Albania's Budget-Friendly Tourist Destination Is A Beach Escape With Coastal Hikes

Vlorë, Albania is a coastal city with a long and fascinating history. With a strategic location in a bay on the Balkan Peninsula — exactly where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian — Vlorë has had its share of plunderous rulers. The Greeks founded Vlorë in the sixth century B.C., but then came the Byzantines, then the Bulgarians, then the Normans, then the Venetians ... before the Ottoman empire took over in 1417. It seems fitting, then, that when Albania finally became its own country in 1912, Vlorë was where the founders officially broke away from Ottoman rule. In a place that would become known as Flag's Square in Vlorë, the first citizens declared independence and raised their country's new flag, its black double-headed eagle the proud symbol of their hard-won independence. 

Since Albania's emergence, Vlorë has grown into a large port city and thriving resort town — the gateway to a glorious coastline that's as luxurious as Italy's Amalfi Coast but without the crowds. In addition, Vlorë boasts budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodations that are incredibly affordable compared to resort destinations in many other Mediterranean countries. The top-rated Valza Boutique Hotel, for example, features sleek decor, ocean views, and a swoon-worthy rooftop bar and restaurant at only $81 per night for a room in the high season. Vacation rental apartments offer even more of a bargain, averaging around $60—80 per night for a two-bedroom downtown flat. These are bargains compared to Amalfi Coast towns like Positano, where rooms bottom out in the low $200s per room per night but are more likely to be $300 to upwards of $500 in high season. In fact, for what it offers, Vlorë may be among the best budget-friendly destinations in the Mediterranean. 

Vlorë's colorful past is on full display in its highly walkable downtown area. While strolling around, be sure to visit Flag's Square to see the impressive Independence Monument, which depicts Ismail Qemal, an important figure in Albania's independence movement, holding up the flag. (If you're curious to learn more about the independence movement, check out the informative exhibits at the Museum of Independence, which is 1.7 miles south of Flag's Square, near the port.)

A few blocks south of Flag's Square, you'll find another important historic site — the Muradi Mosque —which reflects the city's deep historical ties to the Ottoman Empire. The striking mosque, which was erected in 1537, has served as the center of Muslim life in Vlorë for centuries. Just north of Flag's Square is another cultural remnant — the small but quaint Vlorë Old Town — known for its quirky architecture, shops, and cafes. Around here is a neighborhood that was previously the Jewish quarter, where a community of Sephardic Jews thrived after fleeing Spain in the 15th century.

Farther south by the port and the Museum of Independence is the Lungomare, a tree-lined promenade that runs along the waterfront. This is another superb place for leisurely strolling. Here, you can enjoy bay views and breezes and stop at beaches, shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants along the way. To cap off your day exploring Vlorë, walk up the hill to Kuzum Baba, where there's a Bektashi temple, a restaurant, and a natural stone terrace overlooking the city. In good weather, this may be the sweetest place in town to take in the sunset. 

The top-rated beach in all of Albania is farther south along the country's coastline, but there are great beaches in and near Vlorë, too, the best being a few miles outside of downtown. Around 6 miles south of downtown Vlorë is the lovely Vega Beach, which is calmer than the city beaches but still offers amenities like restaurants and loungers. For a quieter and more secluded setting, head north about 7 miles to Zvërnec Beach, also called Dalan Beach, which lies on a narrow peninsula between the Adriatic and the lovely Narta Lagoon. This beach lacks amenities but promises natural beauty in spades. 

On a small island on the lagoon side of Zvërnec Beach is the 13th century St. Mary's Monastery. Reaching the island is an adventure in itself, as it requires walking across the lovely lagoon on a long wooden bridge, low to the water. But the island is worth the effort to get there, with its serene setting in the pine forest and mysterious Byzantine monastery, which contains an icon of St. Mary made by Albanian artist Tërpo Zografi. 

Finally, nature lovers who want to get out on the sea in the vicinity of Vlorë should take a boat tour to Sazan Island. The popular half-day speed boat tours from Vlorë are quite reasonable $30 to $40 per person, especially considering all that's covered: swimming at secluded beaches, snorkeling in Haxh Ali Cave, and exploring a spooky abandoned communist-era military base on Sazan with bunkers and tunnels.