Why Albania Feels Like Greece in the 1980s – Beautiful, Authentic, and Still Affordable

I’ve been living and working in Saranda for over a decade, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this from visiting clients:

“This place reminds me of Greece before it got too commercial.”

They’re usually standing barefoot on a quiet beach. Or sipping espresso on a stone terrace in Qeparo. Or looking out over the olive groves from a hilltop apartment with a sea view.

And honestly?

They’re not wrong.

Albania – especially the southern coast – feels like Greece in the 1980s. But not in a copycat way. It’s got its own rhythm, its own warmth, its own secrets. And for those looking to invest in affordable property by the sea, this is one of the last corners of the Mediterranean where authenticity still lives… and where the prices haven’t caught up to the views.

The Feeling You Can’t Buy – But You Can Live In

One of the things I’ve learned in this business is that people don’t just buy apartments in Sarandabecause of the floor plans or the pool (though those help!).

They buy the feeling.

That feeling of walking into a beach bar where no one’s trying too hard.

Where the music is just right, the raki is homemade, and someone’s grandmother brings out figs from the back.

That kind of real.

That kind of alive.

There’s a reason people are comparing it to Greece in its golden age. Back when things were simpler, and less filtered. You still feel that here.

The Albanian Riviera – Where the Roads Are Twisty and the Views Are Wild

I always tell clients: if you’re driving from Saranda to Borsh or Himara, don’t rush it. You’ll want to stop every 10 minutes.

There’s a lookout just before the descent into Lukova that still makes me catch my breath, even after seeing it a hundred times. And if you stop by the roadside stall with the big red umbrella just before the turn to Piqeras, they’ll squeeze fresh orange juice that tastes like the sun.

These aren’t tourist brochures. These are places I stop myself when showing beachfront properties or seaview villas.

The coastline between Saranda and Vlora is still rugged. It hasn’t been tamed by glass hotels and giant resorts. And that’s a good thing.

Because it means there’s still space to invest — and to invest smart.

Prices That Don’t Match the Views (Yet)

You can still find beachfront apartments in Saranda for under €100,000.

Try saying that about Corfu. Or even Crete. You’ll get laughed out of the room.

But here, it’s possible. And not just for studios or half-basements. I’m talking about well-designed 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, with private pools, balconies, and Mediterranean finishes.

One of the best examples of this kind of opportunity is White Residence in Borsh. These are modern luxury villas, each with a private pool, three levels, and panoramic views of the sea — surrounded by nothing but olive trees and silence. It’s like living inside a postcard, but without the noise.

Or if you’re more into ready-to-move-in apartments near Saranda’s promenade, Residenca 12 offers exactly that. Sea views, close to the beach, and high-quality construction — all at a fraction of the cost you’d pay in Spain or Italy.

And no, this isn’t a “too good to be true” thing.

It’s just that Albania got skipped over for decades. And now it’s catching up — slowly, quietly, beautifully.