Wondering what it’s like living in Shkoder, Albania? If you’re planning to move to Albania or if you’re already here and looking for a new home base, Shkoder might be for you. Usually, Tirana gets the spotlight since it’s the capital, so there’s more modern amenities and comforts.
As Albania has had rapid growth, the capital has hit a boom which means it’s much busier and more costly now. This has many looking for Tirana alternatives when considering a move to Albania.
If you don’t have much time, check out my summary of the pros and cons of living in Shkoder below. Make sure to join my Shkoder community Facebook group to ask questions and be informed on any events.
Quick Access: Living in Shkoder Summary
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Pros Of Living In Shkoder
- Relatively close to two international airports
- Great location for exploring Montenegro too
- 30 minutes from the seaside
- Hiking paradise – gateway to the Albanian Alps
- The city layout is flat – great for cycling everywhere
- Lower cost of living (compared with Tirana)
- Ancient city with a cool castle
- Known for religious tolerance over the centuries
- A good degree of cultural preservation
- Charming city centre with pedestrian area
- A growing variety of foods available
- Still somewhat alive in the winter without tourism
- Safety is pretty good
Cons Of Living In Shkoder
- Known for lots of rainfall & flooding
- Can take a while to make local friends
- Not many foreigners living in Shkoder (this could be a pro too)
- Transition to the Gheg dialect of Albanian
Pros Of Living In Shkoder
There are a lot of great things about life in northern Albania, and for me, they tend to outweigh the negatives. It can sometimes feel like a little bubble but for the most part, it is awesome. Here are some of my pros of living in Shkoder!
1. Relatively Close To Two International Airports
Compared with other cities in Albania, Shkoder is well situated for international travel as it has two international airports relatively close by. Tirana International Airport is 1 hour 45 mins to 2 hours 30 mins away depending on traffic.
Podgorica International Airport is 1 hour 20 mins away, plus some extra time for the border crossing. Unfortunately, there are no direct buses to either of these airports and public transport can take extra time.
You do have the option of taking the bus to either Podgorica or Tirana (they run pretty frequently) and then taking a taxi from the bus station to the airport.
2. Great Location For Exploring Montenegro Too
As discussed, Montenegro is so close to Shkoder. It’s about 30 mins to reach the two primary, closest border crossings into Montenegro. Since Montenegro is pretty compact, you can see a lot of the country on day trips.
When you drive there, you will need to purchase insurance at the border for 15 euro but it lasts two weeks from my understanding so you can make the most of that by doing multiple trips.
3. 30 Minutes From The Adriatic Seaside
When you think of northern Albania, your mind might not necessarily go to the idea of a beach day. Shkoder is located in an ideal position so you can get your fix of sand and sun, without having the boring winters that often come with beachside cities in Albania.
There’s also a good range of beaches to visit. They aren’t the famous beaches of the Albanian Riviera by any means but still nice enough. I’d suggest visiting Rana e Hedhun – Thrown Sand Albania!
4. Hiking Paradise – Gateway To The Albanian Alps
Though all of Albania is ideal for hiking, what can be considered the “premium” hiking of Albania is in the Accursed Mountains. Because of their similarity, they are nicknamed the Albanian Alps, which is usually how they are referred to.
Shkoder City is known as the gateway for accessing this mountain range since public transport and tours usually leave from here. Check out my guide on the best day trips from Shkoder!
5. Shkodra City Layout Is Flat – Great For Cycling Everywhere
Unlike most Albanian cities, Shkoder is located on a very flat plain which is ideal for cycling everywhere. Shkoder is nicknamed the city of bikes for a reason.
After half a year of living in Shkoder, I finally got a bike, and what a game-changer it is for errands! You can also bypass traffic easily, which is great to save time, especially with the busy summer season.
6. Lower Cost Of Living (Compared With Tirana)
It’s no secret that many foreigners are attracted to the lower cost of living in Albania when compared with living in Western countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.
Of course, because of inflation and other economic factors, prices have gone up and it’s not as affordable as some people expect. This is very true if you base yourself in Tirana since it’s the capital. Prices are much higher there than in most places in Albania (the Albanian Riviera is also expensive).
Shkoder is a place that is still lively in the off-season but won’t break the bank with prices, it’s a nice middle ground.
7. Ancient City With A Cool Castle
Shkoder has a very long history – so much so that it’s named Albania’s Ancient City. The prominent castle in Shkoder, Rozafa Castle, has evidence showing its age to be from the Bronze Age.
There is also an interesting legend that surrounds this iconic fortress. Rozafa greets you on the road as you come from Tirana, giving a great first impression too.
8. Known For Religious Tolerance Over The Centuries
Shkoder’s intense past includes quite a bit of religious influences over the centuries, resulting in a lot of religious tolerance. Nowadays, when visiting you will notice the presence of many mosques and churches in close proximity.
Shkoder is also called the home of catholicism in Albania, there’s a whole complex with a dedicated museum for it. If you want to learn more, you can read more about Shkoder’s history here.
PSsst don't forget to cover yourself with travel insurance, my favorite is SafetyWing ✔️
9. A Good Degree Of Cultural Preservation
Albania in general has had tons of craziness happen in the last century. Unfortunately, this (and also current government corruption) has greatly impacted how Albania’s ancient history has been preserved.
Most museums are located in Tirana, which is a shame because there are many opportunities for more and for the current ones to be updated and expanded.
For a place outside of the capital, Shkoder actually has a good variety of museums and art galleries to check out. It’s super nice to have this preservation, especially when I have friends that come to visit. Check out my full guide on things to do in Shkoder!
10. Charming City Centre With Pedestrian Area
Shkoder has the feel of a small town but does have quite a range of surrounding neighborhoods to choose from. Shkoder city center has some cute places to hang out, have local food, and listen to live music.
The main pedestrian area is called Pedonale, so if you want to be close to things going on, it’s best to get an apartment nearby.
11. The Variety Of Foods Available Is Growing
In some places in Albania, you get the same cuisine in every restaurant or cafe. As an example, a beach town will have mostly seafood and pasta. A mountain town will most likely have hearty mountain cuisine. Shkoder has a great mix of all of the different types, plus a lot of new, foreign types of food as well.
New cafes and restaurants are branching out to expand beyond traditional food which gives way more options than ever before. Make sure you check out the best restaurants in Shkoder to get a vibe for what we have.
12. Still Somewhat Alive In The Winter Without Tourism
I have touched on this in previous paragraphs, but it is really important to note. I used to live in a very popular summer destination on the Albanian Riviera, the city of Saranda. Not only was it pretty expensive, but it was also completely dead in the winter.
Most of this is due to the weather, but also the fact that Saranda is kind of cut off from the rest of Albania because you have to take a 4.5/5 hour bus through the mountains to get there from Tirana. People are way less likely to come all that way from the capital for bad weather and no off-season activities.
In comparison, Shkoder is well connected to the capital with buses leaving every hour with a travel time of two hours, even in the winter months. With easier access and plenty of other economic activity beyond tourism, Shkoder stays alive in the winter.
13. Safety Is Pretty Good
Albania is generally very safe and Shkoder isn’t an exception. There are some things you should know though, I have had a few incidents. You can read more about it here in the guide to safety in Shkoder.
Cons Of Living In Shkoder
Like any place, there are downsides to settling in the Capital of Northern Albania. Here are a few cons of living in Shkoder Albania that I have encountered, things that you might want to be aware of beforehand.
1. Known For Lots Of Rainfall & Flooding
Due to Shkoder’s geographic location and weather from the nearby mountains, Shkoder has a lot of rain in the winter. Shkoder is positioned right next to Lake Shkoder – the largest lake in the Balkans, as well as three rivers!
When you combine this with the extremely flat nature of the city and poor city drainage, extreme flooding is common. Make sure to bring some rain boots.
2. Can Take A While To Make Local Friends
This phenomenon is not limited to Shkoder, but I wanted to mention this as it has been one of my biggest struggles as someone who loves having a social life, especially deep, nurturing friendships.
It is possible to make some friends, but I have found it difficult to make anything other than superficial connections. Recently, it has gotten better though.
Wondering where to go swimming near Shkoder? Check out this awesome sand dune beach - Rana e Hedhun or the crystal clear water at Shala River!
3. Not Many Foreigners Living In Shkoder (This Could Be A Pro Too)
Now on the one hand I do enjoy this because when I lived in Saranda there were a lot of foreigners living there in comparison, and also travelers always passing through.
It got to be too much as there is quite a bit of drama (and even scandal!). Shkoder is nice because it doesn’t have that, but since it can take a while to make local friends, this can be a negative to not have at least a few foreigners around.
4. Transition To The Gheg Dialect Of Albanian
If you’ve lived in other places in Albania, chances are you were hearing and learning the southern and official dialect of Albania – Tosk.
Moving and living in Shkoder means you will need to adapt to the northern dialect of Gheg as well as Shkoder slang and the Shkoder accent. I wouldn’t have imagined such a difference but trust me it exists!
Final Thoughts On Living In Shkoder
I hope this look into what life is like in Shkoder gives you some perspective on whether it’s a good fit for you. Everyone has different feelings, but the pros of living in Shkoder, greatly outweigh the cons.
If you enjoyed this guide to the positives and negatives of living in Shkoder, make sure to check out these pros and cons of being a digital nomad in Albania.
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