How to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster? Bus, Taxi, Car, Timetables, Prices, Train

If you are planning to travel from Saranda to Gjirokaster, let me help you. I will share how you can get from Saranda to Gjirokaster by bus, by taxi or by car.

How to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster? You can get from Saranda to Gjirokaster by bus, by taxi or by car. Buses from Saranda to Gjirokaster depart at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:15 PM and 17:00 PM. Bus ticket 4 EUR. Near Friendship Park. Taxi: 50-70 EUR. Rental Car: At least 20-25 a day. Duration: 1H20min.

In this blog post, I will share everything you need to know to travel from Saranda to Gjirokaster with confidence. I will include bus timetables, bus operators, bus ticket prices, how to pay for your bus ticket, bus terminal locations and more. I will also outline driving routes, stopping at the Blue Eye spring, taxi prices and rental car rates and what to expect. So let’s dive in.

How to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster?

Let me give you a quick overview of the best ways to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster. 

Saranda to Gjirokaster by bus

• Saranda to Gijrokaster bus timetable: 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:15 PM and 17:00 PM. 
• Saranda to Gjirokaster bus ticket: 400 LEK (around 4 EUR) per person. Pay cash with the bus driver.
• Buses depart near Friendship Park, the archaeological remains of the Basilica-Synagogue and the Trans Butrinti bus agency.
• The bus journey from Saranda to Gjirokaster lasts around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• You can make a stop en route at the Blue Eye spring.

Saranda to Gjirokaster by taxi

• A taxi from Saranda to Gjirokaster may cost you 50-70 EUR. 
• You can find phone numbers of individual taxi drivers on Google Maps and send a message via WhatsApp.
• Or ask your hotel receptionist to book you a taxi. 
• International booking websites like Booking COM charge a 20-30% commission on top of local taxi prices.
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Local taxi apps do charge regular taxi pricing, not discounted rates.

Saranda to Gjirokaster by car

• A rental car in Saranda will cost you at least 20-30 EUR a day. 
• Rental car prices are higher in July and August due to the tourist high season.
• I recommend you reach out to several local car rental companies via WhatsApp before travelling, to avoid being surprised by high car rental rates.
• Driving in Albania can be daunting and challenging as a foreigner due to the chaotic and sometimes aggressive style of driving in Albania. 
• There are two routes you can drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster. 
• The new road is from Saranda via Kardhiq Castle to Gjirokaster, this route is the quickest.
• The old national road (SH99) leads from Saranda via the Blue Eye Spring and Muzine to Gjirokaster. This route allows you to stop for 1 hour or so to visit the Blue Eye spring on the way to Gjirokaster.

Saranda to Gjirokaster by train

• You cannot take a train from Saranda to Gjirokaster. 
• There is no train track connection between Saranda and Gjirokaster.
• There are no train stations in Saranda and Gjirokaster. 
• Train travel within Albania is very limited. At the time of writing this blog, there is 1 x train per day between Durres Beach and Peqin in the entire country. 
• A new railway track is under construction between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres, planned opening in 2026.

How to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster by bus?

You can get a bus from Saranda to Gjirokaster at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:15 PM and 17:00 PM. 

If you want to get on a bus from Saranda to Gjirokaster, you must go to the city centre of Saranda. Buses depart near Friendship Park and the archaeological remains of the Basilica-Synagogue. Near Friendship Park, you can find the bus agencies of Trans Butrinti, which operates buses to Gjirokaster (amongst other bus companies).

Buses from Saranda to Gjirokaster at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:15 PM and 17:00 PM. To get on one of these buses, I recommend you go to the city centre early. There is no bus terminal in the city centre, instead small minibuses stop along the road near Friendship Park and the Trans Butrinti agency. This can feel chaotic and stressful as a foreign traveller, so give yourself plenty of time.

A bus ticket from Saranda to Gjirokaster costs 400 LEK (around 4 EUR) per person. You are expected to pay cash for your bus ticket. So I always recommend you carry some cash money with you whilst travelling by bus in Albania. A combination of some cash euros and some cash Albanian Leke is usually good. You can exchange a small amount of your money for Albanian Leke upon arrival in Albania in an independent currency exchange office in the city centre.

The bus journey from Saranda to Gjirokaster takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. And upon your arrival in Gjirokaster, you will be dropped off at the Gjirokaster Bus Terminal. The Gjirokaster bus terminal is at the bottom of the mountain and the city centre is on the top of the mountain, so it is either a steep climb if you walk to the city centre or you take a short taxi ride to the city centre.

INSIDER TIP: You can visit the Blue Eye Spring on your way from Saranda to Gjirokaster. Some of the buses that drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster drive via the old road that leads by the Blue Eye Spring. Upon boarding, ask the bus driver if can drop you off at the Blue Eye spring. Visit the spring for 1 hour and then catch the next bus to Gjirokaster. The Blue Eye spring is a beautiful and breathtakingly beautiful fresh water spring, it is a highlight!

How much is a taxi from Saranda to Gjirokaster?

A taxi from Saranda to Gjirokaster will cost around 50-70 EUR. Of course, individual taxi drivers in Saranda set their own rates. 

• Saranda to Gjirokaster taxi price – around 50-70 euros

You can request prices quickly via WhatsApp. On Google Maps, you can search for taxi driver Saranda and you will find phone numbers of individual drivers. Then send each driver a message via WhatsApp and compare the rates.

Another good option is asking your hotel receptionist to book a taxi for you. 

International booking websites like Booking COM may advertise taxi services, but these websites end up charging a 20-30% commission on top of the local rates, so it is usually more expensive. 

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Although there are some local taxi apps, these apps do offer regular taxi prices, not discounted rates.

How to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster by car?

A rental car in Saranda will cost you at least 20-30 EUR a day. However, rental car prices are much higher in July and August due to the tourist season. 

To give you a good insight into what you can expect to pay for a rental car in Saranda, I have reached out to several independent car rental companies in Saranda. Below you can see the price comparison for rental cars in Saranda. 

• Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarande charges 20 euros per day for a Citroen C1 or 25 euros per day for a Suzuki Swift.
• Saranda Holiday Rent a Car charges 200 euros per week, so approximately 28.50 euros per day, for a Fiat Panda or a Toyota Yaris.
• Moto Adventure Cars and Motorcycles Rental charges 140 euros per week, so 20 euros per day, for a Toyota Yaris.
• Centrum Rent a Car Saranda charges 25 euros per day for a Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Spark or Volkswagen Polo. 
• Brilant Car Rental Sarande charges 20 euros per day for a Toyota Yaris.
• Saranda Center Scooter and Car Rental charges 200 euros per week, so approximately 28.50 euros per day, for a Toyota Yaris 1.4 Diesel.
• Iri’s Car Rental charges 20 euros per day for a Nisan Note.

Renting a car in Albania usually only makes sense if you are planning to go on a round trip and you are able to return the rental car to the same city. Let’s say if you are flying to Corfu island, taking a ferry to Saranda and going on a round trip by rental car starting from and ending in Saranda. Dropping off a rental car in a different city like Tirana, you are often charged a high fee for dropping off the rental car in a different city. 

If you are travelling to Saranda in the summer months, you can definitely expect to pay a high price for a rental car. Therefore, I recommend you reach out to several local car rental companies via WhatsApp before travelling. You can find phone numbers of local car rental companies on Google Maps. There are several car rental agencies near the Port of Saranda.

Driving in Albania can be daunting for a foreigner. Unfortunately, Albanian drivers do have a chaotic and sometimes aggressive style of driving. Of course, you are the only person who can judge your driving abilities. But if you have any doubts about driving yourself, I recommend you plan your transportation by bus or by taxi instead.

There are two routes you can drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster. You can take the new road from Saranda via Kardhiq Castle to Gjirokaster, this route is quick. Or you can take the old national road (SH99)  via the Blue Eye Spring and Muzine village to Gjirokaster. Taking this old national road means you will be able to make a 1 hour stop at the Blue Eye spring for sightseeing on your way to Gjirokaster. The Blue Eye spring is breathtaking and best visited in the early morning.

Can I get from Saranda to Gjirokaster by train?

You cannot take a train from Saranda to Gjirokaster, because there is no train track. There is no train station in Saranda and there is no train station in Gjirokaster.

During the communist period in Albania, from the end of the Second World War until 1992, a train network was constructed in Albania. However, these trains never went further to the South than Vlore. 

Basically, the old railways used to connect Shkoder, Elbasan, Tirana, Durres, Pogradec and Vlore. However, many of these routes are currently NOT operational due to a lack of investment and interest in the old railway network. 

If you look on the website of HSH Hekurudha Shqiptare, which means Albanian Railways, you can see the limited train timetable. At the time of writing this blog, there is 1 x train per day between Durres Beach and Peqin on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

You can find the website of HSH Hekurudha Shqiptare here: https://hekurudha.al/ 

In essence, the old railways track to Vlore, Elbasan, Pogradec, Shkoder and Tirana are not in operation.

But there is good news too, a new railway track is under construction between Tirana, Tirana Airport and Durres. I have seen the construction take place and the new railway is planned to open in 2026. Of course, I will share more information on this blog, as soon as the railway opens.

How long does it take to get from Saranda to Gjirokaster?

It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster. If you plan to drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster, you can plan a stop at the Blue Eye Spring en route. Let me explain. 

Basically, there are two driving routes from Saranda to Gjirokaster. The new road leads by Kardhiq Castle and it is quicker. 

However, if you take the old national road (SH99) which leads by the Muzine village, then you can stop at the Blue Eye spring for sightseeing.

The Blue Eye spring is a highlight. A deep underwater cave pushes water to the surface level of the river with an enormous pressure. The beautiful spring is bright blue, like a human eye. And the underwater cave resembles the pupil of a human eye. You climb a viewing balcony above the spring and look down into the spring. It is breathtaking. 

If you have the time, I highly recommend leaving Saranda early and making a stop at the Blue Eye spring around 9 AM in the morning. Get there early, before the crowds and enjoy this natural wonder in peace and quiet. You only need about 1 hour to visit the spring. 

How far is Saranda from Gjirokaster?

Gjirokaster is approximately 52-54 kilometers from Saranda. It may take you between 1 hour and 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster. 

The quicker route is to drive from Saranda to Gjirokaster via Kardhiq Castle. This is a new road and therefore it is quicker. It might take you 1 hour or slightly longer to drive this route.

The road via the village of Muzine and the Blue Eye Spring is an older national road. This road takes a bit longer, around 1 hour and 20 minutes. The advantage is that you could stop for 1 hour at the Blue Eye spring en route before driving onwards to Gjirokaster.

Is it worth going to Gjirokaster?

Gjirokaster is absolutely worth visiting. Gjirokaster is one of the most beautiful historical towns in Albania. It is also called a ‘museum city’ and it is a UNESCO site.

Walking through Gjirokaster gives you an insight into what the city was like during the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The city has typical stone houses and cobblestone streets. Therefore, Gjirokaster is also known as the “stone city”. The city of Gjirokaster is known in Albania as a “museum city” because it has beautiful historical buildings everywhere. It is a lovely city to stroll through.

Gjirokaster Castle

The Gjirokaster Castle is a large fortress on the top of a hill in the city. The fortress has a spectacular view of the historical city and the traditional stone houses of Gjirokaster. It is one of the biggest hilltop castles in the Balkans and it dominates the city. The castle was originally built in the 12th century by the local Byzantine government. But it was renovated and additions were made during the Ottoman empire and the government of King Zog. From 1930 onward, it was mainly used as a prison for people who were resistant to the government.

Old Bazaar of Gjirokaster

The Old Bazaar of Gjirokaster is the traditional marketplace in Gjirokaster. The bazaar was originally built in the Middle Ages. There are a variety of craftsmen shops, souvenir shops and coffee houses along the Bazaar. You can buy handmade wooden pieces, handwoven rugs and delicate lace items. The street of the Bazaar is made of cobblestones and it is set on a steep hillside. 

Skenduli House

Skenduli House is a highlight for visitors to Gjirokaster. It is an original family house, which is more than 300 years old. During your visit, you will get a unique insight into what life was like for a rich family during the Ottoman period. The house has 9 fireplaces, 6 bathrooms, 12 rooms, 44 doors, 64 windows and 4 Hamam Turkish baths. The house has been owned by the same family for generations. The family will show you around the house and tell you stories about its history. One of the highlights is the room used for wedding ceremonies, with beautiful stained glass windows, carved wooden ceilings and a fireplace decorated with pomegranates, which symbolize fertility. 

Cold War Tunnel in Gjirokastra

The Cold War Tunnel is a gigantic bunker underneath the castle of Gjirokaster. It was built by the former communist dictator Enver Hoxha. The dictator was paranoid about a foreign invasion or a nuclear attack. In fact, he was so convinced an attack was imminent, he constructed 750.000 bunkers all over Albania. The Cold War Tunnel bunker was constructed in secret in the 1960s, and it remained a secret for the locals until the 1990s. The Cold War Tunnel is 800 m long and it has 59 rooms, therefore, it could hold up to 300 people if needed. The bunker is empty, but the use of the rooms have been displayed on the doors. There were rooms for government ministries, interrogators, party elites, power generation, water storage, sleeping, decontamination and air filtration. 

Museum of Weapons Gjirokastra

Inside the castle walls of Gjirokaster’s castle, you can visit the Museum of Weapons. The museum site was originally a prison. Albania former King Zog constructed the prison in 1932. During the second world war, the prison was used by the Italian and German forces. After the war, the communist regime used the prison to hold political prisoners. The Museum of Weapons displays arms used during the Albanian Independence struggle in 1912 and from the struggle against the Italian and German occupations from 1939 to 1944. 

Zekate House

Zekate House is a historical townhouse in Gjirokaster city. It is a beautiful example of a traditional tower house. The house was built in 1812, and it is “one of the greatest examples of Gjirokaster architecture in the Ottoman style”. Impressive houses like Zekate House, used to only belong to the wealthy people, like government officials and merchants. Inside the house you can see the original interior and imagine what it was like to live there during the Ottoman period. There are beautiful stained-glass windows, wooden ceilings and wall frescoes.

How much time do you need in Gjirokaster?

You will need 1-2 days to visit Gjirokaster. If you are visiting Gjirokaster for a day trip, you could visit the Gjirokaster Castle (1-2 hour), the Old Bazaar Market for shopping and lunch (2 hours), a traditional house like Skenduli House or Zekate House (1 hour) and perhaps the Cold War Tunnel (1 hour). 

If you have 2 days, you will have some more time to stroll around and explore the historical city centre, which is beautiful. It is also highly recommended to visit the nearby Blue Eye Spring outside Gjirokaster, which will take you a morning. 

How to spend a day in Gjirokaster?

Here is how I would recommend you spend your day in Gjirokaster:

• 9AM – Visit the Blue Eye Spring en route to Gjirokaster (if you are coming from Saranda)
• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Visit the Hilltop Gjirokaster Castle for amazing views, interesting military equipment and lovely pictures
• 12:00 PM – 14:00 PM – Old Bazaar Market & Lunch time. Go to the Old Bazaar Market for some souvenirs and local handicrafts. Then stop at a restaurant near the bazaar for some local lunch.
• 14:00 – 15:00 PM – Visit Skenduli House or Zekate House. These traditional Albanian houses give you a unique insight into what life was like for a wealthy Albanian family during the Ottoman Period
• 15:00 – 16:00 PM – Cold War Tunnel. Now this is optional. In the late afternoon, you could visit the Cold War Tunnel to see a bit of communist history. The former communist leader built an excessive number of bunkers in Albania to prepare for a war that (thankfully) never happened. A bit of unique Albanian history.

What is special about Gjirokaster?

Gjirokaster is a historical UNESCO city with beautiful stone houses dating back to the period where Albania was a part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Albania was relatively independent in this period, where local governors from Albania were ruling their part of the land whilst being part of the Ottoman Empire.

Gjirokaster was a rich city where a lot of the local government officials reporting to the local governor “Ali Pasha of Tepelene” were living. You can see grant houses called “Kulla Houses” in Gjirokaster. Because of the beautiful stone houses, Gjirokaster is also known as the “stone city” and it has been declared a “museum city” within Albania. 

In Gjirokaster, you can visit the Gjirokaster Castle for a beautiful view over the city centre. The Old Bazaar Market for souvenirs, handicrafts and lovely food. You can visit the inside of a typical historical Gjirokaster house at Skenduli House or Zekate House. And you can visit a communist bunker at the “Cold War Tunnel Museum”.

How to get from Gjirokaster to Saranda?

You can get from Gjirokaster to Saranda by bus, by taxi or by car. No trains. 

Buses from Gjirokaster to Saranda depart from the ‘Gjirokaster Bus Terminal’. Buses depart from Gjirokaster to Saranda at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 13:45 PM and 17:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person. You can only pay cash with the bus driver or at the bus agency just before boarding the bus.

The bus journey from Gjirokaster to Saranda takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. And upon arrival, you will be dropped off in the city centre of Saranda near Friendship Park.

Related Questions

How to get from Saranda to Berat by bus? You can take a bus from Saranda to Berat at 8:00 AM or 14:30 PM. A bus ticket costs 1400 LEK (14 EUR). The bus trip takes around 4 hours. Buses depart near Friendship Park in the city centre of Saranda. Buses depart near the Trans Dea Bus Agency. 

How to get from Gjirokaster to Tirana by bus? You can get on a bus from Gjirokaster to Tirana at 5:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 17:00 PM and 18:30 PM. A bus ticket costs 1000 LEK (10 EUR). You can only pay cash. Buses depart from the Gjirokaster Bus Terminal. 

How to get from Gjirokaster to Berat by bus? There is a bus from Gjirokaster to Berat at 8:30 AM. A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to Berat costs 900 LEK (9 EUR). You can only pay in cash. The bus departs from the Gjirokaster Bus Terminal. The bus journey from Gjirokaster to Berat takes approximately 3 hours.

How to get from Saranda to Blue Eye by bus? You can take a bus that drives from Saranda via the Blue Eye to Gjirokaster. Buses depart at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 13:00 PM, 14:15 PM and 17:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 400 LEK. Buses depart from the city centre of Saranda near the Trans Butrinti Bus Agency.

How to get from Saranda to Himare by bus? To get from Saranda to Himare by bus, you can take one of the buses driving along the coastline to Himare, Vlore or Tirana. Attention: Most buses take the quicker inland highway, so be sure to check with the driver. Buses via the coastline depart at 6:00 AM (Olgeno), 10:30 AM (Trans Dea), 11:30 AM(Trans Butrinti), 13:00 PM (Trans Dea) and 18:00 PM (Olgeno). 

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