Trip of the week: the beaches of the Albanian Riviera
Albania is a ‘great value’ alternative to its better-known neighbours, Greece and Croatia
With its rich architectural and archaeological heritage and rugged mountain landscapes, Albania has clear appeal to “culture-minded” travellers. Less widely appreciated has been its virtues as a Mediterranean beach destination, says Chris Leadbeater in The Daily Telegraph, and as a “great value” alternative to its better-known neighbours, Greece and Croatia.
But it seems Albania is now making its mark on the tourist map: Skyscanner reports a 48% rise in bookings for flights from the UK this year compared with 2019 – and deservedly so. After two years of “travel stasis”, anyone craving fresh horizons should consider visiting.
A lot of the beachside developments on Albania’s 300 miles of coast were thrown up in the 1990s and though comfy enough, they are not high end. But there are some good “boutique retreats and luxury properties”. Just 25 miles west of the capital Tirana, the country’s second city, Durrës, has a “broad, soft” beach – but it’s better to head to the smaller seaside resorts further south, such as the city of Vlorë (where the clifftop Hotel Liro can be recommended), the picturesque town of Saranda, or the lovely village of Ksamil, from which you can see Corfu, just five miles across the water.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And the coastal Llogara Pass is not to be missed – a zigzagging road that carries you across the Ceraunian Mountains south of Vlorë, offering “epic” views of the Ionian Sea and the sands of Palase Beach, far beneath.
All these resorts sit within easy reach of the cultural treasures of central and southern Albania, including the hilltowns of Gjirokastra and Berat, with their 18th century Ottoman mosques and mansions, and the ruined Roman city of Butrint. It’s also worth lingering in Tirana itself, not least for its vast National History Museum, and the restaurants and bars of the buzzing Blloku district.
Specialist tour operators include Regent Holidays (regent-holidays.co.uk) and Steppes Travel (steppestravel.com).
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour – an 'expansive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The 'sweeping' show features over 140 works from paintings to ceramics
By The Week UK Published
-
Kate Summerscale picks her favourite true crime books
The Week Recommends The writer shares works by Janet Malcolm, Helen Garner and Mark O'Connell
By The Week UK Published
-
The Forsyte Saga: 'faultless' production with a 'pitch-perfect' cast
The Week Recommends Theatrical adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels is a 'must-see' show
By The Week Published
-
6 exciting homes for athletes
Feature Featuring a rock-climbing wall in New York and a basketball-tennis court in Washington
By The Week Staff Published
-
Peter Ames Carlin's 6 favorite books on pop culture icons
Feature The author recommends works by James McBride, Jim Bouton, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Wild Robot: animated adventure is 'warm, funny and wise'
The Week Recommends 'Sharply written and richly detailed' adaptation of Peter Brown's best-selling book
By The Week UK Published
-
Francis Bacon: Human Presence – a 'stirring, splendid' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Riveting' show at the National Portrait Gallery explores the artist's 'wild' portraits
By The Week UK Published
-
Robert McCrum shares his favourite books on sport
The Week Recommends Writer and editor picks works by Nick Hornby, David Goldblatt and others
By The Week UK Published