Sarandë

Sarandë, the gateway to southern Albania, is a small town of about 33,000 inhabitants, situated on a beautiful horseshoe bay between the mountains and the Ionian Sea. The name Saranda is derived from an early Christian monastery dedicated to Agioi Saranta (Forty Saints). In antiquity, Saranda was known as Onchesmus.

Opposite the Greek island of Corfu, Saranda is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and warm sea waters. Saranda typically has over 300 sunny days a year. Due to its location and warm weather, Saranda is one of the most attractive tourist towns on the Albanian Riviera, where honeymooners traditionally spend their holidays. Fronting the sea and along the main promenade, there are some hotels and restaurants.

Nearby Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

By boat
To the nearby Greek island of Corfu (New Port). The daily ferryboats are at 10:30; 13:00 and 16:30 (fewer out of season - check with the ticket office at the port). The 10:30 passage is a hydrofoil which takes about 25-45 minutes. The 16:30 is a car ferry. Corfu is one hour ahead of Albania. One way costs €19, return €38.

By bus
For buses to/from Tirana there are two itineraries: Tirana-Durres-Fieri-Vlora-Dhermi-Saranda or Tirana-Durresi-Fieri-Mallakastra-Tepelena-Gjirokastra-Saranda. If you travel through the Riviera (the first) you should pay more attention as the way is narrow.

There are lines to/from Vlore that go through the Riviera or "Bregu" (a line of picturesque, gorgeous Mediterranean beaches and villages; Bregu is the summer hostel of the Prime Minister and President). The line from Gjirokaster to Tepelene, Fier and Tirana also passes Sarandë. From Ioannina to Kakavi takes around 40 minutes by bus or taxi. When you reach Kakavi, you follow this itinerary: Kakavi-Gjirokaster-Jergucat-Qafe e Muzines-Sarandë.

From Igoumenitsa (Greece) there are 3 buses per day to the Mavromati - Qafe Bote border (3,50 €, 45 minutes). After crossing the border there are taxis: a ride to Butrint costs around 10-15 €.

For connections between Sarandë and Butrint/Ksamil check the timetable in the picture.

Otherwise, there is always Gjirafa.com to find connections in Albania.

By car
From Kosovo and North Macedonia follow this itinerary to reach Saranda: Struga-Qafe Thana-Librazhd-Elbasani-Rrogozhina-Fier and so on.

It is connected with Greece by land: (i) By the border of Qafe Bota with Igoumenitsa; (ii) By the border of Kakavi with Ioannina.

The tourists, who come here from Greece, reach the border of Kakavi in two ways: from Ioannina and Igoumenitsa. From Ioannina to Kakavi takes around 40 min. When you reach Kakavi, you follow this itinerary: Kakavi-Gjirokaster-Jergucat-Qafe e Muzines-Sarandë. Though Qafe-Bota, the itinerary is Igoumenitsa-Qafe Bote-Sarandë, but the roadway is narrower.

A Greek taxi from Igoumenitsa costs €105 (August 2022). Travellers report that there are KTEL buses on the Greek side (from the border to Igoumenitsa, a Greek taxi is €40). Neither the fastest nor the cheapest but maybe the prettiest option for Igoumenitsa is a speedboat Sarandë/Corfu (€25, pedestrians only) and a ferry Corfu/Igoumenitsa (€8).

By air
The idea of an airport in the village of Viron is of great interest, because it is only 5 km from Saranda. A facility is the urban service offered nowadays.

Get around
The local bus from Sarandë center to Ksamil costs 150 lek (last updated 2022-08-18). It at the roundabout behind the harbour and public beach (there's even a timetable hanging on a street light) but also stops few times on its way.

It runs once per hour in both ways between 06:30 and 19:30.

The same bus continues to Butrint.

The SH81 road connecting Sarandë, Ksamil and Butrint is heavily congested in high season, especially around sunset when beach day trippers return from Ksamil to Sarandë. This affects not only the cars but also the busses and taxis. This means that a bus ride does not take significantly longer than taking a taxi or own car.

Do

 * After visiting Ali Pasha Tepelena Castle, you could go to the Pulbardha Beach and enjoy some great food and relax on the sandy beach.
 * After visiting Ali Pasha Tepelena Castle, you could go to the Pulbardha Beach and enjoy some great food and relax on the sandy beach.
 * After visiting Ali Pasha Tepelena Castle, you could go to the Pulbardha Beach and enjoy some great food and relax on the sandy beach.

Buy

 * Skenderbeu Cognac
 * Miniature bunker from alabaster
 * Albanische Mythologie book
 * Souvenirs made from sea shells in Ksamil
 * LLogara honey is a local speciality - it is sold by various merchants on the road.
 * LLogara honey is a local speciality - it is sold by various merchants on the road.

Eat
Sarandë is bustling with restaurants, cafes and bars. Fast food places offer a surprisingly cheap and tasty variety of options: €1 will usually get you a good souvlaki (usually pork) or a very nice crepe. Look out for yoghurt flavoured ice cream on the boardwalk, near the tourist info office.

Fresh fish is abundant in Saranda and available at most restaurants. Establishments next to the sea and fishing ports provide the freshest fish but generally speaking good seafood can be had all around.

There are a few places you can eat in Ksamil. At least 4 restaurants in Ksamil are open year-round, but in the summer there are a lot more options and many are just seconds from the beach. Most serve either sea food or a mix of pizza, Greek dishes and heavy meat based fast food.

Drink
Albanian raki, the local firewater.

Go next

 * Albanian Riviera
 * Borsh (N 35 km) a maritime village
 * Corfu in Greece is the island of grace and politeness. It lies opposite the coast of Epirus mainland and it is separated from Albania in the north part of it by a narrow strait of 1.5 sea miles. Corfu is the capital of the seven Ionian Islands with an area of 592 km², it is the second largest island of the Ionian Islands, with a beautiful coastline of 217 km. Corfu is also the greenest island of all Greece. The impressive vegetation of the island consist mainly of olive and cypress trees
 * Dhërmi one of the finest of the many beaches along the coastal road, perfect for camping.
 * Gjirokastër (N )— another UNESCO city in the south, it is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. There is a large castle on the hill in the middle of the city.
 * Korce (N via Tepelene several miles from the Greek border) —  this city is  full of life during the summer when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape.
 * Ksamil — Ksamil is located in southern Albania,near the city of Saranda. It is situated along the coast of the lonian Sea,close to the border with Greece. Ksamil is
 * 15 kilometers south of Saranda and is easily accessible by car or public transportation from the city center.
 * Përmet (NE approximately  from the Greek border.) — Nicknamed “The City of Roses,” Përmet is located in the Vjosa River Valley. The city is known for its clean environment and tradition of wine and raki making. Old Permet is worth a look. Around it: Benjë, and Leusë villages
 * Pogradec (NE ) — Overshadowed by its glitzy neighbors on the Macedonian side of the lake, the town of Pogradec has experienced a revival.
 * Tepelene (N ) there is a ruined citadel occupying a point 300 m above the Vjosë river
 * Fir of Hotova National Park (NE and  north of Permet)
 * Lukove part of the Albanian Riviera, here is Kakome, one of the most beautiful Albanian beaches
 * Vlorë (N ) lively seaside city, nice beaches south of town. Passenger ferries to and from Italy dock here.
 * Vuno (N ) a small village a few kilometres north to the town of Himarë
 * Himarë Greek/Albanian town on the seaside of the Albanian Riveria with beautiful beaches and an ancient old town