More Affordable Than Croatia, Less Touristy Than Greece
It’s time to stop balking at the Balkans.
The droves of tourists elbowing each other through Greece and Croatia are too busy boarding packed ferries and waddling through sweaty crowds to notice the other country right there, sandwiched conspicuously between the two. Albania, a less-traveled but comparable Ionian coast paradise, offers many of the same enticing qualities of its more famous next-door neighbors. Read on to find out more about Europe’s next incredible destination!
1. The Riviera
Along Albania’s Riviera, crystal-clear, vivid blue sea, the beaches are plentiful, juxtaposed with hidden caves rising inside of coastal cliffs like cathedrals. Small seaside towns bleach in the Mediterranean sun, their boardwalks lively with cafes by day and buzzing with revelers when the sun goes down. Beyond the beaches, well-preserved, picturesque towns each boast their own distinct character and ancient charm, their windows peering over the landscape like a thousand eyes, gazing across the fertile rolling hills that nourish leafy vineyards and silvery-green groves of gnarled olive trees.
2. Proud, Diverse Heritage
Robust farmland and abundant seas yield the ingredients of a fresh and flavorful cuisine that is edible evidence of Albania’s cross-cultural influences. The skeletal stone ruins of the Romans stand crumbling next to silted-up rivers, while in the capital city, the remains of fallen regimes coexist with the dynamic spirit of a modern-day metropolis.
3. Uncrowded Bliss
The distinct advantage of traveling to Albania is that tourists do not flock here with the same fervor as those traveling to Greece or Croatia, freeing up more space on the beach and in hotels and restaurants. Even during the summer on the Albanian Riviera, it is possible to find empty beaches and last-minute affordable and value-packed luxury accommodations. This is why I’ve coined it Europe’s next big destination.
The number of visitors that descend on Albania’s beach towns is nowhere near the high-season levels of Dubrovnik or Santorini, two beyond-stunning locales, LTA favorites in fact, however they are currently swarming with tourists. And they’ve become pricey post-COVID. Yet Albania remains affordable, even in the luxury category—money goes a lot farther here than in other, more popular destinations. So, what else sets Albania apart from its more glamorous neighbors? Read on.
4. Jaw-Dropping Mountain Views
In northern Albania, a dense range of forlorn mountain peaks stand in solitude, cleaved by the azure rivers that course through their lonesome canyons. Known as the Accursed Mountains, the dark intensity of this designation reveals that there is much more to this region than dramatic landscapes. A deep local culture has existed for centuries, secluded in this remote corner of the Balkans. Although much has changed here since the people of the region conducted their lives and all matters through the laws of the Kanun, a tribal text that outlines the rules of conduct by which everyone must adhere, the traditions here continue, less overt than in the past but continuing to inform the local psyche nonetheless.
“Even during the summer on the Albanian Riviera, it is possible to find empty beaches and last-minute affordable and appealing accommodations.”
Stephanie Clark, LTA Lead Travel Designer
Take Advantage of Connections for Every Interest
Luxury Travel Authority has connections with excellent, vetted local companies that provide touring in this mountainous region. For example, we often arrange for well-organized treks that connect small villages on through-hikes across marvelous and diverse terrain, replete with translucent turquoise pools and shimmering waterfalls. The trails, blooming with wildflowers and shared with wandering cows and goats, reveal glorious views at every turn. Post-hike, guests can relax in charming guesthouses nestled in postcard-worthy valleys surrounded by lofty peaks. The food is fresh and locally grown, and before it ever appears on the table, it can be observed as vegetables growing in well-tended garden patches or plump chickens clucking through the grass. A true farm-to-table experience!
After dinner, guests can enjoy an evening of sipping (or slugging) the popular spirit raki and then either sleep it off in their simple yet modern wooden cabin or go for a cold plunge in a mountain stream. Tour stops also include stone towers of cultural significance called kullas that bring to life the traditions of the people who call this beautiful yet challenging land their home.
5. A History That’s One for the Books
Albania’s history is one of the most intense stories of 20th-century Europe. After the wartime invasion and subsequent occupation by both the Italians and the Germans, the communists took control, plunging the country into North Korea of complete paranoid isolation from the rest of the world until their collapse in 1991.
Remnants of this decades-long isolation are still visible today—the countryside is pock-marked with the ghostly domes of concrete bunkers, and there is a noticeable lack of recognizable international chains—and provides an explanation as to why Greece and Croatia are more familiar with the collective global consciousness. Those countries have spent more time perfecting their coastal Balkans tourism game than Albania, thanks to governmental policies that granted their citizens basic individual freedoms and allowed for outside influence—societal realities that were denied to Albanians for almost half a century.
6. In Albania, the Guest Is Gold
In Albania, especially in the north of the country, there is an extreme reverence for the guests and showing hospitality to visitors. Albanians are welcoming, friendly, and open, which is remarkable for a country that was isolated from the rest of the world for so long. A benefit of visiting Europe’s next lauded destination, a country with such hospitable people (besides feeling welcome and cared for), is that their kindness can inspire visitors to be more considerate, too.
7. The Cafe Scene in the Capital City Is Unbeatable
Tirana is a city that feels like the sort of place people will be nostalgic for once prices rise and people move in. As Albania’s progressive and modern center, there are plenty of things to do and see in the capital. Visitors will immediately notice an abundance of Europe’s next-level, beautifully designed cafes in this destination.
Open, airy, and adorned with plants and thoughtful decor, these cafes encourage passing the hours in their inviting embrace. Bars and restaurants line the streets of trendy, vibrant neighborhoods where a variety of affordable and impeccably equipped apartments are available for rent in the midst of it all.
8. Vibrant Tirana
Skanderbeg Square, an immense plaza encircled by cultural and government buildings, lies at the city’s heart. Bunk’Art is a multi-floor underground bunker, originally built as a refuge for government elites, that has since been transformed into an art and history museum. The Pyramid of Tirana, a bizarre, brutalist-style pyramid built to honor a dictator’s ego, has undergone renovations and rebranded itself as an arts and cultural center, completed only recently in June 2023.
Nowadays, a subterranean-style scramble is not required to escape the hubbub of the city. Respite can be found in the Grand Park of Tirana, which is indeed as massive as the name suggests, encompassing 230 hectares and includes a botanical garden, historical landmarks, and an artificial (but very real) lake. The Datji Ekspres cable car whisks visitors 1600 meters above and beyond the city to the top of a mountain for panoramic views.
Why Now Is The Time to Visit
Where Greece and Croatia are predictable and familiar, Albania leaves room for surprises. Now could be the moment to experience a part of Europe that has not yet been transformed into a caricature of itself or a reflection of current global tastes that dampen the local identity. Albania could become the next European hot spot, and if so, it would only be a matter of time until the price and quality of the tourist infrastructure are on par with that of Greece and Croatia. At this moment in time, Albania is mostly off the radar, and that’s a strong indication that now is the perfect time to go. We don’t think it will be Europe’s best-kept secret destination for long.
Embrace the new definition of luxury, one that embraces the essence of full immersion into your travel destination. If you yearn for a voyage that transcends the ordinary, then take the first step. Click here to request your complimentary consultation with me. It’s your time to uncover the hidden treasures of Europe’s next popular destination (or any other destination) and create memories that will forever reside in the depths of your soul.
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