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Car rental in Sarandë is the easiest way to explore the whole of southern Albania within a single trip — from the beaches of Ksamil and ancient Butrint to the Blue Eye, Gjirokastër and the winding roads of the Albanian Riviera. Sarandë itself has no airport, with the nearest being TIA around 285 km away, which is why many travellers choose an alternative route: flying into Corfu and taking the ferry across to Sarandë in just 30–70 minutes.
Our Sarandë catalogue includes dozens of local rental partners, many of whom can deliver the car directly to the ferry terminal or your hotel. Winters here stay surprisingly mild — around 12 °C in January — and the town has quietly become a favourite for longer stays and winter escapes among travellers from Italy, Poland, the UK and across Europe.
Sarandë is often the final stop on the classic Tirana — Berat — Riviera road trip. Many travellers collect the car at TIA and return it here, while others arrive lightly packed from Corfu and continue their journey through Albania by road.
If your ferry from Corfu arrives late in the evening, we can arrange delivery directly to the port at the exact arrival time. Especially useful during August, when late ferries are common.
Car rental reviews in Saranda
Getting to Sarandë and where to collect your car
Sarandë has no airport of its own. The closest is Tirana International Airport, around 285 km away via SH4 and SH8 — roughly a 4–5 hour drive along the Albanian Riviera. It’s the longest standard pickup route in Albania, so the idea of landing at TIA and reaching Sarandë the same day does not suit everyone. In practice, travellers usually choose one of three options.
Flying into TIA with a stop along the Riviera
A natural choice for anyone planning a full Albanian road trip. The classic route runs through Tirana, Berat and Vlorë before reaching Sarandë, usually over one or two days with a stop in Berat or Himarë.
Flying into Corfu and taking the ferry
Often both quicker and cheaper. Corfu is well connected by European low-cost airlines, while ferries to Sarandë operate year-round and take between 30 and 70 minutes. We can arrange delivery directly to the port.
One-way rental
Collect the car in Tirana and return it in Sarandë. One-way fees with our local partners are typically between €40 and €80, though longer rentals are sometimes exempt.
If you land at TIA and plan to drive to Sarandë the same day, it’s best to leave before midday. Mountain sections after dark can be tiring, especially on unfamiliar roads.
Some partners offer free delivery to the ferry terminal or hotel, while others charge €10–25 depending on the location and time.
Mercedes-Benz E220 in Albania
Everything went well, smooth communication, the car was in a good state, returning it in another city was easy. No issue reported. Thank you
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
everything went well. Thank you
Audi A3 in Albania
All went very well. Thank you. I was trying to drive very carefully
Hyundai i20 in Albania
We had no problem with the car, actually we were very satisfied. We got in touch with the local company before arriving to Albania and agreed on everything. The employees of the company were helpful and ready to help us, adjust to our requests. They even brought the car to a slightly different place (20 min drive) The car was in the end Kia Stonic (the same group as Hyundai i20) but they informed me about the change in due course and it was a new car, automat as in the contract and was ideal for the roads there
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
we reserved de car on time, but it was very dirty and it hasn’t benzine. It’s all.
Fiat Punto in Albania
Everything was perfect, thanks. If you want to share this opinion in any website.. you only have to indicate in which one.
Volkswagen Golf 7 in Albania
It was my first experience with local car hires and it went perfect there were some slight details regarding the car but discussed directly with the owner nevertheless, regarding the website and process, as I said, I would recommend it to my friends thanks
Toyota Auris in Albania
experience with the car was good. The car drove perfectly and I had no problems.
Audi A3 in Albania
Everything went fine But it was not and Audi We rented an Audi But they showed up with a Golf Airbag light on Motor light on Abs light on Didn't lock all the door Drivers window did not open I was to switch cars Which they did They came with another Golf With the same lights on, but the doors locked and window was working Car ran fine the whole time ntw And the owner was very nice all the time
Opel Corsa in Albania
It was fine thanks, we had a good trip and car was ok
Honda Jazz in Albania
it was well organized
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
The owner of the car arrived at the place where we agreed to pick up and drop off the car at the agreed time. He was super friendly and gave us some tips on driving in Albania. The car was in great conditions! The booking process was super easy and two days before I asked to rent a day earlier than planned and it was possible! Everything went well and I recommend it 😉
Citroen C4 in Albania
The rental went well!
Where to drive from Sarandë: day trips
Sarandë works perfectly as a compact base for exploring southern Albania. Most of the region’s best-known places are less than an hour away. Ksamil, with its beaches and small islands, is around 15 minutes along SH8. Ancient Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits roughly 25 minutes from the centre. The Blue Eye spring lies 35–40 minutes to the north, while Lekursi Castle — overlooking both Sarandë and Corfu — is only a short climb uphill.
Further along the coast, Borsh and its olive groves are about 35 minutes away. Gjirokastër, famous for its stone-built old town, takes around 1 hour 15 minutes inland. If your route includes the wider Riviera — Himarë, Dhërmi and the Llogara Tunnel — allow a full day to enjoy it properly.
Most day trips around Sarandë are perfectly manageable in a standard economy car such as a Skoda Fabia, VW Polo or Hyundai i20. None of the main attractions requires four-wheel drive.
The Blue Eye is one of the few places where you may encounter a short unpaved section near the parking area. Low-clearance cars should take it slowly.
Roads of the Albanian Riviera: the Llogara Tunnel and the old pass
The main coastal road between Sarandë and Vlorë follows SH8 across the Llogara mountain ridge. Until recently, the only route was the old mountain pass climbing to 1,027 metres — a dramatic drive with steep switchbacks, panoramic Ionian Sea views and occasional winter closures due to snow.
Since 2024–2025, the Llogara Tunnel has changed the journey considerably. The tunnel cuts around an hour off the drive and remains open throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.
Between May and October, however, the old pass is still one of the highlights of the Riviera itself — scenic viewpoints, roadside cafés and winding mountain curves overlooking the coast. During winter, the tunnel is usually the more sensible choice. The pass can close without notice when snow or ice arrives. The tunnel carries a toll of roughly €3–5 for passenger vehicles.
If you're travelling in summer and not rushing, the old pass is absolutely worth taking. It’s one of the most memorable coastal drives anywhere in the Balkans.
During winter, the tunnel removes the uncertainty entirely. For many long-stay travellers on the Riviera, that alone makes a major difference.
Rates in Saranda vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length.
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How expensive is renting a car in Saranda: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes.
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Parking in Sarandë, Ksamil and along the Riviera
Sarandë technically has relatively few formal paid parking zones, though the reality can be more complicated. Most hotels in the centre sit along narrow streets without private parking. If you're staying near the Lungomare or above the port area, it’s worth arranging parking details in advance.
Port and central Sarandë
There is a guarded paid car park beside the port, usually around €3–5 per day. It’s especially convenient if you plan a day trip to Corfu and want to leave the car safely. Parking along the promenade is possible too, though in July and August spaces tend to appear only late in the evening.
Ksamil and Riviera beaches
In summer, informal beach car parks in Ksamil usually charge €3–5 per day. Spaces exist, but they fill up quickly during peak season — often before 10:00. Along beaches such as Borsh, Himarë and Dhërmi, parking is commonly on roadside verges or beside cafés.
Avoid leaving the car double-parked on Sarandë’s narrow streets. Tow trucks move quickly here, especially in August.
Police checkpoints are common on the Sarandë — Ksamil road during summer. The 50 km/h limit through Ksamil is actively monitored by cameras.