Sarandë, pronounced Saranda, is a southern Albanian city hugging the hills surrounding beautiful Sarandë Bay on the Ionian Sea. It has the Mediterranean climate and diet and 300 days of sunshine a year!
There is a wide mile-long promenade.There are several public beaches. We brought “water shoes” specifically because of rocky beaches (with bits of broken glass) like this one and have enjoyed the refreshing waters. There are no waves unless it’s windy, then it gets a bit choppy.Directly across the bay is the Greek island of Corfu. There are fast, slow and car ferries to Corfu and Bari, Italy.
Welcome to the Albanian Mediterranean Riviera.
It’s September in this vacation location. Families and couples walk the promenade lined with restaurants, of which every other one is Italian, Greek or seafood.
All around, Italian and Europeans speaking English are heard more than Albanian.
Calamari and roasted vegetables.
Last weekend, September 9th and 10th, there was a Beach Party on the main city beach with volleyball, ping pong, bright flashing lights and loud music until midnight each night.
It signaled the end of the high season. Restaurants have removed tables and chairs from their uncovered roof tops and patios.
The open air seaside restaurants are part of the charm of the Albanian Riviera ambience.Our Booking.com apartment is in an older building, on the 7th floor with a large sea-facing balcony. I enjoy looking out at all the activity on the beach and promenade.The view from our apartment overlooking the promenade and waterfront plaza. The breeze carries the sounds of city life: laughter, music, rain, children’s shrieks and wailing, jet skis, ferries, boats, buses, honking cars and scooters and the aromas of pizza, garlic and fried fish. Directly in front of us is Corfu, Greece, lights along its shoreline twinkling after dark.The view looking to the left.The view to the right. We can see how clear the water is from up here.One day we awoke to the Holland American Osterdam anchored out front, and a luxury yacht stayed a few days. Today there is a freighter. The sunsets are pretty fabulous.Some days are capped with a brilliant sunset. Other days clouds rolled in and rain.
One of my major complaints about coastal living is the presence of mosquitoes. It was a full eight days before I had a single mosquito bite and after 10 days have only had perhaps three bites. That’s a real plus.
Such clear water.
Exploring Around Sarandë
One of those communist-era bunkers just a block off the beach!The ruins of Onhezmi Castle right in the center of Sarandë. It was built in 3 phases from 4th century BC – 6th century AD.Both a Christian Basilica and Synagogue were found inside the walls of the castle. Photos of the discovered mosaic floors.Boat excursions take people to beaches accessible only by water.Like any good vacation spot, the good times don’t end with the sunset. After a day at the beach, vacationers can choose between waterfront clubs and restaurants, party boats circling the harbor, or carnival with ferris wheel, rides and bumper cars.
Agencies advertise scooter rentals and various excursions to the Blue Eye, Butrint National Park, thermal baths, the UNESCO heritage site of Gjirokaster, and distant beaches. We rented a scooter for 20€ for a day.
Riding in the valley between the interior side of the hills that hug the coast and a larger mountain range.We rode down the coast to the resort community of Ksamil known for its sandy beaches, turquoise waters and beach clubs. There are many new modern hotels at Ksamil. There isn’t one central promenade. Whereas we can walk everywhere in Sarandë, everything was more spread out in Ksamil.Butrint National Park is the site of an ancient Roman settlement.At Butrint we crossed the river on a ferry by the old Venetian triangle fort. .Ruins of an old fort.A popular viewpoint to watch the sunset is the Castle of Lekurset above Sarandë.A view from the top of the hill at the castle.There are a couple dining options at the Castle.We had a great day exploring on our rental scooter.
Sarandë feels a little bit like Greece, and a bit like Italy, but it is uniquely Albanian. Ten days and I haven’t tired of the sights and sounds of the Albanian Riviera. But onward travel tickets have been purchased and we will be rolling our suitcases down the promenade to the ferry terminal to ferry across the beautiful bay to Corfu for starters. Hope you’ll come along!
Meet You In The Morning 