20 reasons to go on holiday to Albania

Albania may not be the first country you think about as a holiday destination, but more and more tourists are (re)discovering its cultural and natural wonders. Let us convince you of the benefits of Albania in the following slides.

Albania has beautiful beaches overlooking the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. They are often miles long and not yet overrun by tourists. While others are tightly packed together on the Spanish coast, in Albania you can imagine you are Robinson Crusoe on a deserted beach.

Are you a nature lover? Then you can indulge yourself in Albania. There are beautiful undiscovered forests, lakes, mountains, and rivers.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

What Albania is very famous for is the hospitality of the people. They are very friendly to tourists, DW notes, probably because they are not storming the country with cramped buses and trolley cases yet.

Photo: George Kourounis / Unsplash

Albania is a country with a rich history and culture. This is very well reflected in historical buildings and monuments.

Photo: Fabian Kuhne / Unsplash

Albania has many archaeological sites to visit. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans who lived in this country left behind a lot of interesting monuments.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

Take a visit to Butrint, for example. Get lost among the excavations on this peninsula. The UNESCO website states that this ancient city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Probably built about 2200 to 2400 years ago by refugees from Troy, after it fell because of the famous war there.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

Berat is also a piece of UNESCO World Heritage. A cute little town built against a mountain. Walk to the highest part and visit the old fortress from the 13th century.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

Albania is one of the most affordable holiday destinations in Europe, the Daily Express and The Guardian agree. This does mean that it is one of the poorest countries in Europe, though. You can take this as another reason to visit the country: tourist euros (or leks, the national currency) will give the local economy a helping hand.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

The food in Albania is full of flavor and has many influences from the Mediterranean cuisine. Its local dishes resemble Italian and Greek cuisine.

Photo: Karol Chomka / Unsplash

Are you a real mountain goat? Do you like walking? Then the Albanian Alps are an excellent place to stay. You can walk multi-day hiking routes here and marvel at the natural beauty.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

We've mentioned it, but Albania is not yet as touristy as other destinations. Several media, therefore, report that the country still offers an 'authentic' experience for travelers. You can enjoy silence and tranquility in many places and the population is very hospitable.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

If you like history, there is a lot for you to experience in this country.
Albania has a rich past. We already talked about the Greeks and the Romans, but the country was also part of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

Albania was part of the Eastern Block in Europe and even after the fall of the Soviet Union, the government of Albania remained communist. The country was relatively isolated while others opened up to the European west. When the Albanian government fell in 1991, it became clear that Albania was decades behind compared to the rest of the continent. It's fascinating to see the influence of communism on the country's architecture, culture, and habits.

Photo: Renaldo Kodra / Unsplash

One of the places where you can see Albania's fascinating recent history is in the bunkers left behind after the Cold War. The communist regime built thousands of bunkers, many of which you can still see.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

In Albania, you can make beautiful boat trips. You can visit not only the sea but also inland lakes by boat. For example, go to Shkodër, the largest lake in the Balkans, and its surrounding national park.

If you love taking beautiful pictures, Albania is the place for you. Visit the Albanian Alps or the beautiful city of Gjirokraster. You are guaranteed to come home with unique snapshots.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

The language spoken in Albania is unique, as it contains words that cannot be found elsewhere. Part of this language dates back to ancient times during the beginning of the Roman Empire.

Albania is a country of several religions. You can visit many beautiful churches and mosques there.

Albania is easy to reach, with several airlines connecting the country to other European cities. From Western Europe, it takes about 2 or 2.5 hours to fly to the capital Tirana.

Photo: Abenteuer Albanien / Unsplash

Albania is a safe country, which makes it a good destination to go with families. The UK Government recommends that you avoid the border region and says that the rest of the country is secure for solo travelers and families. Sites like 'Travellers Worldwide' describe plenty of activities that children and young people can undertake in Albania.

Photo: Edrin Spahiu / Unsplash