Aquarium Beach (Gjiri i Akuariumit), Himarë: The Cove Between Jalë and Livadhi That Turns Crowded After 10am

Albania | Himarë | Albanian Riviera

Aquarium Beach, locally known as Plazhi i Akuariumit, is a hidden gem on the Albanian Riviera, offering a serene escape from the bustling tourist spots. Situated near Jala, this small, secluded beach is renowned for its pristine turquoise waters and unspoiled natural environment.

Gjiri i Akuariumit became famous through social media. The fact that you can also camp there contributes to its popularity. By 10 o’clock, Aquarium Beach was already overcrowded.

The popularity trap is the specific honest note that the beach’s social media fame has produced. The cove is small — a short arc of white pebbles enclosed by rock walls — and when the number of visitors exceeds what the physical space can absorb comfortably, the experience the photographs suggest (empty, serene, crystal water) does not match the experience that arriving at 11am in July delivers. The 10am overcrowding threshold is the consistent visitor warning from every account that does not describe it as a hidden gem.

Aquarium Beach is best for those who don’t mind a brief hike and prefer a wild beach over a developed area. It is between Jalë Beach (1.5 kilometres north) and Livadhi Beach (1.25 kilometres southeast). Aquarium Beach is a secluded cove nestled between Jala Beach and Livadhi Beach in Himare, Albania. Renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and small white pebble beach, the bay resembles a natural aquarium.

Getting There: 20 Minutes on Foot from Jalë, Regular Car to 300m Then Walk, Boat from Himarë

Aquarium Beach can be reached by boat or via a hiking path from either Livadhi Beach or Jala Beach.

The journey from either beach involves a 1.5 to 2-kilometre walk along an unpaved road. From Jalë Beach, the walk takes approximately 20 minutes south on the coastal path. From Livadhi Beach, the walk is similar in distance heading north.

It is possible to reach Aquarium Beach with a regular car up until the last 300 metres — a dirt road with some rocks but no massive boulders. As long as you’re driving slowly and carefully, you really don’t need a truck or SUV to make it. The final 300 metres require either 4×4 capability or parking and walking. Parking is limited, so arriving early is recommended.

By boat, a water taxi service operates from Himarë during the summer season, connecting several beaches including Jala Beach. From Jala Beach, you can easily walk to Aquarium Beach. Expect to pay around €20 for a return journey from Himarë.

The Cove: Small White Pebbles, Enclosed by Rock, Two Sections, Crowded After 10am

There are a couple of small bays in the area, with Guma Beach being the first, offering a proper small beach that’s easy to reach. A smaller second beach is accessible by steps carved into the rock. A beach bar provides drinks and food, with some reviewers praising the fish. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for rent.

The Guma Beach is the first bay encountered when approaching from the direction of Jalë — the easier, more accessible cove with the bar and sunbeds. The smaller second cove — the actual Aquarium Beach — is through the carved rock steps, more enclosed and more intimate, and the one that the photographs show.

Despite its appeal, Gjiri i Akuariumit tends to get crowded, especially during peak hours and in the afternoons. The limited space can make it feel overcrowded at times. Some reviewers have noted issues with trash and cleanliness, particularly cigarette butts on the beach.

The water entry is over white pebbles — water shoes recommended. Snorkelling is best done outside the cove to the left where underwater rock formations create a habitat for aquatic life. Rock jumping is available from the cliffs on the right side.

No Facilities: Bring Everything With You

The area is devoid of facilities, so visitors should bring their own provisions. No showers, no toilets, no shops. The bar at Guma Beach (the first cove) is available for drinks and food. The bar is described as expensive relative to the informal setting.

The practical preparation is the consistent visitor advice: bring enough water for the walk and the beach day, food or snacks, sun protection, and a bag for rubbish — some reviewers advise visitors to help maintain the cleanliness of the area by using the trash bins near the bar and taking their litter with them. There are no rubbish bins in the main cove.

After the beach day, visitors typically head back to Jalë or Himarë, which offer seafood and Mediterranean dining.

Aquarium Beach in the Himarë Beach Sequence

Aquarium Beach is a sheltered cove nestled in the rugged coastline. Unlike its many neighbours, there are no paid beach clubs, sunbeds for rent, or bars and loud music in sight. The water is crystal clear with turquoise hues as you swim out into the open sea.

Jalë Beach (1.5km north) is the beach for those who want a beach club experience — bars, sunbeds, organised facilities. Aquarium Beach is the opposite: wild, unorganised, and dependent on arrival timing for the quality of the experience.

The combination of Jalë as the service and food base (accommodation, bars, restaurants) and Aquarium Beach as the specific swimming and snorkelling day destination is the programme that visitor accounts consistently recommend. The best place to stay near both Aquarium and Jalë Beach is Livadhi Beach, which has a larger selection of accommodation.

Gjipe Beach Albanian Riviera — the canyon-mouth cove with the 2-kilometre hike from the trailhead, 5km north of Jalë — is the other wild, access-limited beach in this coastal sequence. Aquarium Beach and Gjipe together are the two “require effort” beaches in the Himarë corridor.

Aquarium Beach (Gjiri i Akuariumit) near Himarë on the Albanian Riviera is the small enclosed white pebble cove between Jalë and Livadhi — regular car to 300 metres then walk, or 20-minute walk from Jalë, no facilities (bring everything), the bar at Guma Beach on the approach is expensive, crowded after 10am, snorkel left outside the cove, rock jump right, social media famous and therefore less hidden than its reputation suggests.

Leave Jalë at 8am. Arrive first.