Getting from the lively city of Tirana to Saranda is relatively easy when you know where to go, how to get a ticket and know what to expect.

As I live in Saranda, I have travelled this route many times, going back and forth to the capital on various occasions by bus and by car.

I’m pleased to tell you that although there’s not a whole lot of information around this route it’s super easy. 

Let’s start with the bus.

How to get from Tirana to Saranda

The bus to Saranda leaves from the national bus station just outside the centre. 

If you are getting a taxi, just tell them Saranda bus station (‘Saranda stacion autobuzi’ in Albanian), or south bus station and they should understand you.

Once you arrive at the ‘station’ you will soon say to yourself ‘where the fuck am I?’ and ‘Is this actually a bus station?’ and to answer those questions, ‘yes, this is a bus station’.

You can grab your ticket from the office which is just around the corner from the station. 

When you arrive back just yell Saranda to the 30 men asking where you are going and one of them will lead you to the bus. 

Don’t worry this is the most effective way to find it and the men asking where you are going are actually trying to help you and are assistants to the bus drivers.

The ticket costs around 1300 lek and will take around 5 hours, depending on how fast your driver drives. 

Also depending on what time you leave will depend if it’s a bus or a furgon. 

A furgon is a smaller bus like a van and can always be a little more uncomfortable than a large bus because it’s usually full and it can be very hot!

The bus is usually a standard bus, nothing fancy, no WIFI or anything like that but it’s relatively comfortable. 

In the summer, however, it can be unbearable in the heat of the day as most buses don’t have aircon. 

So, if you are travelling in the heat of summer then leave on an early bus to avoid hours of heat! 

The bus will stop halfway for around 15 minutes so you can go to the toilet and grab some food.

If you’re travelling from Saranda check the map above to see where to get your ticket from. 

The buses wait outside between the ruins and the park in the centre of Saranda.

Tirana to Saranda timetable

Check the timetable below to see when the buses run. 

I will try and update this as much as possible as the bus times can change regularly.

Saranda to Tirana (1300 LEK)

• 5:00am
• 6:30am
• 8:30am
• 9:30am
• 10:45am
• 2:00pm

Tirana to Saranda by car

If you are hiring a car and want to drive to Saranda from Tirana it’s super easy too. 

I’ve lived in Albania since 2017 and this is my favourite way to travel to the city.

There are two ways you can drive there. 

One is fast (You basically follow the SH4 most of the way) and the other is much slower, but you also have the scenery of the Albanian Riviera so if you’re not in a hurry then choose the second.

The first route will take you through Fier, Tepelena and past Gjirokastër.

The travel time is around 4 hours and the road is a highway for nearly all of it so it’s in good condition. 

Albania, in general, is a safe country to visit but I have to admit that there’s ALOT of stupid drivers here.

You may experience overtaking on blind corners, speeding, getting cut off and hazards or holes in the middle of the road. Please keep vigilant and make sure you have good reflexes.

This is the most popular way people go back and forth from Tirana to Saranda.

The second route will also take you through Fier but when you get near Levan you will take the turnoff towards Vlora and go through the city then through the Llogara Pass (one of the most beautiful drives!), Dhermi, Himara and Saranda. 

There are many beautiful villages and beaches you can stop off to have a look at.

The travel time for this route is about 6 hours but be prepared for more than that as there are ample places to see on the way!

The road along the coast is a little bendy in places but other than that it’s good. 

You will have to go slower than the other route because of that.

Tirana to Saranda by shuttle

There’s also another way you can get from Tirana to Saranda and that’s by taking a shuttle with Riviera Bus.

Riviera bus takes you the coastal route, so you get to see the Albanian riviera. 

The shuttle has air conditioning and stops along the way so you can take pictures.

The price is a lot more expensive than taking the local bus. 

A ticket costs €40 compared to the local ticket which is around €10 but you do get a more pleasant ride and see some parts of the country you will miss if you take the local bus.

Tickets can be purchased on their website. 

Take note that this is only an option between June and September, when it’s tourist season for Albania.

Tirana to Saranda by transfer

This is a small shuttle bus which takes you along the quick route and can pick you up from the airport if need be. 

Tickets are around €30 and can be booked via Viator. 

The van has air conditioning and will be more pleasant than the local bus. 

But again, you are paying a premium price for it as expected.

There are 4 different ways to get from Tirana to Saranda by bus, car, transfer, and shuttle. 

Depending on your budget and your time constraints will depend on which option you choose!

If you have any questions, make sure to comment below so I can answer them for you!

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So I have collected the best of the best from a local’s point of view as I have been living in Saranda for over 2 years now!

Here’s the best things to do in Saranda, Albania.

1. Visit the best Saranda beaches

As Saranda is a beach city there are plenty of beaches to check out.

One of the most popular is the centre beaches because they are convenient but if you want more beautiful then you need to visit the beaches on either side of the city.

One of my favourites is the beaches in the Kodrra area of the city.

On the other side of the city, the beaches near Mango and Santa Quaranta are very nice too.

2. Take a trip to Ksamil

Following on with the theme of beaches, one notable seaside town you must visit if you’re staying in Saranda is Ksamil.

Ksamil gets popular in July and August because it’s number one on most tourist’s bucket lists.

The water in Ksamil is stunning and worth a trip.

From Saranda, you can either drive which takes around 20 minutes, or you can opt to take the bus which leaves Saranda city centre and costs 100 Lek.

The bus takes around 30-40 minutes depending on how full it is.

You can check the bus timetable here.

3. Watch the sunset from Lëkurësi Castle

An absolute must-do is to watch the sunset from Lëkurësi castle which overlooks the city.

The sunsets in Saranda are a definite thing to do because they are always so beautiful.

At the castle, they also have a restaurant there where you can have a glass of wine or a full meal.

Note that the restaurant only opens in summer.

4. Take a visit to Butrint

A visit to Saranda wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Butrint, a UNESCO protected ancient city.

Butrint dates to the Iron and middle ages and holds a lot of history in the area.

The ancient city is quite large so I would recommend taking at least a couple of hours to see everything.

You can bring a packed lunch and make sure you bring water.

If you are visiting in the summertime, I would recommend going early as it can get hot and the crowds can get big!

5. Enjoy wine and a view from Kristiano wine bar

Perched on the hill, near the monastery of the 40 saints is one of Saranda’s best-kept secrets – a wine bar!

From here you can get a magnificent view of the city all whilst enjoying an Albanian white or red wine.

The building is stunning as well so if you get the chance to peek inside, do so! 

6. Walk the boulevard in the evening

The boulevard is the main deal when it comes to Saranda.

In the summer, it is buzzing with people as well as entertainers, food and souvenir stalls.

The most popular time to walk down the boulevard is when the locals go for their ‘Xhiro’ (walk) at sunset.

This is a tradition in Albania.

Back in the day, it was how everyone in the neighbourhoods saw each other and had their daily catch ups!

7. Visit St Georges monastery

Even if you’re not religious this is a fantastic historic monastery which overlooks monastery beach and Saranda in the distance.

You can get here by taking the bus to Ksamil and telling the bus driver you want to go to monastery beach (it’s about halfway to Ksamil from Saranda).

8. Check out the cliff monastery

This is one of the best things to do near Saranda that not many people know about.

Located within the hill, just outside Saranda, is a cliff monastery.

St Mary’s monastery is located in the small village of Kostar is set within the cliff and holds a magnificent view of the surroundings.

9. Check out the underwater life

The underwater life in Saranda is quite magnificent if you know the right places.

From corals to beautiful, bizarre sea creatures and even shipwrecks, if you want to discover underwater life opt to do a tour or diving course with the likes of Saranda Diving centre.

Or if you would like to discover it on your own, go to Monastery or mirror beach and swim towards the rocks.

Just be careful of jet skis and boats if you go past the barriers.

10. Take a visit to the monastery of the 40 saints

This is one of my favourite spots in Saranda because of the view and how empty it usually is.

The monastery of the 40 saints sits on the opposite hill to Lëkurësi Castle.

This is another marvellous sunset spot!

The monastery grounds are open all the time but if you want to go inside it’s only open on visiting hours.

11. Eat pizza at Maria Magdalena

Albania does amazing Italian food if you didn’t know already!

Maria Magdalena is an Italian pizza place which is not far from the port.

They also do pasta, but I do recommend trying the pizza because it’s super delicious! 

12. Take a dip in Blue Eye

The blue eye is a natural phenomenon located about a 20-minute drive from Saranda.

The blue eye is a natural spring which has some of the clearest waters you may have ever seen.

Divers have been able to go down to 50 meters before needing to come up because of the extreme pressure so no one can confirm how deep the spring is. 

You are not supposed to swim in the eye itself, but you can walk down a little and swim in the other parts but beware, the water is freezing!

Its stays at a constant 10 degrees all year round, even in the summer.

13. Visit Mirror Beach

Mirror beach is another must-do if you come to Saranda.

It’s one of the most beautiful beaches.

You can reach it by taking the bus to Ksamil, it’s about halfway and not far from monastery beach which I have mentioned above.

 You will need to walk or drive down to the beach but beware the road is not in good condition and is quite steep with potholes in some places.

Once you reach the beach you will see it was all worth it!

14. Take a day trip to Gjirokastër

Gjirokastër is a UNESCO city about an hour drive away from Saranda.

It’s well known for its stone houses and unique architecture.

This city is a must-see destination in Albania if you love culture, history and architecture.

Gjirokastër also has one of the best castles within Albania.

You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring the castle alone and learning more about the fascinating history of Gjirokastër.

Click here for a great day trip tour from Saranda.

15. Ancient ruins in the centre

Within the Saranda centre are some ruins of an old synagogue.

These days it’s been cornered off and to be honest there’s not much to see.

But if you walk past it be sure to take a quick look.

It’s a good example of how a new city is intertwined with an ancient past.

You will find lots of examples of this around Albania.

Within the last 10 years, there have been lots of discoveries of ancient ruins throughout the country so it’s an exciting time in terms of archaeology for Albania!

16. Have a coffee from view cafe

Just as the name says, this cafe has a view and a very good one at that!

I would say this is one of the best views from a cafe I have seen.

You can find this cafe on the 5th road (known as Rruga Gjergj Araniti on google maps).

17. Eat seafood at Fishland

One of the best things to do in Saranda is to try the seafood.

They have fresh, world-class seafood!

Fishland is located by the fishing port (not the port in the centre, there are two so don’t get confused!).

The port is around a 20-minute walk out of the centre.

Because the restaurant is situated right by the fishing port you can expect fresh seafood that has come straight off the boats!

It’s also very affordable and a nice view too.

18. Have a drink at City Lounge

One of the most popular lounge bars is City Lounge.

It’s located not far from Orange (which is a bar/nightclub).

Be sure to have a drink and enjoy the lounge which is right on the water and situated outside.

They have good cocktails and good music!

I hope you enjoyed reading the best things to do in Saranda, Albania from a local’s point of view.

There is plenty more to do in the city!

Other articles you will love:

• The Best Places to visit in Albania
• The Most Delicious Balkan Food You Must Try
• 26 Incredible Things to do in Tirana, Albania

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