Albania has earned the nickname “the Maldives of Europe” due to its pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters along its stunning Riviera. Happily, it is also much cheaper
With its acres of white sand beaches and perfect blue seas, it is easy to see why people want to visit the Maldives. But there are also a few reasons why you might choose not to do so.
The island chain is a lengthy, emissions-heavy and expensive flight away, while a week in an Instagrammable over-water villa is likely to set you back at least £2,000 during peak season, which runs from December to April. The Maldives’ departure tax was recently bumped up to £40 for every person who visits, while the islands are becoming busier and busier. Last year, a record-breaking two million people made it there.
As the lowest-lying country in the world, rising sea levels threaten to make the islands uninhabitable, which may be enough to ward some away from an emissions heavy trip to the islands. Happily, there are alternatives that are much closer to the UK, meaning a shorter journey while also costing a fraction of the price. One of them is Albania.
Albania has earned the nickname “the Maldives of Europe” due to its pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters along its stunning Riviera.
Though not exactly undiscovered, as its popularity grows with more tourists flocking to the region, it remains an affordable alternative to other European destinations. Visitors can enjoy luxury stays without breaking the bank, with beachfront apartments available for as little as £20 per night. Dining is equally budget-friendly, with a full meal and drinks often costing around £15.
Thanks to viral TikTok videos showcasing its sparkling waters and gleaming white beaches, Albania has captured the imagination of travelers seeking a taste of the Maldives lifestyle. The country enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with summer temperatures reaching up to 30°C, making it an ideal destination for sun-seekers.
Flights to Albania are incredibly inexpensive too, with Ryanair offering return tickets to Tirana for as low as £30. The low-cost airline now runs flights to Tirana from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and London Stansted. There is widespread availability of flights between Luton and the capital, Tirana, for under £50 return in May, on the multiple daily departures on Wizz Air.
Living costs in Albania are the lowest in Europe, with rooms in a good city-center hotel in Tirana selling at under £30, and that’s with breakfast thrown into the mix. Beachside apartments on the Adriatic shore are even cheaper.
Another budget way to get to the shimmering coastline of Albania is to fly into Corfu then take a ferry over for about £15 each way. If you base yourself in Dhërmi you can try a different beach every day. A nice beachfront lunch in the area will set you back around £10 a person.
Laura Hewson, a backpacker from New Zealand who was visiting the country last autumn, told Express: “We were planning to go Croatia. But one of our friends who’d been to Albania told us [we should go there]. They said it’s like Greece or Croatia but cheaper and a lot more beautiful because there are not as many tourists. We’re actually staying at a four-star hotel with breakfast included for the same price that we were staying in hostels with eight [strangers] in a room in Italy and Spain.”
Her companion, Farrell Modd, said that social media played a role in the pair choosing Albania as their destination, explaining how they saw a number of TikTok clips from travelling accounts showcasing incredible scenery from the country. She said: “It’s beautiful, clear blue water, lots of swimming spots.”