How do you get to Saranda in Albania?

If you are wondering how to get to Saranda, I will give you a nice overview of how to get to Saranda by ferry, by bus, by taxi or by rental car. I will discuss how you can get to Saranda from Corfu and how to get to Saranda from Tirana.

How do you get to Saranda in Albania? You can get to Saranda in Albania with the Corfu Ferry or by bus, taxi or rental car from Tirana. You can fly to Corfu and take a 30-75 min boat to Saranda, which costs 19 – 23.80EUR. You can fly to Tirana and take a taxi to Saranda for 165 EUR. The bus from Tirana to Saranda costs 12 EUR.

In this blog post, I will give you all the details of how to get to Saranda. I will discuss the Corfu Ferry operators, their timetables, the different boats and their pricing. Furthermore, I will also discuss how to get from Tirana Airport to Saranda, including what a taxi costs, how to get to the Regional Bus Terminal to catch the bus and what to expect when renting a car to drive to Saranda.

How do I get to Saranda?

You can get to Saranda with:
1) Corfu-Saranda Ferry
2) Bus from Tirana to Saranda
3) Taxi from Tirana to Saranda
4) Rental a car to drive from Tirana to Saranda

Option 1: Corfu-Saranda Ferry (quick summary)

Fly to Corfu Airport on Corfu island. Corfu island is a Greek island in front of the Albanian coastline. Take a taxi or bus from the airport to the Port of Corfu. Then take a ferry boat from the Port of Corfu to the Port of Saranda. By speedboat, it takes 30-35 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda. By ferry boat, it takes 70-75 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda.

Option 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda (quick summary)

If you are flying to Tirana airport, you can get from Tirana to Saranda by bus. There is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Saranda, so you will need to take a taxi from Tirana airport to the Regional Bus Terminal. There are 6 x bus departures per day from Tirana’s Regional Bus Terminal to Saranda.

Option 3: Taxi from Tirana airport to Saranda (quick summary)

You can fly to Tirana airport and take a taxi to Saranda. The official Tirana airport taxi service charges 165 euros. But of course, you can also book a different taxi company in Tirana and arrange pick-up from Tirana Airport. Pricing for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda varies from 134 euros to 191 euros depending on where you book the taxi.

Option 4: Rent a car at Tirana airport and drive to Saranda (quick summary)

You can rent a car at Tirana airport and drive to Saranda. Car rental prices in Tirana start from 20-25 euros per day. Plus, you must calculate around 80 euros for petrol to drive to Saranda. I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies before your holiday, since prices vary significantly. More car rental tips are below.

How to get from Corfu to Saranda?

You can get from Corfu to Saranda with the Corfu-Saranda Ferry.

There are two types of ferries that sail between Corfu and Saranda: Speedboats and ferry boats. If you take the speedboat from Corfu, it takes 30-35 minutes to get to Saranda. If you take the ferry boat from Corfu, it takes 70-75 minutes to get to Saranda.

You can book a ticket for the Corfu-Saranda ferry with two companies: Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines. A ticket for the boat from Corfu to Saranda costs between 19 euros and 23.80 euros depending on the season.

Getting from Corfu to Saranda with Ionian Seaways:

  • Ionian Seaways has daily ferry boats from Corfu to Saranda.
  • You can choose between the Flying Dolphin Speedboat and the Ferry Boat.
  • With the Flying Dolphin Speedboat, it takes 35 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda.
  • With the Ferry Boat, it takes 70 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda.
  • A ticket for the Flying Dolphin Speedboat costs 23.80 euros in the high season (July – Mid-September) and 19 euros in the low season.
  • A ticket for the ferry boat costs 19 euros for an adult for a one-way journey all year round.
  • From the 1st of January 2022 until the 18th of April 2022, Ionian Seaways operates 1 x Flying Dolphin per day. The Flying Dolphin departs from Corfu to Saranda at 8:40 AM. The Flying Dolphin departs from Saranda to Corfu at 12:30 PM.
  • In the high season, Ionian Seaways has many more ferry departures per day.
  • You can check the most up-to-date timetable of Ionian Seaways here: https://ionianseaways.com/timetable/

Getting from Corfu to Saranda with Finikas Lines:

  • Finikas Lines has daily ferry boats from Corfu to Saranda.
  • You can choose between the Hydrofoil Speedboat and the Ferry Boat.
  • With the Hydrofoil Speedboat it takes 30 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda.
  • With the Ferry Boat, it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda.
  • A ticket for the Hydrofoil Speedboat costs 22.50 euros in the high-season and 18 euros in the low-season for a one-way journey.
  • A ticket for the ferry boat costs 19.80 euros for an adult for a one-way journey.
  • Ferry boat timetable from Saranda to Corfu:
    • 01 January – 5 April – Ferry departs at 10:30 AM
    • 06 April – 15 May – Ferry departs at 10:30 AM, 13:00 PM, 16:30 PM
    • 16 May – 31 May – Ferry departs at 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 13:00 PM, 16:00 PM
    • 01 June – 30 June – Ferry departs at 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 13:00 PM, 16:00 PM
    • 01 July – 31 August – Ferry departs at 6:00 AM, 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 13:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 18:30 PM
    • 01 September – 21 September – Ferry departs at 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 13:00 PM, 16:00PM and 18:30 PM
    • 22 September – 31 September – Ferry departs at 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 13:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 18:30 PM
    • 01 October – 15 October – Ferry departs at 8:45 AM, 10:30 AM and 16:00 PM
    • 16 October – 31 October – Ferry departs at 10:30 AM and 16:00 PM
    • 01 November – 31 December – Ferry departs at 10:30 AM
    • You can check the most up-to-date timetable of Finikas Lines here: https://www.finikas-lines.com/lines

***Important information about the time difference between Corfu and Saranda***
There is a time difference between Corfu and Albania. Basically, Corfu island is 1 hour ahead in time of Albania. So, when you travel from Corfu to Albania, you win an extra hour. However, if you are travelling from Saranda to Corfu, bear in mind that you will lose 1 hour. This is especially important if you are catching a flight from Corfu airport.

Where does the Corfu-Saranda ferry depart?

The Corfu-Saranda ferry departs from the Port of Corfu. So you will need to travel from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu.

Kerkyra is the main town of Corfu and it is close to the ferry port. The distance between the city centre of Kerkyra and the port is only 1.5 kilometres. Therefore, you can walk from the old town to the port. It is a popular walking route. So, there is signage from city centre all the way to the port.

It is also possible to get to the port of Corfu by bus. You can get on Bus Line No 15 at the airport or in the city centre of Kerkyra. Bus line No 15, departs from Corfu airport. The bus drives to the intercity bus station, through the city centre, by San Rocco Square and its final stop is at the Port of Corfu.

At the port, the bus makes two stops. Firstly, it stops behind the ferry ticket offices and finally, it stops at the port itself. The bus ticket costs only €1.20. The bus trip from the airport to the port takes around 20 minutes.

And finally, you can travel from the airport to the port by taxi. There are always taxis at the airport, so it is a good option if you need to be quick. The trip from the airport to the port of Corfu takes roughly 12 minutes. The taxi journey will cost you between €15 – €20.

How long is the ferry from Corfu to Saranda?

The ferry from Corfu to Saranda takes 30-35 minutes with the speedboat or 70-75 minutes with the ferry boat.

There are two types of boats operating between Corfu and Saranda. How long the ferry journey from Corfu to Saranda takes, depends on the type of boat you book.

Ionian Seaways offers tickets for the Flying Dolphin Speedboat, which takes 35 minutes. But they also offer tickets for the slower car ferry boat, which takes 70 minutes.

Finikas lines sell tickets for the Hydrofoil Speedboat, which takes only 30 minutes. But they also have a shower ferry boat, which takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.

How much is the ferry from Corfu to Saranda?

The ferry from Corfu to Saranda costs between 19 – 23.80 euros. The price of the ticket for the ferry from Corfu to Saranda depends on the season you book and the type of boat you book.

Ionian Seaways has a Flying Dolphin Speedboat and a slower car ferry boat. A ticket for the Flying Dolphin Speedboat costs 23.80 euros in the high season (July – Mid-September) and 19 euros in the low season. A ticket for the ferry boat costs 19 euros for an adult for a one-way journey all year round.

Finikas Lines has a Hydrofoil Speedboat and a slower car ferry. A ticket for the Hydrofoil Speedboat costs 22.50 euros in the high-season and 18 euros in the low-season for a one-way journey. A ticket for the ferry boat costs 19.80 euros for an adult for a one-way journey.

How to get from Tirana to Saranda?

You can get from Tirana to Saranda by bus, by taxi or by rental car.

The bus from Tirana to Saranda departs from the Regional Bus Terminal, which is outside the city centre of Tirana. So you must take a taxi to get to the Regional Bus Terminal. The bus from Tirana to Saranda costs 12 EUR for a one-way journey, which takes 5 hours.

The official Tirana Airport taxi services charge 165 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda. Other taxi companies offer taxis from Tirana to Sarana for rates from 134 euros to 191 euros depending on where you book the taxi.

You can rent a car at Tirana airport and drive to Saranda. Car rental prices in Tirana start from 20-25 euros per day. Plus, you must calculate around 80 euros for petrol to drive to Saranda. I highly recommend you reach out to car rental companies before your holiday, since prices vary significantly. More car rental tips are below.

How to get from Tirana to Saranda by bus?

You can take the local bus from Tirana to Saranda. By bus, it will take you around 5 hours to get from Tirana to Saranda. However, you will need some extra time to travel to the bus terminal.

Where does the bus from Tirana to Saranda depart?

The bus from Tirana to Saranda departs from the Regional Bus Terminal near Tirana. The Regional Bus Terminal is located about 20 minutes by car outside of the city centre of Tirana.

The Regional Bus Terminal is officially called:
In Albanian Language: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut
In English Language: Regional Bus Terminal – North and South Albania
You can see the location of the Regional Bus Terminal by clicking on this link to Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Jso228CjaScxrMGS6

How to get to the Regional Bus Terminal?

If you are flying to Tirana Airport, there is no direct bus from the airport to Saranda. So you must take a taxi from Tirana airport to the Regional Bus Terminal. The taxi ride will cost you 13 euros. And it will take you 15-20 minutes to get from the airport to the Regional Bus Terminal.

If you are staying in a hotel in the city centre of Tirana, you must take a short taxi ride or a city bus to get to the Regional Bus Terminal.

The city bus from Tirana’s city centre to the Regional Bus Terminal departs close to Skanderbeg Square. Skanderbeg Square is the center square in the city centre of Tirana. If you are standing on Skanderbeg Square, you need to walk to the back of the National History Museum, to the Dede Gjo Luli Street (In Albanian: Rruga Dede Gjo Luli).

From the bus station on Dede Gjo Luli Street (In Albanian: Rruga Dede Gjo Luli), you must take the bus to Instituti Bujqesor. The bus to Instituti Bujqesor makes a stop at the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania. A bus ticket will cost you less than 1 euro, so take some Albanian Leke coins with you.

A taxi ride from the city center of Tirana to the Regional Bus Terminal costs around 5 euros. By taxi, it will take you approximately 20 minutes to get to the Regional Bus Terminal. But I do recommend that you leave on time! Because traffic in the city centre of Tirana can be heavy and it may slow you down significantly.

Tirana to Saranda bus timetable

The bus from Tirana to Saranda departs 6 x times per day. The bus from Tirana to Saranda departs at 6:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 12:30 PM and 16:00 PM. You can always check the latest bus timetable from Tirana to Saranda on the website of Gjirafa Autobus here: https://gjirafa.com/autobus

How much is the bus from Tirana to Saranda?

A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 12 euros for a one-way trip or 24 euros for a return trip. You do not have to book a ticket for the bus online. Simply travel to the bus terminal and pay for your bus ticket in cash with the driver of the bus.

Albania is still quite an old fashioned country, where the majority of transactions are done in cash and in person. So make sure you bring some cash money with you to the bus station, because bus drivers do not have a card payment machine inside their bus. Only cash is accepted.

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Saranda?

A taxi from Tirana to Saranda costs between 134 euros – 191 euros.

These are the taxi prices from Tirana’s city centre to Saranda:

⦁ Merr Taxi charges 191 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda
⦁ UPs taxi charges 21502 Leke (177 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda
⦁ Speedtaxi charges 16000 Leke or 134 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda
⦁ City Taxi charges 16000 Leke (134 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda
⦁ Euro Taxi charges 130 euros for a taxi from Tirana to Saranda

If you want to take a taxi from Tirana airport directly to Saranda, you can take an airport taxi. The official Tirana airport taxi service charges 165 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Saranda. The advantage of the licensed taxi service is that they have a set price list, which is published online here: https://tiataxi.al/travel/

The taxi journey from Tirana to Saranda takes around 5 hours.

Can I get from Tirana to Saranda by Uber?

You cannot get from Tirana to Saranda by Uber, because Uber does not exist (yet) in Albania. Although Uber did announce in the past that they would come to Albania, this has not happened yet.

However, if you would like to use an app to request a taxi, there are some alternatives to Uber. The popular taxi apps in Albania are the Ups Taxi app, the Speed Taxi app and the Taxi.al taxi app.

You can also request a taxi via Viber or Whatsapp since many of the taxi companies in Albania show their Viber and Whatsapp numbers on their website.

How much does it cost to rent a car and drive from Tirana to Saranda?

It costs at least 20 – 25 euros to rent a car in Albania. And it will cost you around 80 euros to buy petrol for your drive from Tirana to Saranda.

I have recently written a blog post about the costs of renting a car in Albania. I basically requested car rental rates from many car rental companies in Tirana. The most affordable car rental will cost you 20 – 25 euros per day.

However, you must reach out to several car rental companies before your holiday. I recommend you do your research, to ensure you get a good deal! Because I have spoken to tourists, who were charged 60-70 euros per day for a rental car. You can read my blog post about the costs of renting a car in Albania here: https://albaniatourguide.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-rent-a-car-in-albania/

There are two possible routes to drive from Tirana to Saranda:

Option 1: The shorter inland road (Tirana -> Durres -> Fier -> Tepelene -> Gjirokaster -> Saranda)
Option 2: The longer coastal road (Tirana -> Durres -> Fier -> Vlore -> Himare -> Saranda)

The shortest route to get from Tirana to Saranda is via the inland route. However, I highly recommend you drive via the longer coastal road instead, because the coastline between Vlore and Saranda is stunning.

The 120-kilometre long coastline between Vlore and Saranda is called “the Albanian Riviera”. And even if, you won’t have time to stop at every beach. You will still enjoy stunning views along this route. I recommend you plan 1 day to drive along the coastline. You can make stops at Zvernec island, the Llogara Pass, Dhermi Beach, Jale beach and the Castle of Ali Pasha in the Bay of Porto Palermo. Take your time, because you are on holiday after all!

Important! Driving in Albania can be daunting or challenging as a foreign driver. The Albanian drivers have a chaotic and aggressive driving style. Although there are rules on the road, you will certainly meet Albanian drivers, who do not follow the rules. You are the only person, who can judge your driving ability, but you must be an alert and confident driver to drive in Albania. Do not drive in Albania at night, because street lighting is limited.

About me

About me

I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania!
Kind regards, Manon

Welcome to Albania!

I am a Tour Guide in Albania

I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania.

Book your free Albania Planning Session via Skype now, by using my online scheduler to find a time that’s convenient for you.

Book my Skype Session