Dhërmi

The old town is a maze of white-washed stone houses, bougainvillea, and blue-domed churches. It feels like a quieter, more rugged version of a Greek island. Perched at the highest point of the village, the 13th-century Monastery of Saint Mary offers the definitive panoramic view of the coastline

There is a 2km shaded walking path that follows a freshwater stream from the old village down to the beach. It’s the only way to walk between the two zones without melting in the sun or dodging cars on the main road

The coastal area is split into Dhërmi Beach (livelier, more hotels) and Drymades Beach (slightly further north, traditionally "cooler" and more bohemian, though now equally developed)

Dhërmi beach has become the "Mykonos of Albania." Prices for a cocktail or a seafood dinner can be double what you would pay in Saranda or Vlorë. You are paying for the "vibe," not necessarily superior quality