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When you imagine crystal clear blue waters, white sandy beaches, quaint historic towns and stunning natural landscapes, which European country comes to mind?
Perhaps you answered Italy, Greece or Croatia.
Albania may not come to mind at all, but this Balkan country is one of Europe’s most underrated destinations and offers all of the above and more.
Here’s why Albania should be on your bucket list this year:
1) Incredible beaches
One of the main reasons to visit Albania this summer is its beautiful beaches.
Located on the Adriatic Sea, Albania’s beaches are among Europe’s best-kept secrets. Although widely visited by locals and tourists from other Balkan countries, Albanian beaches remain largely off the radar for most other tourists.
However, these are among the most beautiful beaches in Europe, with white sand and clear turquoise blue waters.
Sarande is a resort town known for its beach parties and nightlife, while Ksamil and Borsh Beach are known for their stunning natural beauty.
2) A cool capital
Tirana, the capital of Albania, is extremely cool, hip and funky. It’s a mix of striking architecture, a mix of modern design and communist-era buildings.
The city has been named European Youth Capital 2022 due to its rapid growth and young, dynamic spirit. Tirana is a city that is constantly evolving and evolving.
There are so many reasons to visit Tiranaand this city has something to offer everyone, including foodies, history fanatics and party animals.
3) Picturesque historic towns
Although Tirana is a great city to visit, Albania’s true charm lies in its picturesque historic towns.
Berat, designated a UNESCO A World Heritage Site, is one of the country’s most notable historic cities due to its nickname “The City of a Thousand Windows”.
Gjirokastra is another beautiful ancient town known as the “City of a Thousand Steps” because of its numerous stone staircases and hilly landscape.
4) Affordable prices
One of the best parts of Albania is its affordability. It’s an ideal destination for budget travelers or luxury travelers who want to travel in style to a destination where their money goes much further.
While many popular destinations in Europe, like Italy, France, and Greece, are extremely expensive, countries in the Balkan region can be incredibly cheap, and Albania is among the cheapest of all.
Even other formerly affordable Balkan countries, like Croatia, are also affordable. experiences skyrocketing prices this year, making Albania a refreshing alternative.
5) Friendly people
One of Albania’s strong points is its people. Albanians are extremely friendly and hospitable.
You will be blown away by the level of hospitality shown by Albanians. Even though there is a slight language barrier (English is not widely spoken, especially among older generations in Albania), people will go out of their way to help you in any way they can.
Unlike other European destinations like Italy that are flooded with American tourists, Albania hasn’t experienced much of this yet and you don’t have to worry about being scammed or cheated. ‘a scam.
6) Relaxed visa rules
Albania is an emerging destination for digital nomads in Europe due to its sunny climate, affordable prices, great places to settle down, and relaxed visa rules.
Americans can spend up to one year in Albania without a visa. This makes it very attractive to digital nomads and long-term travelers.
It’s one of the few countries in Europe that still offers extended stays to American travelers hoping to reset their Schengen visas after neighboring Croatia joins the Schengen zone.
Learn more:
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This article was originally published on TravelOffPath.com
