Saranda in Albania isn’t an architectural gem in its own right. Through the 1990s and the early 2000s, a wall of not-exactly-pretty concrete apartment blocks sprang up here, and in summer the town bursts at the seams. But as a base for exploring southern Albania it works absolutely brilliantly – it’s cheap, well equipped and sits right in the middle of everything worth seeing in the south.
From the mile-long promenade you can look across to Greek Corfu, from where crowds of tourists pour in every day on fast ferries. Within easy reach you have ancient Butrint, the natural Blue Eye, turquoise Ksamil and the entire Ionian Riviera stretching north all the way to the Llogara Pass. Saranda is simply the place where you bed down and head off somewhere different every day.
In this guide you’ll find 12 tips for Saranda and the surrounding area – from the evening promenade and Lëkurësi Castle through day trips to Butrint, Corfu and the Blue Eye, right up to the prettiest beaches on the riviera. We’ll also help you work out when to come, how to get here and how to avoid being stung by a dodgy exchange rate.
TL;DR
- Why come: The best base in southern Albania – cheap, lively and in the middle of every day trip.
- When to come: June and September (warm sea, bearable crowds). ⚠️ Avoid August.
- How to get here: By ferry from Corfu (30 min), by car or bus from Tirana (4–5 h), or on a Balkan road trip.
- Don’t miss: Sunset from Lëkurësi Castle, a trip to Butrint and the Blue Eye, a swim in Ksamil.
- Trip to Corfu: The fast ferry makes a day hop over to Greece easy.
- Riviera to the north: Himara, Dhërmi, Borsh and Porto Palermo for quieter beaches.
- Money ⚠️: Pay in lek, choose ALL on the card terminal (not “home currency”), and keep cash for entry fees.
When to go and how to get to Saranda
Southern Albania is best explored in June and September, when the Ionian Sea is a pleasant 24–26 °C, the beaches aren’t packed and accommodation prices drop by tens of percent compared with peak season. Give August a wide berth – it means heat over 35 °C, traffic gridlock and the highest prices. May and October give you the riviera almost without people, though they’re borderline for swimming.
There are several ways into Saranda. The quickest is the ferry from Greek Corfu, which gets you here in roughly half an hour – ideal if you fly into Corfu or fancy a day trip to Greece. If you fly straight into Albania, the nearest airport is in Tirana, from where you can reach Saranda by car or long-distance bus in 4–5 hours along the new coastal route. From the UK there are no direct flights to Saranda itself, so most travellers fly into Tirana or Corfu (easyJet, Wizz Air and Ryanair all serve Tirana from London and other UK airports) and continue from there. A classic option for the adventurous is a Balkan road trip (Croatia – Montenegro – Albania); your own car is hands down the most comfortable way to explore the riviera.
💡 Tip: For trips to Butrint, the Blue Eye and along the riviera, a hire car is by far the most practical option. Public transport in the south is slow – there are cheap shared minibuses (furgon), but you can’t really build a day around them.
Where to stay in Saranda
💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which tends to have the best cancellation terms. For tickets, tours and activities it pays to compare and book through GetYourGuide.
Saranda is an ideal base, and accommodation here ranges from cheap apartments to resorts with their own beach. The best bet is to stay close to the promenade, so you have the evening buzz, restaurants and the ferry port within easy reach. If you want peace and quiet, pick a hotel just above the centre or out towards Ksamil, where it’s quieter and the bay views are often nicer.
Specific accommodation tips in Saranda, picked based on real reviews (on Booking, look for a score of 8.5+ and plenty of reviews):
- Cheap and central: Hotel Brilant (Saranda) – an affordable hotel in the centre of Saranda, a few steps from the promenade.
- Pool and value for money: SG Premium Resort (Saranda) – a modern resort with a pool and sea views, excellent reviews.
- Resort right on the beach: Santa Quaranta Premium Resort (Saranda) – an established resort with its own beach close to the centre.
- Views and quiet for couples: Bougainville Bay Hotel & Spa (Saranda) – an elegant hotel with a spa and panoramic bay views.
- A classic in the centre: Hotel Kaonia (Saranda) – a long-running hotel by the promenade, well placed for day trips.
💡 Tip: On Booking, go for a score of 8.5+ and plenty of reviews, and for apartments in the centre read the comments about noise from the bars. Book ahead – in season the best-value places fill up months in advance.
12 things to do in Saranda and the surrounding area
Saranda is a hub from which day trips fan out in every direction. Here are twelve things that make it worth using as a base.
1. The seafront promenade and the evening xhiro
When Saranda comes alive in the evening, it’s a completely different town. The mile-long seafront promenade fills with people doing the traditional xhiro – an evening social stroll from roughly 6 pm to 10 pm, walking back and forth, bumping into neighbours and sipping coffee. Grab a seat by the sea, get yourself an ice cream and soak up the pace of southern Albania; this is where Saranda shows its best side.
2. Lëkurësi Castle at sunset
On a hill above the town stands the 16th-century Ottoman fortress of Lëkurësi. Entry to the grounds is free, and the view of Saranda, Ksamil and Corfu glowing orange is one of the finest on the whole coast. On foot it’s about 45 minutes of fairly steep climbing; by car it’s just a few minutes. Plan it for late afternoon and stay for the sunset, ideally with a glass of wine at the on-site restaurant.
3. A day trip to ancient Butrint
Just a few kilometres south of Saranda lies Butrint – Albania’s first UNESCO site and perhaps the most beautiful archaeological park in the Balkans. Layers of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian history wash over one another here, all swallowed up by a lush national park: the ancient theatre, a baptistery with mosaics, the Lion Gate and a Venetian tower. Entry is 1,000 ALL (about €8–10); set aside 2–3 hours for a relaxed visit, ideally in the morning before the worst of the heat arrives.
4. The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër)
About 40 minutes inland, a natural wonder bubbles up from the ground – the Blue Eye, a powerful karst spring set in dense forest, its deep-blue “pupil” ringed by brilliantly turquoise edges. Entry is a symbolic 50 ALL (cash only), and it’s just under 2 km from the car park to the spring. ⚠️ The water is an icy 10 °C all year round, and swimming in the spring is officially banned to protect the ecosystem.
5. Swimming in Ksamil
Twelve kilometres south lies Ksamil, with its fine white gravel, shallow turquoise water and three little islets just off the shore – earning it the nickname “the Maldives of Europe”. You can make the most of the crowds and paid sunbeds by arriving early in the morning and steering clear of August. We covered Ksamil in detail in a separate article, Ksamil: beaches, islets and when to go.
6. A day trip to Corfu
A fast ferry to Greek Corfu leaves Saranda’s port several times a day, and the crossing takes only about half an hour. It’s a great way to add a day in Greece to your Albanian holiday – wander Corfu’s Venetian old town, tuck into some Greek specialities and head back in the evening. Don’t forget your travel documents, as you’re crossing an EU border.
7. Beaches right by Saranda
You don’t have to dash off to Ksamil. In Saranda itself and just outside town you’ll find pleasant beaches – the town beach by the promenade, the popular Mango Beach or the coves heading south. The water is clean, sunbeds are cheaper than in Ksamil, and after a swim it’s a short hop into the centre for dinner.
8. Himara and Porto Palermo
If you drive north along the coast road, you’ll hit Himara – a nice compromise between buzz and calm, with an authentic old town on the hill and lovely beaches (Livadhi, Llamani). A little further on lies Porto Palermo bay, with its photogenic Ali Pasha fortress on an islet linked to the mainland by a narrow spit (entry 300 ALL, lek only). A great full-day trip from Saranda.
9. Dhërmi and Drymades
The most stylish beaches on the central riviera are at the village of Dhërmi and neighbouring Drymades – crystal-clear water, a scene of modern beach clubs and a younger crowd. In August a wild party atmosphere reigns, while out of season it’s all peace and quiet and some of the prettiest pebble beaches in the country.
10. Borsh: the longest and cheapest beach
If you can’t stand fighting for a spot to lay your towel, head to Borsh. At roughly seven kilometres, it’s the longest beach on the Albanian Riviera, fringed by old olive groves, less commercial and noticeably cheaper than the rest of the coast. There’s always room here, and you can still feel the old, quiet Albania.
11. Gjipe Canyon for adventurers
For a bit of wilderness, head to Gjipe Canyon. The beach itself sits at the end of a rocky gorge; you can’t reach it by car, and you’re in for about a 40-minute walk downhill (or a boat transfer from nearby resorts). Facilities are minimal, so bring your own water and food – the reward is a wild, isolated cove with green-blue water and no rows of sunbeds.
12. Vlora and the Llogara Pass
The riviera’s northern gateway is the town of Vlora, where the shallow Adriatic mingles with the deep Ionian Sea. From here, boat trips set off to the Karaburun-Sazan marine national park. Above Vlora rises Llogara National Park: even though a new tunnel that shortens the journey opened in 2025, the old panoramic road over the pass at more than 1,000 m, with views out to sea, remains one of the most dramatic driving experiences in Europe.
What to eat in Saranda
Southern Albania is heavily influenced by Greek cuisine, so you’ll come across plenty of fresh vegetables, olive oil, cheeses and herbs. Good news for vegetarians.
- Byrek – crispy layered pastry filled with cheese or spinach, the cheap and filling king of street food.
- Fërgesë – a baked, creamy mix of peppers, tomatoes and curd cheese (gjizë) you dip bread into. A vegetarian classic.
- Greek-style salads – with feta, olives and tomatoes, refreshing in the heat.
- Grilled vegetables and tzatziki – many tavernas also offer hearty meat-free versions.
- Seafood – Saranda is famous for its fresh fish and seafood; a local speciality for non-vegetarians, while vegetarians can leave it to everyone else.
To finish, have an ice cream on the promenade or a strong Albanian coffee – they’re as much a part of the evening xhiro as the view of the sea.
Practical tips for Saranda and the riviera
- Pay in lek (ALL). Everyone will happily take euros, but at a poor rate. ⚠️ When paying by card, always choose the local currency (ALL), not “home” currency – otherwise the bank will fleece you for 5–10% (the DCC scam).
- Keep cash on you. Entry to Butrint, the Blue Eye and Porto Palermo is often cash only.
- Don’t drive at night. The coast road is full of sharp bends, has no lighting, and after dark you’ll often find stray dogs and livestock on it.
- Don’t drink tap water. Across the riviera, stick to bottled water, ideally even for brushing your teeth.
- ⚠️ Solo female travellers: While the rest of Albania is very safe, there are growing reports of harassment from local men in Saranda and Ksamil. Use common sense and ignore the catcalling.
Where to go next in southern Albania
Saranda is the springboard to the best of the south. For the prettiest beaches, head to Ksamil; you’ll find a complete overview of the coast in our guide to where to go to the seaside in Albania, and inspiration for the whole country in the article on what to see in Albania. Before you head north, take a look at the buzzing capital, Tirana, too.
🚗 Car rental on the road
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💡 Tip for day trips: The ferry to Corfu, tickets for Butrint and full-day boat trips along the riviera can all be compared and booked online in advance through GetYourGuide – in season the best slots fill up ahead of time.
Is it worth staying in Saranda?
Yes, for most travelers, Saranda is the best base in southern Albania. It’s not architecturally beautiful in itself, but it’s cheap, well-equipped, comes alive in the evening with its promenade, and is within easy reach of Butrint, the Blue Eye, Ksamil, and the ferry to Corfu. You stay in one place and head out to something different every day.
How do I get from Saranda to Corfu?
Several times a day, a fast ferry to the Greek island of Corfu departs from the port in Saranda, and the journey takes about half an hour. It’s a popular day trip as well as a way to travel to Albania (if you’re flying into Corfu). Don’t forget your travel document, as you’re crossing the EU border, and buy your tickets in advance during the season.
What can you do around Saranda?
Right within reach you have ancient Butrint (UNESCO), the natural spring Blue Eye, turquoise Ksamil, and sunset from Lëkurësi castle. To the north along the riviera lie quieter beaches Himara, Dhërmi and Borsh, the fortress Porto Palermo, and the dramatic Llogara Pass. You can also pop over to Corfu for a day.
When is the best time to go to Saranda?
Best in June or September, when the sea is 24–26 °C, beaches are half-empty and accommodation prices lower. Avoid August due to heat over 35 °C, crowds and traffic jams. May and October are quiet and cheap, but the water is cooler.
Is Saranda expensive?
Saranda is one of the most affordable bases in the Mediterranean, although prices have been rising in recent years (the Albanian lek has strengthened). Accommodation and food are still significantly cheaper than in neighboring Greece, but sunbeds and entrance fees in the south are approaching the European average. You’ll save the most outside of August.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
