About Albania

Albania has changed beyond recognition over the past few years. A country that many people until recently saw as an undiscovered corner of the Balkans is becoming an increasingly sought-after destination for travel, for living by the sea and for buying property.

And yet it still keeps what drew us to it in the first place - authenticity, hospitality, beautiful nature and the directness of the local people.

At I am Albania we do not see Albania merely as a place on the map. We know it from everyday life, from travelling, from business meetings and from long-standing relationships with the people who live and work here. And this is the Albania we want to show you.

Why Albania?

Albania is now among the fastest-changing countries in the Balkans. Infrastructure is being built, coastal towns are going through a visible transformation, new residential and hotel projects are appearing, and the country is drawing growing interest from foreign visitors and investors alike.

Its location is a major advantage. The Adriatic and Ionian seas, long sandy beaches, dramatic mountains and a Mediterranean climate are all within a few hours' reach.

For many people Albania is therefore no longer only a holiday destination. It is becoming a place where they want to own a second home, spend part of the year, or look for an interesting opportunity on the property market.

Albania as an investment opportunity

The change is easiest to see along the coast. One of the clearest examples is Durrës Yachts & Marina - a large-scale transformation of part of the port area in Durrës into a modern seafront district with a marina, residences, hotels, restaurants, shops and public spaces.

The project is being developed by Eagle Hills, led by Mohamed Alabbar, one of the best-known developers in the Arab world and the founder of Emaar.

Projects like this show the direction in which part of the Albanian coast is gradually moving - from a seasonal destination towards a modern place to live, to visit and to invest in over the long term.

Albania is of course not a market where every property is automatically a good investment. Quite the opposite. The differences between individual locations, developers and projects can be considerable. And this is exactly where we see our role.

At I am Albania we choose projects we know personally, we vet the developers, and we help our clients navigate the market so that they are not buying a nice rendering, but a property that makes sense for what they want and why.

A Muslim country? Albania may surprise you

Albania is a religiously diverse country where Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Christians have lived side by side for generations. Religion here is usually not something that dictates how a visitor spends their time.

Along the coast you will find beach bars, restaurants, nightlife and modern resorts, and as a tourist you will move around just as naturally as in any other European seaside destination.

This coexistence of different faiths and the mutual tolerance that comes with it is one of the defining traits of today's Albania. During his visit to the country in 2014, Pope Francis singled out precisely this ability of different religious communities to live together peacefully.

Albania is simply a country where it often matters more that you are Albanian than which religion you belong to.

Albania is not only the sea

The sea tends to be the first reason people come to Albania. It is certainly not the last.

Within a few hours you can move from the sandy beaches of the Adriatic to the mountains, to historic towns, or to the dramatic coastline of the Ionian sea.

There are the stone towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, historic Krujë, Tirana, or more than two thousand years of history in Durrës.

The north offers the Albanian Alps, Theth and Valbona; the south mountain passes, turquoise bays and the Albanian Riviera.

And along with it the local cuisine, fresh fish and seafood, olive oil, mountain cheeses, vegetables ripened in the sun and, of course, Albanian coffee and raki.

In a single day Albania can be Mediterranean, Balkan, alpine and thoroughly modern.

Albania as we see it

Albania is not perfect. Which is exactly why we do not want to paint a perfect picture of it.

It is a country of contrasts that is developing at remarkable speed. Next to modern residential projects you will still find small family restaurants, traditional villages and places where time seems to have almost stopped.

And that combination is what we enjoy about it most. At I am Albania we have known the country for years and know it personally. We know which locations are changing, we know the local developers, and we see the projects not only as renderings but on the ground.

If you are thinking about a property in Albania, we will gladly show you not just the apartments themselves, but also the setting you are buying into.

Because in our view a good property decision should start with getting to know Albania itself.

Something in brief about Albania: