Borsh Beach, Albania – Seaside Camping & Peaceful Coastline

Borsh Beach is located near the village of the same name, about 1 km from Albania’s main coastal highway.

Approximately 1.5 km from it lies Qeparo Beach.

Borsh Beach: General Information

The beach stretches for about 5 km along the coastline.

The road from the village runs perpendicularly to the sea and divides the beach into two parts.

To the right, the beach extends for about 1 km, and to the south – approximately 4 km.

The Name “Borsh”

Borsh is pronounced in Albanian as “borsh.”

In Russian, borshch refers to a meat soup with beets.

The combination of letters “sh” in Albanian is pronounced softly, like “shch” in Russian, not as a hard “sh” as in English.

BOLV Gas Station: Turnoff to Borsh Beach

The main highway bypasses the valley and the village of Borsh at a distance.

To get to the beach, you need to turn off the highway near the BOLV gas station, then drive about 1 km down the road towards the sea.

This is also where all minibuses and buses traveling to Saranda and Vlora stop.

Luna Mare Restaurant

Right at the entrance to the beach, there are several restaurants.

We stopped near the Luna Mare restaurant.

It is located 15 meters from the shoreline.

Note: for customers, sunbeds and umbrellas near the water by the restaurant are free.

We ordered seafood, soup, pasta, juice, and other drinks – everyone picked what they liked.

We liked the service and paid 1500 lek (about €15) for three people.

There is also an outdoor shower and a place to change clothes at the restaurant.

I saw people working remotely at the café in the shade.

Beach to the Right of Luna Mare

To the right of Luna Mare, there’s a road running along the coast toward the mountain.

This is what the shoreline and Borsh Beach look like in that direction.

There are many summer bars along the beach here.

There are both organized areas with sunbeds and umbrellas, and public, free-access parts.

Bunker (DOT) on the Beach

The shore on the right side of Borsh Beach is covered with pebbles.

The seabed is a mix of pebbles and coarse sand.

In the middle of this part of the beach, there is a long concrete bunker.

Its unique design draws the attention of tourists.

Coordinates: 40.049259, 19.842273

Note: DOT stands for Long-Term Firing Point, usually made of reinforced concrete.

Beach to the Left of Luna Mare

On the road that runs along the left side of the beach, there are many spots to park your car.

Choose a place you like, stop, and relax. The variety of beach spots here is great.

I liked the sea – I swam in several places.

Shore composition:

• fine pebbles and sharp gravel.
• Sea depth: about 1 meter at 5 meters from the shore.
• Sea bottom: fine and coarse pebbles.

By its characteristics, the beach is identical to other spots along Borsh Beach.

To sit comfortably on the shore, it’s best to bring something to lay on.

Southern End of the Beach

The road runs along the entire coastline.

There are many hotels, shops, and private houses along it.

Many people leave their cars near the road and settle on the beach nearby for relaxation.

Here’s what the southern end of Borsh Beach looks like.

End of the Coastal Road

The road along the beach ends near a sign that says “No Parking.”

Your landmark for the end of the road will be two abandoned bunkers.

The southern tip of Borsh Beach is a stretch of rocky boulders and steep cliffs along the coast.

Where to Spend the Night

Hotels and Private Houses near Borsh

There are many options to find accommodation in a hotel or private house via Booking.

You can choose to stay in the village itself, or in private homes or hotels along the entire beach.

An asphalt road runs parallel to the beach for about 2 km.

Along the road, there are hotels, pharmacies, grocery stores, cafés, and restaurants.

This is what the beach looks like closer to its southern end.

Tent Camping: Borsh Olive Camping

About 100 meters from the entrance to the beach, there is a campsite called Borsh Olive Camping.

Booking is available online, with payment in cash upon check-in.

Details:

• One night costs 1500 lek (about €15), breakfast not included.
• Breakfast for an extra fee: omelet, some cucumbers, tomatoes, bread, a piece of cheese – 400 lek (about €4).

Tents are set up on a small grassy field.

This is what a tent looks like inside: two mattresses, a pillow, sheet, two pillowcases, and a light blanket.

The tent was new, zippers worked perfectly, and there were no mosquitoes or ants inside.

Conclusion: camping here is a budget-friendly way to spend the night outdoors in a tent.

Here’s a panorama of the camping field with tents.

Overnight in Your Own Tent

You can set up your own tent on any public section of the beach.

Pros:

• You choose your own camping spot
• You don’t pay for accommodation

Cons:

• You’ll need to carry or transport your tent, set it up and take it down yourself.

Sleeping in Your Car

Options for sleeping in your car:

• Sleep in the seats of your car
• Set up a rooftop tent and sleep in it

Some people enjoy these types of stays – the choice is yours.

Staying in a Camper

You can spend the night in your own camper (motorhome).

Many campers are parked along the road next to Borsh Beach.

This option is quite popular in Albania – many Europeans travel the country this way.

Final Thoughts and Tips for Tourists

Borsh Beach is very spacious.

There is a wide variety of accommodation and relaxation options along the beach.

Active travelers will enjoy the space for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP board).

Note: A SUP board (Stand Up Paddle) is a popular water activity. In Russian, it translates as “standing with a paddle.”

Advantages of the beach:

• The simplicity of Albanian beaches is something many people appreciate
• The beach is so large that in the off-season it even feels empty
• Unusually large amount of free roadside parking near the beach
• In season, there are many working hotels, restaurants, summer bars, cafés, and shops all along Borsh Beach

Tips

General recommendations:

• Use water shoes or flip-flops to walk on gravel and enter the water
• Wear a hat to protect from sunstroke: a bucket hat, cap, or wide-brimmed hat

Borsh Beach is ideal for tourists traveling by car. On foot, it’s a long way from the main road.

Video

Filming date: June 06, 2024. Borsh Beach: panorama of the beach and village from the mountain.

📽️ Watch more videos about life in Albania on my YouTube channel Life in Albania.
👍 Like and subscribe so you don’t miss new releases!

You can support the author and the project by donating via PayPal: