Albania, your new object of desire
Try to name it. Costa Brava, Côte d'Azur and Amalfi Coast They will be the first ones that come to your mind... But you can add a new one to the list, which is going strong: the Albanian Riviera.
Albania, until now one of the most unknown countries of Europe, finally opens its arms to travelers, and it does not need more arguments than the ones it has in spades. Paradise beaches (and some almost deserted). Archaeological surprises. And all with the feeling of having discovered one of the best kept secrets on the other side of the Mediterranean.
A coast full of surprises
the riviera has no border defined, but if we wanted to put a front door it would probably be in the town of Vlore , 150 kilometers south of the Albanian capital, Tyrant. This is where the Adriatic meets the Ionian , in a marine meeting that invites you to join from the first moment.
Vlore, a hodgepodge of activity and tree-lined walks, comes with great historical weight: here was declared the albanian independence of the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Since then, it has grown to become a major center of port activity , in which the ramshackle urban charm gives way to the first beaches of the Riviera, which one better than the previous one.
The most accessible Plazhi i Ri you may be desperate for the crowd, although if you like the sarao, you will not want to separate from one of its many beach bars. Uji i Ftohtë, just two kilometers away, is a stretch of beaches less traveled, but with a level activity and revelry that little has to envy Ri.
If you want a good leisure offer, Vlorë will be your ally
Following the coast in a southerly direction, the next stop is the very placid village of Himarë , divided by modern resorts and traditional Greek taverns . A stone's throw from Himarë is they call, a nice beach (of pebbles, yes, like most of the beaches from here to Greece) cloistered between two hills, very popular with local tourism.
Looking for a more solitary, less crowded experience? go to Qeparo , a picturesque village clinging to two cliffs and overlooking the quintessential Mediterranean scene, the one you have in mind: the golden cove, the turquoise sea, the eternal sky.
Reach Sarande, the nerve center of the Riviera and a destination that is rapidly gaining in popularity in the Balkans, is to begin to have very vivid flashbacks of I raised . Sarandë, despite remaining modest in population and size, is experiencing a time of great growth and on both flanks skeletons of future buildings of apartments that points to an (expected) important boom in the number of visits. But for now (and luckily), Sarandë remains a nice option as a base to explore the nearby beaches when you have already exhausted those that are at street level.
Himare, oasis
Among them, ksamil takes the trophy for the best, not only in the area, but possibly in the entire Riviera. This tiny archipelago, 20 kilometers south of Sarandë, has three dream islands with white sand beaches you can almost swim up between one and another.
Ksamil is a stone's throw from the old butrint city, today one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania. crouched in a National Park 30 square kilometres, Butrint shows signs of the ancient roman settlements and greeks who lived here, in a fascinating mix that will keep you wanting for half a day until you get out of the towel.
Come discover the new Mediterranean paradise. Or do you need more reasons?
Ksamil, the true paradise