Corfu to Saranda Ferry Guide: Tickets, Times & More
Looking to take the ferry from Corfu, Greece, to Saranda, Albania?
I wanted to see both destinations during my trip to the Balkan Peninsula. Fortunately, Corfu’s location between Italy and other Balkan countries makes it easy to reach destinations by ferry.
While there are no direct flights between the two, the ferry is a popular and convenient transportation option to witness one of Albania’s most beautiful coastal cities. The journey between the destinations gives travelers a fast and easy way to see two stunning countries.
I highly recommend booking your ferry ride through Ferryhopper. It’s a simple and convenient option. ▶︎BOOK YOUR FERRY HERE.
Saranda is one of Albania’s most popular tourist destinations. You will find many different entertaining things to do while enjoying incredible views. Whether coming to Saranda for a day trip or an extended stay, you will have a great time.
This post will provide all the information you need to get to Saranda by ferry from Corfu.
Going On A Trip To Saranda? Check Out These Resources!
🛌 Accommodations: I always use Booking.com for my lodging.
🚘 Car Rentals: To find the best prices, I use Discover Cars!
✈️ Flights: To find great flight prices, I check on Skyscanner.
📍Tours: I use Viator to find memorable experiences.
🛥️Book Your Ferry Tickets Here!
Ferryhopper is one of the easiest ways to book ferry tickets from Corfu to Saranda.
➡️Click here to book!
How to Buy Your Corfu to Saranda Ferry Ticket
There are several different ways to purchase a ferry ticket. We’ll examine the options next.
How to Buy Online
Thanks to Ferryhopper, you can easily book your ferries using the app or website. After selecting departing and destination ports, the platform will provide comparable rates, routes, and times between ferry operators.
You can also add cancellation protection and receive an e-ticket for your purchase, so there’s no need to print one before boarding.
👉TRAVEL TIP: Due to the ferries sometimes reaching full capacity, purchasing your tickets online in advance is highly recommended. This applies heavily if you are visiting during the peak season.
How to Buy In-Person
If you prefer to buy your tickets in person, you can visit the ticketing offices for the ferry operators. The offices are located near one another along the road, Eth. Antistaseos, leading to the port. However, it’s important to note that you should buy in-person tickets at least a day or two before your trip.
Which Ferry is the Best?
Choosing a ferry from Corfu to book will be based on your budget and time. With that in mind, booking the Finikas Lines or Ionian Seaways high-speed ferry would be best to quickly get between the two destinations.
On the other hand, if time isn’t of the essence, you can take any of the normal-speed ferries. However, I would still recommend going with Finikas Lines or Ionian Seaways out of the normal-speed ferries.
How Long is the Ferry from Corfu to Saranda?
Corfu and Saranda are a relatively short distance from one another. That being said, the length of the ferry will differ depending on the ferry operator.
The high-speed ferries will help you reach Saranda within 30 minutes, while the journey on the slower ferries will take around 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Depending on whether you have a time-sensitive arrival, you should review the ferry schedules and durations before making the trip. Nevertheless, the journey between the two destinations is fast and efficient.
Are there Assigned Seats on the Ferry?
Seat selections are unavailable on any ferry operators from Corfu to Saranda. In addition, there are only standard economy seats, no business class. However, on normal-speed ferries, you can take in the surrounding scenery with outdoor seating options.
That said, it’s best to be early if you want a specific spot. The queues can get long and chaotic with ferries. Regardless, it is a relatively short journey, and you’ll arrive in Saranda before you know it.
Am I Allowed to Bring My Pet on the Ferry?
Are you traveling with a pet and concerned about the ferry? Well, there’s no need to worry.
Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways both allow pets on board. Not only do they allow pets, but they can also come free of charge!
✔️To read more about Finikas Lines’s pet policies, click here.
✔️To read more about Ionian Seways’s pet policies, click here.
Am I Allowed to Bring My Car on the Ferry?
You also have the option to transfer your vehicle from Corfu to Saranda. The only ferry operator that permits vehicle boarding is Finikas Lines on their normal-speed ferry.
👉TRAVEL TIP: If you have a car rental in Corfu that you want to leave behind, you can park at the public parking stations listed here.
How does Passport Control Work on the Corfu to Saranda Ferry?
As a European Union and Schengen Area member, boarding the ferries from Corfu to Saranda with your passport is mandatory. Albania is currently not a member of either of these. Customs is typical of boarding a plane, as you will need the passport and boarding pass.
Due to the possibility of last-minute long queues, I highly recommend you arrive at least an hour early to your scheduled departure time. Not only will this give you peace of mind about making it onto your ferry, but it will give you more time to sort out anything unexpected.
How Much is the Ferry from Corfu to Saranda?
Several different factors can cause the cost of the ferry to vary. This includes the ferry operator, which season you are traveling in, the ferry duration, and how far in advance you purchase your ticket.
The fastest ferries are owned by Ionian Seaways and Finikias Lines, starting at 25€ and 30€, respectively, in high season. Meanwhile, the longer-duration ferries can start at 19€ during the high season.
When I went between Corfu and Saranda, I used Finikas Lines and had a pleasant experience.
Ferries from Corfu to Saranda
Three main ferry operators sail from Corfu to Saranda. Here are the prices:
1. Finikas Lines Prices
Finikas Lines offers both high-speed and normal ferries.
✔️High Season:
High-Speed Ferry: 30€, Normal Speed Ferry: 25€
✔️Low Season:
High-Speed Ferry: 25€, Normal Speed Ferry: 20€
2. Ionian Seaways Prices
Like Finikas Lines, Ionian Seaways also has a high and normal-speed ferry between the destinations.
✔️High Season:
High-Speed Ferry: 25€, Normal Speed Ferry: 22€
✔️Low Season:
High-Speed Ferry: 19€, Normal Speed Ferry: 19€
3. Joy Lines Price
Joy Lines only operates a normal-speed ferry and is a collaboration with Erdano Tours.
✔️High Season:
Normal Speed Ferry: 23€
✔️Low Season:
Normal Speed Ferry: 20€
Corfu to Saranda Ferry Timetable
A daily ferry service connects the ferries connecting Corfu and Saranda. Numerous ferries run daily in the peak season months of June through September. During the peak season, the first ferry is at 8:00 AM, while the last is at 11:00 PM.
Throughout the peak season, you can expect up to 17 ferries operating per day, while in the off-season, there will be only 1 or 2 per day. For further details, check out your travel dates’ schedule through Ferryhopper or the ferry operator’s website.
✔️ Finikas Lines’s timetable is viewable by clicking here.
✔️ Ionian Seaways’s timetable is viewable by clicking here.
✔️ Joy Lines’s timetable is viewable by clicking here.
👉TRAVEL TIP: Greece is ahead of Albania by 1 hour. If you have any time-critical plans in Albania, book the correct time for your ferry!
Where is the Corfu Ferry Terminal?
The Corfu Ferry terminal is located in Corfu Town, very close to one of the most lively areas on the island. It is about a 20-30-minute walk to the center on foot, while a 5-10-minute drive.
The ferry terminal is easy to find after seeing the many docked ships. You’ll know you’re at the right destination once you see a salmon-pink-colored building.
Staying in Corfu Town is one of the best areas to stay on the island. Not only are you around beaches, restaurants, and shops but have easy access to the port to reach destinations. Moreover, other popular locations to visit or stay in Corfu are Agios Gordios, Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, and Kavos.
Alternatively, if you visit Corfu as a day trip from Saranda, then the Old Town is a perfect place to spend your day.
👉TRAVEL TIP: If you use an international SIM card during your trip, note whether the company will work in both countries. If not, be sure that you download offline maps through Google Maps so you don’t get lost!
How to Reach Corfu Port from Corfu Airport
To get from Corfu Airport to Corfu Port, click here for the Google Map.
It is a relatively short drive, being 3.5 kilometers away from one another. A taxi will cost around 20-25€. Depending on traffic conditions, this will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
👉TRAVEL TIP: You can rent a car from the Corfu Airport to bring to the ferry if you need a car in Albania if booking with Finikas Lines. Also, plan to arrive at the terminal at least an hour in advance, so there’s enough time!
Where is the Saranda Ferry Terminal?
Once you reach Saranda, the port is close to the city center in the Kodrra neighborhood. From the port, it will only take a 5-10-minute walk to reach the center and around 15 minutes to reach Saranda’s main beach.
Saranda is split between 3 main neighborhoods: Center, Rruga Butrinti, and Kodrra. Since the city of Saranda is spread along the coast, getting from one end to the other can take up to an hour by foot! Luckily there are plenty of transportation options available.
Numerous affordable taxis are available in Saranda, making this one of the most popular modes of transportation. You can also use the city’s bus system; however, it’s important to note that Albania’s bus systems are not the most reliable.
Lastly, you can rent a car for more freedom to explore Saranda.
🚗Book your rental car through Discover Cars!
(This is the company I use)
If you stay in Kodrra or the city center, you will be where most of the entertainment options, shopping, and restaurants are in Saranda. On the other side, while Rruga Butrinti is a long distance from these areas, it is closer to some of the best beaches in the city, such as Mango Beach.
Can You do a Corfu to Saranda Day Trip by Ferry?
The simple answer to whether you can go from Corfu to Saranda on a day trip is yes. A day trip is feasible, with a maximum ferry journey of only a little more than an hour. However, there is not enough time to explore most of Saranda’s gems in only 1 day!
Saranda is a gorgeous city with many entertainment, beaches, and nearby excursions. With that in mind, to get a fuller Saranda experience, I would recommend staying for at least 3 days. Saranda will also be less touristy and expensive than Corfu.
That being said, if spending longer than a day will not work, you can easily take the high-speed 30-minute ferry to and from Saranda to maximize your time there.
One Day Saranda Itinerary
I spent over a week exploring the ins and outs of Saranda. In effect, I’ve developed an example itinerary you can follow during your visit.
✅Activity #1: Relax at Mango or Ksamil Beach
One of the best things to do while in Saranda is to visit one of the many beaches! Mango Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Saranda. At the beach, a bar with a live DJ and sunbeds are available for 2,000 LEK. The sunsets here are also gorgeous.
However, if you’re willing to travel an extra small distance, another recommendation is to venture to Ksamil. Here, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in all Albania.
Ksamil is around 14 kilometers from Saranda and takes 20 minutes to reach by car. Also, a bus makes numerous journeys starting at 5:30 AM and ending at 9:30 PM. You can go to the bus station here to journey to Ksamil.
Ensure you arrive at the bus station early as the bus drivers sometimes only leave once capacity has reached the point of people standing in the aisles.
At Ksamil, numerous beach clubs, restaurants, and bars keep you entertained. One of the biggest highlights is the gorgeous Four Islands, which you can hop from all in a single day! It was one of my best days in southern Albania, surrounded by incredible views.
✅Activity #2: Eat Delicious Albanian Cuisine
A trip to Saranda would not be complete without experiencing an element of the cultural heritage: the food! Albanian food bares a resemblance to the food from other Mediterranean countries. As a result, you can find delicious seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes.
One of the most popular Albanian dishes is byrek. It is a layered pastry, often filled with spinach or other vegetables, cheeses, and meats. The spinach byrek was my guilty pleasure during my time in Albania.
✅Activity #3: Walk Around the Main Beachfront Boulevard
The main promenade starts at the ferry port and stretches around a kilometer around Saranda’s bay. This is one of the most lively areas in Saranda, with beautiful palm-lined scenery complemented by brightly-colored flowers. In addition, the promenade features charming cafes and restaurants.
While at the promenade, visitors can walk around, relax, and take in the surrounding views. Additionally, there are various entertainment options, from bars to the Ferris wheel and party boats. There’s something for everyone to enjoy here!
✅Activity #4: Watch the Sunset from Lekuresi Castle
One of the best sunset spots in Saranda is at Lekuresi Castle. This historical Ottoman fortress features panoramic views of Saranda and surrounding islands. The sunset views were some of the best I had seen in Albania.
Not only will you enjoy sunset views, but you can also eat at Kalaja e Lëkurësit, a restaurant at the castle. The restaurant features a beautiful terrace overlooking the scenery. It can get crowded there at sunset time, so be sure to arrive early.
👉TRAVEL TIP: Albania does not use the euro. You must exchange for their national currency, the Albanian LEK, as many places only accept cash. Despite this, there are plenty of ATMs.
To Sum Up: Corfu to Saranda Ferry
When traveling around the Balkan Peninsula, I had no idea how easy it would be to see two beautiful countries. With a relatively short duration, the ferry is a simple and easy transportation method to get between the destinations. In addition, booking a ferry is simple through Ferryhopper.
Whether you plan to visit Saranda on a day trip or an extended stay, the Corfu to Saranda ferry is the best option for travelers looking to explore more stunning coastlines and views.
If you’re wondering about other ways to reach Saranda, you can also get there from Tirana!
I hope this post has given you all the resources you need for a hassle-free journey.
