Every thing it’s worthwhile to find out about Velipoje seashore in Albania – Loopy attractive enjoyable traveler

22 Nov2022

Velipoje seashore Albania

on the Velipoje seashore the final week of October 2022

Velipoje location and info

Velipoje is located on the estuary of the one navigable river of Albania, the Buna river. In actual fact, the Buna river is constituting the pure border of Albania with Montenegro. The Buna flows into the Adriatic Sea simply Northwest of Velipoje.

Velipoje is a village in Northwestern Albania. Since 2015 it’s a subdivision of the Shkoder municipality.

Velipoje seashore:

• Velipoje has a large seashore that’s nearly 5 km lengthy (between Derdhja e Bunes within the North and Këneta e Vilunit within the South).
• About 250 sunny days a yr make it an ideal seashore location.
• Since mid-Might the air temperatures rise above 20°C. Surprisingly, it was 22 to 24°C through the day after I was there the final days of October, too.
• The Velipoje seashore is a favourite seashore of Northern Albanians.
• Excessive-quality sand and shallow sea make it significantly appropriate for households with youngsters, and people who find themselves petrified of deep water.
• It’s a form of a bay so the Adriatic sea there may be normally relatively calm and with no massive waves.

sundown on the Velipoje seashore

having fun with the Adriatic sea on Velipoje seashore Albania

The way to get to Velipoje

There’s a few choices to get to Velipoje.

• Hitchhiking, otherwise you want a rental automotive, or you’ll be able to take a public minivan from Shkoder or Lezhe.
• Velipoje may be reached in approx. 30 to 50 minutes by minivan from Shkoder. The minivans have an indication “Velipoje” and may be present in “Sheshi Demokracia” in entrance of the Theatre (Teatri Migjeni). There’s no official departure schedule so the bus drivers normally anticipate just a few passengers to board. Generally they even wait till all of the seats on the minivan are taken. Once I needed to take a van from Shkoder to Velipoje, I needed to wait on the sidewalk for greater than 90 minutes till the van was full and we may depart.
• The minivans run extra typically throughout summer season than the remainder of the yr.
• Earlier than getting off the minivan, it’s worthwhile to pay money on to the motive force in Albanian lek. The payment per individual in November 2022 was 200 lek (at the moment that was approx. 1.72 eur).
• There’s no bus station in Velipoje. Only a road cease subsequent to the Velipoja park on the road Rruga Ura e Gjon Lulit Plazh. 
• if you recognize the road the place it’s worthwhile to go in Velipoje, and it’s one of many streets Rruga nr. 1 to nr. 7 that are situated earlier than the principle bus cease, simply inform the motive force the variety of the road so he can cease there so that you can leap off. In that case you wouldn’t have to get off on the final cease on the fundamental sq. after which stroll from there with all of your baggage. Avenue in Albanian is rruga and you’ll simply present the variety of the road to the motive force together with your fingers.
• The van drivers may not converse any English.
• I’m not positive if there are any taxis in Velipoje throughout July and August, I assume there are, however I noticed NO taxis throughout my fall go to.
• I hitchhiked on the best way again from Velipoje to Shkoder. I walked with my suitcase to Rruga Shkoder – Velipoje, and waited there. When after 40 windy minutes no minivan handed that method (and sure, that’s the highway the place they do move), I hitchhiked automobiles along with an elder native man who was additionally ready there on the facet of the highway. One other native man from Shkoder drove us each to the Shkoder metropolis middle. I don’t converse any Albanian, the 2 of them spoke no English however the automotive driver spoke Italian so we may talk what was wanted.
• Albania is Albania, you recognize, and I’m positive a few of you heard some adverse tales with regards to hitchhiking or security, particularly for girls. However personally, I felt actually secure in Velipoje, Shkoder and Tirana. I might haven’t hitchhiked in any other case. Having mentioned that, use your widespread sense, please.

on the Shkoder-Velipoje minibus

hitchhiking from Velipoje to Shkoder

The place to remain in Velipoje

As you’ll be able to think about, most inns are closed off–season. The identical goes for eating places and retailers.

I rented a beautiful trendy condo Blue Coral located near the road quantity 3 (Rruga nr. 3) only a minute strolling from the seashore. That a part of Velipoje is normally extra quiet than the town middle. Nonetheless, I’m not positive what time they shut the rooftop bar subsequent to the condo constructing in summer season months. And in case you may hear the noise from there or not. However throughout my go to the rooftop bar was closed.

The condo had the whole lot I wanted: clear, scorching bathe water, a bed room with an enormous mattress and a bunk mattress (it may match 4 individuals), and a kitchen with front room. The wifi labored properly within the kitchen, front room and in addition on the terrace. 

condo Blue Coral Velipoje seashore

Velipoje Blue Coral condo rooftop view

 

The condo is situated approx. 15 to twenty min stroll from the principle sq., Velipoja park and supermarkets. There’s a pleasant view of the seashore and Velipoja village from the rooftop. The condo proprietor is a pleasant elder Albanian woman who speaks primary English.

 

Sadly, I used to be not very fortunate with different vacationers renting the condo above me as they have been noisy in the midst of the evening, however apart from that, renting the condo was a fantastic thought.

 

What to do in Velipoje seashore off–season

• Benefit from the seashore with only a few different individuals.
• Go for a stroll alongside the seashore.
• Go for a stroll, jog or cycle alongside the promenade.
• Watch the dawn or sundown on the seashore.
• Test the sand statues subsequent to the restaurant 407.
• Learn a e book, hearken to a podcast, or do some yoga, meditation or pranayama on the seashore.
• Stroll across the mini Velipoje park in metropolis centre.
• Simply chill and spend time alone.
• Stroll to the Buna river delta (Derdhja e Bunes). Bear in mind to deliver potable water with you.
• Stroll to the Southern facet of the Velipoje seashore to the Lagoon of Viluni (Këneta e Vilunit in Albanian), additionally generally often known as the Lagoon of Velipoje.
• You’ll be able to observe birds, butterflies and dragon flies round Velipoje. I may see lots of them even when sunbathing on the seashore.
• I haven’t been there however I heard about 2 different beautiful locations shut by. You probably have a automotive, or wish to attempt hitchhiking, then go to the south of Velipoje to the marvelous seashore of Rana e Hedhun.
• Even additional South one other splendid seashore may be discovered – Shëngjin seashore. Because of its nice sand and greater than 200 sunny days per yr, Shëngjin seashore is one other native favourite seashore.

Velipoje seashore sand statues

Extra recommendations on Velipoje seashore low season:

• it’s higher to have Albanian lek cash in money and never simply euros/{dollars} and so forth. Please trade them BEFORE attending to Velipoje as trade places of work in Velipoje will most likely be closed off–season. Once I was there, I didn’t discover anyplace to trade cash there.
• Some eating places settle for playing cards and/or euro however not all of them. For instance La Maroja restaurant does settle for playing cards. And to be sincere, that was the one restaurant I discovered open when strolling across the seashore and the village the primary week of November. It’s a pleasant restaurant with quick wifi, and the meals seems to be good there as properly. I tasted solely grilled veggies with chips as that was the one vegan meal that they had low season. 
• Native grocery shops are dearer in Velipoje than in Shkoder. Some recent fruit and greens are one third dearer, and even double value than in Shkoder. As I believed it could be like that, I introduced some meals with me from Shkoder for the primary 2 days in Velipoje.
• The one market I discovered open after I visited the village was the Klejdi market on the fundamental sq. near the minibus cease.

Velipoje grocery store

• If it’s worthwhile to purchase/use something particular throughout your keep in Velipoje, deliver it to Velipoje with you. There’s no massive supermarkets in there.
• Prepare for a lot of mosquitoes EVERYWHERE.
• There’s a few road canine however not too many. I didn’t discover them offended and more often than not they paid no consideration to me.
• So far as I do know, the Velipoje seashore will get crowded and loud in summer season months (July and August largely) however not earlier than and after that. The ocean water is just too chilly for Albanians which is why the seashore is relatively empty low season. Do anticipate many solar umbrellas through the summer season however none on the seashore are left off–season.
• Because the Velipoje seashore was fairly wild till only a few years in the past, there’s small wild spiky crops with thorns rising between the promenade and the ocean. So watch out when strolling in the direction of the ocean as you would possibly step on them. I all the time favor to stroll barefoot on sand (and any pure materials over man-made) however due to the thorns within the sand it’s higher to stroll alongside the pavements.

Velipoje seashore with spiky crops

What I didn’t get pleasure from in Velipoje

Velipoje is a beautiful place, certainly. However there are some things I didn’t personally like there.

• The realm is stuffed with mosquitoes. Simply very near the ocean there have been few, or none, however in all places else a great deal of hungry mosquitoes didn’t cease feeding on me even after I was strolling quick. Fortunately, I had mosquito nets in my condo however I nonetheless needed to be very fast when opening and shutting the principle door as a way to hold all of the mosquitoes out of the condo.
• The seashore was filled with garbage. The nearer to the downtown, the extra trash on the seashore. It was cleaner within the Northern a part of the seashore the place I stayed however nonetheless… 
• It’s heart-breaking to see a beautiful seashore destroyed by a lot trash.

I actually hope that the official tourism workplace along with individuals working in tourism in Velipoje (inns, eating places and so forth.) will notice they need to hold the seashore clear. And on the identical time I actually want all of the vacationers visiting Velipoje would perceive they need to NEVER go away trash on the seashore ever. And never simply there, however nowhere else besides trash bins. Please individuals, be accountable and clever.

trash on Velipoje seashore

Regardless of of mosquitoes and seashore litter, I did get pleasure from Velipoje seashore low season quite a bit. I really like peaceable locations like that. Undecided if I’d prefer it there additionally in summer season although. I’m not into crowded locations and events.

TIP: In case you’d wish to examine extra photographs from Velipoje seashore and the village itself, click on on my album with Velipoje photographs.

Have you ever ever been to Albania? What do you consider the nation?

Posted in Albania, seashore, Europe Tags: Albania, seashore, Europe, Velipoje