Sarande is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albania. This is due to the beautiful Ionian Sea, which gives the water the colours known from the paradise islands. For this reason, the most popular way to spend your free time in Saranda is resting on the beach and relaxing by the coast.
If you are planning to spend your time in Saranda and wondering what attractions you will find interesting, our mini guide to the area will certainly help you make a decision. We spent over a month in Saranda in October 2023 and the weather was just right for sightseeing and swimming in the sea. If you will be going to Albania during the summer season then be ready for the fact that there will be more people than in our photos. Albania is developing a lot in terms of tourism and is particularly opening up to tourists from the UK. There is no shortage of Poles in the country who are looking for an alternative for Croatia.
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A few words about the town Sarande in Albania
Sarande’s history dates back to ancient times, when the city was known as Onchesmos. Its strategic location on the Ionian Sea made it an important trading port and cultural centre. During the Byzantine period, the town flourished and later it was under the rule of the Venetians and Ottomans. For this reason, many ancient buildings can be seen near the town. The best example of this is the Ancient Town of Butrint or Phoinike Town. Modern Saranda developed mainly in the 20th century, gaining importance as a popular seaside resort.
Demographically, Saranda is a rapidly growing town, with a population of around 20,000. However, most of the houses and flats in Saranda are for tourists, so the actual population of the town may be twice as high. The influx of tourists is particularly noticeable during the summer season, where they fill the city’s beaches, cafes or promenade. The town is culturally and ethnically diverse, with a clear Greek influence, which is evident in the architecture as well as in the local cuisine and customs. We also noticed a very strong Italian inspiration. To a large extent, it seems to us that Albania sets them as a model in terms of technology and tourism. This can be compared to our mentality, where we have a belief in German quality and trust.
Saranda is a seaside resort on Albania’s southern coast, on the Ionian Sea – you will certainly not be short of restaurants to choose from or optional excursions offered by numerous tourist offices. It is a town situated on a small hillside, so if you are planning to rent a flat away from the coastline, still take into consideration the possible uphill climb.
Another big plus of Saranda is its location near the border with mainland Greece and Corfu – from where you can arrive by hydrofoil in less than 30 minutes. We did a day trip from Saranda to Corfu, which showed how well this connection works. This kind of access to Albania is very popular, because from Tirana to Saranda you have to drive about 270 kilometres by car, which take approx. 3-4 hours of driving.
Sightseeing in Sarande - attractions in the town
Apart from blissful relaxation on the beach, it is worth visiting some of the attractions. Saranda is not a big town, so exploring it should not take long.Surely, most of you will focus on sunbathing and exploring Albania’s culinary side.We think, however, that time flies even more pleasantly when you can explore something and bring back some cool memories.
The coast of Sarande and its beaches
Depending on where you find your accommodation (more in the south of Saranda or in its centre), you will have several city beaches at your disposal. These are public with fairly fine stones (you will only find sandy beaches in nearby Ksamil). We have described most of them in a separate post with us – so that you can choose your favourite. We mostly used the beach located near the harbour. For us, it was the closest beach, from which we could easily walk from the flat in a few minutes, without bothering with a car. If you come to Saranda and manage to find some free parking space, you will really do your best not to look for it again.
Monastery of 40 saints on the hill of Sarande
As we mentioned the history of Sarande is really long and there is no shortage of historic buildings or archaeological sites in the area. One of them is the Monastery of 40 Saints, which probably gave the town its name. Sarande means ‘Forty Saints’ in Greek and Albanian and refers to the Forty Martyrs of Sebasta, to whom the monastery is dedicated. You can drive up to the monastery by car, but there is also a path leading from the town to the hillside. The only thing worth remembering is that it is now quite exposed to the sun and it is worth taking a supply of water with you. There is a fee to enter the 40 Saints Monastery – 200 LEK / person (cash payment).
Lëkursi Castle – a small castle with a restaurant with a beautiful view of Saranda Bay.
One of the more distinctive sites in Saranda is Lekursi Castle located on one of the southern mountains surrounding the town. Sarande Bay was strategically important for trade purposes for hundreds of years, so the construction of a defensive fortress was a very important issue. Historical sources state that its origins date back to the 16th century, where the site was gradually expanded and strengthened.
Currently, it is one of the more popular attractions in Sarande, which can be accessed by your own car/taxi or walked to (about 4 km from the town centre). It has been fully converted into a food outlet serving mainly local cuisine. So if you fancy a bite to eat or a romantic getaway, Lekursi Castle will be perfect for this.
Entrance to the castle is free.
How does one live in Sarande?
If you will be in Sarande, you will certainly be interested in finding out how life is lived in Sarande – where to buy good fish, which bakery in the town centre sells tasty bread and what to look out for in terms of safety.
You will find all this information in our dedicated post on ordinary life in Sarande, which we highly recommend to you –Sarande for Everyday Life – check out recommended shops, markets and how to live here.
Check accommodation in Sarande
Relaxing in Sarande depends largely on where you stay overnight. We give you some places that we think are worth considering during your stay in Sarande.
Saranda Lux Apartments
One of the more interesting apartments you can find in Saranda. A more premium option. Close to the port, the city market, equipped with underground parking and an elevator.
Booking ratng: 9.8
Sofi Apartments
Apartment with amazing sea views, in the center of Saranda, with private parking, two bedrooms, in one a bunk bed.
Booking rating: 9.6
Comfort Apartments Promenade
Economy option close to the shore. Large spacious 3 bedroom apartment ideal for families. Close to the beach. Worth seeing if it has available dates.
Booking ratin: 9.1
Attractions around Sarande - what to visit and where to go - day trip ideas
Saranda has many attractions that are located outside the town and are ideal for a day trip. All of these places can be reached by car (access roads are very good), so even a hired car will certainly do the job.
Ksamil and the nearby ancient town Butrint
We’ll start our recommendations in standard fashion – with one of the most recognisable places in southern Albania – Ksamil, which has some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Albania, and the ancient town of Butrint, which we feel is the Balkan equivalent of Pompeii.
If you’ve ever come across beautiful pictures of turquoise water and sandy beaches in Albania, it would definitely be Ksamil. This is where the largest number of tourists come, wanting to relax by the water. Ksamil is very distinctive and can probably be called the most ‘Instagram’ place in Albania. Unfortunately, along with its great popularity, it has also become the most commercial place. In high season, you have to pay for sunbeds here (you can’t get in without a sunbed), there are plenty of vendors selling everything from drinks to snacks and souvenirs, and the prices are exorbitant.
In low season (we were in October), it is much quieter here. There are no crowds of people, no one charges for parking and you can really relax here. The downside, however, is that practically everything is closed then. Most restaurants are refurbishing or suspending their operations to open in full force the following season.
The ancient town of Butrint is a place that historically is one of the most important sights in Albania. It is located right next to Ksamil and often tourists combine the two places and decide to visit them in one day. In our opinion, while you are in the area, you should not miss Butrint, because it is here that you have the chance to learn a bit about the history and culture of the region. It is advisable to visit it with a guide or to prepare well (to read sth) about Butrint. This way, the tour will not end with just seeing some ruins and excavations, but it will be a real journey through time.
Phoinike Archaeological Park
Another place where you can go back in time is the Phoinike Archaeological Park, which in the past used to be the richest town in Epirus – it is where King Pyrrhus was said to stay, which emphasises the importance of the site.
Phoinike is located on top of a mountain and can currently be reached by car or public transport (ask for the town of Feniq). There is an entrance fee to the Archaeological Park and a ticket costs LEK 300 (€3).
It’s worth taking the extra time here and doing a bit of reading about the site before arriving, as it’s a trip into the past dating back to the 5th century BC. The town, due to its strategic origin, has been influenced by many civilisations and, for example, when these lands were ruled by the Byzantines, a baptistery, basilica and defensive fortifications were developed here.
What struck us most was that even such a historically important site was not immune from the communist influence of Hoxha, who installed many defensive bunkers here.
Another thing that makes a very big impression is the huge panorama you can see from the hill. The practically 360-degree view shows the Bistrica plain, the Broad Mountains, Lake Butrint, the Ionian Sea and the island of Corfu.
Blue Eye – the popular ‘Blue Eye’ attracting many tourists
The Blue Eye is an attraction that is undoubtedly worth visiting while being in Albania. In our opinion, however, some tourists may be a little disappointed when visiting the popular Blue Eye. This is because there is a lot of talk and praise about this beautiful natural phenomenon. Because of this, tourists often hope that the whole trip will be full of spectacular views. So, it’s worth being honest – the Blue Eye, as a pond itself and the river it forms, looks truly phenomenal, but the road leading to it itself is monotonous and boring.
You can read more abut this place in our article Albanias Blue Eye in Saranda: Practical Tips for Your Perfect Visit
Budget Hyundai i10
A good choice is the economical and good-spirited Hyundai i10, which is commonly made available for hire to tourists. It is a small and agile car that can also cope with hills (not high mountains).
Such a car would be perfect for exploring the Albanian coast or slight hills. It is certainly worth considering it because the Hyundai i10 has a low fuel consumption of about 5 litres per 100 kilometres.
The price of fuel in Albania at the end of 2023 was around 190 LEK (or around €1.9) per litre of petrol.
Gjirokastra – the UNESCO-listed town of Silver Roofs
Gjirokastra is undoubtedly a town worth visiting when in Albania. Together with the beautiful city of Berat, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a ‘Museum Town’. It was awarded in 2005 for its unique cultural and historical value. A special reason to visit this town is its architecture, which reflects both Ottoman and local influences. Gjirokastra is often referred to as the ‘Stone Town’ because of its characteristic houses built of stone, with wooden roofs and richly decorated interiors. Towering houses, they are an example of traditional Balkan architecture.
Many travellers from Saranda combine a visit to the Blue Eye with Gjirokaster, as they are located on the way. Visiting these two attractions is sure to make your day very interesting.
St George’s Monastery on the way to Ksamil
This attraction can be trated as a tour for connoisseurs. If you are short of time, you will certainly find something more interesting, but if you are bored and don’t know what to visit near Saranda, St George’s Monastery may be an unusual idea.
The monastery has been placed in a very unique location located on Dema Hill, which is the narrowest section separating the Ionian Sea from Lake Butrint. The monastery itself is surrounded by a high, fortified wall with towers. In the centre of the site is a small temple with rich wall decorations (unfortunately, mostly very dilapidated), which has been reconstructed on the model of a 14th century temple. The temple of St George is built exclusively with stone and consists of a naos (nave) and an antechamber. The tower with a bell tower is also a distinctive feature.
There is also a building with rooms. It reminded us very much of the atmosphere of the monks, where the small, austere rooms were conducive to quiet prayer. These rooms served as outbuildings, for the monks who lived here, and as guest rooms for pilgrims.
Historical sources mention the Monastery of St. George from as early as around the 17th century, describing its influence on the development of the area by building, among other things, a public school.
Day trip to Corfu from Sarande
If you will be in Sarande and you have’nt visited Corfu yet, I think it will be a very cool idea to spend one or two days in an interesting way.
You can easily get to Corfu by ferry or hydrofoil (the latter will take you to Corfu in 30 minutes).
When visiting Corfu for one day, it is worth focusing on an individual approach to the style of visiting Corfu, as every tourist has different priorities. We, having young children, are focused more on a relaxed tour of the town, taking rests in the playgrounds or by the ice cream parlours. However, it is worth bearing in mind the beauty of Corfu town and their buildings. Most of them are important remnants of the island’s turbulent history, as it passed under the rule of other states over the centuries.
Each of them has left some kind of mark and presence on Corfu, which is worth paying attention to. It is always by getting to know the outline of the town that we somehow visit it in a different way and look at certain aspects.
Read more about it in Experience Corfu: The Ultimate One-Day Trip from Saranda
Organised tours – pay and go (prices / online payment)
If you already have your sightseeing plan more or less outlined, but don’t want to organise everything on your own, then it is worth considering using the option of organised tours. In Sarande, you will easily find many local travel agencies that offer participation in organised tours around Sarande. This kind of tour is very convenient and if you are on holiday and don’t have the headache of planning a tour of Albania it is definitely worth taking advantage of.
If you want to compare offers or buy a tour online (with a guarantee of cancellation of the tour up to 24 hours if something changes), it is worth looking at the website given below.
Summary of attractions in Sarande and interactive map of attractions
As you can see, it is hard to get bored in Sarande, but it is worthwhile organising your stay in such a way that you make good use of each day. For us, a month’s stay in Saranda allowed us to get to know the town better and visit some of the more (or less) interesting attractions nearby.
Before leaving for Albania, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with a few safety guidelines, so that you can relax in the most comfortable way possible in this Balkan country. Is it safe in Albania? Check out what to look out for.
