I visited underrated resort dubbed ‘Europe’s Maldives’ – one factor was immediately apparent

OPINION: Albania is going viral as the ‘European Maldives’ thanks to its crystal clear waters and beach clubs, and after visiting, one thing was instantly clear

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Albania has officially entered the group chat as Europe’s hottest summer destination and after spending seven days exploring the country’s dreamy southern coastline, I can confirm the hype is very, very real.

Dubbed the ‘European Maldives’ on TikTok thanks to its crystal clear waters, boho beach clubs and jaw dropping sunsets, Albania had been sitting firmly on my travel bucket list for the past couple of years after emerging slowly out of the woodwork. So on May 15, I finally headed off to see whether it really lived up to the internet obsession.

Rather than flying directly into Tirana, we decided to start the trip in Corfu and honestly, it felt like a no brainer. We flew into the Greek island, spent a night wandering around Corfu Old Town’s cobbled streets eating unreal gelato and listening to talented buskers in the squares before hopping on a 30 minute fast ferry across the water to Albania the next morning. The ferry cost around £30 one way and meant we got to tick two countries off in one holiday.

But the real star of the trip was southern Albania.

After arriving into Sarandë port, we walked to our Airbnb in the centre of town where our host George genuinely could not have done more for us. The location was perfect, putting us within walking distance of all the best rooftop bars, restaurants and beach spots.

One place we are still dreaming about is Lost Beach Club, which ended up being our favourite beach club of the entire trip. The vibes were immaculate, the cocktails were incredible and every corner looked like an Instagram shoot waiting to happen.

We also spent time in Ksamil, the coastal hotspot now being nicknamed the ‘European Maldives’ and honestly, we completely understood why. The coastline is packed with stylish beach clubs, hammock lined beaches and ridiculously blue water that genuinely looked tropical. Some of the interiors and decor could easily trick you into thinking you were somewhere far more exotic and expensive.

The biggest shock though was the prices. Cocktails that would easily set you back £25 to £30 in places like Ibiza or Mykonos were around £8 here, while dishes such as shrimp risotto came in closer to £12 rather than the usual £25 plus you’d expect at European beach clubs. It managed to feel effortlessly luxurious without the eye watering price tag.

Ksamil also delivered the most breathtaking sunsets of the entire trip. Every evening the sky transformed into shades of powdered pink and pastel purple as a burning orange sun slowly dipped into the sea. It genuinely looked too picturesque to be real.

If you’re torn between staying in Sarandë or Ksamil, don’t stress too much as the two are incredibly easy to travel between. A bus runs regularly along the coast and the journey only takes around 30 minutes, costing roughly £2 each way, making it super affordable to explore both during your trip.

While both destinations have their own charm, we personally felt more connected to Sarandë thanks to its livelier atmosphere, rooftop bars and wider choice of restaurants. That said, after experiencing both, we probably would have split our time between the two if we were doing the trip again.

We managed to pack so much into the trip thanks to two incredible excursions that were worth every penny. The first was a full day guided tour led by our brilliant guide Ilir, who took us to some of southern Albania’s most breathtaking spots including Lekuresi Castle, the famous Blue Eye spring, Ottoman bridges, old communist bunkers and the UNESCO protected city of Gjirokaster. You can find more details or this here on Get Your Guide.

The tour perfectly captured everything that makes Albania so unique, blending history, culture and jaw dropping scenery all into one unforgettable day. Despite fitting so much in, it never once felt rushed and the pace was spot on. We even ended up making friends with a lovely group of girls on the trip who we later went out with that evening, which made the whole experience even more memorable.

The second excursion was a boat tour and honestly, it ended up being one of the standout days of the entire holiday. What we thought would be a peaceful beach hopping trip quickly transformed into a full blown party the second we stepped onboard and the captain started blasting Britney Spears through the speakers which, naturally, felt like the sign of a very good day ahead.

We stopped at hidden beaches and crystal clear swimming spots before arriving at the legendary Pegasus Beach Bar, home to some of the liveliest bartenders we met all week. Between the £6 frozen melon cocktails, endless free shots, dancing with the crew and postcard worthy views across the water, it quickly turned into one of those chaotic holiday days you never want to end. For more details and tickets for this trip please visit Get Your Guide.

Another unexpected highlight was Elvis Bar in Sarandë, a quirky little spot covered floor to ceiling in Elvis Presley memorabilia, old photographs and tribute decorations dedicated to the music legend. The owner even performs as Elvis himself, while classics like Jailhouse Rock and Can’t Help Falling in Love played through the speakers all evening, making it one of the funniest and most memorable pit stops of the trip.

If I had one tip, it would be to go slightly later in the season than we did. We visited a little early, meaning some bars were still closed and the evenings could get chilly. By the end of the week the atmosphere had noticeably picked up as the weather warmed. Personally, I’d recommend going a fortnight later but still avoiding the peak July and August crowds.

This holiday delivered exactly what we wanted. Sun, views, memories and experiences we’ll talk about for years. Albania completely exceeded every expectation and after seeing it for myself, I totally understand why everyone is rushing to visit before the secret fully gets out.