ALBANIAN RIVIERA

Head off on a road trip along one of Albania's most scenic stretches of coast, driving to hilltop villages and beaches that could easily stand in for the tropics. Words: Dom Tulett

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Running down the country's southwestern flank, from the city of Vlorë in the north to the village of Ksamil, the Albanian Riviera has been proclaimed the Maldives of Europe. It's true that countless white-sand beaches dot a coastline of dazzling blue waters, from busy stretches backed by modern resorts to secluded coves. But the Riviera is about more than just the sea; there are traditional villages clinging to hillsides covered by centuries-old olive groves, and ancient ruins alongside remnants of the country's communist past.

Reaching the area is now easier than ever thanks to an increasing number of direct flights connecting the UK with Albania's capital, Tirana, a two-hour drive from Vlorë. You can then head south along the SH8, the Riviera's main coastal road, keeping the glistening Ionian Sea in your peripheral vision almost all the way. The region's highlights can be explored in a weekend, but stop for longer to discover more of its archaeological treasures and while away unhurried afternoons lounging on its lesser-known beaches.

DAY ONE HISTORY & HILLSIDE HIDEAWAYS

Morning

Start in Vlorë, Albania's third-largest city and the birthplace of the modern nation. In Flag's Square, the Independence Monument stands by the spot where the Albanian flag was first raised in 1912, marking the end of centuries of Ottoman rule. To learn more, head down Boulevard Ismail Qemali, named after Albania’s first prime minister, to the National Museum of Independence, which traces the key events and players behind the country’s self-rule.