Day 4: Sarande
While we didn’t rent a car elsewhere in Albania, we do recommend renting a car along the Albanian Riviera to explore the coast and inland from there. We rented our car from Leka Tours and it was perfect. They delivered it for a small additional charge to our hotel in Himare and we used it for the next two days to move to Sarande and visit Gjirokaster. The rental price was incredibly low and was significantly less expensive than booking a private tour.
Leave mid-morning and head towards Sarande with plans to visit Butrint National Park after checking into your hotel.
The drive from Himare to Sarande is fairly straightforward but twisty. Sydney was car sick several times on this route. Take the time to make a few stops along the way including a stop at Porto Palermo to scope out the World War II submarine tunnels and the castle of Ali Pasha. While Sarande is a city with not a huge amount to offer, it has a nice boardwalk and is conveniently close to Butrint, the beaches of Ksamil, Gjirokaster and the ferry to Corfu.
Once you’ve checked into your hotel, head to Butrint National Park. 2400 years ago, the ancient city of Butrint was one of the most beautiful cities of the Roman Empire. In 300AD much of it was destroyed by an earthquake but its ruins remain today. If visiting in summer, be sure to bring water as it is incredibly hot with very little shade.
As leaving Butrint, visit the panoramic lookout to see another castle of Ali Pasha. There is also a viewpoint to see over the Ksamil and its fine beaches. In summer, these beaches are jam packed but during the shoulder seasons, it is an amazing place to enjoy the Albanian Riviera.
If your timing is right, you’ll be able to see a remarkable sunset from Lekursi Castle. Today, the castle is primarily a restaurant but it does have beautiful views. While I highly recommend the above, the kids bailed on me so we actually missed our planned day in Butrint and Ksamil. I can’t wait to return to visit.
Grab dinner at a local restaurant. We really enjoyed Haxhi. It’s a few streets up from the boardwalk but it’s a short trot and the food is good. It’s quite a unique place! It does get busy so if you can, make a reservation in advance.
After dinner, explore the Bulevardi Hasan Tahasini, the beach boulevard of Sarande. It’s a lively atmosphere in the summer months with buskers, ice cream shops and even a ferris wheel.
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