This up-and-coming destination is proving increasingly popular with British travellers – here’s how to make the most of it.
There’s a good chance you’ve been to Greece. You may well even have thought about the current darling of the Adriatic, Montenegro, for your next beach break. But for those really looking to get ahead of the curve? It’s all about beautiful Albania, the unsung pearl of the Balkans.
Sitting snugly between these aforementioned holiday hotspots on the shores of the Ionian Sea, Albania is beginning to draw international visitors with its blend of beguiling scenery, excellent cuisine and intriguing history.
Visitors willing to diverge a little from the well-beaten Mediterranean track are rewarded with a mosaic of cultural riches and natural beauty: from the Ottoman stone houses of Gjirokastër and unspoilt sands of the Albanian Riviera, to cutting-edge culinary culture in Tirana and whispers of ancient civilizations at the UNESCO-listed Butrint Archaeological Park.
Getting there couldn’t be simpler, with direct flights to the capital, Tirana, running regularly from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh. Flights come in under four hours from all UK airports, meaning Albania is ripe for both weekend city breaks and bigger adventures.
Now all you need is a little inspiration, so we’ve picked ten thrilling ways to get under the skin of Europe’s latest holiday hotspot in the making – before this Balkan pearl is unsung no longer.
Hit the town in Tirana
Tirana, Albania’s dynamic capital, is making a name for itself as an off-beat urban escape. This is a city where rich – albeit sometimes unsettling – history converges with a distinctly youthful energy: step back to the communist era via bunkers-turned-museums BunkArt 1 and 2 and the House of Leaves Museum of Secret Surveillance, set in the former headquarters of the Sigurimi state intelligence service, before hitting the lively cafes and stylish boutiques of the chic Blloku neighborhood.
A jaunt up nearby Mt Dajti on the Dajti Ekspres – the longest cableway in the Balkans – gives you an idea of the area’s impressive topography.
Experience the European Galapagos
Why visit one country when you can tick two off the list, all in the space of one relaxing waterside break? One of Europe’s oldest and deepest inland bodies of water, Lake Ohrid straddles Albania and North Macedonia and is often referred to as the “European Galapagos”, thanks to its impressive biodiversity.
Stroll the promenade or take a sweet-water dip at Pogradec and enjoy a boat ride at Drilon, before peeking over the border into North Macedonia and taking in the Byzantine St Naum Monastery. If time allows, follow the road round to the UNESCO-protected town of Ohrid.
Discover Albania’s unsung cuisine
Drawing on the diverse produce of its varied landscape – think rustic, hearty fare in the northern mountains, and quintessential Mediterranean flavors along the riviera – and its history under numerous empires (perhaps most notably the Ottoman), Albania’s culinary culture will surprise and delight with every olive oil-laden mouthful.
Savor national dish tavë kosi (baked lamb and rice with yoghurt), pispili cornbread with leeks and scarlet fergese stew packed with tomatoes, peppers and generous helpings of feta, before sampling the fruits of the local terroir at one of Albania’s many up-and-coming vineyards.
Chase waterfalls in the Osumi Canyon and Vjosa River
Albania is a thrill-seeker’s paradise, particularly when it comes to aquatic activities. Beyond the watersports available at the pristine beaches that punctuate the Albanian Riviera, heading inland means river hiking or rafting in the Osumi Canyon – a deep 16-mile river gorge, dotted with waterfalls – and kayaking on the Vjosa River, dubbed Europe’s last truly wild river.
And if you’d sooner explore the Osumi riverbed on foot than in a boat? Visit in the dry season between July and October.
Hike the Albanian Alps
Swap Mont Blanc and Zermatt for the Albanian Alps, set in the country’s rugged north. Home to Albania’s finest hiking, this mountain range sees dramatic peaks melt into lush forests and deep valleys dotted with wildflowers.
Don’t be put off by the area’s other moniker, the “Accursed Mountains”: the epic scenery is crisscrossed by varied trails, ensuring a happy holiday for all intrepid walkers of all abilities. The most popular trails run through the Valbona pass to the village of Theth – dubbed the most beautiful village in Albania.
Mix ruins and relaxation
Holidaying in Albania’s far south means combining adventures in history with lazy beach days. Start by exploring Albania’s most extensive archaeological site, Butrint, marveling at the way the ruins trace the settlement’s evolution as new occupants made their mark on the city.
With traces of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans all in evidence, it’s easy to see why Butrint is often called the perfect microcosm of Mediterranean history. Ancient amphitheater and agora duly investigated, take to your sunlounger on the nearby pure white sands of the Ksamil Islands: Albania’s answer to the Maldives, surrounded by inviting, crystal-clear waters.
Delve into Ottoman history in Berat and Gjirokastër
During the communist era, much of Albania’s Ottoman architectural heritage was dismantled in favor of functional, often more stark, building design. The UNESCO-protected cities of Berat and Gjirokastër escaped this fate: Berat is known as the “city of a thousand windows” for its beautifully preserved Ottoman-era hillside houses, while Gjirokastër is crowned by its 12th-century castle and dubbed the “city of stone”, thanks to its slate-roofed stone houses.
Journeying between the two cities by car generally takes less than three hours, with local buses providing a cheaper (if slightly slower) alternative.
Road trip the Albanian Riviera
Skip St Tropez in favor of southwestern Albania’s very own riviera: a seemingly endless string of breathtaking bays between Vlore and Ksamil.
Often cited as some of the country’s finest swimming spots, the beaches at Dhërmi and Gjipe are the perfect setting for your first Ionian paddle. Here, near-radiant white pebbles are lapped by turquoise waters and backed by the dramatic Ceraunian Mountains, with Gjipe offering a taste of wilder Albanian beauty and Dhërmi equipped with comfy loungers and seaside lunch spots. What’s more, Dhërmi is touted as the holiday destination of choice for Albanian prime ministers.
While you’re in the Sarandë area, head inland to visit the Blue Eye – a breathtaking spring, shrouded in local legend and known for its deep underwater cave.
Combine city and nature in Shkoder
The legend-rich Rozafa Fortress may well be Shkoder’s star attraction, but pottering past rows of pastel-colored houses, enjoying cafe culture on charming Kole Idromeno Street and exploring the Marubi National Museum of Photography should all be draws to the city. In addition to its distinctly relaxed vibe, a remarkable feature is the large number of mosques and churches that pepper the cityscape.
These buildings, and their close proximity, speak to the city’s high level of religious diversity (Shkoder is the center of Catholicism in the Muslim-majority country) – perhaps best experienced by visiting the 19th-century St Stephen’s Cathedral, followed by the modern Ebu Beker Mosque. From here, head to the nearby village of Shiroka to go paddle boarding or kayaking on the eponymous lake, or tuck into fresh fish by the water.
Pedal through Albania
Prefer to travel on two wheels? Drawn by the striking coastal views of the Albanian Riviera, the challenging gradients of the Accursed Mountains, or the promise of simply pootling along by Lake Shkoder or Ohrid, cyclists are arriving in Albania in their droves each year. Many resorts have bike rental available, but for more extensive expeditions it’s worth exploring organized tour options.
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