In September, my wife and I will be on a cruise that has a port stop in Sarande. Instead of a ship-offered excursion, we would prefer walking around the town and seeing things on our own for several hours. Is this feasible since we don%26#39;t know the language? What sights or things to do would you most recommend? Any cautions or advice regarding how much things cost, taxis, buses, safety, souvenirs, etc? Thank you.
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Hi! We are also going on a cruise in Sept with a stop in Sarande. We are wondering the same thing as you... have you managed to find any answers to your questions?? We would appreciate any information you may have to share...
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Hi Memms7,
No one has responded to this posting, but I did get some info from the Cruise Line (Holland America). They said we must take a tender to the dock, as the ship anchors offshore. Also, the City Center is about 500m from where the ship anchors. They estimate a charge of 3 Euros (but Albania doesn%26#39;t use Euros) to get to the center. Taxis will be available on the pier. They also said that the ship personnel would be able to help with local currency. Our travel agent has cautioned us about not straying far on our own, and advised taking ship sponsored excursions is safer. But I have read on other blogs that it seems safe enough in the immediate port area near the beach and dock.
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Hi everyone!
About security: you will probably feel in Albania as safe as you might feel in Switzerland... The only dangerous thing there is traffic... Specially Saranda is a very peaceful town...
Do not miss to visit Butrint there... (for sure that must be one of the visits they will organise from the ship).
In town i would strongly reccomand a visit to the Lekuresi Castle... It%26#39;s up in the hills that dominate the town, they have a nice bar and restaurant and a gorgeous view... Should normally cost approx 10-15 euros - both ways...)
Souvenirs can be found on the small alley on the beach (town)...
There are some archeaological ruins right in the center of the town and a small archaeological museum very closed to them... (just ask and people will be happy to help)...
Nice bars and restaurants all along the cost...
An overnight would be nice actually seen that the season is to its end and places are not overcrowded...
Have a lot of fun!
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Hi Papa Al! Thank you very much for this info. We are actually going to be on a Holland America cruise as well - Black Sea Med. for 14 days - would that possibly be the one you will be on?? My email address is mmems7@hotmail.com. It is going to be our honeymoon cruise!! Let me know - we have information about another stop this one is making that might be of use to you as well.
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Thanks to Albaniantrip for the info. We appreciate it. To Mmems7, I have sent an email to your email address.
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Thank you for visiting Albania. After your first visit, I can guarantee that you%26#39;ll recommend a visit to our beatiful country to one of your friend or relatives.
Almost 90% of vendors, taxi drivers, or travel guides speak English fluently. Be sure to visit the Museum City of Butrint and Syri i Kaltert.
Taxis cost approx 5 euros within town and then depending on mileage. There are no urban buses in Saranda. Interurban, yes. Not sure how much they cost, but I believe it won%26#39;t be more than 4-5 euros. Seafood is great and fresh. Lunch or dinner for two, shouldn%26#39;t be more than 2500 Lek (20 euros) without Wine...
Hope you enjoy it
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Hi,
I don%26#39;t know how much time you%26#39;ll have on land in Sarande, but if it%26#39;s anything less than a whole day I%26#39;m afraid a visit to Butrint won%26#39;t leave you much time for anything else.
But there are plenty of other things to do and see in Saranda. Have a meal at the restaurant jutting out over the sea just opposite the Hiotel Butrint (or at another - I%26#39;ve heard they%26#39;re all good, but I know that one - and be amazed at the quality of the fish and the wine, or just go for a stroll along the promenade and see what the Mediterranean used to be like before it got touristified. See castle, or the excavated ruins of the ancient synagogue, or visit the market in the centre of the town and see what a market should be like - farmers bringing in their own produce (tomatoes that taste of tomatoes, for example - remember them ?). People are friendly and honest (I left my stuff lying by the road for hours and nobody touched it), and if you ask (it%26#39;s fairly easy to find someone who speaks a bit of English, because education is still good there) it should be simple to get a taxi. There isn%26#39;t a lot to be had in the way of souvenirs, but you can get pot donkeys and %26quot;Albania%26quot; lighters and sea-shell compositions and so on along the promenade.
%26quot;Tirana%26quot; beer is excellent - better than anything in Greece. Albanian wine%26#39;s excellent too.
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It is very safe in Albania so no worries there, you can walk to the centre of the town by yourself, for most taxies you will pay 5EUR bit agree on the price before, not everybody speaks English but enough people to get by, I would also recommend Butrint as your prime visit, otherwise there is a promanade along the beach, small excavation in town and the castle on top. In any case it is a pretty country and nice people so enjoy it.
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We just returned from a cruise that stopped for 1/2 day in Sarande. I highly recommend a visit to Butrint, only a 30 minute taxi ride, and a wonderful archeological site with a history that spans centuries. Those who stayed on the ship, criticizing why we were stopping here at all from their 1/2 mile out in the harbor vantage point, missed one of the highlights of our cruise.
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