There are many Saranda things to do, as it's the most important tourist city in Albania. It is located on the Albania Riviera. Its history is a mix of Chaonians and Greek. The city did not become popular until the fall of communism, and is considered an undiscovered but beautiful part of the mostly crowded Mediterranean.

Hiking the Coast and in the Mountains

The town is located between the Ionian Sea and the mountains, so there are plenty of adventures to be had. The hills around the city have many hiking paths and offer plenty of beautiful panoramic views. From June to August the weather is extremely hot, which makes hiking a bit more difficult. There are many waterfalls in the forest that surround the town. The source of the falls makes for a perfect spot to cool off. It is best to bring along a walking stick, as the paths are very uneven and make hiking difficult.

When hiking outside of the town you will come across some tiny but deserted villages. These villages are full of grapes and fig trees. A fun stop in the hike up the mountain is the small village of Pilur. This town actually has a bar where you can relax with a cold beer after a long day of hiking. Many of the residents are quite old, as the younger generations travel to live in Greece and the larger cities of Europe.

War Ruins

There was an Italian military base here during the war and there are still bunkers to be seen out on the beach. Albania and Greece were at war until 1987. There is still evidence of this fighting found around the town. Saranda is close to Corfu, and you can see the island from the beach. This can make exploring the beach quite interesting.

Enjoy the Water

There are plenty of water sports to be had along the beach. Samanda is on a bay that forms a half moon and is about 5 miles long. There is swimming, fishing, sunbathing, sailing and other activities along the water. There is also a promenade that stretches along the water and is lined with restaurants and hotels.

An Ancient City to Explore

The ancient city of Butrint is nearby and this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient spot was settled by the Illyrians. Some of the best of the ruins to explore include the temple of Aesculapius, the city walls, an amphitheatre and the baptistery. There is small museum that has exhibits about the history of the city. This is one of the only unspoiled historic areas of the Mediterranean.

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Hostel Saranda

When you arrive in Saranda, you like to be close to the beach, close to the boulevard, close to the port, close to the bus station to Butrint, close to bus station to Greece, minutes away from the bus city center, the price to includes breakfast and free internet...This place called Hostel Saranda.Hostel Saranda is located at the heart of th town, on the third floor of Rainbow Block with three bedrooms, kitchen, common room, bathroom.The owner who runs the hostel is a local guy who speaks very good English, also Italian,Greek, and Albanian of course.His name is Tomi.At the basement of the block there are some shops like: fast food, minimarket, library also bars, restaurants and pizza shop are arounds.