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 Albania's best seaside resorts. Above, Golem Beach in Durres is just 30 minutes west of the capital with the suburb of Golem offering a 'seemingly endless deep stretch of soft blonde sand' Keeping her cool: Jo in Albania Only 30 minutes west of Tirana, this seaside resort is the easiest to access from the capital.
Once a thriving Eastern Roman Empire port, ruins of ancient columns and walls are scattered across the palm-fringed streets of its old town. The coastline here is Adriatic with the best beaches to be found 14 miles away in the suburb of Golem - a seemingly endless deep stretch of soft blonde sand. For sports fans there’s an extra draw.
Tennis ace Rafael Nadal is set to launch an academy here next door to the Manchester City football school. An eight-hour overnight passenger ferry sails from Bari in Italy directly to Durres. DON’T MISS: The remains of a gargantuan 20,000-capacity Roman amphitheatre were found here in 1966 (admission £2.
50). You can enter via the gladiators ’ tunnel. WHERE TO STAY: Rooms come with balconies at the five-star Premium Hotel ( premiumbeachhotel.
com ) which has two pools, a private beach, an Indonesian spa and an award-winning chef. Doubles from £136 all-inclusive. More in Vlore Vlore, part of which is pictured here, has a lively old town, a seafront boulevard and a fine-stone public beach Albania lies along the Adriatic and Ionian Sea coastlines This seaside resort is two hours from Tirana and is where the Adriatic Sea merges with the Ionian - considered the start of the ‘Albanian Riviera’ - and heading south from here you’ll find the crème de la crème of coastal hotspots.
Vlore is Albania’s third largest city with a lively old town, a seafront boulevard and a fine-stone public beach. The Karaburun Peninsula (Albania’s only National Marine Park) is prominent on the horizon and physically splits the darker waters of the Adriatic from the electric turquoise Ionian. Donald Trump ’s daughter Ivanka is a big fan and it’s rumoured that her husband Jared is hoping to develop a luxury eco-resort on the uninhabited island of Sazan .
DON’T MISS: A half-day boat trip takes in the island of Sazan as well as the Karaburun Peninsula, home to bat caves, marine life and remote beaches. Pack a swimsuit, so you can dive and snorkel off the boat. Departs daily at 10am ( aquamarine-adventure.
al ). WHERE TO STAY: The Marina Bay Resort ( marinabay.al ) is a chi-chi establishment in the city’s outskirts with a stunning infinity pool, private beach and casino.
Doubles from £85 B&B. Delightful Dhermi You’ll spot beehives along the winding mountain roads that lead to Dhermi (above) as well as stalls selling honey for a fiver 300 DAYS OF RAYS IN 'EUROPE'S MALDIVES' Albania boasts 300 days of sunshine a year. Its southern beaches are described as the ‘Maldives of Europe’.
There are no trains, after its network was destroyed in 1992 when the communist regime fell. For the lowest prices head to villages outside tourist hubs. A new airport is set to open in Vlore in March, 2025.
This will make reaching the Albanian Riviera easier. Car hire costs from £25 a day. The country’s currency is the lek, but most shops and restaurants also accept Euros.
Byrek is a traditional Albanian pastry filled with spinach, cheese or meat. The Albanian Riviera can be reached by boat from Corfu in Greece and from Brindisi and Bari in Italy. Average drink prices include coffee, 85p; cola, £1.
70; local beer, £1.30 and a large glass of Albanian wine, £1.70.
Average food prices include risotto/pasta, £6.70; grilled meat with potatoes/vegetables, £3.50.
Local hero: Spinach and cheese pastries called byrek, pictured, are an Albanian favourite Advertisement Ask Albanians to name their favourite seaside resort and they’ll say Dhermi. It’s quiet and unique in that it’s made up of beaches as well as a hillside village. In 1956 an earthquake devastated the area, but a local couple renovated some abandoned houses and turned them into the boutique hotel Zoe Hora — pop star Dua Lipa was its first guest.
Climb to the tiny 15th century church and not only will you be rewarded with a panorama over the bay, but you’ll also find a cemetery with the world’s best view. DON’T MISS: You’ll spot beehives along the winding mountain roads that lead to Dhermi as well as stalls selling honey for a fiver. You can taste before you buy.
WHERE TO STAY: Follow in Dua Lipa’s footsteps by staying at Zoe Hora ( zoehora.com ). The price is worth it for the spa, pool and view.
Doubles from £127 B&B. Himara hotspot Albania's entire Ionian coastline is fringed by mountains carpeted with pink and white oleander and Himare sprawls from high in these hills right down to the shimmering blue sea. Maracit and Potami are both excellent beaches, but it’s worth hiring a car to explore less discovered bays (just watch out for road-crossing goats).
That said, the best beaches are ones which can’t be accessed by wheels. A steep downhill trek leads to the hidden Filikuri beach (hold on to the ropes), which is hemmed in by sheer cliffs. Vertigo sufferers might prefer to hire a kayak and paddle there.
Himare’s old town has a promenade ideal for a sunset stroll. DON’T MISS: The 19th-century castle of Porto Palermo was built during the country’s 500-year spell in the Ottoman Empire and is on an island attached to the mainland by a causeway (entrance £2.50).
Wander along its battlements for great sea views before laying a towel on its beach. WHERE TO STAY: Rooms come with a balcony at three-star seafront Anxhelos Hotel ( booking.com ).
Doubles from £42 B&B. Seduced by Saranda Saranda (above), a port city in the south of Albania, bustles with shops, bars and restaurants. There are international boats arriving here daily, both from Corfu (a 30-minute hydrofoil ride away) and from Brindisi in Italy Read More Then and now photos show how Benidorm evolved from a tiny fishing village into a brash resort A major port near the Albanian Riviera’s southern tip, there are international boats arriving here daily, both from Corfu (a 30-minute hydrofoil ride away) and from Brindisi in Italy, an eight-hour overnight journey.
The town bustles with shops, bars and restaurants - and has a central promenade. To escape the crowds, book a tall ship excursion with Pegasus Travel and Tours to the remote Krorez Beach. The water is a pale blue and the beach restaurant serves a feast of grilled cod, fries and salads, included in the £42pp fare.
Be prepared: the ship’s return journey involves dancing and a very entertaining foam party. Lekursi Castle, overlooking the Corfu Straits, is the best spot for sunset. DON’T MISS: Dental Fish.
Its name might look comic on the menu, but this fragrant local fish is served regularly in restaurants. It is like a slightly meatier version of sea bass. WHERE TO STAY: The five-star Bougainville Hotel ( bougainvillebay.
com ) has multiple pools, a private beach and a fabulous breakfast terrace. Doubles from £50 B&B. 'Maldivian' in Ksamil Ksamil, seen here, has been dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe' due to its iridescent turquoise sea.
Ten minutes away is the ancient UNESCO World Heritage city of Butrint Ksamil has such an iridescent turquoise sea that Instagrammers have dubbed it the ‘Maldives of Europe’. Unfortunately, this has made it somewhat busy. For a quieter beach, hire a pedalo (£13) to one of four outlying islands — two of which are connected by a spit of sand.
Ten minutes away by car is the jewel in the crown of Albania’s cultural sites, the ancient UNESCO World Heritage city of Butrint. Here you’ll find turtles alongside archaeological remains dating as far back as the 6th-century BC and include Roman baths as well as Hellenistic gateways. Better still, the surrounding forest offers a welcome respite from the sun.
Butrint is also a popular day trip. DON’T MISS: The farmed mussels from nearby Lake Butrint have superior flavour thanks to the water’s unique fresh and saltwater combination. Grab a beachfront table at Poda restaurant and order a bowl for £8.
WHERE TO STAY: The stylish 20-room Poda Boutique Hotel ( podahotel.al ) has an enviable seafront location. Doubles cost from £76, half-board.
TRAVEL FACTS Wizz Air has London-Tirana flights from £12.99 one way ( wizzair.com ).
Or Finikas Lines ( finikas-lines.com ) offers return voyages from Corfu from £88 return. Car hire costs from £25 a day ( avis.
co.uk ). See akt.
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