Berat in Albania is called "the town of a thousand windows". And that is so true. Looking at the beautiful houses "climbing" up the steep hill around the old town, you can't help but notice the seemingly endless number windows. Because Berat is beautifully situated in the mountains, it also offers amazing bird's eye views.
Both Berat and Gjirokaster (take a look at my post about Gjirokaster) are the most beautiful towns in Albania. Together with Mostar, Prizren and Ohrid, they form a district full of the distinctive Ottoman Empire architecture, unique for Europe. This region, although as rich in history and as attractive as the Spanish or Italian equivalents, receives hardly ever foreign tourists. But it's a good thing, you can explore what's best without annoying crowds and discover Europe's  best hidden gem freely.

Dhermi and Llogara Pass all the way to the town of Vlora were the last points on our itinerary along the Albanian riviera. Going North, we left behind Ksamil, Blue Eye Spring, Himare and my favorite, hidden beaches in Albania - Jala and Ghipe. We already knew Albania is a paradise for those who love unspoiled nature and we just wanted to relax for the last part of the journey. And once more, this little unknown country had another surprise for us - the unbelievable mountainous views all the way to the turquoise, tropical looking Ionian Sea.

Traveling along the wild Albanian coast, after visiting tropical looking, white sand beaches at Ksamil, old town Himare and the surrounding seaside, I thought it just couldn't get better. Then, we went to see the two beaches a few miles north from Himare - Jala and Gjipe, hidden in picturesque coves and surrounded by the spectacular canyon. The color of water was so unusually clear and the scenery so exotic that this spot could easily pass off as tropical heaven. Why is such a place still virtually unknown despite being right in the middle of Europe, is a mystery to me. But it's a good thing! You can feel as if it's your own, private paradise. And, if you want to still see it this way, hurry up, as unfortunately there has been some new development around - soon it may become as crowded as Albania's famous neighbors - Croatia, Italy and Greece.

Traveling along the southern coast of Albania literally made my jaw drop. I had not expected at all what I was going to see. Paradise, completely unspoiled beaches, clearest sea possible, superb food and accommodation at ridiculously low prices, friendliest locals I'd ever met... I thought nothing else was able to surprise me. Then, we reached Gjirokaster - a little Ottoman town which turned out to be breathtakingly unique not only in Albania but in the whole Europe. It could easily compete with the French or Italian equivalents - in Gjirokaster you'll see the most beautifully decorated houses covered with original stone roof tiles, authentic, perfectly well maintained old town with cobblestone, winding little streets and... literally zero tourists!

Tirana - the capital of Albania. Despite the nearby Adriatic coast and super popular countries like Italy, Croatia and Greece among which Albania is sandwiched, this little Balkan country receives very few foreign visitors. Those who end up in Tirana, usually claim that it is unattractive and give up any attempts to explore Albania further. What a mistake this is! Paradise beaches, unique, cozy little towns of Berat and Gjirokaster, crystar clear turquoise lakes and spectacular mountains are waiting for those who stray from the beaten path. I must agree, though, that Tirana indeed pales in comparison with those wonderful sites mentioned above. However, if you look closer and make a little effort to understand its history, the city's overall image changes in a positive way.

After spending an amazing weekend in Ksamil and enjoying white sand beaches with crystal clear - tropical looking sea, it was time to head north along the Albanian coast and explore probably the least known riviera in Europe. Ksamil had surprised me so much with the color of water and white sand (much better than in popular Corfu) that I was sure the rest of the coast couldn't get better. During the season, the beaches at Ksamil might get busy - however, I was lucky to be there in June and it was absolutely perfect and pretty quiet. But what I was about to discover traveling north along Albanian riviera exceeded all my expectations! Cover photo: Borsh Beach.

Krujë (Kruja in English) in Albania is a charming medieval village, beautifully situated among mountainous peaks and the green valley stretching all the way down to the Adriatic coast. Kruja, once inhabited by the ancient tribe of Illyrians, besides its natural charm, boasts an enormous historical importance. As early as in the 12th century, it was the center of the first independent Albanian state. The town lies on the foot of the Mount Krujë and offers spectacular views over the entire area. Although it's a popular and very easy to reach destination for a day trip from Albanian capital - Tirana, it's still very authentic - with very few foreign visitors. Many people who come to Albania stay only in Tirana and complain that there is nothing much to see there. The capital city, although interesting is not particularly beautiful and is not a great example of what Albania has to offer.