Sarandë

Sarandë, the gateway to the southern Albania, is a small town of about 33,000 inhabitants, situated on a beautiful horseshoe bay between the mountains and the Ionian Sea. The name Saranda derives from an early Christian monastery dedicated to Agioi Saranta (Forty Saints). In antiquity, Saranda was known as Onchesmus.

Located opposite the Greek island of Corfu, Saranda is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and warm sea waters. Saranda typically has over 300 sunny days a year. Due to its location and warm weather Saranda is one of the most attractive tourist towns on the Albanian Riviera, where honeymooners traditionally spend their holidays. Fronting the sea and along the main promenade there are some hotels and restaurants which offer you catering facilities and accommodation.

Nearby Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Saranda Tourist Info Center, Shetitorja Naim Frasheri (Near the Molo by the beach. There are two Tourist Info Centers (one yellow-domed building on the boardwalk, another more traditional office near the bus center). Both are excellent resources for bus timetables. An added bonus is that the employees speak good English

Saranda Tourist Info Center, Shetitorja Naim Frasheri (Near the Molo by the beach. There are two Tourist Info Centers (one yellow-domed building on the boardwalk, another more traditional office near the bus center). Both are excellent resources for bus timetables. An added bonus is that the employees speak good English

• Ruins of a 5th Century Synagogue, Rruga Skënderbeu and Rruga Vangjel Pandi cnr..
• Synagogue.
• Ethnographic Museum.
• Old Castle of Lekures at "Qafa e Gjashtes" (The Pass of Six). There is a nice outdoor restaurant within the castle from which you have panoramic views of Saranda Bay below, the inland mountains, the Butrint Lagoon and the island of Corfu on the Ionian Sea.

• Borsh. a maritime village
• Butrint National Park and Archaeological Site, Butrint, Ksamil (Just outside of Ksamil. This is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Butrint was an ancient city throughout Greek, Roman, bishopric and Byzantine periods. The city was finally abandoned during the Middle Ages perhaps due to the marsh surrounding and subsequent malaria epidemic. - Despite being one of the greatest classical cities of the Mediterranean, Butrint remains largely unknown. The current archaeological site includes an impressive Roman amphitheater, a Byzantine Basilica (the largest in the world after Hagia Sophia in Istanbul), a Roman temple with mosaic floor, a beautifully carved lion's gate as well numerous constructions built throughout the periods. Furthermore, what you see is just 15 per cent of what lies beneath. As of summer of 2005, there is an international archaeological team performing excavations at Butrint which can be observed inside the park. 700 lek entry fee (€5). As of September 2014, there are city buses that run to Butrint, via Ksamil, every even hour on the half hour, from 06:30 until 16:30 (06:30, 8:30, 10:30...16:30). The same bus line runs from Butrint to Saranda, via Ksamil, every odd hour on the half hour from 07:30 until 17:30 (07:30, 9:30, 11:30....17:30). Bus price is 100 lek per person and can be picked up at the main Saranda bus station or across the street from Hotel Buntrinti. Butrint visitors should allocate approximately 2 hours to enjoy the site; archaeology fans will probably want closer to 3 hours.
• Dhërmi beach. — one of the finest of the many beaches along the coastal road, perfect for camping.
• Ksamil beach. This village has a beautiful beach with several small islands you could swim to. Ksamili is now heavily developed, with a large number of part-completed properties. An extraordinary sight is that some of these new buildings are toppling over; this is believed to be where buildings have gone up without permission, and the police have sabotaged the building by pulling out a couple of upright pillars, leaving the owner to clear up the damage.
• Lukove beach. - part of the Albanian Riviera, here is Kakome, one of the most beautiful Albanian beaches. As of July 2018 the road access to Kakome beach was blocked by closed gates with guards, apparently due to a construction project.
• Syri i Kalter, Delvinë District (25 min away by driving. Water spring - a natural phenomenon. The clear blue water of the river bubbles forth from a stunning, more than fifty-metre-deep pool. A great place to visit and relax.

Borsh. a maritime village

Butrint National Park and Archaeological Site, Butrint, Ksamil (Just outside of Ksamil. This is an [[UNESCO World Heritage site]]. Butrint was an ancient city throughout Greek, Roman, bishopric and Byzantine periods. The city was finally abandoned during the Middle Ages perhaps due to the marsh surrounding and subsequent malaria epidemic. - Despite being one of the greatest classical cities of the Mediterranean, Butrint remains largely unknown. The current archaeological site includes an impressive Roman amphitheater, a Byzantine Basilica (the largest in the world after Hagia Sophia in Istanbul), a Roman temple with mosaic floor, a beautifully carved lion's gate as well numerous constructions built throughout the periods. Furthermore, what you see is just 15 per cent of what lies beneath. As of summer of 2005, there is an international archaeological team performing excavations at Butrint which can be observed inside the park. 700 lek entry fee (€5). As of September 2014, there are city buses that run to Butrint, via Ksamil, every even hour on the half hour, from 06:30 until 16:30 (06:30, 8:30, 10:30...16:30). The same bus line runs from Butrint to Saranda, via Ksamil, every odd hour on the half hour from 07:30 until 17:30 (07:30, 9:30, 11:30....17:30). Bus price is 100 lek per person and can be picked up at the main Saranda bus station or across the street from Hotel Buntrinti. Butrint visitors should allocate approximately 2 hours to enjoy the site; archaeology fans will probably want closer to 3 hours.

Dhërmi beach. — one of the finest of the many beaches along the coastal road, perfect for camping.

Ksamil beach. This village has a beautiful beach with several small islands you could swim to. Ksamili is now heavily developed, with a large number of part-completed properties. An extraordinary sight is that some of these new buildings are toppling over; this is believed to be where buildings have gone up without permission, and the police have sabotaged the building by pulling out a couple of upright pillars, leaving the owner to clear up the damage.

Lukove beach. - part of the Albanian Riviera, here is Kakome, one of the most beautiful Albanian beaches. As of July 2018 the road access to Kakome beach was blocked by closed gates with guards, apparently due to a construction project.

Syri i Kalter, Delvinë District (25 min away by driving. Water spring - a natural phenomenon. The clear blue water of the river bubbles forth from a stunning, more than fifty-metre-deep pool. A great place to visit and relax.

Ruins of a 5th Century Synagogue, Rruga Skënderbeu and Rruga Vangjel Pandi cnr..

Synagogue.

Ethnographic Museum.

Old Castle of Lekures at "Qafa e Gjashtes" (The Pass of Six). There is a nice outdoor restaurant within the castle from which you have panoramic views of Saranda Bay below, the inland mountains, the Butrint Lagoon and the island of Corfu on the Ionian Sea.

• Central Park, Rruga Telat Noga & Rruga Onhezmi corner.
• Sunset at Lekures. In the afternoon, when the sun is setting, you should go to Lekures, and watch the sun set, or you could go to the beach and relax with your friends or family while enjoying the beautiful sunset. Something else that you can do, when it’s not a really hot day is to go camping. If it’s not a hot day, camping would be a really good experience and also allow you to have a good time looking at the stars at night, and it would be a change from going to the beach. Another idea is to visit a new beach each day, such as one day “pllakat” the next day “manastiri” and so on.
• After visiting Ali Pasha Tepelena Castle, you could go to the Pulbardha Beach and enjoy some great food and relax on the sandy beach.

Central Park, Rruga Telat Noga & Rruga Onhezmi corner.

Sunset at Lekures. In the afternoon, when the sun is setting, you should go to Lekures, and watch the sun set, or you could go to the beach and relax with your friends or family while enjoying the beautiful sunset. Something else that you can do, when it’s not a really hot day is to go camping. If it’s not a hot day, camping would be a really good experience and also allow you to have a good time looking at the stars at night, and it would be a change from going to the beach. Another idea is to visit a new beach each day, such as one day “pllakat” the next day “manastiri” and so on.

• Myrtaj Shop, Rruga Onhezmi.
• Skenderbeu Cognac
• Miniature bunker from alabaster
• Albanische Mythologie book
• Souvenirs made from sea shells in Ksamil
• LLogara honey is a local speciality - it is sold by various merchants on the road.

Myrtaj Shop, Rruga Onhezmi.

Sarandë is bustling with restaurants, cafes and bars. Fast food places offer a surprisingly cheap and tasty variety of options: €1 will usually get you a good souvlaki (usually pork) or a very nice crepe. Look out for yoghurt flavoured ice cream on the boardwalk, near the tourist info office.

The Mare Nostrum Cuisine is a nice restaurant on the sea-front of Saranda, in the center. It has the reputation as one of the best places to eat in Saranda . Great food and service but known to be a little more expensive than other restaurants.

Fresh fish is abundant in Sarandë and available at most restaurants. Establishments next to the sea and fishing ports provide the freshest fish but generally speaking good seafood can be had all around.

There are a few places you can eat in Ksamil. At least 4 restaurants in Ksamil are open year-round, but in the summer there are a lot more options and many are just seconds from the beach.

Albanian raki, the local firewater.

• Albanian Riviera
• Borsh (N 35 km) a maritime village
• Corfu in Greece is the island of grace and politeness. It lies opposite the coast of Epirus mainland and it is separated from Albania in the north part of it by a narrow Strait of 1.5 sea miles. Corfu is the capital of the seven Ionian Islands with an area of 592 km², it is the second largest Island of the Ionian Islands, with a beautiful coastline of 217 km. Corfu is also the greenest island of all Greece. The impressive vegetation of the island consist mainly of olive and cypress trees
• Dhërmi one of the finest of the many beaches along the coastal road, perfect for camping.
• Gjirokastër (N )— another UNESCO city in the south, it is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. There is a large castle on the hill in the middle of the city.
• Korce (N via Tepelene several miles from the Greek border) — this city is full of life during the summer when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape.
• Ksamil — On the edge of the Butrint national park. An absolute gem
• Pёrmet (NE approximately from the Greek border.) — Nicknamed “The City of Roses,” Pёrmet is located in the Vjosa River Valley. The city is known for its clean environment and tradition of wine and raki making. Old Permet is worth a look. Around it: Benjё, and Leusё villages
• Pogradec (NE ) — Overshadowed by its glitzy neighbors on the Macedonian side of the lake, the town of Pogradec has been experiencing a revival recently.
• Tepelene (N ) there is a ruined citadel occupying a point 300 m above the Vjosë river
• Fir of Hotova National Park (NE and north of Permet)
• Lukove part of the Albanian Riviera, here is Kakome, one of the most beautiful Albanian beaches
• Vlorë (N ) lively seaside city, nice beaches south of town. Passenger ferries to and from Italy dock here.
• Vuno (N ) a small village a few kilometres north to the town of Himarë
• Himarë Greek/Albanian town on the seaside of the Albanian Riveria with beautiful beaches and an ancient old town