How to get from Corfu to Saranda, Albania
Albania is quickly becoming a popular destination—some even say it’s the new Greece!
For a country that was isolated from the rest of the world for so long, you might wonder what to expect. For instance, did you know Albania doesn’t have any trains?
I'm here to tell you, navigating Albania was surprisingly easy in our experience!
WHY WOULD I TRAVEL FROM CORFU TO SARANDA INSTEAD OF THE CAPITAL CITY TIRANA?
Corfu is a small Greek island that sits almost parallel to the southern coast of Albania and because of that, you can be in Saranda within 30 minutes.
Whereas if you go from Tirana to Saranda, the journey can be 4-5 hours via bus, and if you’re wanting a quick summer holiday, this isn’t ideal!
We did leave Saranda by getting the bus to Tirana; which you can learn more about here.
HOW DO I BOOK THE FERRY?
We looked at ferry times and prices on a website called Ferryhopper, it’s like Skyscanner for ferries.
Alternatively, you can book a few days in advance in person at the ferry terminal.
WHAT ARE THE FERRY OPTIONS?
When we went in May, there were only 2 options available. A 30 minute ferry and a 1 hour and 10 minute ferry. We chose the 1 hour and 10 minute ferry with Ionian Seaways to save money. In the peak months, there are many more options available (as shown above).
The smaller, faster ferry looked like it only indoor seating and small windows. This would be a great option if you were in a hurry. But I personally really enjoyed being able to relax outside on the top deck of the bigger ferry.
HOW MUCH DOES THE FERRY FROM CORFU TO SARANDA COST?
Depending on the ferry company, what time of day it is and the length of the journey, prices can range from €15-30 euros.
We could pay €30 for a 30 minute ferry or €15 for a 1 hour 10 minute ferry. As we weren’t in a hurry at all (what’s 40 minutes difference anyway?) We opted for the longer, cheaper option. This was still the price until the night before, when we unfortunately left it until the last minute to book and the price went up to €20.
HOW DO I GET TO THE FERRY?
I would suggest to give yourself roughly 2 hours to collect your physical tickets from the ticket office (don’t forget to do this before heading to the ferry terminal!), eat some lunch at a local cafe, walk 15 minutes to the ferry terminal and go through the passport & customs check.
To ensure you have enough time to go through customs, you’ll need to arrive at the ferry terminal at least 45 minutes before departure. Don’t forget you’re going to a different country after all! The ferry terminal isn’t directly opposite the ferry offices, but they will give you directions on how to get there.
I assumed as we were there in May (before the peak season), the passport check line was very quick and easy. After we had our passports checked, we sat outside and waited until we were called over to the ferry. It was a very smooth, stress free experience.
WHAT IS THE FERRY LIKE?
The ferry we booked had 3 different levels. Comfortable indoor sofas and a lot of outdoor seating on every level. We really enjoyed this as we felt like it was an experience in itself! We sat on the top deck enjoying the sun, the fresh air and the sights of Greece and Albania.
As someone who regularly gets sea sick, I really appreciated being able to move freely amongst the ferry. Anyone who also experienced this knows there’s nothing worse than being stuck in your seat and feeling the boat rock back and forth!
The ferry wasn’t even half full, which made it even more relaxing, as well.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE IN SARANDA?
When we arrived in Saranda, we walked over to the terminal and we were stamped into Albania. It was as simple as that!
