Berat to Saranda – Bus, Taxi, Prices, Rental Car, Duration
If you are planning to travel from Berat to Saranda, you may be looking for the best way of transport. In this blog post, I will describe how you can get from Berat to Saranda by bus, by taxi or by car.
How to get from Berat to Saranda? You can get from Berat to Saranda by bus, by taxi or by car. No trains. The bus from Berat to Saranda departs at 8 AM and 14 PM. A bus ticket costs 1200 LEK (12 EUR). A taxi from Berat to Saranda costs 130 EUR. A rental car will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day.
In this blog post, how you can get from Berat to Saranda. I will give you bus timetables, bus terminal locations, bus ticket prices and bus duration. I will also compare what it costs to hire a taxi from Berat to Saranda. And what you can expect to pay for a rental car in Albania. And finally, I will give some updates on train travel in Albania, whether it is worth visiting Saranda, if Saranda is expensive and how much time to spend in Berat.
How to get from Berat to Saranda in Albania?
You can get from Berat to Saranda by bus, by taxi or by car. There are no trains between Berat and Saranda. Below I will give you a quick summary of the best ways to travel from Berat to Saranda, there is more detailed information if you scroll further down.
Berat to Saranda bus (summary)
- Buses from Berat to Saranda depart at 8:00 AM and 14:00 PM.
- A bus ticket from Berat to Saranda costs 1200 Leke (12 euros) per person.
- You can only pay for your bus ticket in cash to the bus driver.
- Take a city bus or taxi to get to the Berat Bus Terminal, which is outside the city centre of Berat.
- Get to the bus terminal early to secure a seat on the bus.
Berat to Saranda taxi (summary)
- A taxi from Berat to Saranda will cost you around 130 euros.
Berat to Saranda by car (summary)
- Rental cars in Albania start at 20-25 euros per day. But in July and August, car rental rates are much higher due to the tourist season.
- Car rental only makes sense if you are planning a round trip. Small independent car rental offices in Albania expect you to drop off their rental car in the same city.
- From Berat to Saranda, you can take the inland route (4-5 hours) or the longer and prettier coastal road (full day).
Berat to Saranda by train (summary)
- There are no trains between Berat and Saranda.
- Berat does not have a train station and there are no railways leading to Berat.
- Saranda does not have a train station and there are no railways leading to Saranda.
- So train travel between Berat and Saranda is not possible.
Download the Albania Bus Timetable App
How to get from Berat to Saranda by bus?
You can take a bus from Berat to Saranda at 8:00 AM and at 14:00 PM. There are two buses per day in operation between Berat and Saranda.
To get the bus from Berat to Saranda, you must go to the Berat Bus Terminal. The Berat Bus Terminal is a 15-20 minute drive from the city centre of Berat. So you can take a city bus or a short taxi ride to get to the Berat Bus Terminal.
You can see the location of the Berat Bus Terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3J8HFjq4NL2QU19Z6
You cannot book your bus ticket from Berat to Saranda online. So I recommend you get to the bus terminal early, so that you can ensure you secure a seat on the bus. You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver. A bus ticket from Berat to Saranda costs 1200 Leke (approximately 12 euros) per person.
The bus journey from Berat to Saranda will last approximately 4-5 hours depending on traffic. You will be dropped off at the Bus Station in Saranda in the city centre of Saranda. So the drop-off location is near Friendship Park in the city centre of Saranda.
You can see the location of the Saranda Bus Terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3GDj974Mzp2qhtfU9
Berat to Saranda bus timetable
Buses from Berat to Saranda depart at 8:00 AM and 14:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 1200 Leke (approximately 12 euros) per person. You must pay for your bus ticket in cash with the bus driver. It is best to get to the bus terminal in Berat early, so that you can secure a seat on the bus early.
Download the Albania Bus Timetable App
How much is a taxi from Berat to Saranda?
A taxi from Berat to Saranda will cost you 130 euros or 13000 Leke. You can reach taxi drivers easily via email or WhatsApp. You can also go to Iljaz Vrioni Square, which is a central square where taxis stop in Berat. UBER Taxis do not exist in Albania.
How much does it cost to rent a car and drive from Berat to Saranda?
A rental car in Albania will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day, but much more in July and August, due to the tourist high season.
Renting a car in Albania only makes sense if you are planning to make a round trip from Tirana Airport back to Tirana Airport or perhaps from the Port of Saranda back to the Port of Saranda. Car rental companies in Albania are independent small companies and they expect you to bring their car back to the same city.
When you drive from Berat to Saranda, you have several different routes to choose from. The quickest route is from Berat via Fier, Tepelene and Kardhiq Castle to Saranda. This is the inland highway. It will take 4-5 hours to drive this route. Don’t take the old road leading from Berat directly to the South in the direction of Gjirokaster, this road is not in a good condition.
The alternative is driving along the coastline, which is longer, but it has beautiful views. Drive from Berat via Fier, Vlore and Himare to Saranda. To the south of Vlore, you can choose to take either the NEW Llogara Tunnel which is shorter. Or you can drive over the Llogara Pass for stunning views towards the Ionian Sea from the pass. Driving from Berat to Saranda and making some stops along the coastline may take you 1 full day, so leave early.
A word of caution. Drivers in Albania have a chaotic, challenging and daunting style of driving. So if you have any doubts about your ability to handle chaotic traffic on a road you do not know in a foreign country. I recommend you hire a taxi or take a bus instead. Safety is the most important.
Can I get from Berat to Saranda by train?
You cannot get from Berat to Saranda by train. Berat does not have a train station and there are no railways to or from Berat. Saranda does not have a train station either and there are no railways leading to Saranda. So it is not possible to travel from Berat to Saranda by train.
Train travel within Albania is very limited. Although some of the old railways constructed during the communist period in Albania are visible in the landscape, most of these old railways are currently not in use.
This year (2024), there are 2-3 trains per week between Durres and Elbasan. And there is 1 x train per week between Shkoder and Lac. And those are all the trains in operation in the entire country. There are no international passenger trains at all.
That being said, the railway between Durres – Tirana Airport – Tirana is currently being refurbished. Perhaps in 2025, there will be trains between Durres, Tirana Airport and Tirana.
For now, the best way to travel by public transport in Albania is taking a bus.
How long does it take to get from Berat to Saranda?
It does take around 4 hours to get from Berat to Saranda depending on traffic. The best route to drive from Berat to Saranda is driving via Fier and Tepelene. Because that is the highway. There are older roads leading from Berat directly to the South, but those roads are not in a good condition.
Is it worth going to Saranda?
It can be worth going to Saranda, if you like big coastal cities and you could make day trips to the nearby sightseeing locations.
Saranda is a big coastal city. You can expect a lot of hotels and apartments near the coastline. Alongside the bay of Saranda, there is a promenade with many restaurants, cafes, shops and bars. If you like a vibrant city with many facilities, you may really like staying in Saranda in the summer months.
That being said, if you are looking to go swimming. Perhaps staying in nearby Ksamil is a better choice for you. Ksamil is more of a beach village. Ksamil offers sandy beaches, where you can go swimming or snorkelling. You can rent a beach lounger/chair with parasol or rent a little boat to visit the nearby Ksamil islands in front of the coastline.
The advantage of staying in Ksamil or Saranda is that you can make some lovely day trips. You could visit the Blue Eye spring, which is magical. You could visit the old town of Gjirokaster, which is a UNESCO city. And you could visit the archaeological and nature park of Butrint, which is also a UNESCO site. In Saranda, you can visit Lekuresi Castle which is located on the top of the hill and offers you beautiful views over Saranda and the coastline.
Is it expensive to go to Saranda in Albania?
Saranda in Albania is relatively cheap compared to travelling to nearby countries, like Greece and Italy, that will always be more expensive.
- Accommodation in Saranda: starting from 30-35 euros per night in the summer months
If you are travelling to Saranda, you can expect to pay at least 30-35 euros per night for your accommodation. However, of course, there are always more luxurious and more expensive hotels in Saranda. So it is up to your personal budget how much you are willing to spend on a hotel or Airbnb per night.
- Tirana airport to Saranda by bus: 15 euros per person
- Tirana airport to Saranda by taxi: approximately 200 euros per taxi
- Tirana airport to Saranda by rental car: at least 20-25 euros per day, but much more in July and August, due to the tourist high season.
Another expense to consider is how you will travel to Saranda in Albania. Although a new airport in Saranda is currently under construction, it has not opened yet. So you could fly to Tirana Airport in Albania or to Corfu Airport on the Greek Corfu island and take a ferry to Saranda.
- Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu by bus or by taxi: 1.50 euros for a bus ticket or 15-25 euros for a taxi
- Ferry from Corfu to Saranda: 19-25 euros per person
Food in Albania can be as cheap or expensive as you personally choose. There are little bakeries, called Byrektore, that sell fresh pastries for as little as 2 euros per pastry. Also bakeries in Albania are very cheap, you may get a full bag of bread for 1-3 euros. Local restaurants may charge 10-15 euros per person for a meal. But of course, there are much more luxurious restaurants in Saranda, where you will pay a lot more for a prime location and a more luxurious restaurant.
How long should I spend in Berat?
You should spend 1 or 2 days in Berat. Berat is a beautiful destination for a 1 day trip from Tirana, because it is only a 2 hour drive. If you are making a day trip you can visit the Castle of Berat (1 hour), the Onufri Museum (20-30 min), the Ethnographic Museum (currently being renovated) and the City of a Thousand Windows (2 hours for lunch and taking pictures).
The City of a Thousand Windows are the two old neighbourhoods in the valley of Berat. Little houses were built on the slopes of opposite hills. And when you stand in the valley, it looks as though a thousand little windows look down on you.
If you have the time it is lovely to stay overnight in Berat. The city of Berat lights up in the evening and it is magical. All the little houses on the hill with the lid windows is a very beautiful sight. On the next day, perhaps you can visit one of the vineyards near Berat, if you are a person who enjoys going for a wine tasting.
Saranda to Berat bus timetable
You can take a bus from Saranda to Berat at 8:00 AM and at 14:30 PM. Buses depart from Rruga Skenderbeu (Skanderbeg Street) in the city centre of Saranda, you can see the location “Trans Dea” on Google Maps. A bus ticket costs 1400 Leke (14 euros) per person. You must pay in cash with the bus driver. A bus trip from Saranda to Berat may take you 4-5 hours depending on traffic.
Related Questions
How to get from Berat to Gjirokaster? You can get from Berat to Gjirokaster by bus, by taxi or by car. The bus from Berat to Gjirokaster departs at 8:00 AM and 14:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 900 Leke (9 euros) per person. Buses depart from the Berat Bus Terminal which is outside the city centre. The bus journey takes around 3 hours.
How to get from Berat to Tirana? You can get from Berat to Tirana by bus, by taxi or by car. Buses from Berat to Tirana depart at 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:30, 13:10, 13:50, 14:30, 15:10, 15:40 and 16:30. A bus ticket from Berat to Tirana costs 400 Leke (4 euros). You must pay in cash to the bud driver. Buses depart from the Berat Bus Terminal.
How to get from Berat to Vlore? You can get from Berat to Vlore by bus, by taxi or by car. Buses from Berat to Vlore depart at 6:00, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:20, 10:00 and 13:00. A bus ticket from Berat to Vlore costs 400 Leke (4 euros) per person. Buses depart from the Berat Bus Terminal. The journey takes 2 hours.
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