Not Amalfi and its overpriced, celeb-frequented beach clubs. Nor Nice, anchored by the French Riviera and the jet-setting Cannes. Definitely not Mallorca, either: if anything, Spain’s Mediterranean hotspot is actively chasing tourists away.
The fastest-growing Med destination right now is tucked away in the lesser-explored Balkan Peninsula, where it’s less about overpolished resorts and influencer-packed beach clubs, and more about winding, cliffside roads, turquoise coves, and slow dinners washed down with that lethal shot of rakija that will knock any unsuspecting millennial out of their senses.
After calling it for years, Travel Off Path’s main prediction finally materialized:
Albania is officially Southern Europe’s next rising hub, with over 12.4 million visitors recorded this year so far, and although some would love to believe that, it’s not thanks to Jared Kushner’s controversial new resort plans.
We’d say it’s safe to go out on a limb and say it’s largely thanks to the underrated, pretty little Sarandë:
A Lesser-Explored Slice Of Mediterranean Heaven A Stone’s Throw Away From Greece
If you’re familiar with Eurosummers, chances are you’ve either heard of, or you’ve even already been to Corfu, one of Greece’s top sunny getaways.
What most tourists fail to realize, or at least they used to anyway, is that the world-famous Ionian island lies just 18 miles off the Albanian city of Sarandë, on the Balkan mainland.
Albania used to be a pretty offbeat European destination in general… until word got out about its rugged mountains, storybook medieval towns, and spectacular coastline, and Sarandë is at the forefront of the ongoing Albanian Renaissance. You heard it here first.
It is the unofficial capital of the Southern Albanian Riviera, where all of the best beaches are. I’m still unsure why they’ve decided to build the new airport in Vlorë, of all places, instead of down here, but I digress.
The End All, Be All Albanian Beach Getaway
Due to its rapid development and still underdeveloped tourism infrastructure, Albania is a pretty hit-or-miss country in terms of beach towns.
While beaches are jaw-droppingly gorgeous irrespective of location, the urban centers that anchor them can be a tad lackluster, from Durrës’ industrial, built-up vibe to Dhërmi’s near-total absence of a proper town center and year-round life.
Sarandë, on the other hand, is the ultimate Albanian beach city.
You have a long waterfront unfolding along sapphire-blue seas, backed by plenty of hotels and restaurants open until late fall, urban beaches perfect for swimming, and if you feel Tirana’s nightlife lacks that seaside edge, Sarandë arguably offers some of the best beach bars and beach parties in the Balkans.
It’s not Old World European pretty, mind you: there’s no charming medieval Old Town with cobbled lanes and Gothic churches, nor a grand cathedral, though there is a spectacular hilltop castle overlooking the coast a bit farther out, on the hill above Sarandë.
The city itself is a cluster of concrete apartment blocks and waterfront condos stacked awkwardly along a rugged shoreline, and the deeper you venture into it, it’s all chaotic traffic and overhanging wires. Think Latin America, but right on the Mediterranean.
If postcard perfection is what you’re after, you’re better off hopping on that ferry to Corfu Town. Now, if you’re looking for that affordable base for exploring the wider Riviera, without burning a hole through your wallet, this is your place:
Average Prices In The Albanian Riviera In 2026 (High Season)
- Budget hotel/guesthouse: $35–64/night
- Good mid-range hotel with sea view: $82–129/night
- Byrek or simple local breakfast: $1.20–3.50
- Beer: $1.75–3
- Cocktails in beach clubs: $5–8
- Casual lunch: $6–11
- Proper restaurant meal: $12–21
- Seafood dinner: $18–29
I’m by no means the biggest Sarandë expert out there, having only been to the town once a few years back, but I vividly remember Markata Don Peshk’s grilled whole fish and prawns costing maybe 40 to 50% less than it would in any mainstream Western Mediterranean resort.
Scrolling through my phone’s camera gallery, I also spotted Ftelea Fish Taverna, this cute little seafood joint away from the touristy waterfront, great for a straightforward seafood feast without getting absolutely rinsed.
I may not have spent over $25 there in 2021.
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Follow Travel Off Path on Google NewsGiven how prices have risen slightly in Albania ever since, thanks in no small part to the tourism boom, I’d say you should expect to spend something like $20–30 for a 3-course meal with a side of salad and a beer at a good, local-frequented seafood spot.
Is Albania Safe For Americans To Visit?
Wondering how safe Albania is to visit right now?
The country scores 88 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, based on reports from recent visitors. Main complaints?
Mainly petty theft in and around main tourist areas and scamming, so as long as you keep your wits about you and a close eye on personal belongings, chances are you’ll be fine:
What To See And Do In The Albanian Riviera
Sarandë’s cool, but let’s face it, walking that waterfront won’t take you longer than 30–45 minutes, and unless you’re really committed to taking it slow and spending a couple of days doing absolutely nothing, that same poolside spot at your downtown hotel will start feeling a tad repetitive.
Rent a car, and go here instead:
Ksamil
The tiny little beachside town we’ve been raving about for years. It’s about 10 miles south of Sarandë, home to some of the best beaches in Albania, if not the Balkans as a whole.
By that I mean white sands lapped by impossibly turquoise waters, though when I visited myself some years back, you could still actually find a spot on the sand without elbowing past fellow beachgoers. Ksamil is now just as jam-packed, and frankly, just as pricey, as its Croatian or Italian counterparts.
If you’re visiting in September, when the weather is still reliably summery, I’d advise you to go early to secure both a parking spot and a decent patch of sand, unless you’re spending the day chilling at Pema e Thatë, a popular beach club just south of the main Ksamil strip, which, in all fairness, isn’t at all a bad idea.
Corfu (Greece)
Well, yes, cause it’s only a 30-minute hydrofoil ride from Sarandë.
Corfu is a whole island destination, not a mere day trip, but if you’re short on time, I’d probably use it for Corfu Town, the capital and largest city on the island.
A Venetian-era old town with pastel-hued façades, elegant piazzette, and an almost Italian feel that will send you straight into a mild identity crisis if you’re expecting blue domes and whitewashed churches.
This is not that kind of Greece.
By the way, there are border formalities to be observed when traveling from Albania into Greece, and back, even if you can literally see Corfu from your hotel balcony every morning. Albania’s not in the EU, nor the Schengen Area, while Greece is.
Upon landing in Greece, as an American, you’ll be required to register with the EU’s new Entry/Exit System, which requires you to provide your fingerprints and a facial scan.
Next year, you may also be required to apply for a mandatory travel permit prior to entering the European Union.
Sounds confusing, I know, but the easiest way to stay up to date, and avoid the unfortunate fate of 44,000+ passengers who got turned away at one of these borders lately for failing to meet the entry requirements, is using the Entry Requirement Checker.
Butrint
If you’re into Ancient History, this is the spot you shouldn’t miss. Butrint is a sprawling Greco-Roman archaeological zone centered around a partially-sunken theater, with wetlands spanning ponds and reed beds, and numerous temple ruins.
The wetlands surrounding the ruins make the whole scenery feel particularly magical, and if you climb up to the Venetian Castle, you can even visit a small on-site museum chronicling this once-important settlement’s history as a key Ionian trading hub.
The views from up the castle, overlooking the rugged coastline of the Southern Albanian Riviera, and a scattering of Greek islands in the distance, is worth the 10-minute climb alone.
Syri i Kaltër
The bluest spring I visited, where I was sure I was actually seeing shades of blue and turquoise I had never laid my eyes upon before.
The walk here is a bit of a trek, down from a parking area after you park on the poorly maintained roadside, or at least that was the case when I visited, but as you follow the crystal-clear stream, leading to the spring, over the wooden bridge, and straight down to the enormous sinkhole, the colors go bolder and deeper, and the water gets increasingly surreal.
Scientists are still unsure exactly how deep this thing goes, as it connects to an underground karst network, so I wouldn’t plunge into the icy water without surveying the area before and observing the stream’s current, but you’re more than welcome to chill by the small pebbly beach and dip your feet in.
Oh, there’s also this rustic little restaurant nearby called Taverna Muzina. I believe that’s where I had this excellent grilled trout for literally pocket change.
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