Saranda and South Albania by Car: The Complete Visitor's Guide

Saranda is Albania's southern coastal capital and the most popular tourist destination in the country. With a rental car, it becomes the perfect base for exploring an extraordinary concentration of attractions — beaches, ancient ruins, thermal springs, mountain villages and hidden valleys all within easy reach.

Getting to Saranda

• From Tirana (direct highway via Fier): approx. 280 km, approx. 3.5-4 hours
• From Gjirokaster: approx. 80 km, approx. 1.5 hours
• From Ksamil: 12 km north of Ksamil, approx. 20 minutes
• From Butrint: 18 km north of Butrint, approx. 25 minutes

Saranda Itself

Saranda is a modern, walkable resort city on a crescent bay. The seafront promenade is excellent — lined with restaurants, cafes and bars. The city faces Corfu, Greece, which is visible just 30km offshore on clear days. It is lively, affordable by European standards, and a great place to be based for 2-3 nights.

Parking in Saranda

Saranda has paid parking zones in the city centre. In summer, the seafront road gets extremely congested. Park in secondary streets a few blocks back from the promenade and walk. The city is compact enough to explore entirely on foot.

Day Trips from Saranda by Car

Ksamil — 12 km south, approx. 20 min

Albania's most photographed spot — four small uninhabited islands in a turquoise lagoon. In peak season the village car parks fill by 9am. Arrive early or take the local bus (runs regularly from Saranda for approx. EUR 1.50). The beaches on the mainland facing the islands are the most scenic.

Butrint National Park — 18 km south, approx. 25 min

One of the most significant archaeological sites in Albania — a UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins spread across a forested peninsula on a lagoon. Allow 2-3 hours minimum. Open daily with a small entrance fee.

Arrive at Butrint before 10am to avoid coach tour groups. Early morning in summer, the light through the trees onto the ancient ruins is extraordinary.

Blue Eye / Syri i Kalter — approx. 25 km north, approx. 35 min

A natural spring where water bubbles up from an unknown depth — the colour is an electric, almost unreal blue. A 30-minute walk from the roadside car park leads to the main spring. Very popular in summer — visit early morning or late afternoon.

Gjirokaster — 80 km north, approx. 1.5 hrs

The UNESCO City of Stone makes an excellent day trip from Saranda. Drive north, spend the day exploring the castle and bazaar, and return the same evening.

Permet and Benja Thermal Baths — approx. 85 km northeast, approx. 1.5 hrs

Head inland northeast from Gjirokaster into the Vjosa Valley. Permet is a charming slow-travel town; 8km further the Benja Thermal Baths offer warm outdoor pools under a stone Ottoman bridge in a mountain gorge. Entirely off the mass-tourist route.

Saranda to Corfu — Day Trip by Ferry

Multiple daily ferries connect Saranda to Corfu (30-75 minutes depending on the vessel). Leave your rental car in Saranda and spend a day on the Greek island — Corfu Town is beautiful. Return the same evening.

Day Trips at a Glance

Pick Up in Saranda — Explore the South

We have pickup points at Saranda Port and Saranda Downtown. Economy cars from EUR 19.80/day for 1-3 day rentals; longer off-season rentals from EUR 15.68/day.

Book: www.bestrentacar.al | WhatsApp: +355 67 386 0990 | Call: +355 67 218 4572