Saranda, ALB

I’ve lived in Saranda for most of my life.

And let me tell you something that even some locals haven’t fully realized yet:

This place isn’t just “growing.” It’s transforming.

A few years ago, you could walk down Rruga Butrinti and still feel like it was a small coastal town—local kids chasing a football near the beach, older men drinking coffee outside their homes, the sound of the sea louder than the sound of cars.

Now? You can still feel that, but it’s layered with something new. Cafés are turning into co-working spaces. Young Albanians who left for London, Milan, or Athens are slowly coming back—not just to visit their families, but to build something here. Investors are paying attention. And honestly… they should.

A Town That’s Not Pretending to Be Something Else

One thing I appreciate about Saranda is that it doesn’t try to fake sophistication.

It doesn’t have to.

You’ve got luxury properties here, of course—like this stunning 2-bedroom apartment with sea views and private parking. But you’ll still see the same families selling figs and oranges from their gardens on the same street. That contrast is part of the charm. Saranda has its own rhythm. It doesn’t rush for anyone.

A few weeks ago, I was showing a beachfront property to a client from Sweden.

We were on the balcony looking at the Ionian Sea, and she turned to me and said, “This doesn’t feel like a tourist town. It feels like life is actually lived here.”

And she’s right.

The Value Is Still Here—But Not for Long

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.

Where else can you get a seaview apartment, minutes from the beach, for a fraction of what you’d pay in Croatia or Greece?

But here’s the thing: that window is slowly closing.

Not overnight, but it’s happening.

If you look at our new projects, especially on roads like Rruga Skënderbeu or the newer developments above Mango Beach, you’ll see how quickly things are moving. Developers are improving quality. Demand from foreigners is rising. Even more interesting? Albanians from Tirana are starting to buy second homes here, especially now that the road infrastructure is better.

And with more direct ferries from Corfu and talks of expanded marina capacity, I’d say we’re two or three years away from a major pricing shift.

You Learn a Lot by Talking to Locals

The best part of my job isn’t selling. It’s listening.

When I sit with older residents of Saranda, they’ll tell you about how quiet the promenade used to be in the early 2000s. About the days before the concrete boom, when Saranda still felt like a village. There’s pride in their voice, but also hope that what’s coming next is thoughtful.

That’s why I always say—when you’re buying here, you’re not just buying square meters. You’re entering a community. So it matters who your neighbors are. It matters that you know where to get the best fresh fish (go to the small market behind the taxi station—not the big one by the port), or where to find the bakery that still uses wood-fire ovens (it’s hidden near the old stadium, no sign outside).

These are the kinds of things you learn by living here. Not just visiting.