Saranda Travel Guide

We've put together practical tips on transport, beaches, day trips, food and evenings in Saranda. Whether it's your first visit or you just want to get your bearings, you'll find everything for an easy, relaxed stay here.

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TransportGetting to SarandaThe three main ways to reach Saranda — fly to Tirana and drive the coast, or fly to Corfu and take the ferry. Pros, cons and who each suits.Read article →BeachesThe Best Beaches in and Around SarandaThe coastline around Saranda is more varied than it first looks.Read article →FoodWhere to Eat in Saranda: Fish, Taverns & the PromenadeFood is one of the things we always look forward to in Saranda.Read article →NightlifeNightlife and Evenings in SarandaSaranda comes alive in the evening, but in its own way. This isn't a town built around nightclubs — it's a relaxed seaside-evening scene, where the day doesn't end so muc…Read article →TransportGetting to Us from Corfu by FerryA practical guide to reaching us via Corfu, Greece - from the airport to the port and across to Saranda by ferry.Read article →ItinerariesOne Week in Saranda: A Relaxed First-Timer's PlanHow to plan a week in Saranda without turning it into a race: day by day, easygoing, with the beach a couple of minutes from our apartment.Read article →

Practical tipsOur Apartment in SarandaWe rent out one apartment in Saranda (Sarandë), in southern Albania, right at the start of the Albanian Riviera. It isn't a resort or a hotel — it's a flat in a normal…Read article →TripsThings to do in Saranda and aroundSaranda is a lively town in southern Albania, on the so-called Albanian Riviera, and we think it makes an ideal base for exploring the whole southern coast. From one s…Read article →BeachesKsamil: turquoise water and islets near SarandaKsamil is probably the first place anyone will mention once you say you're heading to Saranda, and for good reason. The water really is turquoise, in places almost unb…Read article →TripsButrint: an ancient city near SarandaFor us, Butrint is the best day trip you can take from our part of Saranda. It is a sprawling ancient city on a peninsula between a lagoon and the sea, listed by UNESC…Read article →TripsThe Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) near SarandaThe Blue Eye, in Albanian Syri i Kaltër, is one of those places we point almost every guest towards. It's a deep natural spring inland from Saranda, with water of an a…Read article →TripsGjirokastër: the stone city in the mountainsWhen you've had your fill of beach days and want to see another side of Albania, Gjirokastër is an easy pick. This UNESCO-listed "stone city" sits inland in the mounta…Read article →Practical tipsWhen Is the Best Time to Visit SarandaSaranda sits on the southern stretch of the Albanian Riviera, where the sun lingers and the sea stays comfortable for swimming roughly from June to October. When you g…Read article →BeachesMango Beach in SarandaMango Beach is one of the best-known beach spots in Saranda, and if you're after a lively, social day by the sea, it's a good choice.Read article →BeachesPulëbardha & Mirror Beach (Pasqyra) near SarandaA few kilometres south of Saranda, on the road toward Ksamil, sit two small beaches we really like: Pulëbardha and Pasqyra, which most people know as Mirror Beach.Read article →TripsLëkurësi Castle Above SarandaLëkurësi Castle (Kalaja e Lëkurësit in Albanian) is the best viewpoint anywhere near Saranda.Read article →TripsDay Trip to Corfu by Ferry from SarandaOne of our favourite things about where the apartment sits is that Greece is right there on the horizon.Read article →TripsBoat Trips & Cruises from SarandaThe prettiest stretches of coast around Saranda are best seen from the water.Read article →TransportGetting around Saranda and the areaThe good news is that Saranda is small and easy to read, so the town itself is best explored on foot.Read article →TripsThe Monastery of 40 Saints above SarandaMost people come to Saranda for the sea and never realise the town's name is hiding on the hill above it.Read article →TripsThe Albanian Riviera by car, heading north from SarandaOur apartment in Saranda makes a great base for day trips.Read article →FamiliesSaranda with kids: family travel on the Albanian RivieraSaranda is, in our experience, one of the easier places to travel with children.Read article →Practical tipsPractical First-Timer Tips for SarandaSaranda is a wonderful place for a holiday, but if it's your first trip to Albania a few small things can catch you out.Read article →ItinerariesA Perfect Day in Saranda: From Morning Swim to SunsetSaranda isn't a place you need to rush through. The best days here happen when you have somewhere to come back to and something to build the day around — so instead of a…Read article →TransportTirana to Saranda: getting there step by stepIt's nearly 280 km from Tirana airport down to Saranda. Here's our honest take on car vs. private transfer vs. bus, and which suits whom.Read article →TransportRenting a Car in Saranda: When It Pays OffOur honest take on when a car or scooter in Saranda really helps and when the bus is enough, plus insurance, deposit and driving tips.Read article →BeachesHidden boat-access beaches near SarandaA guide to the prettiest hidden coves near Saranda, reached mostly by boat. How to visit them and what to prepare for.Read article →FoodFish Restaurants in SarandaA practical guide to fish restaurants in Saranda — what to try, how pricing by weight works, and how to spot a good place.Read article →FoodAlbanian Food: What to Try in SarandaWhat to order in a local Albanian tavern so you miss nothing good — from byrek and fresh fish to raki and trileçe.Read article →Practical tipsShopping in SarandaWhere to shop in Saranda when you cook for yourself: the little shop under our building, a supermarket nearby, bottled water and fresh market produce.Read article →ItinerariesA Saranda Long Weekend: Three or Four Easy DaysOnly three or four days in Saranda? Here's how to do it slowly — beach, one day trip, a sunset castle and fresh fish by the water.Read article →Practical tipsWhat to Pack for SarandaA practical checklist of what to pack for Saranda's beaches and boat trips, based on what we've learned as owners of the apartment.Read article →Practical tipsMoney in Saranda: lek, euros and paying by cardA practical guide to paying in Saranda: lek versus euros, ATMs and fees, where cards work and where you'll need cash.Read article →Practical tipsIs Saranda Safe?An honest, no-hype look at how safe Saranda and Albania really are for visitors, and the few sensible things still worth keeping in mind.Read article →ItinerariesYour First Day in Saranda: Settling InA practical guide to your first day in Saranda — from unpacking to your first swim, dinner, and gently planning tomorrow.Read article →NightlifeSaranda for CouplesHow to enjoy a few days together in Saranda: sunsets, dinner by the sea, a quiet cove and a slow pace, with the apartment a short walk from the beach.Read article →TripsAn Active Holiday in SarandaFor guests who can't just lie on the sand: snorkelling, kayaking, boat trips, hikes to viewpoints and river rafting, all within reach of our apartment.Read article →