Why Albania Is the Perfect Place to Rebuild Yourself After a Busy Life

I’ve lived in Saranda for most of my life. I’ve seen this town — and the Albanian Riviera in general — change, grow, and evolve. But something that hasn’t changed is the feeling this place gives you. It’s hard to explain until you’re here. There’s something about the rhythm of life in the south of Albania that just… resets you.  

Over the past few years, I’ve met so many people — Germans, Italians, Brits, Polish couples, even some adventurous folks from Dubai — all coming here for the same reason: they’re tired . Tired of long commutes. Tired of cold weather. Tired of feeling like life is rushing past them while they’re stuck on pause.  

And honestly? I get it.  

Albania — especially the south — has a way of reminding you what matters.  

It starts with the sea  

Let me tell you something: you don’t just “see” the Ionian. You feel it .  

The blue here isn’t just blue. Some mornings it looks like melted sapphire. Other times, like turquoise ink. I’ve watched people stand on their balcony in silence for minutes, just taking it in. It does something to you.  

Take a look at White Residence Villas in Borsh — these are luxury villas we’re building just 5 minutes from the sea. Waking up there with a coffee in hand, birdsong in the background, olive trees swaying nearby… it’s impossible not to breathe deeper.  

And that’s the point: in Albania, you finally have space to breathe again .  

Slowing down isn’t lazy — it’s healing  

One of the first things people notice here is how slow everything is. And at first, it might drive you a little crazy. The coffee shop owner chats with every customer. The fruit vendor insists you try a fig. Someone double-parks to greet a cousin on the street.  

But after a week or two, that slowness starts to feel like a blessing.  

We’ve been conditioned to rush — emails, deadlines, noise. Here in Saranda, or in places like Qeparo or Lukova, it’s the opposite. People talk to each other . Neighbors share vegetables. Time feels different.  

I met a couple from the Netherlands last summer — they had sold their apartment in Rotterdam and moved into a small beachfront property we showed them near the Ionian Bay . Their words:  

“For the first time in 30 years, we don’t set an alarm.”  

That says it all, doesn’t it?  

Nature isn’t just scenery — it’s medicine  

There’s a stretch of coast between Saranda and Borsh that I sometimes drive just for fun. No podcast. No music. Just open windows and the scent of wild thyme and pine trees drifting in. That’s a kind of therapy no city can offer.  

Even inland, places like the Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) — that freezing, crystal spring nestled in the forest — feel almost surreal.  

And when you realize this kind of nature is free , always open, and completely uncrowded? It’s life-changing.  

You don’t have to book retreats or wellness weekends here. Just walk to the beach. Hike up a hillside. Sit under a fig tree.   

 

Rebuilding isn’t always about escape — sometimes it’s about creating 

I think a lot of people see moving to a place like Albania as “running away” from something. But for many, it’s the opposite. 

They’re not running away — they’re starting fresh . 

They’re finally creating the life they always imagined but never had the time (or money) for. 

And that’s what’s special about Albania: it’s affordable enough to give you options . 

You can buy a 1-bedroom apartment with a full seaview in Saranda for less than €100,000. You can find newly built homes with pools, balconies, and parking for a fraction of the price you’d pay in Spain or Italy. Just browse through some of our current developments here and you’ll see what I mean. 

People are shocked when they learn that a villa with a private pool and mountain + sea views in Borsh costs less than a tiny flat in Munich. And I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast — full stop. 

A few things you only learn if you live here 

• There’s a small taverna near Borsh beach, no sign, just a hand-painted fish on the wall. The owner grills everything over firewood, and if you ask nicely, he’ll bring you his homemade olive oil. I’ve taken clients there for viewings — not for the food, but to show them what life really feels like here. 

• In the early mornings, fishermen still bring in their catch to the small harbor in Saranda. If you go around 6:30 AM, you can buy fish straight off the boat — no middleman, no fancy packaging. 

• During the summer, locals in villages like Pilur or Vuno still gather in the evening to sing polyphonic songs — something you’ll never hear in a tour brochure, but once you do, it stays with you. 

These moments may seem small, but they’re what make people fall in love with this land. 

Rebuilding means reconnecting 

When people ask me why they should consider buying a property here — whether it’s a vacation home or their “forever place” — I tell them this: 

Because here, you’ll remember who you are. 

You’ll eat better. Sleep deeper. Move slower. Laugh more. 

You’ll remember what food is supposed to taste like. What people sound like when they care. What it means to wake up and not immediately check your phone. 

That’s not a luxury. That’s health . That’s rebuilding. 

Final thought — from someone who’s seen it firsthand

I’ve worked in real estate in Saranda for over a decade now. I’ve helped people from all over the world find their perfect place here. But more than anything, I’ve watched them change after living here.

Less stress. More life.

If you’re even thinking about finding a small piece of the Albanian Riviera to call your own, I’d suggest you start exploring. Whether it’s one of our new seaview villas or a simple 1-bedroom apartment in Saranda, we’re here to help.

Not just to sell you something — but to walk you through this transition with honesty and heart.

Because for many, buying a home in Albania isn’t the end of a journey. It’s the beginning of a new one.

(The photo in this blog is captured in Dhërmi, Albania)