Vlorë's Beaches Explained: Every Stretch of Coast from Old Beach to Past the Tunnel
Vlorë has one bay but half a dozen completely different beaches along it. I want to help you navigate them.
Most visitors don't explore the full extent of the city beaches. I spent a month walking, scooting, and sitting on every section of it. Here's what I found.
Note: This covers Vlorë's city beaches only. The Albanian Riviera proper begins further south towards Dhërmi and Himarë. If you want the stunning beaches Albania is known for, that's a different trip entirely.
The Layout
The simplest way to think about it: there's one main road running north to south through the city. At the bottom of the high street is a big roundabout. After that, the Lungomare area starts and you soon reach a big open area by the sea.
The coast stretches in two directions from the Port. West along the Old Beach and South along the Lungomare promenade, past several named beaches, through the tunnel, and beyond.
A dedicated cycle lane runs the full length south. From the north of the city, down through the main beach areas, all the way past the tunnel. It's flat, well-maintained, and arguably the best feature in Vlorë. Whether you walk, cycle, or hire an electric scooter, every beach on this list is easily accessible from wherever you're staying.
Old Beach (Plazhi i Vjetër)
The feel: Wilder the further west, less polished, more space.
Head west from the port and you reach the Old Beach. It's sandy, wide, and the further west you walk, the quieter it gets. This is where Vlorë feels less like a city beach and more like somewhere you've wandered off the map.
The starting point of this beach is right next to the port. When I was there a considerable amount of development work was underway in that location. You can reach this point by starting from the port entrance and winding your way through to the beach. It's easier to find by heading west from the big roundabout until you see a clear entry to the beach.
The western end is genuinely wild. On one visit I passed a horse standing in a field and turkeys wandering near the path. The beach itself stretches much further than you'd expect, and that extra distance gives it a feeling of space that the Lungomare beaches can't match.
It's not as pretty as the Lungomare stretch. Fewer restaurants and cafes backing onto it. The area nearest the port is rougher around the edges and undergoing updates.
But the sunsets. Facing west towards Sazan Island, 4.8km across the strait, the Old Beach has my favourite sunset position in the city. On a good evening, the light over Sazan is worth the walk alone. More mosquitoes on this evening walk, but worth it.
Best for: Long beach walks, sunset watching, quiet mornings. If you want a bigger stretch of sand with fewer people, this is it.
The Port and Sunset Gathering
The Lungomare starts by the port. Not a beach area, but worth mentioning because it's where Vlorë comes alive at sunset.
The port and the start of the Lungomare are where people gather in the evenings. Locals and visitors sit on the edge of the water, watching the sun drop. OK surprise surprise there on phones in the picture.
If you're staying nearby, this becomes a regular ritual. I did it most evenings because it was a two-minute walk from my apartment. The Starlines ferry to Italy docks here, and there's a brand new marina being developed. Climb the small man-made hill by the independence museum to get the best views.
A massive open area by the sea has the big wheel (seasonal) and is where occasional concerts happen.
Short evening strolls along this stretch are one of the quiet pleasures of living here.
Plazhi i Ri (New Beach)
The feel: Social, convenient, the postcard version.
The sandy beaches start about 1km down the Lungomare. This is what most people mean when they say 'Vlorë's beach.' The wide promenade runs alongside with palm trees and plenty of restaurants and cafes.
The beach is sandy with a shallow entry into the water. In September, sunbeds line the shore. By October, most have been packed away and the beach feels calmer, more local. That seasonal shift is one of the best arguments for visiting in shoulder season.
The Lungomare is backed by restaurants and cafes for its full length. You can sunbathe, paddle, eat, and people-watch without moving more than fifty metres. It's touristy but convenient.
Best for: Easy access, sunbathing with restaurants nearby, the social side of beach life. In shoulder season, you get the best of both: the facilities without the crowds. In holiday season it's a lively area to find fun and music.
Plazhi i Vlorës
The feel: The last sandy beach heading south. Smaller, with a beautiful seafront.
Past a pier (where tour boats operate from), you reach Plazhi i Vlorës. It's a smaller sandy beach and the last of the sandy stretches as you continue south. It runs as far as the Lion Fountain. After this, the coastline changes character.
If you're staying in what I call the Lungomare 2 area, this is your nearest beach. The trade-off is you need transport back to the central city and main supermarkets. The beach itself is pleasant, backed by many restaurants, and the shallow sandy entry is the same gentle wade into the water.
Near the southern end of Plazhi i Vlorës you'll find the Lion Fountain (Uji i Ftohtë), a landmark providing locals with fresh drinking water, worth a quick look.
Best for: Sandy beach time if you're staying further south. Slightly quieter than the main Lungomare.
The Promenade Walk South
You can walk (or cycle) on the promenade all the way south to the tunnel and beyond to a more dramatic stretch of coastline. The section beyond the Lion Fountain rewards exploration. The sea crashes against the promenade wall and there are several spots to stop and sit.
One of my favourite places to pause was just before Azar beach, near the tennis courts. At sunset, the waves hit the promenade wall and the light catches the spray. Bring something to sit on and stay for a while.
Best for: Walking, running, cycling, watching the sea from the promenade rather than lying on it.
Azar Beach
The feel: Small, shingle, backed by resort-style development.
Azar is a different kind of beach. Small, narrow, and shingle rather than sand. You'll need swim shoes for more comfortable water access.
The area around it has an upscale feel. One resort has a large swimming pool right on the seafront, which is striking. There are some interesting architectural features along this stretch, and the promenade work is well designed.
I heard from locals that the water gets clearer the further south you go. From Azar onwards, it certainly looks it. If swimming is your priority and you don't mind shingle underfoot, this is where the water quality starts to improve.
Best for: A different coastal atmosphere. Better water clarity for swimming. Worth the walk or ride south.
Past the Tunnel: Uji i Ftohtë Beach
The feel: The surprise at the end. Quieter, Albanian Riviera preview.
The tunnel is the landmark that divides tourist Vlorë from what lies beyond. Most visitors turn around here. Just past it, through the tunnel or via the coastal walkway, there's another small shingle beach called Uji i Ftohtë. It's backed by a fine restaurant.
It's a similar character to Azar: shingle, clearer water. Beyond this beach, the landscape shifts. The road starts climbing, the views open up, and you get your first proper sense of the Albanian Riviera stretching south.
I reached this point on an electric scooter one morning and sat on the quiet beach looking back at the city. It felt different to the Lungomare I'd left twenty minutes earlier.
Best for: Anyone curious enough to go a bit further. Swimming. A glimpse of the Riviera without committing to the full journey south.
Which Beach Is Right for You?
It depends on what you want from the coast.
If you want long sandy walks with space and sunsets: Old Beach. Head west from the port and keep walking.
If you want convenience, restaurants, and the social side: Plazhi i Ri or Plazhi i Vlorës.
If you want sand and sunbeds with easy access: Plazhi i Ri or Plazhi i Vlorës.
If you want clearer water and don't mind shingle: Azar or Uji i Ftohtë, south past the tunnel.
If you want to explore: Walk or cycle the full promenade length. The dedicated cycle lane makes it genuinely easy. I walked most of this coast over the course of a month, and it's one of the best features of the city. Different days, different seasons, different stretches, different moods.
The Cycle Lane Deserves Its Own Mention
I've been to a few coastal cities. Vlorë is a small city with the best cycling path I've experienced. The dedicated lane runs from the north of the city, down the high street, along the entire Lungomare, past every beach on this list, and continues south past the tunnel.
It's flat, separated from the road, and well maintained. You can hire bikes or electric scooters (though electric scooters may now be banned). The point is: every beach mentioned here is twenty minutes or less by bike from the city centre. The coast feels much bigger than it looks on a map, and the cycle lane is what makes all of it accessible.
Timing Matters
These beaches feel different depending on when you visit. In summer, the Lungomare beaches are packed with sunbeds and tourists. By late September, it thins out. By October, you have the sand mostly to yourself.
Shoulder season is the sweet spot for beach time here. Warm enough to swim, quiet enough to enjoy it, and the restaurants are still open.
More on timing: Why I Loved Vlorë in Shoulder Season
The Honest View
Vlorë's beaches aren't the Albanian Riviera's best. The water along the Lungomare is fine but not the crystal blue you'll find further south. The sand is decent but not white powder. The port side of the old beach is undergoing renovation.
But the coast is longer and more varied than anyone expects. One bay, half a dozen different experiences depending on where you stop. The Old Beach gives you space and sunsets. The Lungomare gives you convenience and company. Going south gives you something quieter and more natural.
Take a morning. Walk it or ride it. You'll find the stretch that fits.
All Vlorë Guides
- Vlorë Quickstart: Everything You Need for Your First Month
- What a Month in Vlorë Actually Cost Me
- Where to Stay in Vlorë
- Taking the Bus from Tirana to Vlorë
- The Walk to Kuzum Baba
- Why I Loved Vlorë in Shoulder Season
- Where to Work and Meet People
- Supermarket Prices: UK vs Vlorë
