Why Albania should be on your summer holiday radar

Find your favourite stretch of coast

One of Albania’s biggest advantages is the variety along its coastline. Head south to the Albanian Riviera and the scenery becomes particularly dramatic. Dhërmi is known for clear Ionian water, water sports, and a lively summer atmosphere, while nearby Himarë gives you a choice of bays including Spille, Potami, Llamani, and Livadhi. Continue towards Borsh and you’ll find an impressively long sweep of coastline backed by Mediterranean vegetation.

At Albania’s southern end, Ksamil has become one of the country’s best-known beach destinations, with small islands sitting just offshore and Sarandë close by for restaurants and bars.

Prefer something gentler for a family holiday? Albania’s Adriatic coast offers more sandy beaches and generally shallower water, giving you a very different experience from the rockier Ionian coastline further south.

There's much more than the beach

This is probably one of Albania’s biggest reasons to choose it over a straightforward fly-and-flop holiday. Close to Sarandë and Ksamil is Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where layers of history include Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian influence. Its archaeological remains sit within a wider landscape of water and vegetation, making it an easy cultural contrast to a few days beside the sea. You could also head inland to Gjirokastër, known for its Ottoman-era architecture, stone houses, bazaar, and hilltop setting, adding a completely different side to a southern Albania itinerary.