Borsh, ALB

By someone who still gets goosebumps driving down the coast

I still remember the first time I took the winding road down to Borsh. It was early spring — that sweet spot when the sea is waking up, but the beaches are still empty. I had just finished a property viewing in Qeparo and decided to take a detour. I pulled over near the castle ruins, looked down at the coastline below, and thought, Why isn’t everyone talking about this place?

Well, now they are.

And if you’re reading this, you probably heard a whisper too.

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What Makes Borsh So Different?

Borsh isn’t like Saranda or Ksamil. It’s quieter, bigger in scale — and I don’t just mean the beach, which, by the way, is the longest stretch of uninterrupted beach on the Albanian Riviera. I mean the energy. It’s still raw in the best way possible.

You won’t find rows of hotels or nightclubs here. What you’ll find instead are stone-built homes tucked into the hillside, olive groves that look like they’ve been there forever, and a beach so wide it swallows sound.

There’s a small taverna tucked behind a bend near the southern end of the beach — no signs, just the smell of grilled octopus and the owner’s radio playing old Albanian love songs. I took a couple from Poland there last month after a site visit, and they didn’t want to leave. They told me, “This feels like Greece thirty years ago.”

They’re right.

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Is Borsh a Good Place to Invest?

Honestly? Yes — but not if you’re looking for fast flips or urban apartments.

Borsh is for those who see the long game. For those who want privacy, nature, and something with soul.

We recently started a project there — three luxury villas, each with a private pool and a view that stretches from the Ionian Sea to the edges of Corfu on a clear day. You can check out Villa 1 and 2 here if you’re curious.

They’re not just beautiful. They’re smartly placed. The location sits just high enough to avoid humidity, with easy access from the main road (a big deal in these coastal villages). The villas are being built with stone detailing, terracotta accents, and panoramic glass openings — combining Mediterranean tradition with clean, modern touches.

When we first walked the land, there were olive trees everywhere. We kept most of them — not just for aesthetics, but because, honestly, who doesn’t want to walk through their garden and pick olives in October?

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A Slower Pace, But Not Out of Touch

Some people ask, “Is there enough around in Borsh?”

Fair question.

You won’t find big supermarkets or shopping centers here — and thank God for that. But what you do get is the kind of peace that people in London or Paris pay fortunes to find on holiday.

There are two local bakeries (I’m loyal to the one near the school), a handful of small restaurants, and if you ask the right locals, they’ll point you to a guy who still delivers fresh fish to your doorstep from the beach at dawn.

You’re also only about 35 minutes from Saranda, so when you need the bustle — the promenade, the cafes, the property offices (like ours) — it’s right there. And that’s what makes it a clever spot.

You’re out of the noise but not off the map.

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Why Foreign Buyers Are Starting to Notice

I showed a villa in Borsh two weeks ago to a couple from Belgium. They had already seen properties in Himara, Saranda, and even Dhermi, but Borsh felt different to them. The wife said, “This place breathes.”

They’re not the only ones.

I’ve noticed an uptick in interest from buyers who aren’t just looking for any beachfront property — they’re looking for a sense of place.

And honestly, seaview apartments and villas in Albania are becoming harder to find at reasonable prices, especially in places like Ksamil or downtown Saranda. That’s why Borsh is gaining traction among those in-the-know.

The prices are still affordable compared to similar coastlines in the Mediterranean, especially considering the views, the privacy, and the land size you get.