Vlorë is the point where two seas meet — the Adriatic to the north, the Ionian to the south. It is a big, lively city with a long, palm-lined seafront promenade (the Lungomare) that comes alive on summer evenings.
It is also where Albania declared its independence in 1912, so the city carries real national significance. Beyond the boulevards lie sandy beaches and, just offshore, the wild Karaburun peninsula and Sazan island marine park.
Good to know: Vlorë is the northern gateway to the Riviera — most road trips down the coast start here, climbing to the Llogara Pass.