Albania: 5 reasons it's blowing up right now

You've heard it on every travel page you've ever seen, so I can't say you heard it here first, but maybe I can say now you've heard it from someone you trust: Albania needs to be on your bucket list.

Now, for someone who loves to travel as much as I do, my geography skills are… questionable. When my trusted academic advisor (and now frequent partner in crime) hit me with, "Do you want to submit this paper to a conference in Albania?" I definitely googled "Albania" on the Chrome window open next to our Zoom call.

For anyone who isn’t willing to publicly admit you’re not sure where it is, I'll save you the trouble: Albania is a Balkan country, located on the coast just south of Montenegro and — for those of you geographically challenged like me — right above Greece. While it may be a lesser known destination than some of its Balkan cousins, it's just as gorgeous, and in many ways, more affordable.

Like many of my travels, the purpose of my trip was work-related; I was attending an academic conference to present my graduate research. But all work and no play makes Maddie a dull girl, so you know I made the most of the trip while I was there. Without further ado, here are five reasons Albania should be your next European destination, ranked.

5. Safety

   Granted, I can only speak from personal experience, but never once did I feel hesitant, unsafe, or nervous in Albania, even late on the streets of Tirana. Generally speaking, Albania is considered safe for travelers, and even though I was traveling with my academic companions, I'd go back on my own in a heartbeat. Safety makes my list because quite frankly, as a solo female traveler, it's a factor I weigh often when planning my own travels (she says, knowing she camped in a van across Ibiza with someone she'd only known for a week).

4. History

   One of my favorite things about visiting Europe is the history found there, and Albania is no exception. From tangles between the Ottoman Empire and the Romans to its more recent journey to independence, Albania is rich with lore.

   
   

   Is medieval history your thing? Albania has more than 150 castles, including the iconic Krujë Castle found in the Albanian Alps. Learn about the clash between the Illyrians (that one was for my SJM girlies) and the Ottomans, and you can check out the town of Krujë after (or before) your tour of the castle.

   
   

   Are you into Soviet-era history? There’s plenty to be found in the nation’s capital, Tirana. Check out the many bunkers-turned museums, or visit the House of Leaves, which details communist-era surveillance.

   
   

   And, as a side note from those of you in the U.S., get a kick out of how much infrastructure is named after George W. Bush (I am being 100% serious right now — he was the first U.S. president to visit Albania).

3. The Variety

   Here in the U.S., it isn't uncommon for someone to never leave the country. It's something we (somewhat rightfully, but it's complicated) get a lot of shit for, but when you realize how large the U.S. is, it makes sense. You want beaches? The U.S. has 'em. You want mountains? We've got those too, in a couple of different flavors. Desert? Yeah, you can do that here, too.

   
   

   Albania — small though it may be — offers a similar kind of variety, in a much easier-to-cover-over-several-days package. About three quarters of Albania is covered by the Alps, with steep mountains, waterfalls, lakes, hot springs, and more to explore. The rest of the country is Adriatic and Ionian coast, with beaches that rival their neighbors to the south.

   
   

   Tour a castle Friday, do some hiking over the weekend, and enjoy the Riviera for a few days, and look at that — you've managed to do in less than a week what several weeks would take you in the U.S.

2. Food

   Listen: There are a lot of reasons I'd go back to Albania tomorrow if I could, but this might be the reason, if you know what I mean. Truly, I can't say I had a bad meal in the entire week I was there, whether it was a late dinner by the hotel, or a 4 course meal in a private restaurant that comes with horses (I'm sure I'll have time to revisit that story, eventually).

   
   

   The food in Albania is a blend of Mediterranean influence with Balkan and Ottoman dishes. In several instances, I had the pleasure of eating a prix fixe menu with several different courses consisting of fresh fruits, local pastries, braised meats, and spiced rices. Personally, I'm still dreaming of the byrek.

1. Budget

   Let's face it — travel is expensive. And for those of us in the U.S., getting to Europe isn't always accessible. The flight alone is often more than most people want to pay for their vacation, and the passport itself is going to run you roughly $165 (without expediting). That's in part what makes this such a great European destination — once you're there, it's really affordable. Dining at a nice restaurant won't break your bank, and a week's stay in a decent hotel will run you what you could get for a couple days in the U.S.

   
   

   Personally, I'm a big believer that everyone should explore outside their home country, at least once. Albania's price point is what could make that possible for many travelers.

So, have I convinced you yet? If not, check out the Albanian flag — that should seal the deal, if only because it's the best flag of all time 🇦🇱