Digital Nomad Guide to Living in Albania

In this ultimate guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about living in Albania as a digital nomad. Albania’s biggest attraction is its beautiful and extensive coastline which attracts most of the country’s tourists. However, there are many other incredible places to see in the country. Albania also has pretty cobblestone towns, a … Read more

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In this ultimate guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about living in Albania as a digital nomad.

Albania’s biggest attraction is its beautiful and extensive coastline which attracts most of the country’s tourists. However, there are many other incredible places to see in the country.

Albania also has pretty cobblestone towns, a wealth of history to discover, and is home to some of the friendliest people. Pair all this with WiFi and affordable living, and you have a digital nomad’s dream.

I recently spent over two months living in Albania and fell in love with this relatively undiscovered country. As a digital nomad, it was a perfect base; read on as I share my experience and findings with you.

About Albania

Albania is a country of nearly 3 million people located in southeastern Europe. It shares a border with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south.

Albania is an incredibly diverse country. It shares a picturesque coastline with Croatia and Greece with the Ionian and Mediterranean Seas lapping at its shores. Inland, it has beautiful snow-capped mountains and a huge range of flora and fauna.

Its capital is the stunning and modern city of Tirana which retains poignant and important reflections of its communist past. It’s a country of beautiful nature and fascinating history and I believe it offers something for everyone.

Albania for Digital Nomads

As a digital nomad in Albania, you’ll have the choice of varying and diverse cities and landscapes to live and work in.

Throughout the major cities in Albania, the WiFi speeds and reliability are good. This is supported by a great 4G network which makes living in Albania as a digital nomad a great choice.

The cafe culture here is also conducive to being a remote worker in Albania. Most cafes have good WiFi and sitting for hours with a coffee and working on your laptop is common and encouraged.

Along with the infrastructure, the choice between cosmopolitan cities or beachfront towns makes Albania a great choice for digital nomads.

☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Best Cities for Digital Nomads

Best Places to Live in Albania

There are some amazing places to live in Albania, the location really depends on what you want from your digital nomad base; here are my 5 recommendations.

1. Tirana

Tirana is the capital city of Albania and its most populous area. It’s an excellent base for both digital nomads and expats in Albania.

What are the Best Areas to Live in Tirana?

You’re spoiled for choice with the different neighbourhoods in Tirana. For trendy bars, restaurants, and the best nightlife, head to Blloku. This neighbourhood was once reserved for the Communist elite but is now the place to be seen in Tirana.

If you prefer the traditional cafe culture then I suggest Zona 1 which has the largest fish market in Albania in the New Bazaar. It’s close to the central Skanderbeg Square but away from the crowds, with plenty of cafes and bars for people watching, (and working).

Komuna e Parisit is a great neighbourhood for families or for those that like green space. It’s still close to the bustling centre and is located near the Grand Park of Tirana and the Artificial Lake.

How to Find Apartments in Tirana

The best place to find short to mid-term apartments in Tirana is through Airbnb. There’s a huge range of options across all neighbourhoods of the capital city. Check out my 10 best Airbnbs in Tirana here.

Additionally, I recommend joining the “Expats in Tirana” Facebook group which can assist with accommodation and keep you up to date with everything happening in Tirana.

The more general group “Expats in Albania” is also helpful. Tirana features heavily in the group as the country’s capital city.

Coworking Spaces in Tirana

Tirana has the most, and the best, coworking spaces in the country. The only difficulty is choosing which one to join.

Dutch Hub is perfectly located in the heart of Blloku. So, if you’re staying in this area and want to be in amongst the action, Dutch Hub is a great option. It has plenty of private and semi-private office options for those wanting some seclusion.

Coolab is one of my favourite coworking spaces in the Balkans. It has a great cafe out the front and a coworking space to the rear. There are many hot desks available as well as private meeting and conference rooms. The tennis tables also create a great blend of work and play.

As well as the formal spaces, nearly every cafe in the city offers WiFi and a great, cool place to sit and work away from the heat. The chains of Mulliri Vjeter and Sophie are great, reliable options. For something quirkier, head to Komiteti, an incredible cafe museum. Stay after your work is complete to enjoy a cocktail or two.

Things to Do in Tirana

Tirana is packed full of culture, history, and nature. You’ll never be bored as a digital nomad in Albania whilst here.

One of my favourite things to do in Tirana is to take a walking tour around the city. I love a walking tour but the Tirana option really is excellent. It’s helpful to learn your way around the city and teaches you about the recent Communist history of the city and the country as a whole.

I highly recommend taking the cable car, (The Dajti Expres), up to the Dajti mountains. Here, you’ll find lots of activities such as horse riding and ATV tours, as well as a panoramic restaurant with incredible views over the city.

If you’re a foodie like me, I advise you to explore the restaurants in Blloku. There seems to be a new bar and restaurant opening in Blloku every week which makes the food scene really exciting.

Head to Komiteti cafe and museum for a stunning blend of communist artefacts and excellent food and drinks. If you’re looking to try some interesting local dishes,  Era is an excellent restaurant to try some traditional Albanian cuisine with a modern twist.

For some more inspiration for living in the city, take a look at my best things to do in Tirana blog.

2. Durres

Durres is the second largest city in Albania and is located on the western coastline of the Adriatic Sea.

It’s an important port city in Albania and is a great base for digital nomads in Albania due to its modern infrastructure and coastal location. It also has a great nightlife scene and a lot of fun things to do when you’re not working.

Where are the Best Areas to Live in Durres?

If you want to be in a central location in the heart of the action then head to the central square on Rruga Aleksander Goga. It’s a recently renovated public square surrounded on all sides by bars and restaurants; both international and local.

For sea views within the city itself then you can find lots of accommodation options along Rruga Taunlantia which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. It’s an easy walk to the centre and has a beautiful promenade for relaxing evening walks along the seafront.

If you want to be by the beach, then you’ll have to head slightly east out of the city towards Durres beach on the other side of the port. This long stretch of beach offers plenty of apartment options with easy transport links back into the centre.

How to Find Apartments in Durres

There are a lot of Airbnb options in Durres as you may expect of the second largest city. Airbnb is increasingly popular in Albania and Durres is no exception.

Aside from Airbnb, check the “Expats in Albania” group mentioned above which often shares some good options for Durres.

For a more specific Durres focused Facebook group, I recommend joining “Expats, Immigrants & Albanians in Durres“. Despite its slightly lengthy name, it has lots of advice and options from those already based in Durres.

Coworking Spaces in Durres

Despite its size, there aren’t any formal coworking spaces in Durres. However, what it lacks in office space, it makes up for in cafes and bars for coworking.

Oborri Lounge Bar is a really cool cafe during the day and a bar by night, with a laid-back feel and colourful décor. The tables are a good size to work at and the WiFi is reliable. They have snacks and pastries during the day for that much-needed fuel whilst your work.

The Wall is another good bar option for working during the day. It has plenty of seating both inside and out. It has good WiFi and the drinks and food options are well-priced. It’s conveniently located close to the central square so is simple to reach.

Things to Do in Durres

For fans of ancient history then a trip to Durres wouldn’t be complete without a visit