Most visitors to the Albanian Riviera fly into Corfu (Greece) and take the ferry boat to Saranda to get to Albania because this is the nearest airport with many direct flight connections across Europe. On this page, you can find everything you need to know about the ferry from Corfu to Saranda.
Which Ferry Companies Operate Between Corfu And Saranda?
There are two companies operating ferries between the Port of Saranda and Corfu Port, next to Corfu Town (Kerkyra): Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways. Ferries operate all year round and schedules are intensified in the busy summer months. Various vessel types are operating on the route, from high-speed hydrofoils that take only 30-40 minutes, to larger car ferries that take around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
How To Get To The Ferry
Where To Buy The Ferry Tickets?
The easiest way to buy your ferry tickets is online on our website. This saves you the time and hassle of getting to the ticket office in person, especially in Corfu, where the ticket office is about 1 kilometer away from the ferry terminal.
If you book online, there’s no need to pick up physical tickets or print them out. You can just show up at the ferry terminal, where they can scan the ticket from your phone screen.
Another reason to book your tickets online is that this gives you transparency about the options, as prices fluctuate based on the time of the day, ferry operator, and vessel type. Booking in advance is also recommended, especially during the busy summer months, when tickets can sell out at peak times.
Book Ferry TicketsTicket Offices In Saranda
In Saranda, the ticket offices are located in front of the port terminal on Rruga Mitat Hoxha. Each ferry operator (Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways) has its own ticket office so make sure you go to the right one if you want to book a specific time or vessel type.
Ticket Offices In Corfu
In Corfu, it’s important to know that the ticket offices are not located at the international ferry terminal for ferries to Albania. If you want to buy your tickets in person, you’d have to make a stop about 1 kilometer before the departure terminal.
The ticket offices are located on Eth. Antistaseos Road in front of the domestic port terminal. Each operator has its own ticket office here. If you’re traveling by bus from the airport, you’d have to get out one stop before the terminus and after buying your ticket, walk the remaining part of the journey to the international departures.
How Much Does The Ferry Cost?
A one-way ticket from Corfu to Saranda (or vice versa) costs between €15 and €30 per person depending on the season, time of the day, and vessel type.
The larger, slower ferries are often cheaper, while the fast 30-minute ferries can be more expensive. Prices can also fluctuate based on the departure time and can increase or even sell out when demand goes up.
It’s therefore best to compare prices and book your tickets upfront.
Book Ferry TicketsFerry Timetables
The frequency of ferries depends on the season. In the winter months, Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways both operate only one sailing a day in the morning from Corfu to Saranda and back to Corfu. This means that if you want to make a day trip to Corfu in the winter, you’d have to spend the night there.
Both ferry companies increase their frequency gradually towards the peak of the summer, when the total number of ferries exceeds ten per day. All car ferries only operate between the spring and fall, with only high-speed ferry options during the winter months. You can find the timetables on the websites of the operators.
Don’t Forget To Bring Your ID
The ferry crosses the border between Albania and Greece, so you’ll have to clear immigration when taking the ferry. So don’t forget to bring your passport or identification card, and if applicable, any other visa documentation.
Taking A Car On The Ferry
During the summer months, you can also take a car or motorcycle on the ferry between Saranda and Corfu on some of the vessels. Capacity is however limited to only a few vehicles per boat, so it’s best to book your tickets well in advance.
When taking a car on the ferry, you need to bring the car’s registration document and insurance policy (green card) since you’re passing a country border. If you travel with a rental car, you need to make sure you have permission from the rental company to take the car across the border. They might charge you an additional fee for this since they need to prepare the necessary papers for you.
Ferry Alternatives
An alternative to the direct route between Saranda and Corfu is to take the ferry between Corfu and Igoumenitsa on the mainland of Greece. Igoumenitsa is located about 60 kilometers south of Saranda and the journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car. The ferry journey takes between 1.30 and 2 hours depending on the vessel type.
This detour might not sound like an attractive alternative, but it could be useful in certain cases. The vessels are much larger and have a large capacity for cars, including (camper) vans and trucks, and run at a higher frequency all year long.
Tickets for the Igoumentisa-Corfu ferry are also significantly cheaper than for the direct Saranda-Corfu ferry, especially when bringing a vehicle. So if you don’t mind an additional scenic drive or if you want to bring your car to Corfu during the winter, this is your best alternative.
For tickets between Igoumenitsa and Corfu, you can search and book online here.
Ferry Cancellations
Saranda has over 300 sunny days a year, but the city also experiences occasional storms, especially during the winter season. In extreme situations, when the weather circumstances are so severe that safety can’t be guaranteed, the port authorities might have to cancel ferries between Saranda and Corfu. This happens only a few times a year, but very rarely during the summer season.
In the very unfortunate case that your ferry is canceled, it’s best to contact the ferry company. You’re not only entitled to a refund, but they might also be able to help you with an alternative, like a bus or taxi to Greece. The larger vessels that run between Igoumenitsa and Corfu are much less likely to be canceled as they can weather most storms, so if you absolutely must make it to Corfu to catch a flight, this alternative could save your travel plans.
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