Things to do in Sarandë

Sarandë (Saranda) is the unofficial capital of the Albanian south coast — a horseshoe bay of white apartment blocks facing Corfu, with a long seafront promenade that fills up every evening. It is the most convenient base on the Riviera: ferries connect to Corfu, buses run up the coast, and the region’s best sights are all within an easy day trip.

Top of the list is the combination of Butrint National Park and the Blue Eye. Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site on a lagoon south of the city, layers Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian ruins inside a forest; the Blue Eye is a startlingly deep karst spring inland whose colour genuinely matches the name. Back in town, walk the promenade, swim at the city beaches, and ride up to Lekursi Castle for the best sunset view in southern Albania.

Saranda is also the jumping-off point for boat trips along the coast — hidden beaches, sea caves, and the turquoise water around Ksamil — most of which run daily in summer. Check what’s available for your dates and book in the Wayward app.