Albania Holidays

What is there to do in Albania?

To the north, alpine lakes, dramatic valleys and mountain villages await. To the south, in Berat and Gjirokastra, beautiful and perfectly preserved hill towns and ancient Roman sites abound. It's true that Albania also has a fantastic climate, a long Mediterranean coastline and is just a mere five miles from the Greek island of Corfu (several ferry services link the two every day).

It’s also true that Albania is home to not one, not two but three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Berat and Gjirokastra are living museums to another age, with cobbled streets climbing up steep hillsides to create a maze of quirky Ottoman houses and imposing castles, while Butrint stands as one of the best examples of a preserved Roman site complete with a basilica, churches, catacombs and stunning mosaics.

For the more intrepid traveller, a visit to the north is a must. For this is Europe at its most undiscovered, where villages are cut off by snow for months at a time and visitors are accommodated in local homes. Head to Theth, deemed the prettiest village in Albania, for Disney-esque views over Lake Koman and a window into slow village life. Wander roads with the hillside cows and enjoy some of the most incredible hikes.

Tell me a little more about Albania

Since the death of communist leader, Enver Hoxha, Albanians have embraced their new-found freedom wholeheartedly. Tirana's concrete high-rises have been splurged with a rainbow of grey-defying colour to liven up the skyline and the city's Blloku district, once home to party apparatchiks, now pulses with bars and cafes after dark. One of Albania holidays’ most pleasant surprises, though, is the food. Albania's cuisine is very similar to that of Greece, so expect plenty of fresh vegetable dishes and hearty servings of roasted meat. Many restaurants also serve Italian food to a high standard so any pizza and pasta cravings are easily fulfilled.

You’ll need a car to get around Albania. But road trips should be on your Albania bucket list anyway, especially if you want to traverse between capital and coastal cities such as Durrës, swing by ancient Illyrian outposts set on rolling hills on the right bank of the Vjosa River or make it part of a coastal road trip along the Adriatic between Montenegro and Greece.

In short, Albania holidays are still somewhat of a secret. But we have a feeling that’s about to change. So why wait?