Saranda is the first point of entry to Albania if arriving from Corfu. Plenty of beautiful beaches and restaurants makes a holiday to Saranda with kids one of the perfect places to stay in Albania. Read on for some tips to staying in Saranda with kids….
If you are looking for an itinerary in Albania check out our 10 day itinerary in Albania with kids.
How to get to Saranda
The easiest way to get to Saranda on the Albanian Riviera is by ferry. Fly direct to Corfu and get the 30minute or 1 hour Corfu to Albania ferry. It is straightforward and easy and enables you to start your trip to Albania at the most wonderful part.
Read our blog on Corfu to Albania ferry for more information.
Booking.comWhere to stay in Saranda with kids
We stayed at Villa Skenderi which we booked on booking.com. It is a little out of the centre of Saranda on the way to Ksamil. It is a great location as it is in a quiet area with its own private beach. There are numerous little sea facing villas or apartments. The 2-bedroom villa is perfect for a family. It has 2 bedrooms with double beds, bathroom, fridge, a/c, a terrace and a balcony. Right outside the room is a small children’s playground with a swing, a path leading to the beach and the pool. The swing was a hit with our boys which made our holiday to Saranda with kids even easier.
The showstopper of this accommodation is the gorgeous views over the bright blue Ionian sea. The pool area is a continuation of turquoise blue looking over the ocean. Watching the sunset going down over to the Albanian mountains in the north is a sight not to be missed.
Breakfast is pre ordered and delivered to the terrace each morning at a time convenient and there is a pool bar where you can get drinks throughout the day. The £1 or 150lek draught of Peroni was a welcome addition.
Surrounding Villa Skenderi are a few supermarkets and lots of family restaurants to choose from during a holiday to Saranda with kids.
Beaches in Saranda with kids
Albanian beaches are rocky and pebbly. It is advisable to bring some water shoes with you to make getting in and out of the water easier. When on beaches in Saranda with kids I would make sure to bring shoes for them.
Most of the beaches in Saranda are attached to bars or restaurants so expect to pay for the sunbeds. It is usually around 1000lek or £7 for a sunbed and umbrella for the day.
If you choose a beach hotel there will usually be a beach outside the hotel that you can use. To be honest, the coastline in Saranda is rocky and pebbly so the coves and bays are pretty similar.
The beaches South over to Ksamil are more sandier so it is definitely worth spending some time in Ksamil when in Saranda with kids.
Ksamil
Ksamil is a village in southern Saranda. It has 3 islands and there are many boat companies that offer trips over to the inhabited islands.
Ksamil is certainly beautiful, busy and worth a visit. Arrive early to the beach as it gets very crowded by the afternoon. There are numerous bays, coves and beaches to choose from with varying crowds and atmosphere. From loud beach bars to more family areas.
We were recommended to go to the beach attached to Abiori Restaurant Pizzeria. This beach was a perfect, sandy beach for a beach day in Ksamil, Saranda with kids. We ate lunch at Guvat Bar which was close by and has elevated, breathtaking views over the adjoining coves of Ksamil. A gorgeous restaurant where we had starter bits of mussels, chips, salad and tzatziki with cold beer.
Where to Eat in Saranda with kids
Saranda is full of many beautiful restaurants alongside the stunning coastline. It is difficult to choose places to eat with so many options but here are a few that we enjoyed on our trip to Saranda with kids.
Restaurant Shpella
Shpella is a small, family-run restaurant only a 5 minute walk from Villa Skenderi with the most gorgeous sunset views. The menu is simple with fish, grilled meat and pasta options. It gets busy around sunset so arrive a little early for a peak sunset view.
A meal for 4 with grilled chicken, seabass, haddock and chips with drinks cost us 4000lek or £28
Hotel Alpha
This is set on the main road close to Villa Skenderi. It doesn’t have views but it is still a lovely setting. The staff here were great, very attentive and chatty. We had a great lunch there of prawns, salmon, salad, feta and tzatsiki with nice cold beer. It cost around 4200lek or £30.
Booking.comSaranda Terrace
A very Grecian looking restaurant, again only a 5 minute walk from Villa Skenderi. It has stairs to climb and then there is an elevated view over the beautiful coastline for sunset. This restaurant was a little more expensive than some of the others but we still only paid around £47 or 6500lek. At this restaurant we had Aperol Spritz, beer, mussels, fish, pasta for 4 people.
Taverna Pupi
This restaurant is a lot closer to the beach but not directly on the promenade. It again offers wonderful sea views and has a gorgeous terrace. The staff here are wonderful and were so good with the kids. We only stopped for drinks and snacks but it is definitely worth a stop when on holiday in Saranda with kids.
Haxhi
Haxhi restaurant is situated close to the petrol station just behind the beach road. It is in an upstairs location with a wooden, traditional exterior. We had read reviews of this place so wanted to check it out. It is adorned with lots of traditional Albanian trinkets, pictures on the walls and seating. The food is simple, traditional Albanian. We had a good meal here and if you’re looking to try some traditional food it is a great place to stop. It also offers great views!
Other things to do in Saranda with Kids
Make sure you take a trip to Blue Eye Albania during your time in Saranda. A beautiful natural pool with incredible scenery. It is only around 22km away and takes just over half an hour. You can organise a taxi locally or rent a car for the day trip.
We spent most of our time in Saranda with kids just at the beach, pool and eating and drinking. We didn’t pick up the car until we left for Gjirokaster so we stayed local. However, these are a few things on our list that were recommended that we didn’t get used to:
- Lekursi Castle – a favourite tourist spot in Saranda which offers amazing views over the town and has a cafe/restaurant.
- 40 Saints Monastery – it is ruins but offers great views over the city.
- Butrint – an ancient city in a National Park that has a lot of wildlife too.
What to read next
If you have enjoyed reading about Visiting Albania – Saranda with kids then have a look at our Guide to Albania. For ideas of where to go check out 10 day Albania itinerary and Albanian Road Trip. Also our posts on Dhermi Beach in Albania and the Best Things to Do in Gjirokaster. Make sure to ease your journey stress by checking out the Corfu to Albania ferry post for all your information.
You might also enjoy our post on Corfu Town – is it worth it? to decide whether to include Corfu in your trip to Albania. As well as the Best Family All Inclusive Hotel in Corfu.
For other family travel inspiration check out our Destinations page.
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