Albania Through My Eyes: Why the Same City Can Be Perfect for One Person and Wrong for Another

In my work with real estate in Albania, one question comes up more than any other: "Which city is the best to choose?" And every time I give the same answer. There is no best city. There is a city that best fits your particular way of life.

Of course you can compare property prices, rental yields, infrastructure or tourist flows. All of this really does matter. But in my view, there are things that simply cannot be measured in numbers. When someone buys property, they are not just choosing an apartment or a house. They are choosing the place where they will live, wake up each morning, rest after work and spend a real part of their life. That is exactly why I decided to share not statistics, but my own personal perspective.

Through the eyes of an investor

If you look at cities purely from an economic and investment angle, one of the strongest options remains Durrës. It is a large, modern city with well-developed infrastructure. The country's biggest port is here, the international airport is nearby, the connection to Tirana is easy, and there is no shortage of shops, restaurants, schools, banks and medical facilities.

Durrës lives all year round. That is exactly why the property market here stays active outside the summer season as well. Many people buy apartments for long-term rental, some come to work, others open a business. For an investor this is a key factor, because demand holds up almost the entire year. On top of that, prices here are often lower than on the southern coast, which makes Durrës attractive to many buyers. If you only look at numbers, logic and investment, this is a genuinely strong city.

But if you ask me not as a real estate professional, but as a person…

My answer changes. For myself, personally, I would not choose Durrës. And the reason is not that I dislike it. It is simply that a different rhythm of life is closer to me. I love silence. I love nature. I love open sea views. I love places where you can stop, look around and just enjoy the moment. That is probably why my heart ended up in the south of Albania.

Vlorë, Sarandë and the road to Ksamil

There are things that photographs cannot convey. As you start driving south of Vlorë, the whole atmosphere gradually shifts. The colour of the sea changes. The water becomes so clear that it is sometimes hard to believe it is not a tropical resort.

The road runs between the sea and the mountains, opening up wide panoramas, small bays and spots where you simply want to stop and take it all in. Every next turn reveals a new view. This is where I first felt that Albania can be completely different. Less urban rush. More nature. More calm. That atmosphere is what makes the southern coast so special for me.

It all depends on the life you want

Over time I understood one simple thing. There is no universal answer to the question of where it is best to buy property. If you enjoy an active city life, if you want shops, cafés, schools, hospitals, easy transport and quick access to the airport around you, you will most likely love Durrës.

If, on the other hand, you work remotely, dream of living next to a beautiful sea, value nature and quietness, and want to enjoy each day, your place may well turn out to be somewhere completely different. And that is perfectly normal. We are all different. Each of us has our own idea of comfort.

This is why I always get to know the person first

When people come to me for help choosing property, I never start the conversation with a question about budget. First I want to understand the person themselves. What do they do? What lifestyle do they lead? Do they enjoy the noise of a big city, or do they prefer calm? Are they buying for investment, or are they looking for a place where they truly want to live?

Answers to these questions help far more than any city ranking. Because the very same apartment can be ideal for one person and completely wrong for another.

My own choice

If today I were choosing property purely as an investment, I would definitely look very carefully at Durrës. It is a strong, promising and convenient city with solid rental opportunities and stable demand.

But if I were choosing a place to live, a place where I wanted to wake up each morning and enjoy the sea, the nature and the landscapes around me, my choice would be different. I would choose the southern coast — Vlorë, Sarandë, or one of the small towns along the road to Ksamil. That is where I feel the atmosphere for which so many people, one day, decide to move to the sea.

Instead of a conclusion

In my time living and working in Albania I have become convinced of one simple truth. Property is not only square metres, a price or a potential yield. It is the place where you will spend your days, meet your sunrises, rest after work and build memories.

So when you choose property, do not choose only the object. Choose the place where you will genuinely feel good. That kind of choice, in my view, always turns out to be the right one.