How Vlora Airport Is Changing Real Estate Values Across the Albanian Riviera

I’ve been working in real estate in Saranda long enough to recognize when something big is happening before it becomes obvious to everyone else.
Not the loud kind of big. The subtle kind. The type you feel in conversations, in phone calls, in the way clients start asking slightly different questions.

That’s exactly how the impact of Vlora Airport started to show itself.

At first, people asked out of curiosity.
Then with interest.
Now, with intent.

Why an Airport Changes Everything (Even If It’s Not Next Door)

Let’s clear something up first. Vlora Airport isn’t in Saranda.
But that doesn’t matter as much as people think.

What matters is access.

For years, the south of Albania depended almost entirely on Corfu Airport. It worked — but it came with complications. Ferries, seasonal schedules, weather delays, luggage logistics, passport lines. I’ve seen buyers arrive exhausted before even stepping into their first property viewing.

Vlora Airport changes the rhythm.

Suddenly, the Albanian Riviera isn’t something you figure out.
It’s something you arrive at.

And when access improves, values follow. Always.

What I’m Seeing on the Ground (Not on Paper)

A few days ago, I was showing properties in Ksamil to a couple who had already visited twice before. This time felt different. They weren’t just browsing. They were calculating. Asking about long-term plans. Rental demand. Exit strategies.

At one point, we stopped for a coffee near the old road that locals still call “rruga e vjetër,” even though it’s technically been redone. They looked around and said something that stuck with me:
“This doesn’t feel seasonal anymore.”

That’s the shift.

Vlora Airport isn’t just bringing tourists.
It’s bringing confidence.

Saranda: The First to Feel the Pressure

Saranda has always been the anchor of the south. But now, demand is becoming more layered.

I see it most clearly with Saranda apartments for sale that offer privacy, views, and quality — not just proximity to the promenade. Buyers want something that works in July and January.

Take, for example, a quiet residence on Skënderbeu Street I often recommend. Fully furnished, high-end finishes, private swimming pool, and uninterrupted sea views — the kind of seaview apartments that still feel calm even in peak season.
This one, in particular, keeps coming up in conversations because it works equally well as a home or an investment:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished

It’s not flashy. It’s composed.
That’s what serious buyers are gravitating toward now.

Ksamil’s Second Act

Ksamil used to be all about summer chaos. Umbrellas, music, crowds.
That still exists — but it’s no longer the whole story.

With better access coming from the north, Ksamil is quietly maturing.

New neighborhoods. Better planning. More refined buildings.

There’s a 1-bedroom apartment I’ve been mentioning casually to clients — brand new, finished in summer 2025, private pool for residents, in a quiet, new part of Ksamil. Seven minutes on foot to the beach, but far enough to hear birds in the morning instead of traffic.
This one:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-ksamil-65m2

It doesn’t scream luxury.
It whispers it.

And that’s exactly why it’s appealing to buyers flying in for a long weekend now — and thinking long-term.

A Small Tangent (But It Matters)

There’s a bakery in Saranda that opens before sunrise. Locals know it. Tourists usually miss it.
Every summer, I stop there before early viewings. You can tell how busy the season will be just by the line at 6:30 AM.

This year, the line didn’t disappear in September.

That tells you more than any statistic.

Duplexes, Privacy, and the New Buyer Mindset

Another thing Vlora Airport is accelerating: buyer sophistication.

People aren’t just asking for “near the beach” anymore. They ask about parking. Security. Privacy. Layout.

In Ksamil, duplexes are becoming especially interesting. There’s one project — new 2025 construction — that stands out for how thoughtfully it’s designed. Two private pools (one exclusively for the duplex), underground parking included, limited number of residents, and just 300 meters from both the beach and the center.
It’s right on the main road, yet once you’re inside, it feels completely secluded.

I mention it when the conversation turns serious:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

For families, it works.
For investors, the numbers can reach up to 16% ROI per year — and that’s without pushing it aggressively.

Villas Are No Longer “Too Much”

There was a time when buyers hesitated about villas in Saranda. Maintenance. Management. Seasonality.

That hesitation is fading.

With improved access and longer stays, villas are becoming realistic primary or semi-primary residences.

There’s a private villa development in a very quiet part of Saranda that I consider a rare opportunity. Spacious layout, private swimming pool, full privacy, and a sense of separation from the city noise — yet still close enough to daily life.
Perfect for families who value space and calm.
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/private-villa-for-sale-in-saranda-albania-with-swimming-pool-surra

These are the kinds of affordable properties (by Mediterranean standards) that won’t stay affordable forever.

Porto Palermo: Where Visionaries Are Looking

Vlora Airport’s impact isn’t just urban.
It’s coastal.

I’ve had more conversations recently about land — not apartments — than I’ve had in years.

Porto Palermo keeps coming up. Raw beauty. History. Open coastline.

There’s a seaview land parcel there, first line, just 10 meters from the beach. The kind of place where you don’t ask “what can I build?” but “what should I build?”
Hotel. Villas. Something intentional.
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-land-property-for-sale-in-porto-palermo-albania

This is where long-term thinkers are positioning themselves.

The Bigger Picture

Vlora Airport is not about convenience alone.
It’s about perception.

Once a destination feels accessible, it stops feeling risky. And when risk perception drops, values rise — slowly at first, then decisively.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast right now. Not because it’s cheap — but because it’s still early.

The south of Albania is entering a new chapter.
Quieter. More refined. More confident.

And if you’re paying attention, you can already feel it.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, after a long day of viewings, I drive toward the hills above Saranda. The kind of road where locals flash their lights to say hello. You see the city below, the sea stretching out, and you understand why people fall in love with this place so quickly.

Vlora Airport will bring more people.
But what keeps them here — and makes them buy — is something deeper.

And if you know where to look, now is still the moment to act.