the Riviera's quiet alternative a long, uncrowded stretch of fine pebble beach south of Himara that most package tourists never reach. The sea here is remarkably transparent, the scenery green and mountainous, and the atmosphere genuinely relaxed.
Locals come here for a reason. If you're looking for a calm, beautiful beach to decompress without the party atmosphere, Llamani delivers every time.
Drive tip: Take the SH8 south from Himara for about 10 minutes. Lemon rental car is the only practical way to get here independently.
Filikuri Beach
Undiscovered Nature Reserve
Filikuri is the hidden gem of the Riviera, a wild, undeveloped beach framed by olive groves and mountain scenery. The water is pristine, the pebble shore is quiet, and you'll often have the whole bay to yourself. There are no beach bars, no sunbeds, no infrastructure just raw natural beauty.
It's the closest thing to a private Albanian beach experience you'll find in high season. Pair it with a day trip from Himara.
Drive tip: The road to Filikuri is unpaved for the last stretch a rental SUV or crossover is recommended. Book one with Lemon Car Rental Albania.
Krorez Bay
Dramatic Views
Krorez Bay is one of those places that rewards the effort it takes to reach it. Framed by sheer rock walls plunging straight into the Ionian Sea, the bay feels like a natural amphitheater. The water is deep blue-green, crystal clear to the bottom, and ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Because it's off the main tourist route, Krorez remains refreshingly uncrowded. It's a spectacular stop on the drive between Himara and Sarandë.
Drive tip: Located on the SH8 between Himara and Qeparo. Easy access by Lemon rental car, look for the rough track heading down toward the water.
Porto Palermo
Historic Site Iconic Landmark
Porto Palermo is unlike any other beach in Albania. The Ottoman-era castle jutting out on a small peninsula, surrounded by deep blue water on three sides, creates a scene of extraordinary beauty. The sheltered lagoon-style waters are calm, warm, and perfectly transparent a favorite spot for yachts sailing the Albanian coast.
Combine a swim with a visit to Ali Pasha's Castle free to enter for one of the most memorable afternoons in the whole country. The views from the castle walls over the bay are jaw-dropping.
Drive tip: Located 26km south of Himara on the SH8. About 4.5 hours from Tirana Airport by rental car. A perfect overnight stop before continuing to Sarandë and Butrint.
Himara Beach
Town Beach Best Base Camp
Himara Beach is one of the best base locations for exploring the Albanian Riviera by car rental. A long stretch of dark pebbles and clear blue water runs right along the seafront, lined with affordable restaurants, family-run guesthouses, and local tavernas serving fresh fish by the kilo.
Himara makes an ideal overnight stop central enough to reach Dhërmi in the north and Porto Palermo to the south in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect operational base for a multi-beach road trip.
Drive tip: Himara is 3.5 hours from Tirana Airport (TIA). Book your rental car with Lemon Car Rental Albania and start your Riviera loop from here. Parking in town is easy and free.