Top 10 Marinas in Albania
Drop anchor off the turquoise waters of Sarandë and you understand immediately why Albanian sailing is having its moment. The Ionian stretch between Vlorë and the Greek border packs snow-white pebble beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and depths that shelve so steeply you can lay stern-to within metres of a pine forest. Best of all, the anchorages cost almost nothing and the summer meltemi that scours the Greek islands softens here into manageable northerlies. Albania is the Mediterranean's best-kept sailing secret — and these ten marinas show exactly why.
Marina e Orikumit — The Southern Gateway
Sitting at the mouth of the Orikum lagoon just south of Vlorë, Marina e Orikumit is Albania's most established facility. The pontoons hold around 150 berths, depth is a comfortable 3.5 m throughout, and the harbour master's office monitors VHF channel 16 in season. Fuel is available by jerry-can at a nearby petrol station, though a fuel dock is being laid out as the marina upgrades. From Orikum you can dinghy into the Narta Lagoon, a flamingo-rich nature reserve, or provision in Vlorë's lively market in under 20 minutes by taxi.
Porti i Sarandës — History at the Stern
Saranda's commercial port has a dedicated yacht quay on its northern arm where visiting boats moor alongside. The setting alone justifies the detour: Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage city with Hellenistic theatre, Roman baths, and Byzantine basilica, lies just 18 km to the south. The town waterfront is lined with café terraces, and the ferry link to Corfu (90 minutes) means crew changes are easy. Holding in the bay runs to 4 m of sand, and a new breakwater extension completed in 2024 has greatly reduced the wash from commercial traffic.
Porti i Shëngjinit — Northern Anchorage
Shëngjin in the north was long Albania's main fishing port, but recent investment has carved out a section of the basin for pleasure craft. The inner bay offers reliable holding in 5–7 m of muddy sand, protected from the dominant northwesterly swell. Provisioning is excellent — the town has a covered fish market and a decent supermarket on the main square. It is the natural base for exploring the Drin River delta and its wildlife-rich wetlands. Night life is quieter than Sarandë, which suits bluewater crews arriving after a passage.
Himarë Roadstead — Wild Coastline Stopover
Himarë is not a marina in the formal sense, but its small pier and stone quay function as an important overnight stop on the passage between Vlorë and Sarandë. The backdrop is imposing: an Ottoman hilltop citadel above a crescent of pebble beach, with a village whose stone houses hold Greek Orthodox churches dating to the eighteenth century. Anchor in 4 m of sand to the northeast of the pier. The Riviera Shqiptare (Albanian Riviera) reaches its most photogenic at Himarë, and the surrounding villages of Palasë, Dhërmi, and Qeparo are all accessible by day sail.
Dhermi Anchorage — Emerald Waters
A flat-bottomed keel boat or shoal-draft motorsailer can find superlative overnight anchoring off the beach at Dhërmi. The cove is flanked by pine-clad slopes and the Ceraunian Mountains press almost to the waterline. In July and August swell can wrap around the headland, so arriving by late afternoon to assess conditions is sensible. The village, a 15-minute climb from the beach, has simple tavernas serving grilled fish and raki. Water depth in the main anchoring area is 5–8 m of coarse sand.
Vlorë Yacht Quay — Urban Base
Vlorë's large commercial harbour has a dedicated leisure-craft jetty on the inner basin's eastern side. The city itself is significant: it was here that Ismail Qemali raised the Albanian flag on 28 November 1912 to declare independence. For sailors it offers full provisioning — a huge Conad supermarket, chandleries on the industrial waterfront, and a well-equipped dive shop that can fill tanks. The quay depth is 2.5–3 m alongside, suitable for most monohulls. Internet connectivity is strong across the basin, making Vlorë an efficient landfall for clearing Albanian customs.
Ksamil Anchorage — Island Jewels
Four islets dot the water off Ksamil, creating partially sheltered anchorages between them and the shore. The water clarity here is exceptional — visibility exceeds 15 m in calm conditions — and the islets are accessible by dinghy for snorkelling. Ksamil lies inside the Butrint National Park buffer zone, so anchoring regulations apply: holding in sandy patches between rocky outcrops, with a maximum stay of 48 hours for most seasons. The nearest potable water is available from the village tap a short dinghy ride away.
Borsh Bay — Off-Grid Overnight
Between Himarë and Sarandë, Borsh Bay opens to the southwest and offers 8 m depth over a muddy bottom that holds an anchor superbly. The beach behind is 7 km long — one of the longest on the Albanian Riviera — and almost entirely undeveloped. An abandoned citadel crowns the ridge to the northeast. For solitude-seeking bluewater sailors this is the antithesis of a Croatian marina: no charge, no facilities, and no crowds. Carry enough water and fuel before arriving, and leave no trace.
Sazan Island — Restricted Waters
Sazan, which closes the mouth of the Bay of Vlorë, was a military zone until 2010 and remains partly restricted; a permit from the Albanian Maritime Authority is required to anchor there. For those who obtain clearance the island's coves are spectacular: sheer limestone drops into 20–40 m of crystalline water, and the marine life is among the richest in the Adriatic-Ionian basin owing to decades of protection. Divers report abundant grouper, dentex, and occasional loggerhead turtles. Permit applications can be filed through Porti i Sarandës harbourmaster.
Planning an Albanian Coastal Passage
The Albanian sailing season runs from mid-May to early October. Formalities require advance boat registration with the Albanian Maritime Administration; a cruising permit, stamped at the first port of entry, covers the entire coast. Harbourmaster fees remain among the lowest in the Mediterranean — typically 10–25 euros per night depending on LOA. Fuel prices at the roadside stations servicing the marinas are competitive. VHF 16 is the standard working channel, and harbour authorities generally have at least one English speaker during the season. The nearest offshore cruising guides are the RCC Pilotage Foundation's Adriatic Pilot and Rod Heikell's Ionian.
Explore on the map
Albania's coastline traces one of the most rewarding passages in the whole eastern Mediterranean, and the best way to plan your route is to study the anchorages and ports on an interactive chart. Browse every marina, anchorage, and waypoint on the map and zoom into the detail of the Albania on the map for depths, hazards, and distances. Click any harbour icon for current information, then set your waypoints and go.