Saranda is a small town on the southern tip of the Albanian Riviera, at the Ionian Sea. Each spring, the quiet town is woken up by tourists, as they arrive to enjoy the sun, crystal clear waters, cheap prices and busy nightlife.
Although it gets busy in Saranda during the summer, you may still bump into a herd of sheep or cows loitering on the town’s hillside roads around the bay.
Go out and explore Saranda and its surroundings! You’ll find interesting natural beauties and historical attractions, such as the ancient town of Butrint and the salvage beaches of Ksamil. The town is located just a 30-minute ferry trip away from Corfu, which makes it a popular day trip destination from the Greek island.
Things to do in Saranda
Lëkurësi Castle
Visit Lëkurësi Castle to get the best views over Saranda. The castle was built in the 16th century by the Ottoman ruler Sultan the Magnificent who needed to protect the city harbor after he attacked Corfu. In the summertime, there is a restaurant with terrace in the castle for food and beverages.
How to get: The castle is located approximately 4 kilometers away from the harbor of Saranda. By taxi, it takes around 10 minutes and costs around 500 lek, or by foot it takes around 45 to 60 minutes.
Ruins of the Old Synagogue
The ruins of the old synagogue are located right in the center of Saranda, at the edge of Parku Miqësia, between Rruga Skënderbeu and Rruga Onhezmi. The ruins are the remains of the center of a once wealthy Jewish community that lived in the Saranda area.
Archaeologists believe that the construction of the Christian basilica first started in the 4th century BC and that it was later transformed into a synagogue at the end of the 5th century or the beginning of the 6th century AD.
Things to do outside Saranda
The most fascinating things to do are located outside Saranda, yet they can be reached even during a day trip.
Butrint
Butrint, a true archaeological gem, is located some 18 kilometers South of Saranda. The archaeological findings of Butrint give evidence of prehistoric activities in the area. The town has also served as a Greek Polis in the 6th century BC, and later as a Roman colony.
Today, you can witness the ruins of old Roman baths, a Greek amphitheater, and more recent attractions such as the Basilika and the fortress on top of the hill. Butrint became an UNESCO heritage site in 1992, after the fall of Enver Hoxha’s communist government.
More information: whc.unesco.org
How to get to Butrint: You can reach Butrint by local bus, which takes 45 minutes and costs 200 lek, approximately 2€. The bus departs once an hour from Saranda between 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM during summer, and between 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM during winter. From Butrint to Saranda, the buses also run once an hour, with summer schedules from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM and winter schedules from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Bus timetables
The last stop in Butrint is the parking lot in front of the ancient city. In Saranda, there are four stops: the intersection of Rruga Mitat Hoxha and Rruga Jonianetin, the intersection of Rruga Flamurtari and Rruga Skënderbeu, Hotel Butrinti, and Hotel Oasis. There is a separate fare collector on the bus to whom you pay the fare in cash. Morning buses are likely to be crowded during summer, so you might want to consider taking a taxi.
A taxi from Saranda to Butrint costs around 2000-2500 lek. The taxi price is an approximate amount, but the driver always sets the final price. Be sure to agree on the price in advance.
Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye)
The Blue eye is a stunning crystal-clear underwater spring located about 20 kilometers east of Saranda. The spring is approximately 25 kilometers from Saranda and is most easily accessible by car. During the summer, it is an extremely popular destination, so a large number of people may be a nuisance.
The entrance fee to the spring is 50 lek. The nearest parking lot is about 2 kilometers from the spring, from which there is a roughly 2-kilometer walk to the spring. You can also take a small tourist train from the parking lot to the spring, which costs 300 lek per person each way.
Parking your own car costs 300 lek for 0-3 hours. Organized tours to the spring are available from Saranda, or you can book a tour through websites like Viator. Taking a private taxi for the trip costs 4000-6000 lek, with the driver waiting at the parking lot for a couple of hours. The taxi price is an approximate amount, but the driver always sets the final price. Be sure to agree on the price in advance.
Gjirokastra (Gjirokastër)
Gjirokastra, "The Stone City," is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved Ottoman-era buildings. The old town is full of narrow cobblestone streets that lead to charming Ottoman houses and small stalls. Gjirokastra is the birthplace of Albania's former dictator Enver Hoxha, and his house is a popular tourist attraction. One of the main attractions in Gjirokastra is its impressive fortress, which towers above the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
By Bus to Gjirokastra: Buses or minibusses depart from the edge of Parku Miqësia. A bus ticket costs 400 lek. You can see the schedules on the Gjirafa website. The trip takes about an hour.
By Taxi to Gjirokastra: A taxi ride takes about an hour and costs approximately 4000-4500 lek. The taxi price is an approximate amount, but the driver always sets the final price. Be sure to agree on the price in advance.
Saranda beaches
Saranda is surrounded by gravel beaches, which all very similar to each other. At the beaches, you'll find plenty of restaurants and bars with food and beverages. Because of gravel, many wear swimming shoes. The beaches are not suitable for small children, as they get deep quickly.
Compared to Saranda, the beaches of Ksamil are more impressive, though in the summertime, equally crowded of sunbathers.
Ksamil
Ksamil is a small coastal village some 15 kilometers to the south from Saranda. The beaches in Ksamil with crystal clear water are astonishing. The small Ksamil islands, located in front of the village, are also very impressive.
How to get: The bus to Butrint passes through Ksamil. The journey from Saranda takes about 35 minutes by bus and about 25 minutes by taxi. The price of the bus ticket is 150 lek.
Food and restaurants
The local cuisine is a mixture of Albanian, Italian, and Greek cuisines. Especially seafood dishes are well represented in Saranda.
The quality of the food is not necessarily world-class yet, but fresh ingredients and affordable prices make up for it.
In addition to seafood and fish dishes, local delicacies include pita gyros, which Albanians love all over the country. There are also plenty of pizza and pasta restaurants available.
Things to do for children
Splash Water Park
Splash Water Park is an obstacle course in the sea that is located in front of Saranda's beach boulevard. Due to the difficulty of the course and the depth of the sea, it is suitable for slightly older children.
Prices: 600 lek for 0.5h, 900 lek for 1h, and 1500 lek for a full day.
Luna Park Gjika
Luna Park Gjika is a small "amusement park" for children located on Saranda's beachfront promenade, at the harbor end of Rruga Jonianetin. Luna Park Gjika features bumper cars, air hockey, video games, and a small Ferris wheel.
Shopping
The shopping possibilities is Saranda are scarce. There are several clothing shops in the town, but the selection is limited, mainly consisting of local clothing brands. Big international clothing brands are not available in Saranda.
In the mornings, local street vendors gather by the beach promenade Rruga Jonianet on the harbour side to sell all sorts of artisan products, especially lamb wool products are popular.
Prices in Saranda
Albania is one the most affordable travel destinations in Europe, which is one of the main reasons attracting tourists. Prices in Saranda are just fantastic for the most of us. The travel essentials, such as, lodging, food and drinks are suitable for any type of budget.
Below, there are some examples of restaurant prices in Saranda.
How to get to Saranda
Corfu: The nearest international airport is located in Corfu, Greece, which is a 30-minute ferry trip away from Saranda. From Corfu, there are several daily departures, depending of the time of the year. The faster hydrofoils take 30 minutes and the slower ferries 70 minutes to travel. The hydrofoils and ferries arrive at the port, located right in the center of the city.
Ferry timetables: Ionian Seaways & Finikas Lines
Tirana: The Tirana airport is the closest international airport in Albania. The bus from West Tirana to Saranda departs several times a day. Buses to Saranda depart from the bus station located about 5 kilometers northwest of the city center. You can find the location on Google Maps by the name Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut or South and North Albania Bus Terminal. Here's also a link to Google Maps. The journey costs 1400-1600 lek and takes about 6 hours, depending of the stops. The bus finishes in Parku Miqësia in the center. Buses to Tirana also leave from the same square.
Bus timetables: gjirafa.com
Weather in Saranda
Winter: The winter months from December to February are often rainy, and the average temperatures vary between 8-15°C.
Spring: From March to May, it stops raining, and the sun is out often. The average temperature in March climbs up to around 10-15°C, but in May the average is already at 20 °C.
Summer: From June to August, the sunshine is pretty much guaranteed. The temperature climbs constantly up to 30°C and above.
Autumn: September is still a warm month and the temperature stays clearly above 20 °C. In mid-October, the weather cools down to 20°C and it starts to rain more often. In November, the temperature is already around 15°C.
Photos: Jussi Ryynänen, Päivi Ahola & Shutterstock
