Why Slow Living in the South of Albania Is Exactly What Your Body and Soul Crave

By a local real estate expert who’s walked these hills, swam these waters, and helped dozens find their new life on the Albanian Riviera.

There’s a moment in the early morning, just as the sun begins to stretch its arms across the Ionian, where time feels like it simply… pauses. You can hear the olive trees rustling gently, the sound of distant waves folding over themselves, and maybe a rooster or two reminding you that yes, this is still a real place where people live — not just a screensaver.

And honestly? That moment alone is enough reason to move here.

But let’s talk about it properly — this idea of slow living in the south of Albania. It’s not just a trend. It’s not about candles and journaling on a Sunday. It’s a lifestyle rooted in simplicity, in connection, and in that deep breath you didn’t realize you were holding while rushing through life elsewhere.

The Pace Here is… Different

Not worse. Not better. Just different.

Slower, sure — but also more grounded.

In Saranda, people don’t walk with their heads down and earbuds in. They stop. They chat. They sit for coffee — not to grab it, but to have it. Sometimes for 20 minutes, sometimes for hours.

There’s even a saying I hear all the time at local cafes:

“Kafen e pi me shpirt, jo me ngut.”

“I drink my coffee with soul, not with speed.”

That’s not to say there’s nothing happening here — trust me, the property market is buzzing. But the buzz has a different frequency. You can feel ambition without anxiety. Growth without burnout. It’s the kind of place where you can build a business and take a swim before lunch. Where you can invest smartly without losing your mind in traffic or deadlines.

Your Nervous System Will Thank You

I had a German client once — early 50s, sharp, efficient, everything ran on a schedule. When he came to view some seaview apartments in Saranda, he kept checking his phone.

Until day three.

By then, something had shifted. I noticed he started walking slower. He laughed more. He spent a full hour talking to a fisherman near the port, just watching the boats.

Later that week, over dinner at a quiet taverna in Lukova, he told me, “This place doesn’t just slow you down… it resets you.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

The Landscape Helps You Breathe

There’s something about these landscapes that open you up.

Take the road from Qeparo to Borsh. One side is wild mountain — pine trees, goats, little stone chapels you can barely see from the road. The other side? Endless blue. A coastline that feels untouched, ancient, sacred.

Even the properties we sell here lean into this rhythm. They’re not skyscrapers. They’re not flashy.

They’re thoughtful.

Take a look at White Residence Villas. Mediterranean-style homes with private pools, 3 bedrooms, stone facades, and sea views so wide you might mistake them for paintings. It’s not just about the house — it’s about the silence, the air, the stillness that surrounds it.

And if you’re more of an apartment person, I’d honestly recommend Residenca 12 — especially the units facing west. The sunsets there? They’re not just beautiful. They’re grounding.

The Culture Rewards Presence

Slow living isn’t just in the air — it’s in the people.

Albanians, especially in the south, have this beautiful tendency to prioritize relationships over rushing. You’ll see neighbors bringing figs to each other’s doors, or stopping by just to ask, “Ke nevojë për ndonjë gjë?” (Do you need anything?)

One thing you should know: in the villages, there’s no such thing as a “quick visit.”

If you stop by a home in Borsh or Piqeras, be ready to sit, eat, and talk for a while. That’s part of the charm. It’s not transactional. It’s human.

And for many of my clients, especially those coming from more individualistic countries, that sense of being seen and welcomed — it’s transformative.