In recent years, Albania has become famed as a great destination dupe for the Maldives, which can be a rather expensive holiday, especially if travelling with family or at peak times. The 'Maldives of Europe' is a much cheaper option and, despite a glowing reputation, is still relatively off-the-beaten-path destinations. Flights from London Luton to Albania's capital city of Tirana cost just £14.
99 when flying with Wizz Air , and hotel rooms in the city start from around £20 per night, although than can get a bit pricier if looking for something bit more upmarket or if visiting at peak times. Cut off from much of the rest of the world for four decades, Albania's Communist regime was swept away in the early 1990s and since then the country has undergone a complete transformation. Tirana itself is a city full of history, with relics of its Ottoman, Italian and Communist past all still present in the city, with tourists flocking to these sites.
The House of Leaves showcases the country's recent communist past, while the Great Mosque of Tirana and the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania show off the city's religious diversity and the history associated with this. Another site that history fans should visit is the Byzantine-era Fortress of Justinian, also known as Tirana Castle. All that is left of this 13th-century structure is a 6-metre high Ottoman-era wall, although the grounds are currently undergoing restoration works.
Inside the walls is a rather modernised area full.