Quartz lists Albania among the most attractive travel destinations

The American outlet “Quartz” has included Albania in the list of the 10 best destinations to visit in 2026, singling out in particular the Albanian Riviera for its natural beauty, more affordable prices and the fact that it has not yet been included at the same level of mass tourism as other Mediterranean destinations.

In the article, Albania is ranked alongside several other destinations in the world that, according to “Quartz”, offer special tourist experiences, before the further growth of tourism, prices and visitor flows.

These 10 destinations were chosen because they offer natural beauty and cultural wealth, before the number of tourists grows and prices rise, bringing more crowds of visitors and long queues.

Albania’s coast offers Adriatic views at much lower prices than Amalfi. The Albanian Riviera stretches along the coast, from Vlora in the south to Saranda. It stands out for its blue waters, beaches and mountains stretching near the Adriatic and Ionian seas, creating an attractive landscape for tourists.

Prices are much lower compared with Italy, Croatia or Greece. Coastal towns and areas such as Dhërmi, Himara and Ksamil are located opposite the island of Corfu. Proximity to Greece has led Greek tourists to travel even for a day to Albania, where they find food at lower prices and less crowded beaches.

For decades Albania remained isolated because of the communist regime, which significantly limited contacts with the outside world. This isolation ended in the early 1990s.

However, the major development of tourist resorts, which spread across the rest of the Mediterranean, did not reach Albania to the same extent. Three decades later, along the Albanian coast there are still fewer multi-storey hotels. Beach services are offered at lower prices, including sun loungers and umbrellas, compared with tourist areas on the other side of the sea.

The country offers two cities included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list, which can be among the main stops of a trip to Albania. Gjirokastra is known as the “city of stone”, because of its characteristic Ottoman-period houses with stone-slab roofs, built along the hillside. The Bazaar and the Castle in the upper part of the city testify to its centuries-old history. Berat, known as the “city of a thousand windows”, is characterised by white Ottoman-period houses set on the slopes along the river. According to the article, few places in the southern Balkans offer such attractive views for photography.

Tirana, Albania’s capital, is also experiencing a new development. Apartment buildings, which once had a gloomy appearance, have been reconstructed and painted in different colours. This is part of a broader effort to develop Tirana as a modern, design-oriented city, and not only as a transit point for tourists.

Meanwhile, direct flights from several major European hubs have steadily increased. This has reduced travel time and made Albania more accessible to European tourists.

One of the main reasons to visit Albania is the lower cost of travel. According to the article, a meal, a hotel room and a rental car in Albania usually cost significantly less than a similar trip to Croatia’s Dalmatian coast during the summer season.

At the same time, Albania continues negotiations for membership in the European Union and is increasing investments in infrastructure. The article assesses that the current price difference with other Mediterranean destinations may not last forever.

The other destinations listed by the American outlet “Quartz” are: Uzbekistan, Bhutan, Costa Rica, Japan, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, the Faroe Islands, Puglia in Italy and Armenia.