This Balkan Seaside Town Might Become the Next Santorini — And It’s Still Affordable

I’ve been saying this for years, quietly at first, and now a bit louder:
Saranda might just become the next Santorini.

And before you think I’m exaggerating, hear me out. I live here. I work here. I walk these hills and beaches almost every day. I’ve watched how the city has evolved — slowly at first, then suddenly — in the way only Mediterranean towns do when the world finally discovers them.

What’s happening in South Albania right now feels very familiar, almost like what Greece experienced decades ago. Stunning coastlines. Bright white buildings. Blue water that looks filtered even when it’s not. And here’s the twist: it’s all still affordable.

Let me explain why.

The Early-Stage Magic of a Mediterranean Town on the Rise

Every time I walk down the promenade at sunset, I see it. That spark.
The way tourists stop talking for a moment just to stare at the light hitting the Ionian Sea — exactly how travelers in the 70s must’ve felt seeing Santorini for the first time.

Saranda has that same raw beauty, but it hasn’t been “packaged” yet. No massive resorts taking over the shoreline. No overpriced restaurants on every corner. No crowds so thick that you can’t see the pavement.

There’s still space here.
Still peace.
Still neighborhoods where locals sit outside drinking coffee for hours — the Albanian way — without rushing anywhere.

And you know what’s interesting? This peaceful lifestyle is exactly what foreign buyers crave. They want seaview apartments without the chaos. They want beachfront property that feels private. They want a slower rhythm, but with modern comfort.

That’s why property values here are climbing — but not in the way that pushes people out. More like they’re rising because the world is finally waking up to what this place truly offers.

The Feeling That Hooks People Instantly

Last month, I had a couple from Denmark who came for a quick look at apartments. They had seen a photo on Instagram of Ksamil’s water and decided to “at least see it once.”

As we walked into a brand-new residence overlooking the sea, they just froze. No words. The man whispered, “We didn’t expect this.”
I smiled. Because I’ve heard that same sentence dozens of times.

Moments like that remind me how early we still are. How much potential is left. How lucky people are to be buying now instead of 10 years later.

That’s also why I think Saranda offers some of the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. I truly believe that.

Ksamil: The Quiet Luxury Version of What Santorini Used to Be

Everyone knows Ksamil from the drone videos — the islands, the water, the white sand. But what buyers don’t always realize until they arrive is how quiet and organized the new neighborhoods are becoming.

Take this modern 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil for example:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/modern-1-bedroom-apartment-in-ksamil-62m2

It’s part of a 2025 residence with a beautiful private swimming pool for residents, set in a newly developed area that feels clean and calm. Only 7 minutes from the beach. Everything brand new, with that minimal Mediterranean feeling that many people now call “quiet luxury.”

It’s not loud.
Not flashy.
Just a very thoughtful apartment in a location that keeps increasing in value every single year.

Another one I personally love is this 65m² 1+1 apartment inside White Residence Ksamil:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-ksamil-65m2

Same story: new neighborhood, private pool, 7-minute walk to the sea. When clients see these buildings, they always say the same thing — “I didn’t expect Ksamil to have this kind of quality.”

And I understand the surprise. Many still imagine Ksamil the way it was 10 years ago — small houses, old roads, and a few family hotels. But the transformation has been dramatic. Yet still charming.

Saranda: The Future Mediterranean Investment Story Everyone Will Talk About

Saranda is different from Ksamil in personality, but connected by the same coastline. Bigger city. More life. More options. But still with that calm, familiar rhythm you only find in southern Albania — the rhythm that makes the city feel human.

Let’s talk about property for a moment.

If you’re searching for Saranda apartments for sale, there’s one building that perfectly represents what the city is moving toward:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished

A brand-new 1+1 residence on Skënderbeu Street. Quiet neighborhood. Safe. Full, unblocked sea view. Private swimming pool. High-end finishing.
This type of residence didn’t exist here 8–10 years ago.

But now, it’s the new standard.
And the market loves it — especially foreign buyers.

Honestly, when you stand on that balcony and see the water turning silver in the evening, you immediately understand why people choose Saranda not only for holidays, but as a long-term home.

A Small Tangent: The Little Things People Don’t See

Sometimes, when I take clients to see properties in Ksamil or Borsh, I stop at one of those tiny cafés hidden inside the old neighborhoods. The ones without signs or fancy menus.

There’s a specific place on the road between Saranda and Ksamil where the owner makes coffee using an old copper pot he inherited from his grandfather. It’s the kind of detail tourists rarely notice — but it’s the soul of the place.

And it matters.
Because you’re not just buying a house here. You’re buying into a culture of warmth, calm mornings, homemade olive oil, and the kind of small talk that lasts 20 minutes longer than you planned.

Alright — back to real estate.

Borsh: The Albanian Riviera’s Most Underrated Paradise

Now, if there is one place that reminds me of what Santorini must have felt like before it became globally famous — it’s Borsh.

Pure nature.
Kilometers of beach.
Olive trees as far as you can see.
A kind of silence you don’t find anymore in tourist-heavy Mediterranean towns.

And right in the middle of this peaceful area, there’s a residence that has surprised every client I’ve shown it to:
The White Villas in Borsh
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

Built by our construction company with more than 15 years of experience and a team of over 150 professionals, the villas offer 300m² of total land and building space, three floors, a private pool, a wide veranda, and private parking.

They sit in nature.
Only seven minutes from the beach.
And the feeling there is… different. Softer. More private. Almost meditative.

For many people buying from abroad, this is what they call “quiet luxury.” A place where you can disconnect from everything, but still have a high-end villa with Mediterranean elegance.

And here’s the surprising part:
You still pay far less than in Greece or Italy for this kind of property.

The Duplex Story (And Why Investors Love It)

Another property that rarely stays long on the market is this new 2025 duplex in Ksamil:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

Two private pools — one exclusively for the duplex and another shared with the residence.
Underground parking included.
Located directly on the main road.
300 meters from the beach. Secure. New. Modern. Quiet.

It’s the perfect mix for a family home or a rental property. And the ROI can reach up to 16% per year, which is something investors can’t believe until they see the numbers.

I’ve walked through this building during construction and again after completion. What struck me most was how much attention they put into privacy. Not all new-builds in Albania manage to get this right, but this one does.

Why This Region’s Future Looks So Bright

Saranda and Ksamil are still early in their development curve. That’s the key.
If you visited Santorini 40 years ago, you could feel the potential. The geography was too beautiful to stay hidden. And yet it was still peaceful and affordable before the global boom.

That’s exactly where we are right now.

I don’t say this lightly:
South Albania is becoming the next big Mediterranean story.
And those who buy now will look back in a decade and realize they made one of the smartest decisions of their life.

Final Thoughts from Someone Who Lives Here

I drive through these coastal towns every day — Saranda, Ksamil, Borsh. And almost every day, I see something that reminds me how special this region is.

A fisherman cleaning his nets by the water.
A local family picking olives on the hillside.
A tourist couple stopping mid-sentence because they can’t believe how blue the sea is.

These are ordinary moments for us. Yet they’re exactly what make people fall in love with the Albanian Riviera.

If Santorini had a second chance to stay affordable… this would be it.

And honestly, I’m proud to guide people through that opportunity — to help them discover a place that still has its soul, its beauty, and its future ahead of it.