A Corfu to Albania day trip is the easiest way to add a second country to your holiday. Saranda is only a short boat ride from Corfu Town. In one day you can walk around the ruins of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have lunch in a stone village and still be back for dinner. This guide covers the crossing, passport and ID rules, what to budget for, and how an organised trip compares with doing it yourself.
Corfu to Albania Day Trip at a Glance
- Where you leave from: the New Port in Corfu Town, through passport control.
- Where you arrive: Saranda, on the Albanian Riviera.
- Crossing time: about 30 minutes by hydrofoil and about 1–1¼ hours by ferry, depending on the vessel.
- Time difference: Albania is one hour behind Greece. Timetables use local time.
- Documents: EU citizens can use a national ID card or passport; UK, US and other visitors need a passport. See the section below.
- Money: the currency is the Albanian lek, but euros are widely accepted in Saranda.
Organised Trip or Do It Yourself?
Going on your own
You can book directly with one of the operators on the route, such as Finikas Lines or Ionian Seaways, and organise the Albanian side yourself. Fares, sailing days and check-in times change with the season, so check the operator’s own site for your date. Summer brings several sailings a day; in winter there are far fewer, and on some days none. Leave plenty of time at the international terminal for the ticket check, passport control and customs. Butrint is about 18 km from Saranda by road via Ksamil, roughly half an hour by taxi or local bus.
One important point if you have a rental car: rental cars from Corfu cannot be taken to Albania on the Corfu–Saranda line, so plan to go as a foot passenger.
Going with an organised trip
An organised trip takes care of the tickets, the port formalities, the coach on the Albanian side and the guide at Butrint, and on two of our trips the hotel pickup too.
Three Ways to See Albania with Us
Butrint and Karahaxh Tour
Our Butrint and Karahaxh tour is the full guided day. You are collected from your hotel and taken to Corfu Port. After passport control you cross to Saranda, gaining an hour on the way, as Albania is one hour behind Greece. A guide and coach meet you there and take you to Butrint for a guided visit of about one hour. Then you have lunch in Karahaxh, a stone-built village shaded by plane trees, and free time in Saranda before the afternoon boat back to Corfu. Lunch, the guide and transport in Albania are included; drinks at lunch are not. The tour page lists the day at about 12 hours.
We need each traveller’s passport or ID details when you book. Bring the original document on the day.
Albania – Butrinti Cruise
The Albania – Butrinti cruise is the flexible version, at about 9 hours, departing from Corfu New Port. It covers the round-trip boat to Saranda, port fees, help at the port and free time in Saranda. Butrint is not included as standard. If you want to see it, add the optional guided excursion, which includes Butrint, a stop at Lëkurësi Castle above Saranda for the view, and a buffet lunch in Karahaxh. Without the excursion, meals are not included, and hotel pickup is not listed for this cruise. There are fewer departure days in winter, so check the booking calendar for your dates.
Albania Coastal Adventure
If you care more about swimming than ruins, the Albania Coastal Adventure skips Butrint. From Saranda you board a smaller boat for a photo stop at Cape Qefali, then swim at Kakome Bay and Krorez Bay, which can only be reached by sea. Lunch is at a seaside restaurant, and the boat brings you back to Saranda in time for the ferry to Corfu. You should be comfortable swimming in open water.
What You See at Butrint
Butrint (Vouthroto in Greek) lies on a wooded peninsula beside a lagoon. Monuments from very different periods sit side by side, from Hellenistic temples of the 4th century BC to Ottoman fortifications of the 19th century, including the ancient theatre and the baptistery. The wetlands around it are home to protected wildlife. Wear proper walking shoes, as paths are uneven and partly unpaved, and in summer bring water and a hat.
Passport, ID and the EU Entry/Exit System
EU citizens can travel with a valid national ID card or passport. UK, US and other visitors need a passport. For UK travellers, it must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave Albania. If you need a Schengen visa to be in Greece, you will need a multiple-entry visa to come back. Under-18s need their own travel document, and a child travelling with only one parent needs signed permission from the other parent. You go through passport control at both ports.
Non-EU visitors, including UK and US travellers, are recorded in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) when they leave the Schengen area at Corfu and again when they come back in. The first registration takes fingerprints and a photo; later crossings only check them. Allow extra time at passport control, especially in summer. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not affected. Check your own government’s travel advice before you go. Sources: Finikas Lines T&Cs (EU ID card), GOV.UK Albania entry requirements, European Commission (EES). Last checked 30 Oct 2026.
What Does It Cost?
Contact us or check the booking page for current prices on our trips. When you compare options, check what is included:
- Hotel pickup and lunch: included on the Butrint and Karahaxh tour and the Coastal Adventure. On the Butrinti cruise, lunch comes only with the optional excursion.
- Butrint entry: if you go on your own, you pay at the site or buy online. Opening hours and ticket prices change by season, so check the official Butrint site (butrint.al) before you go.
- Extras: drinks, souvenirs and tips for the guide and driver are paid on the day.
Bring some cash. Euros are accepted in most tourist businesses in Saranda, but change often comes in lek at a poor rate. Mobile data: Albania is not part of the EU “Roam like at Home” area, so check your plan before you go, or turn off data roaming.
Practical Tips for the Day
- Keep your passport or ID on you all day. You will need it again on the way back.
- Meeting times in Saranda are in Albanian time unless the guide says otherwise.
- Be on time for the return. The next boat may be hours later, or the next day.
- Sailings can change with the weather, especially outside midsummer.
Corfu to Albania Day Trip FAQ
How long is the ferry from Corfu to Saranda?
About 30 minutes by hydrofoil and about 1–1¼ hours by ferry.
Can I visit Albania from Corfu without a passport?
Yes, if you are an EU citizen with a valid national ID card. UK, US and other visitors need a passport.
What about the Blue Eye spring?
None of our Albania trips include the Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), a spring about 20 km inland from Saranda where swimming is not allowed. Combining it with the ferry and Butrint in one day is not realistic without a private driver, especially in winter. Contact us if it is high on your list.
More Ideas for Your Week
If you are fitting Albania into a longer stay, our 7-day Corfu itinerary shows where a day trip fits best. For more boat days, see the first-timer’s guide to Corfu by boat and our Paxos and Antipaxos day trip guide. Driving yourself? Read our guide to getting around Corfu first. Questions about documents or pickups? Contact us.
See all our Corfu cruises, including our three Albania day trips.
