Get Cash in Himarë Before You Head Down to Porto Palermo

Before cruising south along the scenic SH8 coastal highway toward Porto Palermo, stop at a bank machine in Himarë. It is a simple practical detail, but forgetting it can quickly unravel an afternoon on the coast.

The picturesque bay of Porto Palermo and the winding stone lanes of Upper Qeparo (Qeparo Fshat) operate almost strictly on cash. You will not find reliable, functioning ATMs sitting along the bay or tucked away in the old hillside village. The nearest dependable cash machines are located six to eight kilometres north in Himarë, or further south in Borsh.

That pocket of Albanian Lek makes all the difference when you arrive. Entrance tickets to Ali Pasha’s triangular fortress at Porto Palermo are inexpensive, yet the ticket kiosk requires physical cash. The same rule applies to the rustic fish taverns, beachside snack shacks, and family-run cafés waiting at the top of the steep three-kilometre drive into Qeparo Fshat. If you catch a local minibus (furgon) or arrange an informal taxi between coastal stops, drivers will also expect exact cash in Lek. Taking out enough money before checking into seaside accommodations or setting off on your day trip saves an inconvenient 20-minute detour back up the coastal highway.