Sarandë, Albania

Capital City

With a population of just 22,613, Sarandë is no cosmopolitan hub. The town's harbor and beaches may attract tourists, but bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the city's turbulent history of occupation and ethnic tensions casts a long shadow. While the natural beauty of the Albanian Riviera is undeniable, Sarandë's uncontrolled construction boom threatens to spoil the very charm that draws visitors. Those seeking an undiscovered gem of the Mediterranean should look elsewhere - this city is best suited for the intrepid, not the faint of heart.