Tirana

You’ll find everything from trendy hostels to luxury hotels in Tirana. Famed for being Albania’s first ever hostel, Tirana Backpacker Hostel is charmingly decorated with warm, friendly, 1970s hippy backpacker vibes. Or there’s Trip’n’Hostel – uber-cool, with a bar lined with old records, a chill-out lounge, and a leafy garden out the back.

The elegant Padam Boutique Hotel & Restaurant sits in the heart of Tirana – a stunning villa that often serves as a landmark in the city, especially when it’s illuminated with colourful lights after dark. The restaurant is well-known for its sophisticated menu, and dinner is served in the beautiful gardens during the warmer months.

Countless museums and art galleries pay respect to Tirana’s rich history. Bunk’Art is one of the most popular; a fascinating conversion from a huge Cold War bunker into a contemporary art museum. Even arriving here can feel exciting, going through a hillside tunnel that leads you to an entrance on the side of a still-active Albanian military base.

Skanderbeg Square is the city’s central square, which houses the famous statue of Skanderbeg on horseback, and is surrounded by plenty of little places to eat and drink. To escape the hustle and bustle, visit the Parku I Madh (Grand Park) – a haven of peace and tranquillity, lots of locals head here to picnic on the lawns by the lake, or relax in one of the many café-bars.

Tirana has a rich café culture, and you’ll find countless cool and quirky coffee shops spilling out onto the streets all over the city. The Blloku district in particular serves as an example of Tirana’s past restored – once off-limits to everyone except the regime’s corrupt communist bosses, it’s now a bustling area brimming with trendy bars, restaurants, lounges and designer boutiques.

‘Slow food’ has been the fashionable foodie philosophy of the last few years, which is all about fresh farm-to-plate ingredients – you can literally dine at one of the city’s suburban farms, which have expanded to include restaurants and delis. Uka farm is a stand-out, where guests can enjoy dishes made with meat, dairy and vegetables from the farm, as well as quality homemade wine, against gorgeous rural views.

For a sleeker urban experience, grab a drink at Sky Tower at sunset – the Rooftop XVI bar is located on the 16th floor, giving you spectacular views of the city. Down at street level, head to Radio – a relaxed bar packed with antique radios and a huge whisky collection, where live music and DJs play most nights.

Durrës is Albania’s most famous beach, with its 10km of shoreline lined with stylish hotels, bars and restaurants, and it’s just about 30 minutes’ drive from Tirana. It gets super-busy in the summer months, so you need to get there early if you want to grab a spot on one of the loungers. When the sun goes down, the beachside bars compete to play the loudest music as the lively nightlife unfolds.

Just outside of the city, 25km east of Tirana, is Dajti Mountain National Park – it’s the highest mountain in the country, and the Dajti Express cable car will take you on a sky-high scenic trip to the (almost) top, where you can bask in the view at the cable car station’s restaurant, and order its famous roast lamb on the terrace.