Are you looking for the best way to fill your short trip in Sarande? It doesn't matter if you came by boat from Greece 🇬🇷 or by land trough Albania/Tirana 🇦🇱 here are some tips to see the highlights and surroundings of Sarande!

Also at the end are some extra restaurant and night life tips! 🥰 Looking for more tips in Albania? I will be posting about Vlore, Tirana, Fier, Dürres and Burat too!

Albania: Sarande, Ksamil, Blue Eye en Gjirokastra; The best way to spend 2/3 days!

We ourselves took the bus from the regional bus station in Tirana (only 15 euro p.p. for a 4 hour drive with one stop, hit me up if you need tips). We ended up in the city center close at the Synagogue (not far away from where you will arrive by boat).

From both places you can take a taxi to all close area's and hotels (in Sarande but also to Ksamil etc.) or walk. We took a 50 min walk to our hotel a bit more south to Sarande. We preffered to be a bit away from the crowded center and have free parking in front of the hotel.

Our first day we took the regional bus from Sarande for 200 lekë p.p. (€2,-) to Butrint, archaeological historical national park. The bus goes every hour (whole hour at Sarande centrum, halve hour at Butrint). Entrance fee is 1000 lekë p.p. (€10,-) but totally worth it! 

After spending a beautiful 1,5 hour here we took the local bus again but now to Ksamil (halfway back to Sarande). We went out, got a Greek style lunch close too the bus stop and walked to Ksamil beach. 

We ourself did these 3 destinations in 2 days because my partner likes to go birding and walking, but you can easily do these activities in 1 day: you can rent a car, scooter or book a trip.

Inside you have beautiful nature, historical monuments from 8th century before Chr. Till 16th century after Chr. and a lot of program maps in a lot of different languages (even Dutch). Photos are taken 22 June 2023.

Back at the hotel we changed and walked back to the boulevard of Sarande to enjoy the pretty sunset and have some dinner (not fantastic or anything). You have different spots on the boulevard that are for local terms high prices but for us cheap (we are for 2 persons for about €25,-).

Over the beach they have different prices to rend a bed (normal 2 beds with parasol go from 1000 lekë to 3000 lekë, €10,- to €30,-). We spend 2 hours and got the price of a more expensive one down to €10,-. The only pictures we took was with me on it but it gives you an idea of the few! It is a small stone strand.

2nd and 3th day: Sarande, Blue Eye and Gjirokastra.

Lets start with the most impressive of them all: Blue Eye (Albanian: Syrië i Kaltër) and it is a water spring and natural phenomenon. This tourist attraction cost only 50 lekë (50 cents) to enter and overe here you can see, the clear blue water of the river from a depth of more than fifty metres. It is still unclear what the actual depth of the karst hole is.

Blue Eye is also known as "springs of Bistricë" as it is the initial water source of Bistricë river, 25 km long, which ends in the Ionian Sea south of Sarandë. You can walk or rent soms electric steps / bikes to go there, the hike for us was about 25/30 minutes. You can drink the water of the water spring and its fresh and cool. Be aware that even in hot summer days the water can feel almost like its freezing.

The castel does not offer tours and mostly is build into the restaurant. They do have at night sometimes performances and its open till 23.00! Entrance is free.

Not far from the Blue Eye is the city Gjirokastra: the most authentic Albanian city in the neighbourhood. Yeah you have tourism and giftshops, but not many hotels so tourist come most for a visit and not a stay. In this city you can try local food, but original gifts and see a lot of cultural and architectural places. 

For people from the Netherlands, the program Wie Is De Mol in 2022 recorded the first 'opdracht' in the streets of this city center. 

Sarande has more to offer than ofcourse the boulevard, restaurants and the giftshops. The city is mostly local known as a city with a lot of hotels, tourists and the place where they sell a lot of trips. You can book a day trip to different beaches, book a trip to Gjirokastra and the Blue Eye or Ksamil and Butrint... But there is at the top of the city a beautiful Castel with a large restaurant and a great view over the whole area! 

We ourself walked up the hill in about 50 minutes in the middle of the day so we can also spot some animals and birds: and we did! Beautiful butterflies, a land turtle and different kind of birds. 

We eat lunch and dinner every day and night outside of our hotel. There are 4 places we would like to recommend;

High end restaurant with still affordable prices. This hotel, pool, sunbeds and bar area has its own theme and makes you feel like a royalty. We had both a delicious pasta with beer, water (bottle) and soft drinks for less then €35,-

Make sure you make a reservation... So you can sit on the side and not 2nd rang (as we did). After 23.00 its hard to get in. And know that after 20.00 they put security up front  😂

Also more with a high end feel als sure more high end prices. We went to the nightlife of the club and entrance fee was 1000 lekë (€10,-) and most drinks has the same price. They do offer a safe place to go out with fast service and lots of security!

Mango Beach is a bit away from the centrum but offers, just like Lost Seaside, the total package of beach (Okay here it is a real beach nog only beds like Lost), strand, drinks, food and a night out! They have during the night national and international dj's playing!

Please do add me on Instagram @iblondi_ to let me know what you think of my first free guide! ✓

Recently openend and almost not to find on Google Maps.... But what a vibe! 🥰💙 Food was really good (we ordered a pizza) staff was very friendly and we could pay by card (not so common here). We got 3 cocktails and a beer on the side and sit down for over 1,5 hour just to enjoy the view. The total cost was around €35,- 

Albania: Sarande, Ksamil, Blue Eye en Gjirokastra; The best way to spend 2/3 days!

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