Welcome to the Albanian Riviera - the Maldives of Europe: Turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and wine at £1.70 a glass make this Balkan country the latest holiday hotspot Here is our pick of Albania's best seaside resorts from north to south The list includes Ksamil, which has been dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe' READ MORE: Etiquette expert reveals why you've been eating chips all wrong By Jo Kessel For The Daily Mail Published: 11:37 EDT, 22 July 2024 | Updated: 11:39 EDT, 22 July 2024 e-mail View comments There aren’t many Mediterranean destinations that can be considered a new frontier, but the ‘Albanian Riviera’ - Albania’s southern stretch of coastline - is one of them. Only two miles separate the Greek island of Corfu from this former communist Balkan country and the same turquoise Ionian Sea laps the shores of both.
Unlike Greece , however, Albania costs a fraction of the price. The food is delicious (think fresh fish, lamb and salads), a large glass of wine costs £1.70 and rooms at luxury five-star hotels are from just £50 a night.
For now there are no fly-and-flop package deals, so you have to travel independently and hire a car to get around. But there’s never been a better time to go. Albania is sunny 300 days a year, with temperatures about 18C well into November and its southern beaches are described as the ‘Maldives of Europe’.
Here’s our pick of the country’s best seaside resorts from north to south. Dreamy in Durres Jo Kessel rounds up .