YOUR ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE TO SARANDA, ALBANIA

Thinking of spending your holidays in Albania? The best base for a perfect seaside getaway is Saranda, located in the south of the country.

Sunny weather, sandy beaches, interesting history, good value for money, and plenty of nearby attractions – there are so many great things to do in Saranda and there is no way you will be bored there.

A fellow blogger, Kat from A Way Abroad, prepared this Saranda guide that will help you plan your trip and what to do in Saranda. Read on and enjoy your holidays in Saranda, Albania!

Ever visited the Balkans? If so, you know how fantastic and highly underrated this region is. If not, allow me to let you in on the secret: this is a region you’ll instantly fall in love with.

The Balkans include Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Western Turkey, and of course, Albania. The area is known for incredible landscapes, friendly locals, and mouth-watering food, and Saranda, Albania is no exception.

Also, since Albania isn’t part of the EU, most nationalities can spend 3 months here (U.S. passports get 1 year), without having to worry about EU regulations or a Schengen Visa.

The Best Time to Visit Saranda

I’ll be honest, before visiting this region, I assumed Greece (and surrounding areas) were always warm and sunny. Ignorance led to that belief and was whipped out of my brain with the gusts of wind that greeted us when we arrived in Saranda in March.

So, let me go ahead and stop you from thinking as I did. Albania is a destination with 4 seasons. While you won’t face snow in the winter, unless you head away from the beach and into the mountains, you will still get 4 distinct seasons that could derail your travel plans if you’re not prepared.

In general, the seasons are:

• Winter: Highs in the 50s F, wet, cloudy, quiet

• Spring: The weather starts to heat in April, some days are in the 70s, other days back in the 50s. Rainy, quiet

• Summer: Highs in the 90s, blue skies, crowded with tourists

• Fall: The weather varies like in spring, and stays warm through September and starts to really cool again in October, quiet

The seasons in Saranda don’t just dictate the weather, they also dictate the crowds and what’s open. When we arrived in March, many places, especially along the promenade were closed. Everything really started to open up in May, some things waiting even until June.

From June to August, the tourist season is in full swing. You can expect a livelier, busier environment, which will be better for the socialites. Introverts will thrive visiting in the other 3 seasons when fewer tourists are around.

An Important Travel Note

When the weather is warm, Albanians thrive outdoors. Most coffee shops, restaurants, and bars will expand into the streets, the windows and doors will stay open, and people will be eager to soak up the sun.

When the weather is cold, or even just a bit chilly, you’ll find everything closed and people huddled indoors.

While this is pretty normal, I wasn’t ready for the amount of cigarette smoke indoors. It feels like everywhere we went (bars, restaurants, cafes), there were a handful of people smoking.