Travel and Tourism

Vacationing in Albania

Albania hosts over 3.8 million tourists every year and it is the 25th most visited country in Europe. In recent years it has become an increasingly popular destination because of its beaches, mountains, and plethora of historic and archaeological sites. Additionally, Albania’s temperate Mediterranean climate makes it an ideal place to visit year-round. Albania’s current tourism slogan is: “Go Your Own Way.” This slogan is a nod to the vast array of popular destinations that attract snow skiers and beachgoers alike.

The Albanian Alps

The northern part of Albania is renowned for its mountains, which have the nickname “Albanian Alps” due to their sheer size and snow capped peaks year round. The Albanian Alps offer picturesque alpine scenery, with glacier lakes, gorges, and numerous national parks.

The Albanian Alps have become a top destination in Europe for skiing, with six major ski resorts and numerous slopes that stay active all year. In addition to skiing, many hikers flock to the Albanian Alps to explore the national parks and breathtaking scenery. Theth National Park is one of the most visited places in Northern Albania. It is known for its hiking trails, old churches, quaint villages, and local hospitality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If mountains are not your ideal place to visit, then no worries. Northern Albania is also known for its beach resorts along the shore of the Adriatic Sea. One of the most popular destinations is the city of Lezhë, located just south of Shkodër. In addition to its numerous beach resorts, Lezhë also contains archaeological sites, museums, and just about everything else a city has to offer.

Central Albania

Central Albania is known as the urban and cultural hub. It contains archaeological sites, castles, caves, long stretches of sandy beaches and lagoons, and has been deemed perfect for bird-watching by wildlife enthusiasts. Its two largest cities that draw in tourists are Durrës and Tirana (the capital).

Tirana has been called “The Place Beyond Belief” by locals. This is because the city is known for its cultural heritage, colorful buildings, and natural attractions, such as numerous lakes and Mount Dajti. Tirana is also widely known for its restaurant scene, museums, and cultural festivals. Because it is the capital of Albania, and the largest city, there are ample things to do such as shopping, sightseeing, and visiting the national museum.

Dajti National Park is home to the famous Mount Dajti. It is accessible all year round and can be reached on foot or via cable cars. The top of the mountain offers visitors views down into Tirana. If you are hungry while visiting the mountain, it contains a 360 view restaurant that spins slowly while people enjoy their meals.

Durrës is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and and home to the Durrës Amphitheatre, which is one of the largest ancient amphitheaters in Southeast Europe. Over a a thousand years of different architectural styles blend in the city, and its proximity to the Adriatic Sea offers beaches, bays, fishing, and sailing.

In addition to the cities of Tirana and Durrës, other major tourists spots in Central Albania are Apollonia, Berat, and Krujë.

Apollonia is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the country, which was inhabited by both Taulantiis and Corinthians in antiquity. It is one of the most complete architectural and cultural features on the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast. The remains of the site have been investigated by archaeologists since 1916. Still, much of the site remains unexcavated to this day.

Berat was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008,and is comprised of a unique style of architecture with influences from several different cultures and civilizations that managed to coexist for centuries throughout history. Like many other historic cities in Albania, Berat is

an old fortified city filled with churches and mosques containing vibrant murals and frescoes. Today, Berat is considered one of the main cultural hubs of Albania.

The town of Krujë is a popular destination for a day trip. The town itself is situated on a mountain side and contains cobblestone streets with shopping, coffee shops, and dining. Skanderbeg’s castle is also located in the town and had been refurbished as a museum for the national hero.

 

Southern Albania

In Southern Albania where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet is known as the “Albanian Riviera.” This is a long stretch of coastline with crystalline blue waters, and is a major tourist destination for any beach lover. Down the coast of the Riviera are numerous small and quaint towns that come to life in the summer months. This area is known for some of the best seafood restaurants and a bustling nightlife.

At the Southern point of the Albanian Riviera lies the city of Sarandë. This popular resort town is situated between the Ionian Sea and massive olive groves. The town is on the sea with a large bay. In addition to beaches, there are archaeological remains of a 5th century synagogue, later an early Christian basilica, and on the hilltop above the town is the 16th century Lëkurësi Castle. Sarandë also has a large population of Greek minorities who have lived in the community for centuries. Directly across the bay is the Greek island of Corfu, and there are daily ferries that transport tourists between the town and island.

Located just a short drive from Sarandë is the popular tourist destination known as Syri i Kaltër (the Blue Eye).

This is a geological tourist spot where waters from a natural spring and river meet in a large crater. Although the exact depth of the hole has not been determined, divers have gone down to a depth of 160 feet.

If you want to take a break from the beaches, a popular town to visit is Butrint. This town is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park. It is located just south of Sarandë along the southern Albanian Ionian Sea Coast. Historically, this place was inhabited since the Stone Age but was founded as a Greek colony during the Bronze Age. Numerous monuments are well-preserved today and have had extensive archaeological excavations. The unique combination of history, culture and environment makes Butrint an awesome place to visit and explore.

Lastly, away from the coast and located in the southeast of Albania is Pogradec. This town is located on a plain between two mountain chains and lies on the southwestern banks of the Lake of Ohrid. Due to the the town’s charm and lake-side location, it is a popular tourist destination for Albanians. Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania and is one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes.

Conclusion

Whether you enjoy beaches or mountains, castles or ancient ruins, Albania has something for everyone. Because of its stunning natural beauty and rich history, it is easy to understand why Albania is quickly becoming a top tourist destination. Are you ready to visit Albania? Udhëtim të mbarë (Bon voyage)!

Student Tourism Activity

Once students have completed the travel and tourism section, have them pretend to be a travel agent for their families. On a sheet of paper, students can plan their family vacation in Albania. Using the information from the module, have them write down 4-5 places that their families must visit while in Albania and why.