Why Southern Albania Feels So Different: Exploring Regional Identity

I’ve lived in Saranda for years now—and let me tell you, there’s something about the south of Albania that’s just… different. Not better or worse than the north—just its own thing. If you’ve ever driven down the coast from Tirana and felt the air change somewhere past Llogara Pass, you know exactly what I mean.

It’s not just the landscape (though let’s be honest—those endless olive groves and the Ionian Sea stretching out like a dream don’t hurt). It’s the rhythm of life, the warmth of the people, the way strangers still wave when you pass them on a quiet village road. Down here, time slows in a way that feels almost intentional.

Last week, I showed a client a stunning seaview penthouse in Ksamil. Brand new build, huge terrace, private pool. She stepped onto the balcony and just stood there, taking in the view of the Ksamil islands like she’d stumbled into a dream. “Why isn’t this place world-famous?” she asked.

I just smiled. We like it that way, I wanted to say.

Here’s the property, if you’re curious.

A Slower Pace (and We Like It That Way)

In southern Albania—especially along the Albanian Riviera—life runs on its own clock. Coffee isn’t rushed. Meals are long, full of laughter, grilled fish, and usually a bit too much raki. Locals don’t just sell property here—they offer it with a story, a handshake, and maybe even a plate of figs from their garden if you’re lucky.

There’s this little taverna just past Borsh beach, by the bend in the road that most tourists drive right by. No menu, no sign. Just fresh seafood, homemade wine, and a view of the sea that still surprises me after all these years. I often stop there after showing a beachfront property or two. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay forever.

Southern Pride: From Himara to Ksamil

People here are proud—proud of their language, their food, their families, and especially their land. In villages like Qeparo and Lukovë, you’ll still hear the older generation speak in dialects that feel like poetry. And don’t get me started on the hospitality. I once spent three hours drinking Turkish coffee with a grandmother who insisted I couldn’t leave without trying her walnut preserves. I was just there to ask about a plot of land.

This pride in place, this fierce local identity, seeps into everything—including how we build, buy, and sell homes. You’ll find it in the stone walls of old houses tucked into the hills, in the modern duplex apartments in Ksamil that still manage to feel like part of the landscape, not on top of it.

Take this one, for example—brand new, near the beach, with its own pool. It’s sleek and modern, sure, but it still respects the view. That’s important here.

The Real Estate Market That’s Still Ours

Now, if you’ve looked at prices in places like Corfu or Dubrovnik lately, you’ll understand why more and more people are looking south—to Albania—for affordable properties with real value. Honestly, I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. And I don’t say that lightly.

The thing is, even though demand is rising—especially for Saranda apartments for sale or beachfront properties in Ksamil—there’s still a very local feel to the market. We haven’t been swallowed by international chains or faceless development companies. Most projects are still built by families, or at least companies with roots here. Like ours.

And that means buyers get more than just a property—they get a real connection to this place.

Want an example? This duplex is in one of my favorite parts of Ksamil. Just a few minutes from the beach, tucked away enough to feel peaceful, but close to everything. When I first visited the site, there were goats grazing in the lot next door. That’s Ksamil for you—modern and wild at the same time.