State of bathing waters in 2024
The EEA publishes its yearly figures in May of the preceding year, meaning that their current data is for 2024. On their interactive map, many beaches along the Plazh stretch have been given a poor rating. The problems at these beaches primarily stem from anthropogenic activities exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and rapid urbanisation. Key contributors include untreated wastewater, port operations, and riverine inputs, leading to elevated levels of bacteria, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and organic pollutants.
From the EEa's Bathing water quality 2024 Country factsheet, "The quality of bathing waters is classified according to two microbiological parameters (Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci), considering the minimum quality standards defined in the Bathing Water Directive. 77.3% of all reported bathing waters (including those bathing waters whose quality could not be classified due to lack of samples) are in line with the minimum quality standards, thus classified as “sufficient” or better."
Note: the data displayed here is sourced from 2024 figures, so the situation may have either improved or deteriorated. The 2025 data will be published in May 2026. The markers on the map don't represent every point along the coast where samples were taken, but indicate a general summary of the surrounding area.
Area beaches
Vollga/Curilla
The town beaches of Vollga and Currila are attractive places for a stroll, but it's not until you get further up towards Kallmi that the beaches have sufficient depth for them to be used to sunbathe or relax on. There are a few bars and restaurants along this stretch, but after Kallmi, the beaches become relatively shallow again. There's a coastal path that threads along the coast up to Porto Romano. As shown, the quality of the bathing water here may be compromised by the construction work at the new port.
Plazh
This area is the main Durrës beach location, stretching just over 4km down to Plepa bus station, where the beach is cordoned off in front of the area that once housed the dictator Enver Hoxha's summer palace. Here you first find the loungers, sunshades, buckets and spades, ice cream and all the other paraphernalia of a seaside resort. You'll also sometimes find small packs of stray dogs that roam the sand, but these are by and large harmless unless provoked. There are 2 large piers housing restaurants, and the area has been the scene of much restoration work, with lorries bringing in sand and other materials to extend and improve the beach area.
Golem
Of course, the sand doesn't stop at Plepa, and the beach continues down to the area known as Golem, probably once a remote village, but now the scene of some of the most frenzied tourist development in the region, with new hotels and leisure facilities being flung up with abandon. Prior to 2024, much construction work flouted building codes, and a few individuals were even arrested for attempting to build a pier without permission. Buildings were seized and demolished. With the new Plazh i Lirë regulations being enforced (see below), the authorities seem to have begun reasserting control. Between Plazh and Golem lies the tiny enclave of Shkembi i Kavajes. Often mentioned separately to Plazh, it's more or less a continuation of it after Plepa.
Rrashkull, Gjiri i Lalëzit and Hamallaj
On the North coast, past Porto Romano, the beach stretches up to Cape Rodon, with the water and beach quality improving greatly. Starting from the village of RInia, on foot, the path passes through the Keneta e Durrësit (Durres Marsh) to the sand. At Rrushkull, there's a nature reserve and the bizarrely-named Jube-Sukth Explosive Ordnance Disposal Zone, surely a tourist must-see! Gjiri i Lalëzit and Hamallaj are considered luxury resort areas and have some of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches.
Transport to beaches
Information on bus routes to these locations can mostly be found on https://durresbybus.com: for northern beaches, take the Rinia route (khaki), for Plazh, see the Pllepa via Plazh line (light blue), for Golem, the Golem route (red) and Vollga and Currila, take the Currila route (pink).
Plazh i Lirë" (Free Beach) Operation
In June 2025, after much complaint about the near-impossibility of finding a stretch of sand not covered by commercial loungers placed by bars, restaurants and hotels, the Municipal Council approved a new coastal space division map, which outlines that for every 1,000 meters of beachfront managed by the private sector, 300 meters must remain public. As a result, a great many sun loungers and umbrellas have been seized in various Durrës coastal sectors. In line with the new regulation, only hotels are allocated beachfront areas for their leisure equipment. There are also, currently (April 2026), large-scale cleanup sessions happening with assistance from volunteers and city schoolkids.