How to visit Albania’s Blue Cave: Tips from our trip

After visiting the Blue Cave in Croatia a few years earlier, we thought it would be only right to visit Albania’s Blue Cave as well on our two-week Albania itinerary.

Luckily, unlike Croatia’s Blue Cave, the one in Albania is much easier to access, and you can swim in it. Although yes, it is definitely much smaller.

To be completely honest, we weren’t sure at first whether we’d want to go to the Blue Cave, since we already had a different boat trip planned. In the end, we’re happy we chose to go, as it was a fun little day trip and the Blue Cave sure does look stunning.

Where the Blue Cave is and how to get there

The blue cave is located on the coast between Vlorë and Himarë, a bit south of the Karaburun peninsula.

There are really not that many ways to get to the Blue Cave in Albania, as you can either get there by boat from Vlorë or from Himarë.

Check all boat tour details

Boat tour from Vlore

The original reason for our visit to Vlore was to do a boat trip to Grama Bay and Blue Cave, and it was so worth it!

Since the Blue Cave is geographically closer to Vlorë than Himarë, we believe it’s also better to visit from Vlorë. The boat tour to the Blue Cave from Vlorë will take up most of your day, as it’s about 7 hours from start to finish. It takes quite a bit of time for the boat to go all the way around the Karaburun peninsula and back.

The Blue Cave boat tour we joined from Vlorë, in addition to the cave, included stops in the breathtaking Grama Bay and other cool spots along the way.

On the way from Vlorë, we visited the Haxhi Ali Cave, Dafina Bay and Cave, Bear Bay, and Englishman Bay. It was honestly a perfect mix of seeing beautiful scenery and swimming. And the Haxhi Ali Cave was much bigger than we expected.

In addition to the blue cave, which was definitely a highlight, we also loved Grama Bay. It’s absolutely stunning, and we’d love it if all beaches looked like that. It’s located in a secluded bay, and we even did a short hike to a viewpoint above it (this is more of a hidden gem).

Boat tour from Himare

You can get to the Blue Cave from Himare, but just take note that it’s not as popular as from Vlore, so there’s also fewer companies doing the exact tour to the cave and even Grama Bay.

We recommend checking out this Blue Cave tour from Himare. The boat tour to the Blue Cave from Himare lasts about 6 hours and includes a 1-hour stop at Grama Bay, along with shorter stops at beaches and in smaller caves.

Some of the caves near Himare are also fascinating and are not part of the Vlorë tour. So if you’d like to see those, do the Blue Cave tour from Himarë.

But again, keep in mind that going on a boat tour to the Blue Cave from Himare means you will have less time at the spots that are part of the standard boat tours in Himare, like Pirate’s Cave and some beaches. This is again because the Blue Cave and Grama Bay are farther from Himare, so you lose more time on driving there.

We later also went on the classic boat tour in Himare (Pirate Cave Tour), which didn’t visit the Blue Cave but focused on beaches and bays near Himare that are accessible only by boat. That was a great half-day activity.

So if you plan to do the boat tour to the Blue Cave from Himare, you might consider doing another boat tour just around Himare itself so you have more time for swimming and sunbathing.

Private boat

Beyond the standard shared tours from Vlorë and Himarë, you can also rent a boat in Himarë and get to the Blue Cave by yourself. A private tour or boat rental is also the best way to avoid crowded boats, which unfortunately happens as this is a very popular destination in Albania.

When renting a boat, make sure to tell the company that you want to visit the Blue Cave so you get the right boat and enough fuel to get you there and back.

👉🏻 Find boat rental options in Himare.

Keep in mind that renting a boat in Vlorë to reach the Blue Cave means you need a lot more experience and a slightly bigger boat than the standard inflatable ones used for closer-by spots.

The safest option to get a private boat experience from Vlorë to the Blue Cave is to book a private tour, because most boat rental companies restrict you to Vlorë Bay.

So make sure to check in advance whether they allow you to visit the Blue Cave, depending on the boat type, your experience, and conditions.

👉🏻 Find boat rental options in Vlorë.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you get inside the Blue Cave in Albania by boat?

No, unlike the Blue Cave in Croatia and the blue caves in a few other countries, the blue cave in Albania is not accessible by boat. You get to the blue cave entrance by boat, then get off and swim partway to the cave, then walk inside. It’s half-submerged and not that high.

Can you swim in Albania’s Blue Cave?

Yes, you can swim inside the blue cave in Albania, but since the water is quite shallow, you can’t really swim that much or that far, as it’s a small cave.

How much does does it cost to get to the blue cave?

There is no entrance fee for Albania’s Blue Cave, but you need to get there by boat, and a typical shared tour costs 90 euros in the summer season. In the shoulder season (before and after summer), the price of the boat tours to the Blue Cave is around 70 euros.

Is the Blue Cave in Albania better than the one in Croatia?

It’s a very tough question to answer, since the Blue Cave in Croatia is larger and more fascinating, but you can only visit it from inside a boat. And at the one in Albania, you can walk, swim, and explore it on your own. Personally, we’d say we enjoyed Albania’s Blue Cave more than Croatia’s.

What does the tour include?

A typical boat tour to the Blue Cave from Vlorë and Himarë includes stops along the way, as well as a light snack like a sandwich, maybe a chocolate bar, and fruit. On our boat tour from Vlorë, we got a delicious sandwich that really hit the spot – it had fries inside, which we love!

Final thoughts – Was it worth it?

Yes, we’re happy to report that for us, it was absolutely worth taking a boat tour to the Blue Cave in Albania. We had a great time, as we love seeing such stunning natural places.

Plus, the blue cave is only one of the fantastic stops on a boat tour from Vlorë or Himarë.