Albania Coast Calling: Your Ultimate Guide to Sarande, Himare & Vlore

Hey everyone,

My wife and I are heading to Albania in early-mid June for 13 nights (11 days net, excluding flight nights). We’ll have a rental car and we’re trying to figure out the best way to split our time on the coast without constantly packing and unpacking.

The plan so far:

• Tirana: 1 night (landing late).
• Berat: 2 nights. Planning to do the Osumi canyon for rafting/tubing on the second day.
• The Riviera: This is where we need help. We want at least 2 bases (maybe 3 if it makes sense), staying 2-3 nights in each.

We’re looking for nice hotels and clear water. We don't mind pebbles as long as the scenery is good and it's not wall-to-wall people. We aren’t "party animals" but we don’t want a ghost town either - we'd like to have a few nice bars to go to at night.

Specific questions:

1. Sarande vs. Vlore: Is Vlore too much of a "city" and not enough of a beach town? On the flip side, is Sarande already a total crowded mess in mid-June? Currentlyleaning towards Sarande.
2. Himare vs. Dhermi: We’re leaning toward Himare for the authentic/relaxed vibe, but we're worried it might be too quiet. Is Dhermi worth the extra cost, or is it just "expensive Himare"?
3. Does it make sense to go Berat -> Sarande (3n) -> Gjirokaster (1n) -> Himare (3n)? Or is it better to do Gjirokaster immediately after Berat and then stay on the coast for the rest of the trip? We’re aware of the coastal road from Vlore and want to make sure we don’t miss the best views.
4. Gjirokaster: Is 1 night enough? We're planning to hit the Blue Eye on the way in or out.

If anyone has recommendations for beaches that are worth a 15-20 minute drive to escape the crowds, or thoughts on the "vibe" of these towns in June, let us know.

Thanks!