2 Days in Sarandë, Albania
We had just 2 days in Sarandë and here's how it was well spent.
Day 1
After walking around the promenade area of Sarandë, dropping our bags off, and getting a killer (cheap) lunch, we hired a taxi driver to take us to the Blue Eye. Make sure to talk with your taxi driver and agree on a price before getting in the car, but taxis are very affordable in Albania. We agreed on a time, and had him wait for us at the entrance of the Blue Eye, where we had time to walk through the park, explore, and go for a dip! Then we met back at the parking lot, and had him drive us to Ksamil, just in time to catch the most beautiful sunset! From what I read online, Ksamil is known for lots of tourist scams with prices for sunbeds on the beach, but our luck, going just before the sunsets, means the private beaches begin to close, and let you stay on the sunbeds for free! We even had access to the most expensive, most beautiful meshed sun beds, hanging over the water, from what looked like a tree house in the sea, for FREE. Talk about an unforgettable experience! After that our driver dropped us back off in the center of Saranda for dinner at another local gem! S
Coffee and Wifi
Coffee is very inexpensive. Usually you can find an espresso for as little as 50 lekë almost anywhere.
Lunch at:
The food in Albania is unique, but with a mix of Italian-Greek-Mediterranean influence. You'll find lots of great meat, fresh fish and fantastic seafood.
Being located at the sea, Saranda and the Albanian Riviera have always been infused with a culture of fresh fish and seafood. With local fishermen continuously bringing in their catch of the day you’re always guaranteed to be served the freshest seafood dishes. You'll find a lot of sea bream, salmon, and sea bass, traditionally grilled on charcoal, as well as other delicious dishes like octopus, shrimps and mussels. Keep reading until the end for what other dishes you should try while dining in Albania.
The Blue Eye
We then hired a taxi to drive us to the Blue Eye and Ksamil. It is very inexpensive to hire a taxi, so just be sure to agree on a price before getting in the vehicle. If you ask, your taxi driver will drop you off at the Blue Eye entrance and wait for you in the parking lot, for about an hour or so until you're finished.
📍Syri i Kalter or The Blue Eye is a pretty incredible natural phenomenon in Sarande, Albania 🇦🇱 because of its sparkling clear water, that is more than 50 meters deep. 🤯The sunlight reflecting off the limestone at the bottom of the water, creates this unique color, so clear, you can see practically all the way to the end. The spring water is an unreal, glistening turquoise blue, and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful vegetation and striking trees. 🌳What makes this phenomenon even more unique is the water is actually FREEZING, 🥶even during broiling, hot summer months. ☀️Yet, you will still see people jumping in the water, or attempting to wade in and dunk their head.
If you don't take a tour to get there (which is completely doable, and not necessary) rent a car or take a taxi 🚕(cheap- but ask the price before!) there. You'll get dropped off just at the parking entrance and pay a small fee to enter. You'll cross a bridge and after following the signs, you’ll come across a trail that leads to the Blue Eye.The surrounding forest and the beautiful light blue river that flows through this natural paradise will surely wow you. The Blue Eye is located beneath a small metal balcony that was built so you can admire the deep "eye" phenomenon from above. In theory, swimming has been prohibited via signs, yet it doesn't seem like anyone follows this... including the tour leaders bringing people to jump into the freezing water.
Pre-Sunset Swim in Ksamil
We then took our taxi to Ksamil Beach for a quick swim right before the sun set. It was perfect! No one was there and they let us use the sun beds for free at the private beach. After about an hour or 2, and witnessing the most mesmerizing sunset, we got back in the car with our taxi driver and headed to dinner.
Dinner at
Some other local dishes you will find are: speça te mbushura or Stuffed Peppers. The peppers are usually filled with rice and herbs and variations can include meat, cheese, tomatoes, or other fillings before being baked in the oven.
Fërgesë is another traditional dish that has become a nationwide favorite. It’s usually baked in the oven in a clay pot and is vegetarian friendly as well! It’s main variant is a mixture of chopped tomatoes, peppers and cottage cheese, seasoned with garlic and other spices. It’s usually served with bread and can be enjoyed either hot or cold. The perfect mid day snack is the scrumptious Byrek, commonly found throughout the Balkans. This phyllo pastry can be filled with anything from cheese, to onions, ham, spinach, tomatoes or more.
For dessert in Albania you must try the Trilece, a popular dessert made of a sponge cake of tree types of milk and a topping of brown syrup for a sweet taste.
Day 2:
For our second day we decided to make the most out of the day by taking a boat tour around the islands. We went to a few different islands, Kroreza Beach, Kakome, Gremina,
While walking around after, be sure to stop at a local bakery/bar/cafe and get a byrek. It’s basically a phyllo pastry filled with anything from cheese, to onions, ham, spinach, tomatoes or even pumpkin. In Albania byrek usually comes in either a triangular form or as a large pie, which is then cut into pieces.
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