Albania is still considered the most unexplored tourist country in Europe and travelers are only now beginning to slowly explore and discover it. I must say that there are quite a lot of historical attractions here, and there is also an abundance of natural beauty. Wherever you go in Albania, in any case, all roads will lead you to the beautiful Skadar Lake, which has another name – Shkodra. It partly belongs to neighboring Montenegro, but the main part is still Albanian.
Therefore, you can go on an exciting journey along the shores of this lake, plunge into the thick of coastal forests, climb sand dunes, look at the original villages at least from afar, observe the behavior of a huge number of birds living on the lake, in particular pelicans and ibises, and then rent a boat to explore numerous islands and experience the grandeur of Lake Skadar.
You can also visit the young pearl of Albania, a resort town on the shores of the Ionian Sea – Saranda. There is a very warm climate and a huge number of sunny days. By the way, a very short distance separates this resort from the popular Greek island of Corfu. So you have a great opportunity to swim in the sea, appreciate the clarity of the water, sunbathe under the gentle sun, and fully enjoy the picturesque landscapes.
When Roman legionnaires conquered the territory of Hellas in the second century BC, after that they decided to move further east and for this they even paved the way to the Balkans. So, on the territory of the modern state of Albania, fragments of Via Egnatia are well preserved and you have an excellent opportunity to walk or bike along this ancient Roman road. Your starting point will be the town of Durres. When you cross this route, you will come across the Golik Bridge along the way, which, although it was built much later, is still an integral part of the route. The reward for your perseverance will be beautiful views and pleasant birdsong.
You will also have a great opportunity, if you wish, to go fishing on the shores of the wonderful Lake Ohrid. You can do this if you visit Drilon National Park, which is located almost right next to the border with Macedonia. This is where the Albanian part of Lake Ohrid is located and here you can admire the snow-white swans for a long time. Well, after you get permission, you can comfortably sit with a fishing rod on the shore and if you are lucky, you might catch an Ohrid trout on the hook.
In Albania there is another seaside resort, Ksamil, which is located on the Albanian Riviera. It will undoubtedly delight you with a well-developed tourist infrastructure, as well as island and mainland beaches, the most beautiful of which is Ksamil Beach. It rarely rains here and the weather is warm and sunny almost the entire season. You can go boating, or you can go diving and admire the beauty of the underwater world.
When you first arrive in Albania, you won’t be able to help but notice strange structures scattered everywhere that look like either giant mushrooms or hobbit houses from a popular movie. However, it is neither one nor the other. This is a purely Albanian attraction – underground bunkers, of which there are about 750 thousand in the country.
Most of them are now abandoned, but some have restaurants and a small part of them have museums. The largest of them you can find in the capital of the country, it is called Bunk’art. The bunker is a room of 106 rooms intended to rescue Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha. After you go down the stairs, you will be able to see various exhibits and installations, as well as feel the alarming aura that accompanied the life of Albanians during that period.