5 Day Trips from Saranda – The Albanian Riviera

Saranda is a small coastal town nestled in a bay between the mountains and the Ionian Sea in the southern Albanian Riviera. The town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days per year and it’s famous for its blue water, beautiful surrounding nature and archaeological sites.

Saranda (Sarandë in Albanian) is great for those who want the beauty of the coast, but without the mass tourism in overpriced Croatia.

Saranda can be a great balance of lively and laid-back and your experience there will depend heavily on what time of year or summer you go. Saranda was very quiet and had very few tourists when I was there in early June (at 24C-29C during the day), so I could enjoy having most places more or less to myself. However, this also meant the nightlife was lacking, so much so that I thought Saranda just didn’t have nightlife. So that was a little disappointing. However, apparently Saranda is the complete opposite in the high season of July and August when the town and the surrounding sights are overcrowded and the nightlife is bumping.

Saranda Beach albania — A deserted rock beach in Saranda

There isn’t a lot to see in the laidback town of Saranda itself, but it’s the perfect entry to the south of Albania and it’s an excellent base for these 5 day trips:

Explore the Ancient Ottoman Town of Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster (Gjirokastra in Albanian) is a charming, cultural and ancient town perched high above the Drina Valley. The old town and the domineering 4th century Gjirokaster castle and fortress grant Gjirokaster UNESCO World Heritage Site status because it’s a rare and wonderful example of a very well-preserved Ottoman town. And it’s one of the prettiest towns in Albania. There are also great hikes to explore in the area, if you’re feeling adventurous and have the time.

From Saranda, it’s 1 hour by car or 1.5 hours by bus (400L/€3.25). You will pass by Syri i Kalter (the Blue Eye, below) on the way to Gjirokaster, so if you have your own car, I recommend stopping here. If not, you can visit Syri Kalter on another day trip. The bus will drop you at the bottom of the hill in Gjirokaster, where it’s a quick 200L (€1.60) taxi to top, or you can walk if you feel like a 30 minute uphill workout.

If you have the time, I recommend staying the night in Gjirokaster so you have more time to explore.

Swim in the Vibrant Blue Water of Syri i Kalter (The Blue Eye)

Albania’s Blue Eye is one of the most popular day trips from Saranda. Surrounded by lush forest, the crystal clear turquoise and sapphire water bubbles up this natural spring from a depth of over 50m. No one knows exactly how deep is it because no one has descended deeper than 50m. So mysterious.

There is a viewing platform right above the spring, where you can see why it’s called the Blue Eye- the dark sapphire centre is the pupil, and the surrounding turquoise water is the iris. The water is so blue that it nearly looks fake. And the water is REALLY cold.

When I visited Syri i Kalter in early June, next to no one was there which was incredibly ideal, but apparently it gets very busy in July and August. Entrance is 50L (€0.40). There is a restaurant in the park to enjoy lunch.

From Saranda, it’s a 30 minute drive by car or around 45 minutes by bus, which costs 300L (€2.40). If you’re traveling by car, the Blue Eye is a perfect detour on the way to/from Gjirokaster.

Enjoy the Turquoise Water Beaches of Ksamil

The beaches of Ksamil are the epitome of the Albania Riviera- beautiful, calm, pristine turquoise water beaches in Europe for cheaper than Thailand.

ksamil day trip from Saranda Albania — Turquoise beaches of Ksamil

From a few of the beaches, it’s possible to swim to some of the tiny, nearby islands. You can also rent a paddleboat or you can pay a boat to take you to some of the further away islands. Enjoy freshly caught fish for lunch at one of the nearby restaurants on the water, and take in the stunning view. In early June, before high season, there were very few people at Ksamil and it was very warm, so it was perfect.

Ksamil is part of Butrint National Park and it’s only another 4km further to the Butrint ruins, so many people combine both Ksamil and Butrint in one day trip.

It’s an easy 3o minute bus ride from Saranda to Ksamil for 100L (€0.80) and renting a lounge chair on the beach is 250L (€2).

Explore the Ancient Ruins of Butrint

Inhabited since prehistoric times, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint dates back to 800BC and it exhibits remains from most major empires of the area, including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman ruins. This rich and immense history makes Butrint one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania.

The ruins of Butrint are set on the coast in the beautiful Butrint National Park, with lush vegetation that sprawls across the peninsula. The ruins are very well preserved, particularly the amphitheatre, basilica and castle.

Many people combine both Ksamil and Butrint in one day trip because the two are only 4km away from each other. It’s the same bus to Ksamil and Butrint, with Butrint being 4km further south. From Saranda, the bus is 40 minutes for 100L (€0.80). Entrance is 700 lek (€5.60).

Visit the nearby island of Corfu in Greece

The Greek island of Corfu is only 14km away, which makes it an easy day trip from Saranda. You can explore the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town of Corfu, enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches and try some watersports. The island of Corfu is massive, so you could easily spend more than a day there, especially if you want to experience the famous nightlife.

Corfu Greece day trip from Saranda Albania — Corfu

If you choose to stay the night, The Pink Palace is the most famous hostel on the island, which offers both dorms and private rooms. It’s basically like a resort, built on a hillside and overlooking the sea, which has a restaurant, nightclub, day adventures, kayak rentals and watersports. Before I took the boat to Albania, I stayed in Corfu at The Pink Palace for a day and night in early June and while it was definitely beach weather, it was a ghost town because the season hadn’t quite started yet.

There are many different ferry options ranging from 30 mins to 1 hour to 1.5 hours. €20 one way.

NEED TO KNOW FOR VISITING CORFU

Prices increase drastically once you arrive in Greece.
In the summer, book your ferry tickets in advance so you don’t unexpectedly get stuck overnight.
Don’t forget your passport!
There is a one hour time zone change between Albania and Greece.

Get in and out of Saranda

The closest airport to Saranda is in Corfu, Greece and then you can take a 30-90 minute boat over for €20. This is what I did my second time in Albania, which is a great way to get to Albania and a great place to start your Albania adventure in the south.

Or it’s a 5 hour bus from Tirana to Saranda.

Where to Stay

Saranda Backpackers – This great little hostel is conveniently located only 50m from the port (ferry to/from Corfu, Greece). It has a great social atmosphere and every dorm room has a balcony with an amazing view of the sea. Tomi, the owner, is legitimately one of the nicest people I’ve ever met (which is a wonderful theme in Albania). Breakfast is included and sometimes Tomi makes a BBQ dinner on the beach for guests. 1250L (€10) per night for a dorm room.

Where to NOT eat

Saranda is on the coast, so you can enjoy an abundance of fresh seafood. However, even though I liked the food in Albania, I didn’t have great luck with the food in Saranda. I found the cuisine was lacking and very different from Tirana, Gjirokaster and Shkodra. While the views are nice, the restaurants along the water are overpriced (especially by Albanian standards) and the food isn’t very good, which are common themes in any touristy area. Also, many of the touristy restaurants along the waterfront are run by Greeks (Saranda’s population is 40% Greek), so if you’re looking for authentic Albanian food, you’ll have a hard time finding it there.

Also see What to Know Before You Go to Albania