Its no secret that Europe has some incredible beaches like the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the Dalmatia Coast in Croatia, or any island in Greece… but in my humble opinion, Albania easily takes the #1 spot. So far untouched by mass tourism, this tiny country tucked away in the Balkans will seriously surprise you with its hidden gems.
How to get there: I came from Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, where there is a direct overnight bus (at least when I went in peak high season of summer) to Saranda, the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera. There are also several easier connections from Tirana, the capital of Albania in the north-central part of the country. Your best bet might be connecting through Tirana, which you can get to with bus or flight connections from many bigger cities in the Balkans. Another option to get to Saranda is from Corfu island in Greece, which is right off the coast and can be seen from Saranda beach! There are daily ferries to/from Corfu, which has an international airport, so consider flying into here and then taking the ferry to arrive in Saranda.
Where to stay: The Albanian Riviera is made up of a collection of small towns on the coast. There are several options, like Vlore, Himara, Dhermi, and Saranda. Saranda is by far the place to base yourself, with plenty of budget and luxury accommodation options, and tons of activities within the town itself. I stayed at Saranda Backpackers Hostel and cannot recommend it highly enough. The host goes above and beyond to make sure you are 100% comfortable and happy with your stay. I paid around $7 per night for this cheap, clean, comfy haven in Saranda.
What to do: Give yourself 5 days to a week in the Riviera – there are tons of must-sees. First, Saranda Beachitself is a nice place to chill out and take in some rays. Nearby Ksamil Beach, easily accessible by the public bus in Saranda, boasts bright blue waters, amazing restaurants, and a busy beach bustling with tourists. There are also the ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating back to prehistoric times and occupied by several different empires during its life. The blue eye, or Syri Kalter in Albanian, is another popular day trip from Saranda accessible by bus, where there’s a 45 meter deep hole in an unassuming stream! Finally, Gjirokaster is a beloved village and a well-preserved example of an Ottoman Empire-era town, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right.
Consider renting a car or motorbike and exploring up the coast to the other Riviera towns. Some prominent spots are Dhermi Beach, Jala Beach, Vlore town, Vuno Town, and Gjipe Beach, which was so awesome that I wrote an entire post about how to get there which you can read right here. There are several transportation rental agencies in Saranda to choose from, and worry not because your driver’s license from home should be sufficient enough to rent a car, aka no international driver’s license needed. The roads up the coast are hilly and scenic, and make for the perfect day trip from Saranda.
Other tips: There are several ATMs in Saranda to retrieve cash. You can get by with English, but it would be nice to learn a few words in Albanian like ‘thank you’ and ‘please.’ It is super cheap here, you can eat a full meal including a drink for under $5!
Before long, people are going to start realizing how beautiful Albania is and it won’t be as untouched by mass tourism for much longer. Just look what happened to Italian coastal towns like Amalfi or pretty much any Greek island that are overrun with tourists now. Get there while you can to see it while it’s still more natural and relaxed.
