Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you use the link to make a qualifying purchase, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, thanks for being here!
Claimed to have the bluest water in the world, you don’t want to miss Albania’s Mirror Beach! Here’s our short guide including why it’s worth visiting, how to get there, what to expect, and more!
The best beach in Albania is a bold claim, but after visiting a couple of times in the last few years, we think Mirror Beach near Saranda is one that has a real shout at the title!
With vibrant teal water that fades into a darker blue as the stony bed gets deeper, what really separated it from the nearby beaches we visited was the picturesque formation of the immense white cliffs that enclose the corners of the bay.
We visited in both the shoulder and low seasons (September and October), and even though the crowd was very different, the natural beauty of the place had us in awe each time!
Not only is it one of our favourite beaches in Saranda and Ksamil, but Mirror Beach is the Albanian Riviera at its finest!
And we definitely recommend checking it out if you’re visiting the area!
Our short guide includes all the details on where to find it, how to get there (even if you don’t have your own transport), the best time to visit (which has a big impact on your experience), and what to expect in the unrelenting age of beach privatisation and beach club development in Albania.
Where Is Mirror Beach?
Google Maps Pin: Plazhi I Pasqyrave
Located in the southwest corner of Albania, Mirror Beach is carved into the coastline between the famous beach towns of Saranda and Ksamil. Specifically, the beach is 9km south of Saranda and 6km north of Ksamil.
It sits at the end of a paved but winding one-way road, and you can see the exact location on the map below.
Related Post: A Complete Guide To The Best Beaches In Saranda
Things To Know About Mirror Beach
This small pebble bay is also known as Plazhi I Pasqyrave or Pasqyra Beach (which translates as the beach of mirrors in Albanian), and the name comes from the shining effect of the midday sun on the water, which is said to make it appear like a mirror.
Now, we didn’t really see this effect ourselves but what immediately struck us was the vibrant turquoise colour of the water which was insane! We’ve since read about Mirror Beach’s study-backed claim of having the bluest water in the world, and honestly, we can definitely believe it!
But then I fired the drone up and somehow the shades of teal were even more mesmirising from above, although this makes sense as the pebble seabed makes the water clarity amazing!
As beautiful as Mirror Beach is, it’s also important to note that it’s one of the growing number of beaches in Albania that have been taken over by beach clubs and essentially become privately owned.
This unfortunately means we couldn’t just rock up and lay a towel down and enjoy the beach for free. Well, not during the summer season anyway. When we visited in October, after the season had officially ended, the restaurant was closed and umbrellas packed away, so we could choose any spot for free.
Why It’s Worth Visiting
With so many easily accessible nearby beaches in Saranda and Ksamil, which are within walking distance to the town centres, you might be wondering if Mirror Beach is worth the effort to visit.
We too had this question.
Well, after experiencing the beach for ourselves, we realised that the fact that it isn’t in town and surrounded by hotels, apartment buildings, restaurants, and promenades, is actually Mirror Beach’s biggest appeal.
Instead, the narrow pebble bay is raw, rugged, and surrounded by countryside, cliffs, a small islet, and goats roaming on the cliff-tops. And it was the cliffs that really grabbed our attention first, and they remain one of the most impressive features of the bay!
I remember as we took our first steps on the pebbles and approached the shoreline, I glanced to the right and was just amazed by the curved and eroding cliff face looking back at me. It’s not the biggest cliff I’ve ever seen, but there was something so majestic and picturesque about it!
In short, Mirror Beach was our perfect escape from the bustling beach towns. Somewhere that even when lined with beach umbrellas, we could appreciate the raw natural beauty that we’d only experienced further north at Filikuri Beach, Grama Bay, and a few other beaches in Himare.
How To Get To Mirror Beach
To reach Mirror Beach from Saranda or Ksamil, there are four options.
These are:
- Taking the public bus and walking the 1.2km from the main road (What we did)
- Driving
- Take a taxi
Or, if you’re staying at one of the nearby guesthouses, you can simply walk down and not worry about parking. These include Vila Pasqyra, Amar Seaside and Villa Zervo.
Taking The Bus (What We Did)
As we haven’t had a rental car on any of our trips to Albania, we caught the public bus from Saranda each time. Yes, there is a fair walk between the bus stop and the beach (especially on the uphill return), but it’s the cheapest way to do it.
There is one bus that runs regularly from Saranda to Ksamil (as far as Butrint), so we hopped on this and let the ticket man know that we were only travelling as far as Mirror Beach, to make sure the bus did actually stop for us!
The bus runs every 30 minutes during the peak summer months and every hour in the shoulder months. The price is 150 ALL per person (the same as if you were travelling all the way to Saranda or Ksamil).
We were dropped at an official bus stop which is right at the start of the road towards the beach. It’s important to be aware that this walk took us 20 minutes and there is no shade which would make it pretty intense in the heat of the midday summer sun.
For the return, we caught the bus back from the same place, but from the stop on the opposite side of the road.
Travel Tip: Make sure you know the return bus times, but don’t expect them to arrive exactly on time!
Driving
If you have your own wheels, you can make your way here from either direction. It’s a well-paved single-track road and there is a signpost for where you need to turn off the main road and continue along the narrow track.
Keep going until the next signpost and make the right-hand turn. From here it is a winding narrow road down to the beach which becomes quite uneven as you approach. We saw plenty of small 2WD cars though, just take it easy.
There is a car park at the bottom, directly behind the beach, however it can get full in the summer months. If it is full, then there are also two small overflow carparks on the descent.
When we visited in September, there were still a couple of spaces free in the main car park at 11am.
Want to experience some stunning coastal drives along the Albanian Riviera?
Book your car rental online with Discover Cars and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a reputable company!
Taking A Taxi
Want a direct transfer without the hassle of renting a car or the walk from the bus stop? Then a taxi is your best option.
There are plenty of drivers around in Saranda and Ksamil, especially in the town centres, but you’ll need to negotiate a fixed price. I’m not sure exactly how much it would be, and it can change depending on the season, but we were quoted 30 euros from Saranda to Ksamil when we asked around in September.
There is no Uber in Saranda, but it’s possible to pre-book taxis on GetTransfer.
Or, the other option is to speak to your hotel and ask if they can organise a taxi for you.
Just make sure to have a return taxi arranged too, as we didn’t see any drivers waiting around the beach for return journeys.
Entrance Fee
There’s no official entrance fee but as Mirror Beach is now privately owned, it’s mandatory to pay for sun beds and a parasol in the summer season.
In the peak summer of July and August, you can expect to pay 2000 ALL (or 20 euros) for two beds and an umbrella. However, if you visit in the shoulder season (June and September), there are better deals as low as 1000 LEK.
It’s a simple case of finding a spot that you like and one of the guys will come to you and take payment.
You may be tempted to try and lay a towel down in some free space in one of the corners of the beach, but even in late September, our friends were swiftly told they had to pay if they wanted to stay. But this is the same as 90% of the beaches in Saranda and Ksamil in the summer.
Enjoying the beach for free is only possible outside of the summer season once the restaurant has closed. Normally, this is from early October until late May.
We’ve previously enjoyed a perfect free beach day here with just a few others in October, which in my opinion is much more enjoyable than the hectic July and August.
Don’t Miss A Boat Trip To Kroreza Beach Too!
Our Experience At Mirror Beach
Once we arrived at Mirror Beach and stepped down onto the pebbles, the first thing that we were welcomed by on our late September visit was rows upon rows of sun loungers and parasols. A big contrast to the open beach we arrived at in the previous October!
The metallic frame and canvas loungers aren’t as fancy or comfortable as some of the beach clubs in Saranda and Ksamil, but they serve their purpose well enough. And honestly, people are here more for the stunning beach than a luxurious beach club experience.
The sunbeds weren’t as tightly packed as we’d heard they’d been in August, and there were still free beds after 11am.
It wasn’t long before we were diving in for a swim (actually a float would be more accurate) and while it is a stony beach, the pebbles are small, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable walking in and out. The waves breaking on the shore were quite strong though, but once we were in it was a blissful place to cool off.
And if working on your tan is a priority, then you’ll be pleased to know that from mid-morning almost the full beach was in the sun with parasols providing the only shade.
I’ve already mentioned the epic eroded cliff face and small islet, but what also impressed us at Mirror Beach was the westward views of the Ionian Sea and the nearby island of Corfu!
All of which were standout features of this incredible bay!
Facilities at Mirror Beach
If you haven’t packed a picnic then don’t worry, Restaurant Pasqyra sits above the beach serving food and drinks.
They have restaurant seating which looks out over the sea, or you can order drinks and enjoy them at your lounger.
The prices are quite standard for a waterfront restaurant but with mixed reviews, we just had drinks as we had snacks packed with us anyway.
There are toilets, showers, and changing facilities located behind the restaurant and while they’re nothing fancy, they were clean enough on our visit.
Things To Do
Aside from the obvious sunbathing and swimming, there are a few other things you can do while you’re visiting Mirror Beach.
Swim Out To The Islet
The rocky islet at the northern end of the bay isn’t too far out from the shore and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can swim out.
You can swim and snorkel around the rocks or we even saw people climbing up and jumping in from it too.
Although, I’ll admit that we weren’t brave enough for that!
Find The Old Bunkers
It wouldn’t be an Albanian beach if there wasn’t an old bunker or two somewhere nearby. As well as the one right at the beach’s entrance, we found another up at the vantage point behind the restaurant.
Even if you’re not bothered about the bunkers, I’d recommend taking a short walk up the path anyway as there’s also a nice view over the beach and parasols below.
Have Lunch With A View In Restaurant Pasqyra
As I mentioned, Restaurant Pasqyra sits at the back and overlooks Mirror Beach, which makes for a great spot to have lunch with a sea view.
Whether you want to keep it light with a salad or fancy something more hearty, you can enjoy a meal just steps from your lounger.
Explore Nearby Shpella E Pellumbave Beach
Just around the southern corner of Mirror Beach is Shpella E Pellumbave, another small cove that we recommend visiting. This one is narrower than Mirror Beach and it also has a more lively atmosphere with louder music.
Shpella E Pellumbave’s setting is epic though, sitting directly beneath a steep eroded cliff-face which, unless you come around from Mirror Beach, can only be accessed by near-vertical stairs.
You can walk around the coast from Mirror Beach at low tide, but as the tide was in with strong waves on our visit, we took the long way round via the road (25 minute walk) and split our time between the two beaches.
So, just bear the tide in mind if you walk around at low tide!
Read The Full Guide: A Short Guide To Shpella E Pellumbave Beach
Best Time To Visit Mirror Beach
In our opinion, the best time to visit Mirror Beach is in the shoulder season (June and September). This is because all facilities are open but the price for beds is cheaper, the beach isn’t as packed as peak summer, and the access road and car parks are much quieter.
We still felt the upbeat holiday atmosphere in September, which created a feel-good vibe, but any busier would have been too much for us.
But if you’d like to enjoy Mirror Beach with only a handful of others and without having to pay for sun beds, May and October is the time to go. These months are just outside the official summer season which means the weather is still great for beach days.
You just have to bear in mind that the restaurant and itd facilities will be closed. Our visit in October was fantastic because of how quiet the beach was but it did feel hastily abandoned. Unfortunately, there was strewn rubbish and broken loungers left behind by the owner, which there really is no excuse for.
Thankfully, it idn’t spoil our visit though, and the pros of visiting at this time of year definitely outweigh the cons.
To Finish
Mirror Beach is one of our highlights of Albania and we won’t be forgetting the colour of that water anytime soon!
If you’re visiting Saranda or Ksamil then definitely check it out while you’re there!
Share this post
Our Other Albania Guides
Find more inspiration, tips, and advice in our other Albania Travel Guides!
- Getting From Saranda To Ksamil – All You Need To Know
- Corfu To Saranda By Ferry – Essential Guide
- Best Beaches In Ksamil
- Himare, Albania: A Guide To The Riviera’s Best Beach Town
- Best Himare Beaches To Visit
- A Guide To Visiting Himare Old Town And Castle
- How To Visit Porto Palermo Castle From Himare
- Our Experience Hiking To Pilur From Himare
