Dodge the crowds and treat yourself to one of the Mediterranean's best-kept secrets! 💎
Wearing its history on its sleeve (the country still echoes with reminders of its former dictatorship – like the five-floor underground palace in Tirana that has been turned into an epic museum and gallery), and teeming with picturesque beaches and hikes, Albania is quickly emerging as one of Europe's fastest-growing travel destinations – minus the crowds of the likes of the Greek islands.
Lots of major cities will fly directly into the capital, Tirana, but considering Albania is bordered by other Balkans favourites – Montenegro and Kosovo in the north, Macedonia in the east and Greece in the south, going overland from any of these countries is also an intrepid, sustainable and scenically beautiful way to get into the country.
The local bus system can be an absolute minefield to understand and purchase tickets for, which can rarely be done in advance – but once you’re on your way, the buses are roomy and comfortable, offering dramatic views of the coastline on one side and sparsely forested mountains on the other, with a classic dispersion of bunkers along the road.
The height of summer is a particularly spicy time to visit the country, as cities in the south can reach the high thirties. Though more northern areas such as the capital cruise in the more leisurely low thirties, the distance from the capital to any coast means the climate at this time can feel a bit stifling. Visiting either side of summer is what we recommend to be comfortable enough to enjoy being outside, as well as to indulge into the warm and hearty stews, meats and pastries on offer.
From the end of WWII to the late 80s, a communist dictator by the name of Hoxha ruled Albania – his reign only ceasing with his death. While in power, Hoxha’s government was unrelenting in their commitment to a communist dictatorship, fiercely isolating Albania from its neighbours and driving the country into fear and poverty. Hoxha was either so paranoid about foreign invasion or so intent on instilling fear in his people that he commandeered upwards of 750,000 bunkers to be built around the country, many of which are still in place today.
As communist regimes in the region began to break down – among them Yugoslavia, which split into the many countries we know by name today between 1990 and 1992 – new democratic political parties and social forces began to emerge in Albania, reflecting the mindset of Albanian people. Today, the country is for the most part politically stable, and hopes to join the European Union once it meets all the necessary conditions.
Many relics of Hoxha’s regime still remain in Albania – meaning the country echoes with reminders of its former dictatorship, with its oppressive history written all over the architecture and monuments. This makes Albania a fascinating place to travel to gain a deeper understanding of the impact the communist hold on Southeast Europe had on its people, economy, art and architecture.
.jpeg)
