European travel experts highlighted some of this year’s most exciting destinations, ranging from untouched islands in Finland to affordable resorts in Bulgaria and hidden trails in Albania.

The British daily, The Guardian, listed Albania among 26 of the most exciting and affordable countries for family holidays.

A family trip to Albania left an unforgettable impression. It showed that avoiding crowded and well-known destinations often brings greater rewards.

We spent two nights at the Lëpusha guesthouse. The guesthouse was surrounded by orchards, beehives, and small farms stretching toward a giant amphitheater bordered by the sharp peaks of the Accursed Mountains.

At dusk, the 10- and 12-year-old children played with kittens on the guesthouse veranda. Meanwhile, we spoke with the owner about life in Lëpusha.

Migration abroad or to larger cities and tourism remained a lifeline for many in the region. However, Lëpusha offered significant opportunities for tourism development.

On the first day, we visited a quiet resort. We jumped from cliffs into crystal-clear blue waters. Later, we ate homemade cheese and bread at a summer camp.

On the second day, we hiked to the top of Maja e Nagvacit [Nagvac Peak], which reached 2,412 meters. We followed nearly deserted trails and enjoyed wild blueberries along the way.

Lëpusha hosted part of the tourists. Local residents from nearby Theth accommodated them. They visited the area to hike the famous trail leading to the “Peaks of the Balkans.”

– https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/dec/13/travel-writers-top-25-favourite-travel-discoveries-europe-2025-