Sightseeing stop in Himarë (Himare): discover beautiful places in Albania

Himarë (Himare) highlight

We at Monterrasol Transfers specialize in private car transfers. Together with the transfer itself, we propose that you visit some beautiful places along the transfer route. We call such places optional sightseeing stops (short excursions).

One of the places we selected to propose as a sightseeing stop is a beautiful Himarë (Himare) in Albania. Sightseeing stops are a perfect easy opportunity to see new places during your transfer across Albania, especially during long distance transfers. Take it as a great option to get in touch with local culture and history. It's good to combine transportation and sightseeing together!

Himare is a bilingual coastal town in Southern Albania along the Albanian Riviera. The town mostly is populated predominantly by an ethnic Greek community. Himare is one of the top summer destinations in Albania. The medieval fortress Himara (historical center of the town, otherwise known as Himara Castle) contains ruins which testify to an uninterrupted presence of local Illyrian-Albanian residents for more than 3500 years.

Last reviewed: 22 November 2022

Himarë (Himare) description

The very first mention of Himare goes as far back as the 1st century from Roman author Pliny. Surrounded by giant walls and built on stone blocks, Himare's fortification began during the 8th century B.C. While it was restored various times, its most significant reconstruction occurred during the 6th century, A.D., under the rule of Justinian, emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Some historic residences still exist inside the fortification, in addition to several churches from the Byzantine era.

In antiquity the region was inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians. The town of Himare is believed to have been originally named as Chimaira or Chimaera, hence the name Himara) by the Chaonians as a trading outpost on the Chaonian shore.

The Chaonians were an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Epirus currently part of north-western Greece and southern Albania. Together with the Molossians and the Thesprotians, they formed the main tribes of the northwestern Greek group. On their southern frontier lay the Epirote kingdom of the Molossians, to their southwest stood the kingdom of the Thesprotians, and to their north were various Illyrian tribes, as well as the polis of Apollonia. By the 5th century BC, they had conquered and combined to a large degree with the neighboring Thesprotians and Molossians. The Chaonians were part of the Epirote League until 170 BC when their territory was annexed by the Roman Republic.

Himara is one of the top summer destinations in the country, is also home to a significant part of Albanian cultural heritage. The medieval fortress contains ruins which testify to an uninterrupted presence of local Illyrian-Albanian residents for more than 3500 years.

Surrounded by canyons, the Himara Castle is built on a hill located about 1 km away from the Ionian shore. The castle stands on the cliff of Barbaka and is considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Albania. The cliff rises for 240 meters over the town with the Ceraunian Mountains punctuating the landscape in the north. In the east, Pilur Village enhances the beauty of the landscape with its oak forests. Lastly, in the south, you will notice the gorgeous panorama of Livadh Beach.

With the castle becoming the center of the Bishopric of Himara during the 8th century, many churches were built inside and outside of it, some of them still standing to this day. The most famous one is the Episcopal Church, displaying a beautiful sculpture of the Albanian symbol of the two-headed eagle on one of its gates. At the time, this was the symbol of the Kastriots and Myzakajs, the families that owned the land during the second half of the 14th century. This particular church was built on what once was the shrine of Apollo of Illyria. In addition, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, constructed in the 11th century, is also one of the most beautiful attractions of the castle.

We know good things to see in Albania. We know the roads, well-known tourist attractions like UNESCO sites, and off-the-beaten-path places.

If you would like to learn more about Albania and explore it by visiting different attractions, come with us for a private tour. We can travel all across Albania and we will show you all the important tourist attractions together with the hidden gems of this beautiful country. Feel free to contact us!

We have developed numerous itineraries for private car tours in Albania as well as in neighboring countries, including tours passing through several countries as one journey. Solo private tours and tours for Seniors are available also.

Transfers to Himarë (Himare)

Currently we know prices for these car transfers to Himarë (Himare):

Private transfers from Montenegro

• private car transfer Podgorica to Himare (Himarë)

• private car transfer Risan to Himare (Himarë)

Unable to find your transfer?

If the transfer you need not exist in the list of our transfers, feel free to ask us for custom transfer by this form: ask for a custom private transfer to Himarë (Himare), Albania.