Written by a Tirana native, since 2004
I’m Elvis Plaku — born and raised in Tirana, and I’ve lived here my entire life. Since September 2004 I’ve been writing Albanian Blogger, one of the oldest English-language blogs about Albania still running.
Who I Am
My name is Elvis Plaku, and I was born and raised right here in Tirana — I’ve lived in this city my whole life. I started this blog back in September 2004, which makes it one of the oldest English-language blogs about Albania still running. I work in web development and digital marketing by day (I run a small agency called Sfida.PRO), but writing about life in Albania has always been the thing that keeps me coming back to the keyboard after hours.
Why This Blog Exists
When I started Albanian Blogger, there was almost nothing online about Albania in English — no honest, on-the-ground perspective from someone who was actually from here and living it. Most coverage came from foreign journalists parachuting in for a story, or travel writers passing through for a weekend. I wanted to fill that gap: to give readers an unfiltered look at what daily life in Albania is really like, written by someone who has lived it every single day. Over two decades later, that mission hasn’t changed. Albania has transformed enormously since 2004, and this blog has documented that journey — the construction boom, the café culture explosion, the rise of tourism, and the everyday moments that never make the news.
What I Write About
A bit of everything, honestly. Albanian culture and traditions, travel tips and hidden gems, daily life in Tirana, history you won’t find in guidebooks, the food scene (which deserves far more attention than it gets), and practical guides for anyone thinking about visiting, moving to, or doing business in Albania. I also write about the Albanian diaspora experience, since so many of us are spread across Italy, Germany, the UK, and beyond. I try to cover the things real people actually search for — from how to get a SIM card at the airport to what it’s really like raising a family here.
What Makes This Different
I’m not a travel writer passing through, and I’m not a newcomer who arrived last year. Tirana is my hometown. I deal with the traffic on Rruga e Durrësit, argue over coffee bills at the local bar, navigate the bureaucracy, and celebrate the small wins that make life here uniquely rewarding. That insider perspective is something you can’t fake. When I tell you a neighborhood is worth visiting or a restaurant is overrated, it comes from a lifetime here — not a 48-hour press trip.
Who this blog is for
Tourists
Planning a first trip and wanting the real Tirana, not the brochure version.
Digital Nomads
Scouting Tirana as a base — cost of living, coworking, and connectivity.
The Diaspora
Albanians abroad wanting to reconnect with home and keep up with how it’s changing.
The Curious
Anyone fascinated by this corner of the Balkans who wishes they could just ask a local.