Albania holidays

Holidays to Albania partner up urban culture in up-and-coming Tirana with a riviera that’s the envy of the Mediterranean.

Europe’s best kept secret

Sandwiched between Italy and Greece – with the Adriatic Sea as a bonus filling – Albania could be considered the mystery girl of the Mediterranean. It might be a little off radar, but it boasts a coastline to rival Croatia and has a colour-splashed capital that harks back to the Ottoman Empire. Holidays here are all about authentic culture and exploration, from the storybook shores of Lake Ohrid, to a surprisingly lively nightlife scene in Tirana.

A colourful capital

Relatively young by European standards – a mere 400 years old – Albania’s capital Tirana makes a great starting point. With influences from Ottoman and Soviet empires, it’s a melting pot of religion, architecture and underground nightlife. When the world was waking up to international travel after WWII, Albania closed up shop under communist rule, leaving its historic tapestry practically untouched. Since borders reopened following the return of democracy in 1990, intrepid travellers finally flocked to Tirana. Now, you can trace their footsteps into fascinating Ottoman mosques, Balkan bazaars and museums housed in Communist concrete bunkers.

Off-the-radar riviera

Albania even has its very own riviera, where a string of chic seaside towns are backed by mountainous national parks. But unlike the exclusive coastlines of France and Italy, this one is a little easier on the wallet. It starts in pristine Llogara National Park, where alpine meadows smother the Albanian mountains until they roll down and meet the sea. Further south, Saranda is a popular city lined with beach clubs, and Ksamil offers up tropical-style beaches with mineral-clear water.