The typical European holiday fairytale probably ranges somewhere between eating croissants in front of the Eiffel Tower to biking alongside Amsterdam’s canals.

But, more and more, dreams of days spent in Cold War-era bunkers or atop surgeons’ tables (more on that later) are drawing travellers to the country of Albania.

Last year, Albania ranked fourth globally for the largest percentage increase in international tourist arrivals after recording 56 per cent growth compared to 2019, according to UN Tourism.

Among the travel companies seeing crowds turn their wanderlust towards the country, Intrepid Travel reported a jump of more than 30 per cent in bookings for Albania trips between 2023 and 2024 alone.

Intrepid Travel senior project manager Dyan Mckie said since Albania only opened its doors to visitors 30 years ago, it still felt largely untouched, with far fewer tourists than neighbouring Greece or Croatia.

With vast landscapes that range from beachside towns to bustling cities in addition to a food scene rooted in farm-to-table dinners, sustainable farming and home-cooked meals, she said Albania had the variety and experiences travellers loved.

“It’s a place that still feels like a discovery,” Mckies told TND.

“Our trips to Albania offer a more budget-friendly option than many other European destinations, with an average daily cost of around $288 compared to over $400 in places like Spain, Italy or Greece.

“It’s a major draw for travellers looking for affordability without compromising on experience.”

The recent surge in tourism is a far cry from Albania’s previous persona as a closed-off communist dictatorship.

During the height of communist rule, the isolationist dictator Enver Hoxha closed the country’s borders, killed those who tried to leave, and built hundreds of thousands of bunkers.

His use of state surveillance and brutality earned Albania the nickname the “North Korea of Europe”.

About three decades since Albania became a democracy, tourists are free to explore the fascinating past of a country that has seen the rise and fall of civilisations dating back thousands of years.

Although the country is keen to move on from the still-healing wounds of the recent dictatorship, embracing the history has proved fruitful for tourism.

The ‘new Albania’

From Bunk’Art 2, an interactive museum located in a nuclear-grade bunker, to Mrizi i Zanave, a communist-era prison now used to showcase Albania’s historical gastronomy, painful memories remain unforgotten while a new future is built.

UK-trained Albanian chef Ismet Shehu is one of the people putting his country’s communist past front and centre in his business ventures.

His restaurant and hotel Kazerma e Cerenit is located in former military barracks and compound near the country’s capital of Tirana, with visitors greeted by grenade crates holding wine glasses and waiters dressed in military clothing occasionally accessorised with fake guns.

“Kazerma is about farm to table,” Shehu told CNN.

“It’s about helping Albanians and our neighbours.

“When people come here, they say, ‘Wow!’, this place used to be for soldiers, it used to be for tanks, TNT and grenades. Now it’s a place of peace, people serving with a smile; you have good food and very nice desserts. And that’s a big change, right?”

@kazermacerenit ♥️ #love #goviral ♬ Ku Je Ti – Finem & Light

In guest rooms, Shehu placed large cylindrical concrete blocks to replicate barracks showers, and added old military radios, wooden rifle butts and canteens-turned-flower pots as decoration.

He said although the communist years were painful, his goal was for people to move forward from the past rather than continue to fear it.

“In the time of communism, I was very young. But I know my father struggled a lot,” the 35-year-old chef told CNN.

“I never want to forget what was before, but now the story has changed.

“We are making new things. This is the new Albania.”

Other parts of Albania’s rich history (with time spent under Roman and Ottoman empires) are also major drawcards, along with the country’s idyllic countryside.

For example, the city Berat is known for its Ottoman-style houses and Byzantine churches, while the village of Theth attracts nature lovers to Albania’s forests and mountains.

New smiles – and other body parts – on offer

Albania’s history, culture, nature and food are not its only tourist draws – medical tourism has also proven to be a boon to a country facing a potential exodus of citizens due to lack of opportunities.

Although not as established in the sector as countries like Turkiye or South Korea, Albania is welcoming travellers looking to have quality cosmetic surgery for cheaper than their home countries.

This can range from dental work to breast enhancements.

Globally-popular botox is notably absent from offerings, as importation of the injectable treatment is prohibited in Albania.

@julietheis Cuz if its one thing i’m gonna do it’s snag myself a deal ✈️ #LivingAbroad #Albania #Tirana #tiranaalbania #lasikeyesurgery ♬ original sound – Julie Theis

French man Stephane Pealat is one of many people who have made the trip to Albania for a new, affordable smile.

He told AFP an initial estimate to address dental issues such as tooth loss at home was “very, very expensive”.

He then looked to Bulgaria, Turkiye and Spain before settling on Albania.

Pealat said the dental implant operation he chose cost about 50,000 euros ($81,000) in France, compared to just 13,500 euros (almost $22,000) in Albania.

“It is important to have a beautiful smile,” he said.