Albania’s beaches are probably the most underrated but among the
best in Europe. The village of Dhërmi toes the line between
commercial and undiscovered, with just the right amount of local
restaurants and welcoming guesthouses. At night, neighbouring
Drymades caters to hedonistic holidaymakers with wild, alfresco
beach parties – where you won’t bump into Tom, Dick and Harry.
Meanwhile, with seven kilometres of sand framed by olive groves and
mountain peaks, Borsh is one of the largest but least visited
coastal stretches in the country.

Gathering the best of Turkish, Italian and Slavic cuisine,
Albania’s gastronomic profile is pleasantly surprising, spanning
meat kebabs, hearty salads and top-notch seafood.

A vast collection of castles and fortresses tell tales of
Albania’s past with some sites dating back to the Iron Age. Don’t
miss the Ancient Greek city of Butrint, while you’ll find Ottoman
strongholds littering the coastline. Head to Berat or the “town of
windows” where rows of pearl-white houses lead up to an impressive
castle on the hilltop. Less crowded than Berat, Gjirokastran is an
enchanting hillside town full of hidden passages that were used by
women in the 19th century to visit men in secret.

With 260 days of sunshine a year, good weather is pretty much a
given. Highs of 27 degrees means we’re signposting June
as the best time to visit, when there are fewer people but
guaranteed sunshine.

Albania’s capital Tirana caters to creatives with its buzzy
outdoor cafés and bars. Off-limits during the communist rule,
Blloku is the hippest neighbourhood with countless lively joints
spilling out of historic buildings. E7E is a prime example of the
emerging scene here; a bar/bookshop/pizzeria hosting an impressive
roster of live music performances and poetry readings.

Dramatic waterfalls, mountain views and emerald green hillsides
are yours for the taking following a three-hour ferry ride from
Koman to Fierze. Straddling the mountainous border between
Macedonia and Albania, Lake Ohrid is one of Europe’s deepest and
oldest lakes, while Theth and Valbona national parks offer endless
hiking opportunities.

Thought Spain was cheap? Albanian prices are half of that (at
most).

It’s been isolated for almost 50 years and when the country
finally emerged from the communist regime it took a further 20
years to catch up with the rest of Europe. A rising Mediterranean
star, go now and we’ll promise not to say “we told you so” when
everyone else follows in five years time.