- Where to go to sunbathe?
- Weather features of a beach holiday in Albania
- Adriatic coast
- Ionian landscapes
Among all the Balkan republics, Albania is the most unexplored and sparsely populated by Russian tourists. For a long time its borders remained locked, but today our compatriots also order tours to Tirana and resort Albanian cities more and more often. The reasons for the growing popularity are as old as the world: attractive hotel prices, luxurious Mediterranean nature, short flights and clean beaches. If you add hearty Balkan cuisine and traditional hospitality, a beach holiday in Albania is quite capable of becoming the dream of a person tired of the gray variety of working days.
Where to go to sunbathe?
The coast of Albania stretches along the Adriatic and Ionian seas for more than 360 kilometers. Local beaches are covered with clean sand or small pebbles, and you can choose where to sunbathe, depending on your preferences and wishes:
- The Albanian Riviera of flowers is the name given to the coast of the Ionian Sea from Saranda to Vlore. You can stay on the beaches of Golemi, Leger or Velipoe not only in a hotel, but also in an old villa where rooms for tourists are rented.
- The Adriatic is more suitable for families with children. The clean sea, soft sand and gentle entry into the water guarantee the resorts of Dhermi and Lezha for travelers.
Most of the beaches in Albania are still "wild" and sun loungers, umbrellas and changing rooms can be found only on those that belong to large hotels.
When choosing where to stay for a beach vacation in Albania, it is worth studying the reviews of tourists. Hotels that lack stars on their façades may not live up to expectations, and therefore it is better to pay a little more without risking comfort.
Weather features of a beach holiday in Albania
In the photo, Albanian beaches usually look very beautiful. The Adriatic Sea is called the bluest in Europe, and there are more than three hundred sunny days a year. The climate in the local resorts is typical Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers. The swimming season on Albanian beaches starts already in early May, when the air warms up to + 25 ° С, and the water - up to + 22 ° С.
Midsummer brings heat, thermometers tend to rise above + 30 ° С, but the winds from the sea help to feel quite comfortable even for those who do not like heat. It is quite possible to swim and sunbathe on the beaches of Albanian resorts until the last days of October, although the most persistent dive cheerfully into the sea in November.
Adriatic coast
The Albanian Adriatic coast begins at the border with Montenegro and continues to the Gulf of Vlora. The beaches here are located in small bays, which in ancient times served as harbors for ships.
The Vlore resort is very small, but its pristine beaches are known far beyond the borders of the country. In terms of tourist infrastructure, Vlore is one of the most developed resorts. Even a five-star hotel has been built here, and budget "treshki" are distinguished by affordable prices and a decent level of service. The beaches are landscaped, and the coniferous groves surrounding them give the air a special pleasant aroma.
The port city of Durres is only 30 km away from Tirana and it is especially convenient to get here from the international airport of the capital. The beaches of the resort cannot boast of perfect cleanliness due to the proximity of the port, but the choice of hotels here is impressive even for those who have been to world-class resorts.
The fishing village of Shengjin attracts gourmets with a hearty menu of restaurants, where local farmers supply food, and mountain landscapes, pleasing to the eye of vacationers.
Healing air, white sand and good hotels are the advantages of the Lyalzit Bay resort.
Ionian landscapes
The beach holiday season in Albania on the Ionian Sea always starts a couple of weeks earlier than in other resorts in the country due to the southern latitudes. The local shores are cut by rocky bays, and the mountains come close to the sea. Divers and climbers love to relax on the beaches of the Ionian Riviera. At their service are jet skis and catamarans rentals, showers, changing rooms and umbrellas with sun loungers.
The popular resort of Saranda is located just opposite the Greek island of Corfu. Antiquity lovers can take an excursion to the archaeological reserve of Butrint, and gourmets can enjoy the menu of seaside restaurants, which is based on pasta with seafood.
The attraction of Dhermi is the Pirates' Cave, and the infrastructure of this resort attracts even very wealthy tourists to a beach vacation in Albania.
The southernmost Albanian resort, Ksamil, is located in the Butrint National Park. There are clean secluded beaches and tiny islands scattered in the coastal waters, ideal for diving.
