TIRANA, June 8 – The Dhermi beach in the southern Albanian Riviera has been named among the top 20 secret beaches across Europe. The rating is made by Spain-based Skyscanner, a leading travel search site.
“Not heard of the Albanian Riviera before? Well you should have! This stretch of the Adriatic coast has been widely-tipped to be ‘the next Croatia’ and Brits are bound to be flocking to its shores for a sunny beach holiday in the not too distant future. So get there before the rest! Although, actually getting to Dhermi beach involves a nerve-jangling drive over a mountain pass, but you’ll appreciate it even more when you go for a paddle!” writes Skyscanner.
Earlier this year, Italian Infoturismiamoci blog rated Dhermi as one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful beaches.
“White pebbles, clear waters and an abundance of greenery around make Dhermi absolutely perfect even in August when the beach is not that overcrowded,” it said.
With the summer season already open, the Albanian Riviera where the Dhermi beach stretches, is a top destination for foreign tourists.
Lonely Planet tourist guide which in 2011 named Albania as a top destination to discover described Dhermi as one of the most famous beaches in Albania, a dazzling strip of white rock several kilometres long that is lapped by deep blue water. “Outside peak season, it’s very quiet, and while the summer months now get very busy, the beach is long enough for those who want to find a quiet spot away from the crowds even in mid-August. For explorers, there are lots of coves and smaller bays further along the beach, including the famous Drymades beach, where excellent budget accommodation can be had and a number of smart hotels are found on the beach itself,” writes Lonely Planet.
In late 2015, prestigious French newspaper Le Figaro placed Albania as one of the top five global destinations for 2016. Featuring a picture of the ancient Rozafa castle in the northern city of Shkodra, Le Figaro said Albania will surprise everybody just like it did with its first-ever qualification in a major football competition such as France 2016.
