There are very few places left still secret in Europe.<\/p>\n
Are you looking for a still underrated destination for your holidays? We have a suggestion for you: Albania.<\/p>\n
The Albanian coast will soon be the next big summer destination, but for now, you can enjoy spectacular pristine beaches and turquoise sea, in (almost) total isolation.<\/p>\n
Immediately south of Albania, Greece is a very popular destination for beachgoers, Montenegro is emerging as an emerging seaside destination, while further north Croatia has been hosting visitors from all over the world for at least a decade.<\/p>\n
Albania, on the other hand, is still almost unknown despite the excellent position of its 363 kilometers of coastline bathed by both the Adriatic and Ionian seas.<\/p>\n
Here are the reasons that will make you choose Albania for your upcoming summer trips.<\/p>\n
Sandy beaches, secluded bays, and sea that almost seems Caribbean.<\/p>\n
Albania\u2019s rugged coastline, characterized by traditional villages nestled in remote bays, is one of the revelations of recent years: you can travel south and reach the Albanian Riviera where you will find lovely beaches and bays.<\/p>\n
Albania\u2019s over 300 kilometers of coastline are bathed by the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea; let\u2019s see in detail the most beautiful beaches.<\/p>\n
The beaches of the Adriatic Coast are sandy and with shallow waters, they are the perfect place to go to the sea with children.<\/p>\n
The Adriatic coast stretches from the border with Montenegro in the north to the bay of Vlora, where the Ionian Sea begins.<\/p>\n
Among the most beautiful beaches are those of Velipoja, Sh\u00ebngjin, Durr\u00ebs, Golem, Spille, Divjaka, and Vlora; traveling along the coast you can also visit lagoons, reserves, and other natural ecosystems.<\/p>\n
Once past the Llogara mountain, at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, you will be greeted by a stunning panorama of the Albanian Riviera, made up of long beaches, verdant landscapes, and intense blue sea dominating the scene.<\/p>\n
In this corner of paradise, the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea.<\/p>\n
It is along the Ionian Coast that you will find the most beautiful sea, and we are not exaggerating by saying that it looks like the Caribbean sea.<\/p>\n
Here the rugged coast offers breathtaking natural views, pristine bays, green mountains that stretch towards sandy and pebble beaches or towards tall cliffs and cliffs plunging into the azure sea.<\/p>\n
The coastline goes from Vlora to Saranda and crosses the Pass of Llogara National Park. In this corner of paradise, you will also find numerous marine caves perfect for those who love excursions and snorkeling.<\/p>\n
Among the most beautiful beaches on the Ionian coast, we include Dh\u00ebrmi, Jal, Himara, Qeparo, Borsh, Saranda, and Ksamil.<\/p>\n
Holidays in Albania: where to go?<\/strong><\/p>\n It is in the south that the coast offers scenic landscapes, if you want to plan a road trip to discover Albania.<\/p>\n You can follow the itinerary from Durr\u00ebs to Saranda, the route is 250 km long, and here you can visit cities, sleepy villages, beautiful beaches, and bays. Another itinerary is the one that goes from Durr\u00ebs north to the border with Montenegro; along this stretch of coast, you will encounter the Lal\u00ebzi bay, located between the Cape of Rodon and Bishti i Pall\u00ebs.<\/p>\n Do not miss an excursion to Cape of Rodon, a vast promontory, a natural masterpiece overlooking the sea that you can reach by following the signs to Durr\u00ebs, Manz\u00eb, Drac, Cape of Rodon; here you will find the remains of a castle that you must visit.<\/p>\n Also in this area, do not miss a visit to Rushkulli lagoon, here you will find sandy dunes, salt-tolerant vegetation, plains, pine forests, and wetlands.<\/p>\n Durr\u00ebs beaches are the most frequented in the whole country and are perfect for those who decide to go to the sea with children. But if you want to find the most beautiful and scenic sea, head south, along the coast known as the Albanian Riviera, and discover the most beautiful beaches from Vlora to Saranda.<\/p>\n Do not miss a visit to Llogara National Park, if you love trekking and excursions, it is the perfect place for you. It is located about 30 km south of Vlora. Walking along the marked trails, you will also find structures for paragliding. A beautiful walk is the one that will take you to the Llogara pass, one of the highest points of the National Park, from here the view is unparalleled and overlooks the beaches below, the Ionian Sea, and the island of Corfu.<\/p>\n Best destinations and places in Albania<\/strong><\/p>\n The best way to discover Albania is to do it on the road, the advice is to arrive in Durr\u00ebs by ferry or to fly from Italy to Tirana and from there head towards the coast. The best destinations for those looking for beautiful beaches and pristine bays are in the south, where you will also find beautiful cities and ancient towns, fairy-tale forests, bays, and islets.<\/p>\n Stop to visit Apollonia, one of the oldest cities in Albania whose ruins you can visit. Heading south, stop in Vlora, one of the most famous natural harbors in the nation, at the extremes of which is the island of Sazan. Vlora is one of the historic Albanian cities, its birth dates back to the 6th<\/sup> century BC, near the city reach Jal beach, a beautiful isolated and quiet beach.<\/p>\n Dh\u00ebrmi is a bit further south and is one of the most visited tourist spots on the entire coast. Not far from Dh\u00ebrmi beach, you can visit the Pirate Cave, reachable by boat or ferry. One of the most beautiful beaches on this stretch of coast is Gjipe which has a beautiful shape, here the steep cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea. To reach it, you need to walk a path of about 20 minutes. Near this beach, there is a river that has carved an incredible canyon into the rock with walls 70 meters high. Here, the village of Vuno is worth a visit.<\/p>\n If you are looking for some local advice, we recommend a visit to Himar\u00eb, one of the largest centers in the area; on your way to Saranda, do not miss a stop at the Porto Palermo peninsula, where you will find the remains of a fortress built by Ali Pasha, as well as spectacular sea, rocks, and a small harbor used by the Soviets to hide submarines stationed in the Adriatic.<\/p>\n Borsh is one of the beautiful areas of the Albanian Riviera and is characterized by citrus and olive groves; in this stretch of coast, you will find the beaches of Bunec and Kakome.<\/p>\n The city of Saranda is only 9 km from the Greek island of Corfu, from here you can go on an excursion to the Greek island, there are numerous daily connections between Saranda and Corfu. In this area, do not miss a visit to Ksamil beach where there are 4 small islets covered with Mediterranean vegetation. From Saranda, you can go on an excursion to the ruins of Butrint.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n