SARANDA, ALBANIA | 10 BEST Things To Do In & Around Saranda

Saranda is a coastal town on the Albanian Riviera along the Ionian Sea. It’s the largest city in southern Albania, and only a 30-minute ferry ride away from the popular Greek island of Corfu. In recent years, Saranda has become a popular tourist destination thanks to its easy access, affordability, and strategic location to discover other beaches and historic sites from. The city itself is very lively, with lots of entertainment options throughout the day and night. In this video, we highlight the best things to do in & around Saranda, Albania (NOT IN SPECIFIC ORDER!).

🔗 SARANDA LINKS, ACTIVITIES, TOURS & MORE INFO
☑️ Blue Eye & Lekursi half-day tour from Saranda:
https://www.getyourguide.com/sarande-l122815/the-blue-eye-the-blue-eye-and-lekuresi-castle-from-saranda-t391781/?partner_id=57UJ5GF&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=Saranda_video
☑️ Bus schedule from Saranda (to Butrint): https://worldwildhearts.hopp.to/saranda-bus-schedule
☑️ Guided tour of Gjirokaster: https://www.getyourguide.com/gjirokaster-l2802/gjirokaster-old-baazar-and-cfaka-walking-tour-t415453/?partner_id=57UJ5GF&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=Saranda_video
🛥️ Book your ferry: https://www.ferryhopper.com/?aff_uid=wrwhrts

😴 WHERE TO STAY IN SARANDA
– Vila Mateo ($ – Where we stayed – best to have a rental car if you stay here): https://www.booking.com/hotel/al/vila-mateo.en.html?aid=7936148&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2
– Hotel Sole ($$): https://www.booking.com/hotel/al/sole.en.html?aid=7936148&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2

📺 MORE ALBANIA VIDEOS:
– Gjirokaster Best Things To Do: https://youtu.be/edudFYKAsz0
– Tirana Best Things To Do: https://youtu.be/IASIu531Ijc
– Berat Things To Do: https://youtu.be/P8_hWFs2MIA
– Albania Top 15 Places To Visit: https://youtu.be/MbO4XGmdADk
– Albanian Alps 3-4 day itinerary: coming soon!

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– Book cheap flights: https://skyscanner.pxf.io/c/3559813/1027991/13416?associateid=AFF_TRA_19354_00001
– Book accommodation: https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=7936148
– Book rental car: https://www.discovercars.com/?a_aid=Wordwildhearts
– Book ferry tickets: https://www.ferryhopper.com/?aff_uid=wrwhrts
– Get travel insurance: https://tidd.ly/4fVKIq8
– Get a travel ESIM: https://go.saily.site/aff_c?offer_id=101&aff_id=9068
– Find the best hiking trails: https://alltrails.pxf.io/c/3559813/1865884/22353

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✏️ SARANDA TRAVEL GUIDE (WITH MAPS):
https://www.worldwildhearts.com/post/saranda-albania

🎵 MUSIC CREDITS:
Rejoice in the morning by The David Roy Collective
Searchlight by Hotham
Bluerock by Cayson Renshaw
The Night Bus by Sweetboikyle
The Journey by Hotham
Sunny Days On Crete by Ikoliks

🎥 VIDEO CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
1:42 Saranda Boulevard
2:26 Try Local Food
3:05 Blue Eye
4:09 Lekursi Castle
5:01 Saranda Public Beach
5:58 Butrint
6:57 Monastery Of The 40 Saints
7:42 Albanian Riviera
8:32 Gjirokaster Day Trip
9:35 Saranda Boat Tour
10:32 More Saranda Information

#saranda #albania #bestthingstodo

What’s up guys, we’re here in Saranda, Albania. 
In this video, we’re going to show you the best things to do in and around the city. It’s become 
a really popular destination in recent years, thanks to its beautiful beaches and budget 
travel options. So hope you enjoy this video. We are Zac and Ine, full-time digital 
nomads from the United States and Belgium. We met while studying abroad in 2018 and have 
been traveling the world together ever since. We’re here to inspire your next adventure, 
whether it’s hiking in the Canadian Rockies, a road trip through the US, or backpacking 
across Africa. On our channel, you’ll find unfiltered videos of hiking guides and the best 
things to do in destinations around the world. Saranda is a coastal town on the Albanian Riviera 
along the Ionian Sea. It’s the largest city in southern Albania and only a 30-minute ferry 
ride from the popular Greek island of Corfu. In recent years, Saranda has become a popular 
tourist destination thanks to its easy access, affordability, and strategic location to discover 
other beaches and historic sites from. The city itself is very lively, with tons of entertainment 
options throughout the day and the night. However, the popularity of Saranda has also led to 
large crowds flocking to its beautiful beaches. This can be a bit overwhelming, especially during 
the summer months. In this video, we highlight the best things to do in and around Saranda and we’ll 
also give you our top travel tips throughout the video, so you know what to expect and can have 
the best experience possible. So let’s dive in! The first thing you should do when you 
get to Saranda is walk its boulevard. It stretches for about one kilometer along 
the horseshoe bay fringed with lush palm trees. It’s a beautiful pedestrian walkway 
and a true hub of entertainment. There are plenty of bars and restaurants here, with great 
mediterranean and international food options, some of which turn into clubs at 
night. But there’s also a ferris wheel and a small entertainment park to enjoy. 
The promenade comes alive in the evenings. Albania has a rich food culture, influenced 
by Italian, Greek, and Balkan traditions. Each region has its own specialties and Saranda 
in particular is famous for its fresh fish and seafood. Other dishes you should 
try are the baked lamb with yogurt, Albanian pie, and baked cheese. Saranda is full 
of restaurants and you can find food at almost every corner of town. We recommend eating at a 
traditional Albanian restaurant at least once. About 22 kilometers or 13 miles inland from 
Saranda sits one of Albania’s most popular tourist attractions. The Blue Eye is a freshwater spring, 
known for its stunning beauty and clear turquoise water. The source is a natural phenomenon with 
oxygen bubbles rising up from a karst hole with more than 50 meters of depth. There’s a viewing 
platform above where you can observe the event. The nature surrounding the river 
and spring is absolutely gorgeous. You can book a half-day guided tour to the 
Blue Eye via the link in the description below. So you’re not actually allowed 
to swim at the Blue Eye itself, but you can come down to this 
restaurant. It’s like 50 meters away and you can swim here. There’s a nice 
little spot, but keep in mind that it’s 10 degrees Celsius the water, which is about 
50 degrees Fahrenheit. So it’s pretty cold. Saranda is surrounded by tall hills offering 
spectacular views over the city as well as the neighboring Greek island of Corfu. One of the 
best views can be observed from Lekursi castle, dating back to Albania’s early Ottoman times. And 
while there aren’t many remains left, the castle boasts some of the best sunset views in the area. 
Inside the castle is a restaurant with an enormous outdoor terrace. It’s a great spot for dinner or 
drinks while watching the sun set into the sea. Saranda’s main beach is located 
in the bay and it’s a public one. One unfortunate thing we notice along the 
Albanian Riviera is the privatization of its beautiful beaches. Over the last decades, one 
after the other has been developed for tourists, with immense amounts of sun beds and umbrellas 
as a result. We heard from locals that they’re trying to tackle this issue so there may be 
more public spaces in the near future. Luckily, Saranda’s main beach is public, so there’s no 
fee to relax here next to the calm blue waters. However, it’s recommended to bring a cushion or 
thick towel because the beach has many pebbles. Located about 18 kilometers or 11 miles south 
of Saranda, Butrint National Park is an absolute must-visit. Sitting next to a picturesque lagoon, 
this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to as early as the 12th century BC. What makes this 
site special is its mix of different cultures who left a mark on the city, such as the Greeks, 
Romans, and Venetians. Elements of these cultures are visible in the archaeological site today, 
such as the Roman Theater, the Venetian Castle, and the Great Basilica. To get to Butrint, 
it’s best to take a bus from Saranda Port, which takes about 45 minutes. Check out the 
bus schedule via the link in the description. Saranda takes its name from the Monastery of 
the 40 Saints, which is located on the hills behind the bay. Constructed in the 400s, this 
eastern orthodox monastery was once an important pilgrimage site. Today, the monastery 
is in a state of ruin due to war damage. However, the views over Saranda are absolutely 
stunning from here, making it worth a visit. So one thing we’re always missing at 
these historical places is actually like a board with information on it. So it’s 
best to just like look it up beforehand on the internet or while you’re here as well 
on your phone, just from a reputable source, so that you can at least learn 
something about these places. There are tons of other natural attractions and 
beautiful beaches to explore to the north and south of Saranda. However, keep in mind that 
many of the beaches are private so it’s best to do your homework before. A place we would 
avoid during the summer time is Ksamil beach as it gets extremely crowded. A few 
public beaches that we really enjoyed include the beach of Himara and Porto Palermo. At 
the latter, there’s also a castle you can visit. Other beautiful places include Dhermi, Llogara 
National Park, and Gjipe Canyon and Beach. Our favorite thing to do from Saranda is to go on 
a day trip to the astonishing town of Gjirokaster. Located about 55 kilometers or 
34 miles inland from Saranda, Gjirokaster is filled with incredible culture and 
history. The ancient town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its remarkable blend 
of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture. And while strolling through the streets is an experience 
in itself, it’s the fortress that towers above the center that is the star attraction. We 
recommend getting a guided tour of the Gjirokaster highlights to truly understand the history and 
culture here. Find a link for the tour we did in the description below. And while it’s possible 
to visit for the day, we highly recommend staying at least two days here if you can. Check out our 
full Gjirokaster video for more things to do. One way to escape the crowded beaches near Saranda 
while still experiencing the clear blue waters of the Albanian Riviera is to go on a boat tour. 
There are many agencies that offer tours in the bay of Saranda on the boulevard. Our boat 
tour took us to a number of unspoiled beaches. We were allowed to jump off the boat at some 
of them, while others were just to admire the crystal waters. For the final stop of our tour, 
we arrived at Krorez beach, where we had a few hours to relax and swim. But keep in mind that 
you have to pay a fee to lay on the sunbeds here. And that’s it for our video on Saranda. 
We hope you found it helpful and you can find more videos in our Albania playlist. 
Make sure to check out the description of this video for all the important links 
that you’ll need for your own adventure. Organize your trip around Albania 
with our comprehensive travel planner. It’s interactive and easy to use. Get yours via 
the link in the description below and have it delivered to your inbox within minutes. 
We’ll catch you on the next adventure!