Why Albania is this summer’s hottest travel destination

Albania’s unique location and rich history combine influences from Greece, Italy, Eastern Europe and beyond. A predominantly Muslim country, it was long ruled with an iron fist and considered a dangerous place to travel under Communist rule. After the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, a trickle of tourists soon turned into a flood, and now Albania is welcoming over 5 million tourists each year - a figure which is only set to grow further. Drawn not only by the golden beaches, epic hiking trails and local cuisine, all of which remain largely untouched and unchanged, Albania is also within easy reach of anywhere in Europe, with affordable flights and new hotels and resorts popping up along its coast making it the perfect summer holiday spot.