Complete Guide: How To Get To Saranda, Albania

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If you’re trying to figure out how to get to Saranda, Albania, I’ve put together a complete guide on how to get there via bus, ferry, private transfer, taxi, and rental car.

I’ve been to Albania a few times, landing both at Tirana and Corfu Airports, and I want to share the pros and cons of getting to Saranda from each airport.

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How To Get To Saranda, Albania

There are a ton of ways to get to Saranda, Albania, but I do want to share a few things you want to keep in mind upfront:

• Albania is a cash-forward country, and the local currency is NOT the Euro. It’s the LEK. There are ATMs everywhere, and some of these modes of transportation take only cash – like taxis.
• If you opt to land in Corfu, Greece, you will need your passport to cross over to Sarandë, as you’re technically crossing from Greece to Albania.
• If you’re renting a car, be careful with the local car rental companies – I use Discover Cars and recommend going for a highly rated company or a big-name brand like Sixt or Avis. I’ve had some bad experiences with Zezgo Car Rental, for example.
• Don’t forget to get travel insurance. While Albania is easy to navigate and safe, it’s still not quite as convenient as Western Europe. If something happens or you get sick, you’ll want help and backup you can count on.

➡️ MY FAVORITE TRAVEL INSURANCE ⬅️

As you start booking your trip to Albania, make sure you have travel insurance settled. My favorite is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance because it’s pretty comprehensive, and friendly people like you and I answer the phone when you call. It’s also more affordable than some of the other travel insurance I’ve researched.

Obviously, prices will vary based on your age and the add-on options you pick, but my total cost was about $66 for four weeks. Luckily, I didn’t have to use it in Albania, but I was close a few times – once when my flight into Tirana was delayed, and I almost lost my rental car booking, which would, in turn, delay our entire trip and reservations, and another time when I got super sick after eating something weird at a festival in Borsh.

Travel medical insurance is not the sexiest thing to think about when planning an epic trip to Eastern Europe, but here we are – adulting. Insurance is important not just because of the financial side if something goes to shit but also because when something does happen, you’ll be glad to have someone to call and help you sort out hospitals and get medicine abroad – in a foreign language.

Fly To Corfu. Corfu-Saranda Ferry [BEST]

The best and fastest way to get to Saranda is to actually fly into Corfu, Greece, and take the 30-90 minute ferry across to Albania. This is my first recommendation on how to get to Saranda.

There is a bus that takes you from Corfu Airport to Corfu Port – it costs €2 and picks up right outside the arrivals gate. It takes about 30 minutes and a few stops in Old Town Corfu.

You can also take an Uber from the airport to Corfu Port, as Greece has Uber. Albania does not.

For the ferry, I use FerryHopper to see the schedules and buy my tickets beforehand – it should cost about €25. When I bought mine, they sent the ticket to my email, and I just had to show them the email.

⛴️ CORFU TO SARANDË
Departure: Corfu Port
Trip frequency: Every day
First trip: 08:00
Last trip: 22:30
Average Trip Time: 1.5 hrs
Fastest Trip Time: 30 min
Price range: €20 – €35
Ferry Companies: Finikas Lines, Ionian Seaways & Albania Luxury Ferries

You will need to have your passport on you because you are crossing from one country to another. You also need to have your ferry ticket purchased already before you can clear customs.

🚨 TIME ZONE CHANGES: There’s a time zone change when going from Corfu to Albania, so keep that in mind for ferry schedules – they are always in local time. Greece is one hour ahead of Albania.

Once you arrive in Saranda, Albania, you can rent a car right from the port or use taxis and the bus to go on little day trips from Saranda.

I recommend renting a car from Discover Cars because it’s cheap and gives you the flexibility you need to explore the Albanian Riviera – it’s what I did.

Fly to Tirana. Rent A Car & Drive [ROAD TRIP!]

Flying into Tirana Airport and renting a car to drive to Saranda, Albania is my second recommendation for two reasons – it’s a great way to see Albania via road trip, and Tirana is the capital city where most international flights will land.

From Tirana to Saranda, it is 270km, and it took me about 4 hours to drive it straight. Most people land in Tirana Airport and rent a car from there for a 7-10 day road trip heading south to Saranda.

➡️ I recommend renting a car from Discover Cars (best deals, no weird fees) – this is what I use. You will need your Passport, Drivers License, and International Drivers Permit to rent a car in Albania. ⬅️

Rental costs start at about €20 a day and go up to €50 a day in the high summer season, and I DO recommend full rental car insurance. The cars tend to be a bit more busted in Albania, and while the highways are paved and good, some of the smaller roads that lead to beaches and good restaurants are no more than dirt paths.

Albanian drivers can be a bit erratic, flashing their lights if they want to pass you, but in general, I didn’t think it was anything more aggressive than what I’m used to in Austin.

Fly to Tirana. Private Transfer [BIG GROUPS]

Another great option, especially if you have a big group, are traveling with family, kids, and grandparents and don’t want to be bothered with logistics and driving, is to land at Tirana Airport and use a Private Transfer Company to get to Saranda.

➡️ This is the Private Transfer company I recommend from Tirana to Saranda, Albania. ⬅️

The drive will be about 4 hours, and the cost is about €160. The driver will speak English, and of course the airport pickup will be seamless.

They will drop you off at your hotel in Saranda, and you’re good to go from there.

Fly to Tirana. Take The Bus [CHEAPEST]

One of the cheapest ways to get from Tirana to Saranda, Albania, is to fly into Tirana Airport, take a €5 taxi to the Regional Bus Terminal, and then take the 5-hour bus to Saranda.

There are about six bus departures a day from Tirana’s Regional Bus Terminal to Saranda, and a one-way ticket costs about €12.

🚌 BUS SCHEDULE: The bus from Tirana to Saranda leaves at 6:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 12:30 PM and 16:00 PM.

You don’t need to buy a ticket ahead of time, as there is a kiosk in the bus terminal, which, by the way, looks like an unimpressive parking lot.

Fly to Tirana. Take A Taxi [LAST RESORT]

While there is no Uber in Albania or Tirana because the pleasure of convenience has not yet reached the Balkans, taxis are safe and reliable in Albania, which is great.

Since a taxi ride from Tirana to Saranda is a bit more costly than a private transfer, I would go for the luxury of the cars and English speakers of the private transfer company rather than booking a taxi.

In case you need it, here are the Taxi Apps I recommend:

✅ Speed Taxi App: This is the best taxi app and works similarly to Uber in that you can order, pay, and track your ride on the app. They have 500+ taxis registered and ready to take you from Tirana to Saranda, Albania. Prices and payment are set through the app, and the 4-hour ride should cost you about €150-200.

✅  UPS Taxi App: This is another taxi app I recommend, with similar perks as Speed Taxi, but slightly more upscale – think Mercedes and BMWs from 2010.

🙈 Personal Experience: I will say that most taxis are older cars with very little or no air conditioning, and all my taxi drivers smoked during the ride.

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FAQ: Getting To Saranda, Albania

Here are a few frequently asked questions about getting to Saranda, Albania, as well as some practical advice and info.

What is the closest airport to Saranda, Albania?

The closest airport to Saranda, Albania, is actually in Corfu, Greece, right across the Mediterranean, about a 30-90 minute ferry ride away.

As a comparison, the airport in the capital of Albania, Tirana, is about 270km away and the drive is 4-5 hours to Saranda.

I’ve flown into both airports and will say it’s faster and less hectic to fly into Corfu, Greece.

How long is the ferry from Corfu to Saranda?

There are a couple of ferries that go from Corfu to Saranda, but generally, the ride is 30-90 minutes. I use Ferry Hopper to check schedules and buy tickets.

You will need to have your passport on you because you are crossing from one country to another. It would be best if you also had your ferry ticket purchased already before you can clear customs – they check this.

⛴️ CORFU TO SARANDË
Departure: Corfu Port
Trip frequency: Every day
First trip: 08:00
Last trip: 22:30
Average Trip Time: 1.5 hrs
Fastest Trip Time: ~30 min
Price range: €20 – €35
Ferry Companies: Finikas Lines, Ionian Seaways & Albania Luxury Ferries

🚨 TIME ZONE CHANGES: There’s a time zone change when going from Corfu to Albania, so keep that in mind for ferry schedules – they are always in local time.

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Saranda?

While there is no Uber in Albania, there are taxis and private transfers. I would not recommend taking a taxi from Tirana to Saranda because it’s expensive, taxis tend to be older cars, drivers smoke, sometimes don’t speak English, and you have less control over your comfort.

➡️ My recommendation is to take a Private Transfer from Tirana Airport to Saranda. Costs about $160 and takes about 4 hours. You can book ahead of time, and it’s a seamless process. ⬅️

Just in case you’re set on it for some reason, Speed Taxi App is the best taxi app and works similarly to Uber in that you can order, pay, and track your ride on the app. A ride from Tirana to Saranda costs about €150-200 and takes about 4-5 hours.

Is Saranda, Albania, worth visiting?

Hell, yes, Saranda is worth visiting. It’s probably my favorite spot to home base in Albania because you have access to the Albanian Riviera, Greece, and a whole bunch of fun little day trips from the port.

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Summary: How To Best Get To Saranda, Albania

While there are quite a few ways to get to Saranda, Albania, I would only recommend the fastest and the most practical.

The fastest way to get to Saranda is also my favorite way – fly into Corfu, Greece Airport and take the 30-90 min ferry across to Saranda. This should cost about €25. There is a bus that takes you from the airport to the Corfu ferry port for about €2, or you can use Uber in Greece.

The most practical way, especially as it’s great for an Albania road trip, is to fly into Tirana Airport in the middle of the country and rent a car. From here, you can drive the 4 hours from Tirana to Saranda or take your time and go on an Albanian road trip.

There are a few other options, by bus, taxi and private transfer, but I think those should be used in unique circumstances.