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.


Compartir esta publicacion:

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

Discover the benefits of slow living on the Albanian Riviera — where Saranda’s seaview apartments, local culture, and relaxed pace offer a lifestyle your body and soul truly need.

The Ancient Roads of the Ionian – Why Investing Along This Coastline Is More Than Just Business

Discover why investing along Albania’s Ionian coast is more than just business — it’s about legacy, culture, and becoming part of a timeless story. Explore Saranda’s hidden value and seaview opportunities.