Last week, Wizz Air revealed the quietest beaches to visit in Europe in April, and I was surprised to see one make the list. The Hungarian airline company revealed that Albania’s Beach of Durrës is one of the least crowded beaches in April, with a low number of daily visitors during the month.
In recent years, Albania has become a popular tourist destination for Brits, known for its turquoise beaches and rugged landscape that’s perfect for those looking to explore on foot. In search of a relaxing beach holiday with guaranteed sun, some friends and I decided to book a trip to Durrës last summer. Having never been to Albania before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was eager to see for myself why it’s such a popular destination for holidaymakers and I’ve been desperate to return ever since.
We picked Durrës as we only had a few days to spare, and it’s located just a 45 minute drive from the capital city Tiranë, which is where the country’s main international airport is.
Flying direct from London Stansted with RyanAir, although the three hour flight felt a little longer than other flights around Europe, it was absolutely worth it for a few days in the Balkan country.
We stayed in a lovely little hotel just a few minutes walk from the beach, and the weather didn’t drop below 28C the whole time we were there. While I certainly wouldn’t describe the beach as quiet, we did visit in July, which is considered peak tourist season in Albania.
With that being said, it was incredibly easy to find enough space on the beach and grab a few sunloungers that were inexpensive, spending the day here until the sun disappeared into the most incredible sunsets each night.
What left the biggest impression on me, however, was the hospitality and quality of the food we ate. Plates of freshly caught sardines, bowls of steaming spaghetti vongole and creamy rissotos, crispy pizzas and Greek salads brimming to the top with fresh vegetables, there wasn’t a single meal I could fault.
Although located on the Balkan Peninsula, neighboured by Greece and Montenegro, Albania has strong ties to Italy, and this was definitely present in the food and friendly hospitality we experienced.
We kept returning to one restaurant in particular, located right on Durrës beach, called Pampas Restaurant Golem, and the most I paid for a meal including starters, a main course and drink was £10.
While Durrës is great for a few days by the beach, with plenty of hotels and restaurants nearby and conveniently located thanks to its proximity to Tiranë, the beaches further south are arguably more picturesque, with this part of the country often referred to as the Albanian Rivieria.
I’ll definitely be returning to Albania, but next time I’ll give myself more time so I can explore this region of the country and its spectacular beaches.
