Visit Saranda, Albania: a Practical Guide for Solo Female Travellers (2025)

Before travelling to Albania for the first time, I had heard so many great things about Saranda. I wanted to visit, but didn’t know if Saranda was a good destination for solo female travellers.

Now after two extended stays I can honestly say Saranda is a great place for women travelling alone.

Visit Saranda: the Ultimate Guide for Solo Female Travellers in Albania

I’ve spent considerable time in Saranda with my dog, Watson. There is so much about the small city I enjoy: the compact size, walkability, endless days of sunshine, laid back atmosphere, food and coffee culture!

Overview of Saranda

Saranda sits in a natural bay, with views of the sea and Corfu, Greece from almost everywhere you turn.

With a population of 35,000, it’s small city with good amenities and reasonable transportation options.

Considered the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, Saranda is on the Ionian Sea and has wonderful beaches. It’s the second most popular tourist destination in southern Albania after Ksamil.

Saranda is very walkable, especially if you stay near the promenade or in the Kodra neighborhood. You don’t need a car to get to restaurants, shops or the beach.

Is Saranda Safe to Visit?

Yes! Saranda is very safe to visit, even for solo travellers. I never felt uncomfortable or concerned walking around alone. Locals were always respectful and helpful. This is true of Albania in general.

Crimes against visitors in Saranda is rare. In general, the town feels relaxed, friendly, and welcoming.

I often walked around with my phone in my hand (usually to navigate), and didn’t keep my purse glued to my body, like in other destinations.

The only real caution is beach safety. Keep an eye on valuables if you’re swimming alone. And watch out for sea urchins – I’ve seen them washed up on the shore. You do not want to step on one!

How Expensive is Saranda?

Compared to other places in Albania, Saranda is expensive, especially in peak season (July and August).

I’ve seen Saranda prices triple in the last 2 years, especially for accommodation and beach amenities. In high season everything increases: restaurant meals, beach chairs, hotels and Airbnbs, car rentals, etc.

But for a Mediterranean city Saranda is budget friendly. However, it’s no longer the bargain it was a few years ago.

• Accommodation: Prices triple in July and August. A basic double room that costs $30 USD off-season may cost $90–100 in summer.
• Restaurants: Meals range from 850 – 2500 lek ($10–30 USD), depending on how touristy the location is.
• Beaches: Expect to pay 2000 – 3000 lek ($24–36 USD) for two sunbeds and an umbrella on a private beach. Saranda Beach is free.

If you’re on a tighter budget, visit off-season, or base yourself in Durres, a more affordable beach city close to Tirana.

How to Get to Saranda

There are two main ways to get to Saranda: from Tirana or from Corfu, Greece.

From Tirana

• Cheapest: Take the bus from South North Bus Terminal. It’s a 5 hour bus ride and costs 1700 lek ($20 USD).
• Easiest but Expensive: Take a taxi from the airport. They charge 20,000 lek ($236 USD).
• Most Convenient: Rent a car and self drive. The coastal route after Vlore is spectacular. The roads are pretty good in Albania. I use DiscoverCars.com for car rental in Albania.

I don’t mind flying into Tirana. I usually take the opportunity to stay a few days. Tirana is worth visiting, it’s a totally under-rated European city.

From Corfu, Greece

A lot of visitors prefer to fly into Corfu, Greece and take the ferry to Saranda. The fast ferry does the trip in 30 minutes.

There are multiple daily crossings from Corfu to Saranda. Buy your tickets in advance if high season. I check the schedule on the Direct Ferries website, then buy my ticket directly with the ferry company.

The Corfu airport is only 3.5 km from the international port terminal. Once in Saranda, the port is in the centre, so you can probably walk to your hotel.

This can be a very convenient option.

Best Time to Visit to Saranda

July and August are peak months. Tourists outnumber locals, prices are at their highest and it’s much busier. Every day is hot and sunny. It’s great beach weather and Saranda has an energetic vibe.

If you prefer a more peaceful, less tourist crowded holiday, shoulder season is best: May and June, or September and October. The weather is still really good (better I think than in summer), and everything is a bit more relaxed.

During the off/shoulder season, Saranda is a very popular nomad and expat destination. Many people (myself included) love to visit Saranda off season, but leave before summer.

What to Do in Saranda

Apart from the beaches there’s not a ton of things to do in Saranda, but I always manage to keep myself busy with long walks and day trips.

Saranda is actually a really good base for exploring southern Albania.

Saranda Day Trips

Saranda makes an excellent home base. Within 1 – 1.5 hours you can reach:

• Butrint National Park (UNESCO): 86 square km national park and site of Roman, Venetian and Greek ruins
• Gjirokastër (UNESCO): historic stone town in the mountains, with castle and medieval bazaar
• Syri i Kaltër (aka Blue Eye): natural springs
• Ksamil: beach resort town known as the Maldives of Europe

Other Things to do in Saranda

• Visit the beaches: Choose from the public beach by the promenade, or enjoy a private beach like Era Beach or Mango Beach.
• Stroll the promenade: Great for coffee or gelato, sea views, and sunset walks.
• Enjoy seafood dinners: Saranda has fantastic seafood. Try kalamari, whole sea bass, grilled octopus.
• Hike to the Monastery of Fourty Saints: Atmospheric ruined monastery in the hills.
• Watch the sunset from Lekuresi Castle: Have a meal or cocktail at the restaurant and enjoy the fantastic sunset views over the Bay of Saranda.
• Take a half day boat tour: Visit secluded beaches and coves that are only accessible by boat.

Where to Stay in Saranda

For such a small place, it’s surprisingly tricky to figure out the best area to stay in Saranda. Saranda is built on steep hills. The further you go from the water, the steeper it gets.

Personally, I think Kodra is the best area to stay in. Kodra is by the sea, flat, very close to the centre, and is a more local neighbourhood. I usually book an Airbnb there.

After Kodra, I like the centre – the area behind the promenade, but not past Rruga Onhezmi. It gets very steep after that.

I avoid Rruga Butrinti completely. It’s too steep, there’s too much traffic, and it’s too touristy for my liking. But, if you’re in Saranda primarily for the beaches and clubs, this is where the best beaches and bars are.

These are the places I highly recommend in Saranda:

• Luxury: Hotel Vale (luxurious and modern 4 star hotel on the beach promenade with sea view rooms)
• Mid-range: Titania Hotel (excellent location beside the promenade, good value)
• Budget: Vila Konomi (simple, but very clean and modern studio apartments with sea views)
• Beachfront: Vila Era Beach (nice beachfront hotel with excellent location very close to the centre)

Where to Eat in Saranda

Saranda has plenty of restaurants. You’ll find everything from traditional Albanian dishes, to seafood, to ‘fast food’ (gyro) and snacks like byrek.

Here are some of my favourite places to eat in Saranda:

• Peta Jon: My favourite byrek shop across the street from the port. Also sells sandwiches and Greek style pastry. When in Saranda I go here almost daily!
• Taste of Tradition: Excellent cafeteria style eatery specializing in traditional Albanian dishes. An expat favourite.
• Taverna Oxhaku: My go-to spot for kalamari. They have the best in Saranda!
• Rozmarine: Best place for a nice dinner. Specializing in fresh seafood.
• Limani: Super touristy (overpriced) on the promenade, but the waterfront location cannot be beat. I like having coffee there.

What to Know Before You Visit Saranda

Here’s a few things to be aware of before you arrive in Saranda:

• Cash is king: Credit cards are accepted in some places, but cash is essential.
• ATMs are expensive: Some charge 800 lek ($9.50 USD) per transaction. ABI machines have the best rates of 500 lek ($6 USD). There’s one in the centre.
• Taxis have to post their prices: Licensed taxis are required by law to display their prices. These are usually on the exterior of the taxi or inside as a price sheet.  I use Saranda Eco Taxi.
• You can’t drink the tap water: It’s not potable. While fine for bathing, brushing teeth etc., drink bottled water.
• Don’t flush the toilet paper: There’s always a bin beside the toilet – use it!
• SIM cards: I always use Vodafone. Locals all say it has the best coverage.
• Public transit: There’s no bus system for Saranda itself, but there are mini buses that travel to destinations in Albania like Ksamil, Vlore and Tirana. The main bus station is by the Synagogue – Basilica ruins on Rruga Onhezmi.

Is Saranda Good for Digital Nomads?

Yes! In fact, it’s a favourite destination for digital nomad and has an active expat community. I made some great friends through the Saranda expat social network.

Off season, Saranda is a peaceful place to live and work remotely. Monthly rentals are affordable, and the seaside location is beautiful. Most apartments and Airbnbs have good internet.

Canadians and Europeans are allowed to stay in Albania without a visa for 90 days out of 180 days. Americans can stay for up to one year.

Longer stays require a long term visa or residency permit. Check the official Albanian government website for current visa rules.

A big reason Saranda is such a popular nomad spot is that Albania is not part of the Schengen Zone. A lot of nomads use Saranda as a 90 day Schengen re-set, so they can re-enter a European Schengen country.

Saranda or Ksamil, Which is Better to Visit?

Unless the only thing you want to do is beach hop and enjoy beach clubs, Saranda is better than Ksamil.

Ksamil is a beach resort holiday destination. That is the main focus of the town. Almost every building has something to do with tourism. Off season, Ksamil is a ghost town, with almost everything shut down.

Saranda is a proper small city, with a year round population that functions all year. It’s bigger than Ksamil, has more to see and do, and is more culturally authentic.

I stayed in Ksamil a week and explored it thoroughly. It has gorgeous beaches and great beach clubs, but it’s too commercialized for my taste. Even most locals don’t like Ksamil for this reason.

My recommendation? Take the early morning Ksamil-Butrint bus from Saranda and enjoy Ksamil for the day (it’s only 15 km away).

Pros and Cons of Visiting Saranda

All in all, I think Saranda is one of the best destinations in Albania, which is why I return every year.

Final Words on Visit Saranda, Albania: a Practical Guide for Solo Female Travellers

Albania is a great destination for solo female travellers. And Saranda is the perfect place to start an Albanian adventure.

Saranda is safe, beautiful, reasonably affordable, and the locals are welcoming.