Tucked between the mountains and the Ionian Sea, Drymades Beach is one of those gems that makes you stop and go, “Why haven’t I been here sooner”?
I first stumbled upon it by chance because I was late with booking and there weren’t any available acommodation in Dhërmi which was my first choice. But I’m happy it ended up as it did.
Drymades Beach is not as polished or party-heavy as some of the better-known beach towns, but that’s exactly what make it great. Howvever, major construction is happening at the moment, so is it still worth visiting?
I’d say yes, but let’s take a closer look so you can make up your own mind.
Article overview
How to get to Drymades Beach
Drymades Beach is located just outside the village of Dhërmi, along the scenic SH8 coastal highway on the Albanian Riviera.
1. From Tirana: Bus, rental car or driver
🚌 By bus: The journey from Tirana to Saranda, takes between 5-7 hours. You can catch a bus to Vlorë from the airport and from there to Dhërmi. Or directly to Dhërmi from the Regional Bus Station. Just don’t expect luxury—Albanian buses (or “furgons”) can be a bit unpredictable.
🚗 By car: Renting a car is the best way to explore Albania, many places worth seeing are not connected to public traffic. The drive from Tirana to Dhërmi takes about 3.5 hours but be prepared for winding roads and some “creative” driving. There is ample parking along the public part of Drymades Beach.
🚖 You can negotiate with a taxi or book a transfer with my favorite company, Welcome Pickups. Since we were staying in Berat, and it was 35°C out, we found a great taxi driver who offered to take us for 9000 LEK.
2. From Corfu, Greece: The fastest route
⛴ Ferry: If you’re coming from outside Albania, the easiest way to get to Dhërmi is by flying into Corfu, Greece (CFU airport). From Corfu, it’s just a 30-40 minute ferry ride to Saranda. Ferries run multiple times a day, year-round. I paid €25 with Finikas Lines, Ionian Seaways is the other company
You can read about my experience traveling from Saranda to Corfu by ferry here.
Bus from Saranda to Dhërmi
🚌 From Saranda, you can catch a bus heading towards Dhërmi. Buses traveling along the coastal route to destinations like Vlore or Tirana often pass through Dhërmi.
Once you arrive in Dhërmi, Drymades Beach is a short taxi ride or a manageable walk away, depending on your accommodation’s location. A few taxis were waiting for the bus.
Pro tip >> During peak summer months, I recommend booking your ferry tickets in advance and confirming the bus schedule with your hotel. I have been told you can also check bus times on Gjirafa Travel, however, I don’t know if it is always accurate.
What to expect
Drymades Beach was not on my radar at all, I discovered it by chance when I was looking at hotels in Dhërmi. I was late booking my holiday for August, so I couldn’t find an option at Dhërmi Beach that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Which is why I widened my search and found Summer Dream Hotel at the far northeast end of Drymades.
When I first arrived at Drymades Beach, I was honestly a little torn. On one hand, the beach itself is massive—long, wide, and beautifully framed by rocky hills and crystal-clear turquoise water.
It definitely has that coastal charm you crave when escaping the crowds. But then, there’s also a lot of construction happening—new hotels, resorts, and bars popping across the hillside, which kind of takes away from the raw natural feel. So I guess it’s just a matter of time before Drymades also turns into a full on resort area.
In my experience, the northern part close to Summer Dream was the queitest. There’s a public beach in between this are and the main beach clubs, so it had a different vibe. People camped on the beach and had bonfires which looked really nice. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed it stays like this 🤞
Is Drymades Beach sandy? Yes and no. The northern part is white pebbles and the rest is a bit of a mix but mostly golden sand. If you’re looking for white sandy beaches, head to Gjipe or beautiful Ksamil.
There are stalls along the beach promenade where you can buy water shoes, snorkeling gear, towels ++.
Top things to do
🏖 Beach. Of course, the top thing to do on Drymades Beach is to lounge in the sun and enjoy the crystal clear ocean. If you book a hotel on the beach, they will most likely have sunbeds and umbrellas for you to use for free. If not, expect to pay anywhere from €15+.
🌊 Explore hidden coves. For the more adventurous, the surrounding rocky terrain offers opportunities to discover secluded coves and go hiking. These smaller coves north and south are less busy.
🤿 Snorkeling and diving. The water especially towards the northern end is crystal clear because of the white pebbles. In fact, I think Drymades is supposed to be one of the cleanest in the country. I swam out pretty far and could easily see the bottom along with some large fish. So I’d say it’s the perfect place to go snorkeling or diving.
The waters of Drymades Beach are also the resting place of a MIG 21 fighter plane wreck from the Communist era. Being one of the most accessible wreck sites on the Ionian coast, only 80 meters from the shore and 9 meters deep, it is a must.
You can book all water excursions through Albania Adventure Diving Center online or on the beach. Or if you prefer to stay above water like myself, you can also rent SUP boards and kayaks.
🧘♀️ Join a yoga or pilates session. Moyo has one of the cutest yoga shalas I’ve ever seen. They also offer tarot readings, hypnosis, spa treatments and massages. In addition, to retail stores, beach clubs with music performances and a gorgeous restaurant. Basically, this place is a vibe.
🗺️ Visit nearby attractions. Drymades Beach is conveniently located near attractions such as the Llogara National Park, which offers stunning views of the Ionian Sea and hiking opportunities. Parts are covered in thick forest where deer, wild boar and wolves roam free.
Visiting Dhërmi Village is also a must. Perched on the slopes of the Ceraunian Mountains, the village boasts whitewashed stone houses, narrow cobblestone streets, and even a blue-domed church, reminding me of Greece. A taxi should cost around $15, remember to agree on a price before you get in.
Where to stay at Drymades Beach
As mentioned, I chose the Summer Dream Hotel because it was the only somewhat affordable option I could find as I was booking late. Set at the far north end of the beach, it looked a little remote on the map.
But turns out it was very nice to be removed from the noisy beach club. The walk to and from restaurants in the evening was very nice. The sunsets here are absolutely gorgeous.
As mentioned above, there is a large resort area being built right next to the hotel, so it will only get busier here. But Summer Dream has a privileged position right on the water. It was a joy to have breakfast in their restaurant every morning. There’s an area of sunbeds for guests only and one paid section.
I also love…
Chalet Ambel is a great, more budget-friendly option right on the beach. Breakfast is included and the spacious chalets have a seating area on the patio. You also get free sunbeds on the beach.
If you’re traveling with a group or just prefer a more upscale place, Villa Jon Palasa Green Coast. The newly built 2-bedroom villa sits right on the beach and has a beautiful garden area for relaxation in the afternoon.
My favorite Drymades restaurants & bars
🥘 For tasty and affordable traditional food I recommend Camping Paradise. It is removed from the touristy promenade, surrounded by nature in an olive grove. I especially enjoyed the stuffed eggplant, fried zucchini and baked cheese.
🥗 It doesn’t get the best reviews, but I really enjoyed my meal at Summer Dream Restaurant. The fish was fresh and the views were incredible. You do pay for the setting, again removed from the promenade, but it was worth it in my mind.
🍸 For sunset cocktails I love 360 Sunset Bar. It is the best place in Drymades, with great music, friendly staff and cool Moroccan-inspired bohemian decor.
⛱️ For beach clubs I like Komiteti the most. It was chill, not too loud music and some nights they had a bonfire. Sarajet BEACH is the main and most central beach club. It was quite busy most days, but I loved the Tulum/Bali vibes. Amar Beach Bar
🍨 I didn’t love the service at Abonora Restaurant, I think it was a manager and he did not seem like he thought he should be serving us. But the restaurant itself is super cute, one of the nicest in the area, and I really enjoyed their pastry/ice cream shop.
Good to know
Closed during off-season. Keep in mind that most places in Drymades, and southern Albanian beach areas in general, are closed over half of the year. When I was there in April, a few restaurants had opened while there was a lot of maintenance going on in the rest. I was told most places open in May and close down in October.
Cash is still king. While more and more places in Albania are accepting cards, you should still have some cash on you for smaller cafes and street vendors. I have even had to pay for some hotels in cash. Several ATMs are available along the promenade.
Surrounding beaches. If you want to explore more of the coastline, including some lesser-known beaches, I highly recommend this Albanian Riviera highlights tour. Just use the widget below to check the price and availability.
🌟 Read next >> I spent 5 weeks in Saranda Albania: This is the good and the bad
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