Sarandë
The lively gateway to the Riviera and the arrival point for ferries from Corfu — a busy seafront town of bars, beaches and boat trips.
Highlights
Seafront promenade (xhiro)Boat trips along the coastFerry hub from Corfu
Beaches
Sarandë town beachMango BeachPulëbardha
Sights
Lëkurësi Castle sunsetBlue Eye spring (day trip)
A short itinerary
- Day 1· Arrive, check in, wander and get your bearings
· First look: Lëkurësi Castle sunset - Day 2· Lëkurësi Castle sunset
· Beach time at Sarandë town beach
Good to know
- Arrive by ferry from Corfu in ~1 hour
- Drive up to Lëkurësi Castle for sunset
- Use as a base for Ksamil, Butrint and the Blue Eye
Where to stay
Sarandë is a base rather than a beauty. Choose your area by how much noise you can sleep through.
- The promenade and centre — Everything within walking distance: restaurants, the ferry port, the bus stops. It is also where the bars are, so expect noise until late in summer.
- Up the hill — The town climbs steeply, and rooms two or three streets up are quieter, cheaper and have the better view. You will be walking up at the end of every evening.
- Towards Çuka and Ksamil — Quieter and more resort-like, with the beaches closer. You will want a car.
What Sarandë is actually for
The town beach is unremarkable. What makes Sarandë worth a few nights is that four of the best things in southern Albania are within half an hour.
- Butrint — Twenty minutes south. A UNESCO site layered with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian remains, set in a lagoon.
- Ksamil — Twenty minutes south, and the water everyone comes to the region for.
- The Blue Eye — About half an hour inland. A spring so deep nobody has reached the bottom, pushing out startlingly cold water.
- Lëkurësi Castle — Fifteen minutes up the hill behind town, and the best sunset view over the bay and across to Corfu.
Getting there
- Ferry from Corfu — The main way in for most visitors. Around thirty minutes on the fast boat, up to seventy on the conventional one, arriving in the middle of town.
- From Tirana — Four and a half to five hours by bus or car.
- From Gjirokastër — Roughly an hour, which makes the two easy to combine.
- Getting around — Minibuses run along the coast to Ksamil frequently in summer. For Butrint and the Blue Eye a car or a tour is far easier.
How long to stay
- Two days — The town, Butrint and one beach afternoon.
- Three to four days — The right length if you want Ksamil, Butrint, the Blue Eye and a slow evening or two.
- A week — Works if you are using Sarandë as the base for the whole south, including day trips up to Himarë.
Worth knowing before you go
- The ferry to Corfu is a passport crossing between Albania and the EU. Allow time and carry the document you booked with.
- Book the Corfu ferry ahead in July and August, especially on Fridays and Sundays.
- The promenade is at its best in the hour after sunset, when the whole town walks it.
- Albania is outside EU roaming. An eSIM is cheaper than any roaming add-on.
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Where it is
Sarandë: frequently asked questions
Is Sarandë worth staying in?
As a base, yes. The town itself is ordinary, but Butrint, Ksamil, the Blue Eye and Lëkurësi Castle are all within half an hour, and it has the restaurants and transport links the villages do not.
How long is the ferry from Corfu to Sarandë?
About thirty minutes on the fast service and up to seventy minutes on the conventional one. It is a passport crossing, so allow time at both ends.
Where should I stay in Sarandë?
On the promenade if you want everything walkable and can sleep through noise. A few streets up the hill if you want quiet, a view and a lower price, at the cost of the climb.
How many days do you need in Sarandë?
Three to four if you want to do Butrint, Ksamil and the Blue Eye without rushing. Two if you are only passing through.
Is there a good beach in Sarandë?
The town beach is average. Ksamil is twenty minutes away and is the reason most people come to this stretch of coast.
Do you need a car in Sarandë?
Not for Ksamil, which minibuses serve well in summer. Yes for Butrint and the Blue Eye, unless you take an organised trip.
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