I love a trip where I can combine two countries and Europe makes it so easy to do that!
Corfu is such a gorgeous Greek island with so much to do, but if you’re looking for a bit of an adventure, did you know that Albania is just a 40 minute ferry from Corfu?
We spent a week in the Albania Riviera by flying into Corfu and taking the ferry over, but it’s so easy to do a Corfu to Albania ferry day trip, so I want to share how.
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Corfu Town
Corfu to Saranda Ferry overview and important information
The Corfu to Albania ferry departs from the Corfu Port which is about a 10 minute taxi from the Old Town.
We had purchased our tickets in advance and we’re glad we did, even in September outside of the peak summer season, the port was a bit chaotic. Our ticket advised that the last check in is 60 minutes prior to departure but if I was travelling in peak summer I’d probably arrive earlier.
IMPORTANT: BRING YOUR PASSPORT
Albania is not in the Schengen Area so you cannot freely move between Greece and Albania. Your passport will be checked before boarding the ferry and on arrival in Albania (and the same on your return).
This also means that you should check visa requirements for Albania before planning your trip, while many countries get 90-days visa free entry to Albania, it’s best to check.
There are four ferry companies that provide ferries to Albania from Corfu, the ones with the most regular services are Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways.
There are car ferries and hydrofoils. We chose to take the hydrofoil because it’s only 35 minutes from Corfu to Saranda. The car ferry takes a bit over 1 hour.
Where to buy tickets for the ferry to Albania?
We bought our tickets from Direct Ferries online. But if you’re in Corfu for a while, you could go directly to one of the ferry ticket offices and buy a ticket. However they do sell out in advance so I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re travelling in peak summer.
Do you need to book ferry tickets in advance?
Yes, especially if you’re travelling in the summer season.
We travelled in September so it wasn’t the “peak” season, but it was still exceptionally busy and when we booked two weeks in advance, the actual time we wanted was already sold out.
How much do Corfu to Albania ferry tickets cost?
We paid £39.80 per person for a return ticket on the Finikas Lines hydrofoil.
How long does the ferry take to Albania from Corfu?
This depends on whether you take the hydrofoil or the car ferry.
The hydrofoil takes just 35 minutes whereas the car ferry takes a bit over 1 hour.
But note that if the weather is too windy, the hydrofoil cannot be used. Our outbound journey from Corfu to Saranda was straightforward and so quick and easy on the Finikas Lines hydrofoil.
But unfortunately the wind was too high on our return journey and we were swapped from the hydrofoil to the car ferry which takes double the time.
So bear this in mind for your trip, especially if you have reservations or bookings back in Corfu in the evening, allow extra time to get back if you’re taking the car ferry.
Ksamil Islands
Tours from Corfu to Albania
If you would prefer all the logistics to be taken care of for you, there are a couple of options for organised small group tours from Corfu that take you to Albania and include stops such as Butrint National Park UNESCO Site.
This Albania Adventure day tour is one of the most popular.
What to do on a Corfu-Albania day trip
Now for the good stuff - how to spend a day in Saranda on a day trip from Albania…
You have plenty of options and I’m going to give you two guides:
How to spend the day in Saranda
How to spend the day in Ksamil
Corfu to Saranda day trip: best things to do in Saranda
Once you arrive in Saranda on the ferry, here’s my guide to spending the day in Saranda.
1. Walk along Saranda Embankment and find brunch
This is a lovely walk along the beach and Saranda waterfront with plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes to choose from.
We loved Lost Seaside although I think this is more of a lunch or dinner restaurant.
Sarande meal at Vila Bajrami 45
2. Take a taxi up to see the view from Lëkurësi Castle
This is more castle ruins on a hill where a large stone restaurant and outdoor seating area have been built.
It’s a popular spot to see the sunset from but it gets really busy and looking at the reviews for the restaurant and bar… they are not positive!
But the good news is that you can go up here and enjoy the view without having to buy from the restaurant or bar, especially during the day when it’s quieter.
You have 180 degree views of the Albanian coast.
Sarande Lekursi Castle
3. Spend the afternoon at African Beach Club
Albania beaches are stunning and so underrated, so of course you’ve got to have some beach time!
We stayed at the hotel next door to African Beach Club and the vibe here was super fun and chilled during the day.
It was 10 euros per person for a sunbed all day when we visited but prices vary for the cabanas. Drinks and food prices were decent too and overall this felt like a more chilled beach club than party beach club (at least during the day!)
4. Or head to Mango Beach
We didn’t have time to make it here and it is a short taxi ride to get there as the beach is on the edge of Saranda, but I’ve heard positive things about Mango Beach.
It’s a much bigger public beach area with sunbeds and parasols, if you’re looking for a bigger beach space that isn’t a beach club.
Saranda Albania
5. Get dinner at Vila Bajrami 45
This was one of the best meals of our entire trip!
Vila Bajrami 45 is an authentic restaurant with traditional Albanian food, big portions, a gorgeous interior and friendly staff.
The meat is all prepared on site during the day and the traditional Albanian food includes grill platters, tirokafteri dip, byrek and incredible Greek salads.
6. Head to the port for your ferry back to Corfu
Corfu Sarande ferry in Corfu port
Corfu to Ksamil day trip: best things to do in Ksamil
Ksamil is probably the most famous area of the Albanian Riviera with the Ksamil Islands and Ksamil Bay lined with white sand beaches and beach clubs.
In this suggested day itinerary I’ve included a morning trip to Butrint National Park, however if you’d prefer to stay at the beach all day then disregard!
1. Take a taxi or bus from Saranda to Ksamil
The good news is that it’s only a 20 minute taxi ride from Saranda to Ksamil or 30-35 minutes on the bus.
The bus is extremely cheap, only 150 lek (£1.40) while the taxi was 17 euros / 1600 lek (prices accurate as of 2025)
If you’re a family or larger group or if you want to make the most of your time, a taxi might be the easiest option.
Ksamil Beach
2. Grab food
If you’re peckish, there are dozens of food options in Ksamil for very affordable prices.
Taverna Hotel Afa is a great option with lovely views.
3. Take a taxi to Butrint National Park
Butrint is a vast archeological park covering over 9,000 hectares that includes historical ruins, lakes, islands and countless flora and fauna.
We visited mainly to see the ruins as we were fairly short on time and it really is impressive to see preserved buildings dating back to the 3rd century BC.
Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the incredible archeological remnants here that include a Roman theatre, Dionysus altar, thermal baths and gym, a forum, an aqueduct, the temples of Minerva and Asclepius, the Lion Gate and more.
You’ll learn about the strategic position of Butrint in relation to Mediterranean history and its role in Albanian history.
First evidence of people at Butrint dates back to the 12th century BC and discoveries such as metals and pottery indicate the connections that the area had to the rest of the world at that time.
Tickets cost 1,000 lek per person (£9 or 10 euros)
Butrint National Park
4. Taxi back to Ksamil
5. Spend the afternoon on Ksamil beach or one of the beach clubs
If you’re looking for a beach with access to the Ksamil islands (you can swim to them or rent a pedalo or canoe) then I’d recommend Ksamil Beach 7 - this is the name of it on Google Maps.
You can access the beach for free but you’ll need to pay if you want to use one of the sunbeds which are owned by the surrounding beach clubs.
If you want a beach club in this area then Bianco is a great option with its own pool and cabanas, although drinks and food are definitely more expensive than surrounding bars and restaurants.
If you’re looking for a quieter beach, we enjoyed the calmer bay and smaller area at Lori Beach in Ksamil.
Ksamil Lori Beach
6. Watersports!
From the beach you can enjoy the water, swim around the coast, rent a canoe and canoe out to the islands or find other spots including jetski rentals and boat trips to the islands that include food and drinks.
Ksamil Albania
7. Drinks and seafood dinner
You have to experience seafood in Ksamil. There is no shortage of seafood restaurants and the options are so fresh and tasty.
I’ve eaten at Traditional Restaurant & Pizza before and also at Ftelea Fish Taverna, all the seafood has been great and honestly there are countless options to choose from.
We also loved sunset drinks at Kuga Beach Bar overlooking the bay.
Ksamil Kuga Beach Bar
8. Taxi back to Saranda and ferry back to Corfu
Summary: Corfu to Albania day trip guide
The Corfu town to Albania day trip is a super easy day trip and a fun way to add some adventure into your trip to Corfu.
Albania is seriously an up and coming destination which is gaining more and more popularity each year, so this is a great way to experience the country on a day trip and see the beautiful Albanian Riviera, Butrint National Park and other attractions during your visit!
