Albania travel guide

Albania is that elusive gem you've always heard whispers about but never quite believed could be real. Tucked snugly in the Balkans, this small republic brims with natural splendour—snow-capped peaks rubbing shoulders with golden beaches and enchanted lakes that look as though they've leapt straight out of a fairy tale. The locals are fabulously warm-hearted, beaming a welcome that seems impossibly big for such a petite nation.

Begin your journey in Tirana, the spirited capital whose streets burst with vivid murals and equally colourful cafés. There's something almost mischievously fun about this city, with its rainbow-hued buildings and its love of leisurely espressos. It's here you'll get a taste of Albania's knack for fusing the old with the new—one minute you're admiring the grand architecture leftover from Ottoman days, and the next you're walking into a modern gallery that wouldn't look out of place in London's trendiest boroughs.

Head south and you'll uncover the Albanian Riviera, a sun-drenched coastline lapped by water so blue it could make the Caribbean a little jealous. Sarandë, Ksamil, and Himarë each have their own tranquil charms, with an understated beauty that never feels crowded or contrived. If you're aching for something higher up, the grand mountains further north are heaven for hiking enthusiasts—crisp alpine air, velvety green slopes, and the occasional scattered village where fresh bread and cheese await like a well-kept secret.

Albania isn't just about scenery, of course. It's also a glorious mishmash of cultures—Greek, Roman, Ottoman, Italian—served on a platter of succulent cuisine that's both exotic and comfortingly familiar. At the end of your stay, you may just find yourself wondering how Albania manages to remain so under-the-radar, and whether it's secretly just as happy that way. But rest assured, you'll leave with new friends, a fuller waistline, and a proper host of stories to tell.