beach
Ksamil
Albania's most famous beach destination with crystal-clear turquoise waters and tiny islands reachable by swimming, rivaling the Caribbean.
12 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeAlbaniaVlorë County
Sarandë
Vlorë County, Albania · Europe
About Sarandë
Sarandë works well as a base: 10 minutes from Finiq, 17km from Blue Eye Spring (Syri i Kaltër).
Sarandë is in Vlorë County, Albania, with about 23,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Finiq, about 6 km away.
Sarandë (Albanian: [saˈɾandə]; Albanian definite form: Saranda; Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα) is a city in Albania and the seat of Sarandë Municipality. Geographically, the city is located on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea. Stretching along the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast, Sarandë has aRead more
Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days a year.
In ancient times, the city was known as Onchesmus and Onchesmos, and was a port-town of Chaonia in ancient Epirus. It owes its modern name to the nearby Byzantine monastery of the Forty Saints by which it became known from the High Middle Ages. Sarandë today is known for its deep blue Mediterranean waters. Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In recent years, Sarandë has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ships. Visitors are attracted by the natural environment of Sarandë and its archaeological sites. Sarandë is inhabited by a majority of ethnic Albanians, and also has a minority Greek community and as such has been considered one of the two centers of the Greek minority in Albania.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Sarandë?
Within an hour or so of Sarandë: Ksamil (12 km), Ksamil Islands (12 km), Butrint (15 km), Blue Eye Spring (Syri i Kaltër) (17 km).
Are there any good drives near Sarandë?
The nearest famous roads are Albanian Riviera Coastal Road, Katara Pass and Otranto to Leuca Coastal Road.
Where is Sarandë?
Sarandë is in Vlorë County, Albania, about 6 km from Finiq.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 22,613
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Albania
- Region
- Vlorë County
- Timezone
- Europe/Tirane
- Coordinates
- 39.8753, 20.0048
Tags
Worth the detour from Sarandë
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
beach
Ksamil Islands
Tiny islets ringed by powder-white sand and Caribbean-clear water at the southern tip of Albania.
12 km · about 20 min drive
ancient ruins
Butrint
A UNESCO archaeological site spanning Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian periods on a peninsula surrounded by lagoons and dense forest.
15 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Blue Eye Spring (Syri i Kaltër)
A mesmerizing natural spring of impossibly deep blue water bubbling up from an underground cave at a depth of over 50 meters.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Old Perithia
Corfu's oldest village, a Venetian-era ghost settlement of 130 stone houses high on Mount Pantokrator, abandoned in the mid-20th century and slowly reviving: a handful of tavernas now serve its grassy lanes.
17 km · about 20 min drive
beach
Albanian Riviera
Unspoiled stretch of Ionian coastline with turquoise waters, secluded beaches, and charming villages between Vlorë and Sarandë.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Gjirokastër
A UNESCO-listed city of stone with distinctive Ottoman tower houses and a massive hilltop castle, known as the City of Stone.
25 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Canal d'Amour
A series of dramatic sandstone rock formations and narrow sea channels on Corfu's northern coast near Sidari.
28 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Sarandë
- 43 kmAlbanian Riviera Coastal RoadThe SH8 coastal route between Dhërmi and Sarandë, running above Ionian beaches and cliffside villages with frequent pull-ins.
- 51 kmLlogara PassA dramatic mountain pass along the Albanian Riviera at 1,027 meters, offering jaw-dropping aerial views of the Ionian coastline far below.
- 66 kmKokkorou Bridge, ZagoriA graceful single-arch stone bridge over a clear river epitomises Zagori's old packhorse crossings.
- 79 kmLake Pamvotida, IoanninaA misty lake with an island monastery and lakeside castle ringed by the Epirus mountains.
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