Vlorë’s living room by the sea begins right outside Valza, and the whole city meets on it after dark.
The Lungomare is Vlorë’s seafront promenade, following the curve of the bay from the southern coast towards the centre. Rebuilt between 2015 and 2017 as one long space for walking and cycling, it is flat, free and starts right by Valza. Allow 30 minutes to 2 hours and go about an hour before sunset.
How a coastal road became the city’s living room
To understand Vlorë, walk the Lungomare in the evening. The seafront promenade follows the curve of the bay from the southern coast towards the centre, and on summer nights it feels as though the whole city is out: grandparents on benches, children on scooters, couples with ice cream, runners weaving through it all.
It was not always like this. Between 2015 and 2017 a regeneration project costing about €17.2 million, around €12 million of it from the European Union, turned a busy coastal road into one long space for walking and cycling, with trees, seating and nothing between you and the view across the bay.
Start in Uji i Ftohtë, whose name means “cold water”, and dip a hand in the sea as you go. Freshwater springs rise along this stretch of coast, some of them beneath the sea itself, and in places the water turns suddenly, surprisingly cool.
Set off from the hotel an hour before sunset and walk north as the sky changes colour. Somewhere along the way, stop for fish and the evening breeze: choose among the restaurants with the best reviews.
What you’ll see
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A walk at sunset
Set off from the hotel an hour before sunset and walk north as the sky changes colour.
The beach and the horizon
The Lungomare beach looks out over the bay, with Karaburun and Sazan on the horizon.
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Cold water in the sea
Freshwater springs rise along this coast, some beneath the sea itself, and the water turns suddenly cool.
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The city after dark
Grandparents on benches, children on scooters, couples with ice cream and runners weaving through it all.
The Lungomare in numbers
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€17.2 million
The cost of the regeneration
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€12 million
Of it from the European Union
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2015–2017
The years the coastal road became a promenade
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0 km
It starts right by Valza
Where it is
It follows the curve of the bay from the southern coast towards the centre of Vlorë, starting right by the hotel in Uji i Ftohtë.
What to bring
- Comfortable flat shoes: a long, flat stroll
- Light layer: for the evening breeze by the sea
- Sunglasses: for the low sun over the bay
- Camera: the bay changing colour at sunset
- Pushchair: the promenade is flat, good for little ones
- Water: for a walk of up to two hours
Is it worth it?
Yes, if…
you want a flat, free evening walk by the sea, with trees, seating and nothing between you and the view across the bay.
Maybe not, if…
you are looking for an empty seafront: on summer nights it feels as though the whole city is out.
It is free, and it starts right by the hotel.
Combine it with
Continue exploring
More places and ideas for your days around Vlorë:
- The beaches of the Bay of Vlora
- Radhimë: Olive Groves, Coves and an Old Coastal Village
- All attractions around Vlorë
- Vlorë: the city, its history and where it is
- Archaeological sites in Vlorë: Amantia, Orikum, Kanina and ancient Aulona
- Where to stay in Vlorë: our complete guide
