Saranda

Near the Greek island of Corfu, 27km away, horseshoe-shaped Saranda receives larger ships at anchor, with tenders bringing you ashore.

Downtown Saranda is about a 10 minute walk from the new cruise terminal.

Albania's southernmost city, Saranda sits opposite the Island of Corfu. Day trippers now visit this previously inaccessible resort to enjoy it, although it was once a preferred honeymoon choice for Albanian new couples. Saranda has an excellent climate with an average of 290 sunny days a year. Summer daytime temperatures rarely rise above 30 degrees, and the night sea breeze is quite refreshing.

Old communist habits still linger, so the many unfinished buildings may make the town seem somewhat trashy at first sight...but times are changing.

Within town, top new buildings sit alongside old taverns, cafeterias and traditionally impressive stone houses, including top roofs of stone plates. Albanian and northwest Greeks are the world’s best carved-stone workers.

Apart from excavations near the main square, Saranda has little to see, but it is a good base for trips to nice beaches and to visit Butrint.

Saranda’s old Castle of Lekures stands above the town at "Qafa e Gjashtes" (The Pass of Six). Its nice outdoor restaurant has panoramic views across Saranda Bay below, the inland mountains, Butrint Lagoon and Corfu island on the Ionian Sea.

From Saranda's main square, several city buses run daily to Butrint via the Butrint hotel: 50 lek and 30 minutes.

Butrint, just outside Ksamili, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was an ancient city through the Greek, Roman, bishopric and Byzantine periods. It was eventually abandoned in the Middle Ages, perhaps because of the surrounding marsh and a subsequent malaria epidemic. Despite being one of the Mediterranean’s greatest classical cities, Butrint is still largely unknown. Its present archaeological site has an impressive Roman amphitheater, a Roman temple with mosaic floor, a beautifully carved lion's gate, and a Byzantine Basilica, the world’s largest after Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, as well as numerous constructions built…

In southern Albania, Gjirokastra sits high on the steep Drino valley side, overlooking a historic landscape framed by snow-capped mountains. This ‘city of a thousand steps’ has hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with stone roofs, whitewashed stone walls and wooden balconies. Its vast castle’s sheer flanks dominate a magical city with a tumultuous past. Gjirokastra has had many rulers, from feudal stronghold to Ottoman jewel to Italian colony, and has inspired artists, authors and poets. Bus timetable.

Available items include exquisite and unusual jewelry, Murano glass, handmade lace, masks, marbled paper, fine clothing, leather goods, etchings and other artwork, to name just a sample.

Saranda’s restaurants, cafes and bars bustle with activity. Fast food outlets have a surprisingly cheap, tasty range of options.

Sanitary facilities do not always meet a western standard, so be aware.

The rate is Lek 97 = 1 Euro.

ATM's are plentiful around town.

The language is Albanian.

Hours are generally Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900, although regional variations are possible. Many shops also open Sunday.