Visiting Albania isn't usually at the top of peoples' bucket list, but it should be. Generally overlooked by tourists who would rather visit the nearby Greek islands, Albania is a non-crowded, laid-back, off-the-beaten-path destination that far exceeded our expectations. After spending a day in Albania's capital, Tirana, we took off on a 6-hour road trip toward the southern beach town of Sarandë, which gave us a little taste of the pristine valleys, rugged mountains, beautiful beaches, and overall charm the country has to offer. Along the way, we made a few stops, exploring the small medieval towns of Durres, Dhermi, Llogara, Fier, Vlore, and Gjirokastër. Then, at the end of our trip we just hopped on a 30-minute ferry to Corfu to spend another week in Greece.
Some highlights from our trip included our visits to the Blue Eye "Syri Kalter" natural springs and the UNESCO world heritage site in the old town of Gjirokastër, and chatting with locals we met along the way who easily lived up to Albania's reputation as having some of the friendliest people in the world (I mean, Mother Theresa is Albanian). Having had only a few days in the country, we left knowing we still have a ton to explore, and we are hoping to make it back soon to experience the famous reggae parties held on the tiny islands off of Sarandë each summer.
In the meantime, check out my video diary of one of the most underrated European destinations: ALBANIA
Some highlights from our trip included our visits to the Blue Eye "Syri Kalter" natural springs and the UNESCO world heritage site in the old town of Gjirokastër, and chatting with locals we met along the way who easily lived up to Albania's reputation as having some of the friendliest people in the world (I mean, Mother Theresa is Albanian). Having had only a few days in the country, we left knowing we still have a ton to explore, and we are hoping to make it back soon to experience the famous reggae parties held on the tiny islands off of Sarandë each summer.
In the meantime, check out my video diary of one of the most underrated European destinations: ALBANIA
