Emerging European Destinations
The places clearly about to have their moment
Tirana and Albania
Tirana has changed faster than almost any European capital in the last decade. The painted buildings, the Blloku district once reserved for communist officials and now full of bars, the Bunk'Art museum in a Cold War shelter, and a food scene that has caught up to its ambition. From Tirana the coast is two hours, the mountains are four, and the wine country is one.
Tbilisi and Georgia
Tbilisi is one of the most interesting cities in this part of the world. The sulphur baths in Abanotubani, the cliffside old town, the modernist Bridge of Peace, the wine bars in every direction. Outside the city, the Caucasus mountains rise immediately, and the wine region of Kakheti claims to be the oldest in the world (the archaeology supports it).
Sarajevo and Bosnia
Sarajevo is a city that holds Ottoman, Habsburg, Yugoslav, and post-war layers in a compact valley. The Baščaršija old bazaar is still a working market. The view from the yellow fortress is one of the best in the Balkans. Add a day in Mostar and another in Travnik.
Yerevan and Armenia
Yerevan is a pink-stone city built around a single grand boulevard, with cafes that operate as living rooms. The Matenadaran manuscript museum is genuinely world-class. From the city the day trips are dense: Khor Virap with Ararat in the background, Garni's first-century Hellenistic temple, the Geghard monastery carved into the rock.
Suggested itinerary
- Albania week: Tirana, then a week down the southern coast: Berat, Gjirokastër, Sarandë.
- Caucasus week: Tbilisi base, two-day trip to Kazbegi, two days to Kakheti wine country.
Local highlights
- Tirana's painted Blloku district
- Tbilisi's sulphur baths in Abanotubani
- Kotor old town off-peak
- Yerevan's pink-stone Republic Square
- Sarajevo's Baščaršija and surrounding mountains
Nearby destinations
Other places worth combining with this trip: Berat, Kazbegi, Perast, Mostar.
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