Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Albania Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Durrës' property market is included in our pack
This guide covers everything you need to know about running an Airbnb in Durrës in 2026, from legal requirements to realistic profit expectations.
We break down current housing prices in Durrës, occupancy rates, and what neighborhoods work best for short-term rentals.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest regulations and market data for Durrës.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Durrës.
Insights
- Durrës Airbnb hosts earn roughly 75% of their annual revenue in just three summer months (June through August), making cash flow planning essential for new investors in this Albanian coastal market.
- The average nightly rate for Airbnb listings in Durrës sits around 6,200 ALL (about $75 or €64), but beachfront properties in Vollga and Currila can command 50% higher prices.
- With approximately 4,000 active short-term rental listings in Durrës, competition is fierce in the €40 to €80 per night price bracket where most studios and one-bedroom apartments cluster.
- New 2026 tax rules require Durrës hosts to declare rental income through Albania's DIVA system and pay 15% tax, but individual hosts with one property typically do not need a business registration.
- Top-performing Airbnb hosts in Durrës achieve 55% to 70% annual occupancy, while average hosts hover around 35% to 45%, a gap that often comes down to professional photos and instant booking.
- Two-bedroom apartments in Durrës hit the sweet spot for bookings because they capture both couples and small family groups traveling to the Albanian Riviera.
- Winter occupancy in Durrës drops to 15% to 30%, but hosts who market their properties as remote-work-friendly can tap into Tirana spillover demand during the off-season.
- Building rules in newer Plazh condo developments often restrict short-term rentals even though the city itself has no explicit Airbnb ban, so due diligence on HOA regulations is critical.
- The Durrës Marathon weekend and summer ferry arrivals from Italy create predictable demand spikes that savvy hosts can capture with dynamic pricing adjustments.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Durrës in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, short-term renting is generally allowed in Durrës as long as you operate within Albania's tourism and tax framework.
The main legal framework governing short-term rentals in Durrës is Albania's Law No. 93/2015 "On Tourism," which defines what counts as accommodation activity and sets expectations for providers.
The single most important requirement for Airbnb hosts in Durrës is properly declaring and paying taxes on rental income, which from 2026 is handled through the DIVA electronic system at a 15% rate for individuals.
If you operate without declaring your income, you risk penalties from the tax administration, though enforcement has historically focused more on bringing hosts into compliance than on heavy fines.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Albania.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Albania.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Durrës as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are no government-mandated minimum-stay requirements or maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnb listings in Durrës.
These rules do not differ by property type or host residency status in Durrës, meaning apartments, villas, and holiday homes all operate under the same flexible framework with no restrictions on how many nights you can rent out.
Since there are no official caps to track, hosts in Durrës focus instead on accurate income reporting through the DIVA tax system rather than counting rental nights for compliance purposes.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Durrës right now?
There is no residency requirement for operating an Airbnb in Durrës, meaning you do not need to live in the property to rent it out short-term.
Owners of secondary homes and investment properties can legally operate short-term rentals in Durrës, and this is actually quite common given that many Durrës apartments are owned by Tirana residents who use them as beach getaways.
No additional permits or conditions apply specifically to non-primary residence rentals in Durrës beyond the standard tax declaration requirements that apply to all hosts.
In practice, there is no meaningful difference in rules between renting out a primary residence versus a secondary home in Durrës, which makes it one of the more flexible markets in Europe for short-term rental investors.
Don't buy the wrong property, in the wrong area of Durrës
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Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Durrës right now?
Yes, you can legally operate multiple Airbnb listings under one name in Durrës, though the more properties you manage, the more likely you will be treated as a business rather than a casual host.
There is no official maximum number of properties one person can list for short-term rental in Durrës, but operating at scale puts you in a different regulatory category with stricter expectations.
Hosts with multiple listings in Durrës should expect to register as a business through the National Business Center (QKB) and maintain formal accounting, whereas single-property hosts can often stay in the simpler individual tax declaration lane.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Durrës as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, individual hosts renting out one residential property in Durrës typically do not need a business tax ID (NIPT) and can declare income through the DIVA system at a 15% tax rate.
However, if you operate multiple units or run your rental like a staffed accommodation business, you should register through the National Business Center (QKB), which involves submitting identification documents and a basic business plan.
For individuals staying in the simpler DIVA lane, there are no licensing fees, but those registering a business will face standard QKB registration costs and ongoing compliance requirements.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Durrës as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are no explicit city-wide neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Durrës based on the municipal sources we reviewed.
That said, restrictions can appear at the building level, particularly in newer Plazh condo developments and parts of Vollga and Currila where building administrations may have their own rules against short-term stays.
The main reason for these building-level restrictions in Durrës is neighbor complaints about noise and turnover in residential buildings that were not designed for hotel-style traffic.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Albania compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Durrës in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average nightly price for an Airbnb in Durrës is approximately 6,200 ALL ($75 or €64), while the median nightly price sits around 5,400 ALL ($65 or €56).
The typical nightly price range covering roughly 80% of Durrës listings falls between 3,300 ALL and 9,100 ALL ($40 to $110 or €35 to €95), depending on location and property quality.
The single biggest factor affecting nightly pricing in Durrës is proximity to the beach, with properties offering a true five to ten minute walk to the sand commanding significantly higher rates than those further inland.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Durrës.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, nightly prices in Durrës can vary by more than 100%, ranging from around 3,700 ALL (€40 or $45) in budget-friendly areas like central Durrës to over 11,000 ALL (€130 or $150) in premium waterfront spots like Vollga and Currila.
The three neighborhoods with the highest average nightly prices in Durrës are Vollga and Currila (4,600 to 11,000 ALL or €55 to €130), Gjiri i Lalëzit near Lalëz Bay (7,500 to 18,000 ALL or €90 to €220 for villas), and the beachfront strip of Plazh including Lagjja 13 (3,700 to 9,100 ALL or €45 to €110).
The three neighborhoods with the lowest average nightly prices are central Durrës near the amphitheatre (3,300 to 7,500 ALL or €40 to €90), Golem (3,300 to 8,300 ALL or €40 to €100), and Mali i Robit (3,300 to 8,300 ALL or €40 to €100), though these areas still attract steady bookings from budget-conscious travelers and families looking for beach access without premium pricing.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the typical occupancy rate for Airbnb listings in Durrës averages around 42% annually across all property types.
The realistic occupancy rate range covering most listings in Durrës spans from 15% to 30% in winter months up to 75% to 90% during the July and August peak season.
Compared to Albania's national average and other Adriatic coastal destinations, Durrës performs similarly to regional peers, with strong summer demand offset by a pronounced off-season dip that is typical of beach-focused markets.
The single biggest factor for achieving above-average occupancy in Durrës is combining a beachfront location with professional listing optimization, including quality photos, instant booking, and competitive pricing during shoulder season.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in Durrës is approximately 330,000 ALL ($3,970 or €3,400).
The realistic monthly revenue range covering roughly 80% of Durrës listings falls between 83,000 ALL and 540,000 ALL ($1,000 to $6,500 or €860 to €5,600), with significant variation based on season and property quality.
Top Airbnb listings in Durrës, particularly well-located sea-view apartments and premium villas, can achieve 620,000 ALL to 830,000 ALL ($7,500 to $10,000 or €6,400 to €8,600) during peak summer months. For context, a top-performing two-bedroom beachfront apartment charging €130 per night at 85% occupancy would generate roughly €3,300 in a single August month.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Durrës.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, low-season monthly revenue for a typical Airbnb in Durrës ranges from 33,000 to 83,000 ALL (€400 to €1,000 or $480 to $1,200), while high-season monthly revenue can reach 290,000 to 620,000 ALL (€3,500 to €7,500 or $4,200 to $9,000) for well-positioned properties.
Low season in Durrës runs from November through March when beach demand drops significantly, while high season spans June through August when the city transforms into a bustling Adriatic resort destination with shoulder months in May, September, and early October offering moderate demand.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly expenses for operating an Airbnb in Durrës range from 29,000 to 75,000 ALL (€350 to €900 or $420 to $1,080) during low season and 75,000 to 150,000 ALL (€900 to €1,800 or $1,080 to $2,160) during high season when turnover increases.
The single largest expense category for Durrës Airbnb hosts is typically cleaning and laundry, which can run 2,000 to 4,000 ALL (€25 to €50 or $30 to $60) per turnover and adds up quickly during busy summer months with frequent guest changeovers.
Hosts in Durrës should typically expect to spend between 35% and 50% of gross revenue on operating expenses when self-managing, or 50% to 65% when using a professional property management company that charges 15% to 25% of revenue.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Durrës.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly net profit for a self-managed Airbnb in Durrës ranges from 140,000 to 190,000 ALL (€1,700 to €2,300 or $2,040 to $2,760) on an average month, with profit per available night landing around 2,900 to 5,000 ALL (€35 to €60 or $42 to $72).
The realistic monthly net profit range covering most Durrës listings spans from near zero or small losses in winter months to 250,000 to 415,000 ALL (€3,000 to €5,000 or $3,600 to $6,000) during peak summer for well-optimized properties.
Self-managing hosts in Durrës typically achieve net profit margins of 50% to 65% during good months, while those using professional management see margins compress to 35% to 50% after management fees.
The break-even occupancy rate for a typical Airbnb listing in Durrës sits around 25% to 35%, meaning most hosts cover their fixed costs even during slower shoulder months.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Durrës, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Albania versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How competitive is Airbnb in Durrës as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Durrës as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are approximately 3,500 to 4,500 active short-term rental listings in the broader Durrës market, including Airbnb and Vrbo properties across the beach belt from Plazh to Golem and Mali i Robit.
This number has grown steadily over the past several years as Albania's tourism sector expanded, though the rate of new listings has begun to moderate as the market matures and competition intensifies in prime beachfront locations.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Durrës as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods for Airbnb in Durrës are Plazh (including the Lagjja 13 area), Golem, Mali i Robit, and the central Durrës area near the main squares, where hundreds of similar listings compete for the same guest pool.
These areas became saturated because they offer the combination of beach proximity and established tourist infrastructure that makes them obvious choices for both guests searching and hosts listing, creating a self-reinforcing concentration of supply.
Relatively undersaturated neighborhoods that may offer better opportunities for new Durrës hosts include Currila (premium waterfront with fewer listings), parts of Gjiri i Lalëzit for villa-style properties, and inland central locations that could appeal to off-season business travelers or those visiting Durrës for non-beach reasons.
What local events spike demand in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main events that spike Airbnb demand in Durrës are the summer beach season from June through August, the Durrës Marathon weekend which draws over 1,000 runners from 18 countries, and peak ferry arrival periods when travelers arrive from Italy through the port.
During these peak events, hosts in Durrës typically see booking rates increase by 30% to 50% and can raise nightly prices by 20% to 40% compared to normal periods, with the most dramatic spikes occurring during the first two weeks of August.
Smart hosts in Durrës should adjust their pricing and availability at least four to six weeks before major events, and ideally set up dynamic pricing rules that automatically capture demand surges around the marathon, summer holidays, and long weekends.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, top-performing Airbnb hosts in Durrës achieve annual occupancy rates of 55% to 70%, significantly outperforming during both peak and shoulder seasons through better positioning and guest experience.
By comparison, average hosts in Durrës hover around 35% to 45% annual occupancy, often leaving gaps even during busy summer weekends due to suboptimal pricing, poor photos, or listings that lack instant booking.
New hosts in Durrës typically need 12 to 18 months of consistent operation, positive reviews, and listing optimization to reach top-performer occupancy levels, though those who start with professional photos and competitive pricing can accelerate this timeline.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Durrës.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Durrës right now?
The nightly price range with the highest concentration of Airbnb listings in Durrës falls between 3,300 and 6,600 ALL (€40 to €80 or $48 to $96), where hundreds of studios and one-bedroom beach apartments compete fiercely on nearly identical offerings.
The most crowded price points in Durrës where you will face intense competition are €50 to €70 per night for basic beachfront apartments, while "white space" opportunities exist in the €80 to €140 range for well-appointed two-bedroom family units and in the winter-friendly €35 to €50 segment for remote workers.
Property characteristics that would allow a new host to successfully compete in the underserved segments include dedicated parking (huge in summer), proper heating and a work desk for winter stays, real beds rather than sofa beds, and premium finishes in the Vollga or Currila waterfront areas where supply is thinner.
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What property works best for Airbnb demand in Durrës right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Durrës as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments get the most bookings on Airbnb in Durrës, with two-bedrooms offering the best balance of booking volume and revenue potential.
The estimated booking rate breakdown by bedroom count in Durrës is roughly 25% for studios, 35% for one-bedrooms, 30% for two-bedrooms, and 10% for three-bedroom-plus properties, reflecting the mix of couples and small family groups that dominate beach travel.
Two-bedroom units perform particularly well in Durrës because they capture both traveling couples who appreciate extra space and small families with children, the two largest guest segments for Albanian coastal destinations during summer.
What property type performs best in Durrës in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, modern apartments and condos in Plazh, Vollga, Currila, or central Durrës are the best-performing property type for consistent year-round Airbnb returns, especially units with elevator access and parking.
Occupancy rates across property types in Durrës vary significantly: apartments average 40% to 50% annually with steady shoulder-season demand, villas achieve higher peak-season revenue but drop to 20% to 35% occupancy in winter, and unique stays remain too rare in the market to draw meaningful conclusions.
Apartments outperform other property types in Durrës because they offer the combination of affordability, location flexibility, and year-round utility that matches what most travelers to this coastal city are actually seeking, whereas villas depend heavily on the compressed summer season.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Durrës, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Official Gazette (QBZ) | This is Albania's official publication portal for all laws and amendments. | We used it to anchor what counts as tourism and accommodation activity under Albanian law. We also used it to verify legal requirements rather than relying on hearsay. |
| Ministry of Tourism (Law 93/2015 PDF) | It's a government-hosted copy of the tourism law used in practice by the ministry. | We used it for readable definitions and terminology around accommodation structures. We cross-checked it against the Official Gazette to confirm currency. |
| Bank of Albania | This is the central bank's official reference rate for ALL versus EUR and USD. | We used it to convert all revenue, ADR, and expense figures consistently for January 2026. We used the "Last update" rates visible on the page for accuracy. |
| INSTAT | INSTAT is Albania's national statistics office and the primary source for official data. | We used it to validate that Albania's visitor nights and accommodation demand were growing into 2026. We used it as a reality check against platform-only data. |
| UN Tourism | UN Tourism is the United Nations agency for tourism and a top-tier global data source. | We used it to frame regional travel momentum heading into 2026. We used it only for high-level context rather than city-level calculations. |
| AirDNA | AirDNA is a widely used short-term rental data provider with transparent methodology and broad coverage. | We used it as the primary quantitative base for occupancy, ADR, and revenue for the Durrës market. We treated it as the baseline and sanity-checked with other datasets. |
| Airbnb Help Center | It's the platform's own compliance guidance entry point for hosts worldwide. | We used it as a checklist of rule categories hosts must verify. We did not treat it as a substitute for Albanian law but as a way to avoid missing compliance buckets. |
| QKB (National Business Center) | QKB is Albania's official one-stop shop for business registration and licensing. | We used it to ground the "when do I need to register a business" question. We used it to describe the compliant pathway for professional hosting. |
| QKB Commercial Register | This is the official portal for registered business entities and filings in Albania. | We used it to support the statement that business activity is formalized through QKB. We used it to frame single versus multiple listings as a compliance threshold. |
| HLB Albania | HLB is an established international accounting network with local expertise in Albanian tax law. | We used it to explain the practical 2026 reporting workflow in plain terms. We cross-checked key claims with Albanian media quoting the tax administration. |
| Euronews Albania | This is a major news outlet that explicitly attributes its claims to the tax authority. | We used it to corroborate the "no NIPT needed for individuals" point. We used it only where it clearly quotes or attributes to official sources. |
| Municipality of Durrës (Bashkia Durrës) | This is the municipality's official publication channel for local decisions and plans. | We used it to check whether Durrës had published local decisions targeting short-term rentals. We found no explicit STR ban in the materials we reviewed. |
| Porta Vendore | It's a specialized Albanian local-governance portal that indexes municipal planning documents. | We used it as a discovery layer to locate Durrës planning materials. We used it to reduce the risk of missing documents published outside the main municipal feed. |
| RTSH (Albanian Public Broadcaster) | RTSH is Albania's public broadcaster and is generally reliable for major local events. | We used it as an example of a recurring demand spike affecting weekends in Durrës. We used it to keep event references specific to Durrës rather than generic. |
| Direct Ferries | It's a major ferry booking aggregator that shows actual route schedules and frequencies. | We used it to validate that Durrës functions as a high-frequency arrival node from Italy. We used it to explain why port traffic affects weekend demand patterns. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Albania. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
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