One of the best digital nomad destinations in Europe is a surprising country you might not expect.
It’s not Portugal, it’s not Spain, it’s not Croatia… it’s actually Albania!
This Balkan country had a record-setting year for tourism in 2023 and it’s only expected to become more popular in 2024. And many of the visitors flocking to Albania are digital nomads.
So what’s the big deal about Albania?
It might not be the first place you think of as a digital nomad hotspot, but it’s growing fast in popularity. Wondering why?
Here’s why Albania is perfect for digital nomads…
Easy To Stay Long-Term
If you’re American, Albania has one of the chillest “digital nomad visas” in Europe.
And that’s because you don’t even need a special visa in order to stay in the country for up to 365 days.
That’s right, Americans can stay in Albania for up to a year just as a tourist!
This is a huge deal considering how difficult it is to stay in most European countries long-term. The majority of Europe is part of the Schengen Zone, and you can only stay in Schengen Zone countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Popular digital nomad destinations like Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria used to not be a part of the Schengen Zone, but as of 2024, they are all now a part of it.
So Albania is one of your last options for staying in Europe long-term without a lot of red tape.
This makes it a really attractive option for digital nomads.
Albania Is Stunning
One of the reasons that Albania is so popular with tourists is because it’s gorgeous.
Like, really, really gorgeous.
Albania might not be what comes to mind when you picture a European beach destination, and yet this country has some of the best beaches on the whole continent.
Since Albania is on the Adriatic Sea, you’ll find beaches with the clearest turquoise-blue water you’ve ever seen.
And it’s all so much cheaper than Greece or Croatia!
For beach lovers, some of the best digital nomad destinations in the country are located along the coast.
Durres and Sarande are two resort cities along the Adriatic that are popular with digital nomads, while Ksamil is a smaller beach town that is also growing as a digital nomad hotspot.
And it’s not just beaches — Albania also has gorgeous mountains, lakes, and impossibly quaint small towns.
I love Berat and Gjirokaster, two historic small towns you can’t miss while in Albania.
And the capital city Tirana is funky and cool too.
This is where I stayed in Albania, and while it’s not on the coast, it’s a great base for exploring the rest of the country.
Extremely Affordable Cost Of Living
Finally, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room — the cost of living.
With insanely expensive prices in most of the United States and Europe, many digital nomads are looking for an affordable destination to call home for a while.
And Albania fits the bill perfectly. It’s one of the cheapest countries in Europe, with prices that are on par with affordable destinations in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
You’ll be able to save a lot of money living in Albania so that you can spend your weekends exploring all the beauty the country has to offer, or checking out countries nearby — Greece and Italy are both just a 1-hour flight away, and you can drive to underrated destinations like Ohrid in North Macedonia.
Just how cheap is Albania? A single person can easily live on under $1,500 a month in Albania.
It doesn’t get much cheaper than that anywhere in Europe.
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