Durrës Beach — Attraction in Bashkia Durrës

Durrës Beach: Sandy Shores, Family Fun, and a Jellyfish Warning! 🏖️ 🪼

We spent a few days here in early July. It's a wide, sandy beach that wasn't crowded at all during this period, which was a pleasant surprise.

Personally, I prefer the more intimate, pebbly coves of the Riviera, but the beach in Durrës is clean and offers a classic seaside holiday experience. It's worth knowing that due to the sandy bottom, the water isn't as crystal-clear as it is in the south.

An important heads-up for visitors in early July: there were quite a lot of jellyfish in the water. Their stings were light but unpleasant, so it's something to be aware of, especially when traveling with children.

The long promenade is a great feature. There are plenty of sections with paid sunbeds and umbrellas; we found it very convenient to use the ones provided by our hotel, Hotel Adriatik 2.

Where to Eat Near the Beach and our hotel? There are many good restaurants in the area. We can recommend two: For a Great-Value Family Meal: Arberia Restaurant. The grilled calamari and octopus were delicious, and the kids' pizza was a hit. For a More High-End Seafood Dinner: Zen Seaside Restaurant. The food was fantastic (we recommend the octopus and the salmon tartare), and beautifully presented.

(Our stay in Durrës was our base for exploring central Albania during our 2025 road trip. For the full itinerary, find my summary review of Skanderbeg...

The beach itself is ok. The water is fine, not very dirty, not crystal blue either. We visited on a Friday and it was pretty busy.

Very large stretches of the beach are taken up by lounge chairs, it's very commercial. We didn't really see any space that was not taken up by the chairs. There's not that much room to do anything else, so you pretty much need to get one if you're going (we paid 10€ for 2 chairs with an umbrella). There is a small stretch of ~3 meters between the chairs and the sea, but a lot of people walk here and kids run around, so you can't play a game of volleyball or put down a towel. There's also a small empty stretch between the street and the chairs, but you can't play here either, since it's "private property".

We also didn't really see any nice spots to change clothes. Best option we found was a bar bathroom, which isn't very comfortable. I'd recommend just dressing in swimwear if you go, or wearing it under your clothes. There are some outdoor showers to rinse off after swimming.

We didn't really see any lifeguards but the sea itself seemed pretty tame at the time and the sectioned off zone for swimming wasn't that deep (although we didn't go all the way back to where the buoys are).

All in all, it can be a fun day, but it's not the best beach I've been to, and the degree to which it is commercialized spoils...

Durrës is a fantastic place that perfectly combines rich history, stunning coastal views, and a lively atmosphere. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the city offers breathtaking scenery, especially during sunset when the sky turns shades of orange and pink above the calm blue waters. The Durrës Beach is wide, sandy, and ideal for a relaxing walk or a swim on a warm day. Along the promenade, palm trees and seaside cafés create a vibrant yet peaceful setting for visitors.

Beyond its beautiful coastline, Durrës also holds deep historical significance. The ancient amphitheater, one of the largest in the Balkans, gives a glimpse into the city’s Roman past. Nearby, the archaeological museum showcases fascinating artifacts that tell the story of Durrës through the centuries. The city center is full of charm, with narrow streets, friendly locals, and great restaurants serving delicious Albanian...