For many visitors, Albania starts with a short boat ride. Corfu is just across the strait from Sarandë, and the ferry turns a Greek island holiday into a trip to Butrint, Ksamil and the Albanian Riviera. The question is how to get around once you land. You can bring a car over on the ferry, or you can arrive as a foot passenger and pick up an Albanian rental car at the port. For most people the second option is simpler.
Want prices from local companies in Sarandë? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.
The crossing
Ferries run daily between Corfu town and Sarandë. The main operators are Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines. The fast boats take about half an hour; slower vessels and car ferries take longer, roughly an hour or more. Timetables change with the season. In summer there are several sailings a day; in winter far fewer. Check the operators’ own timetables for your date, and book ahead in July and August.
You cross an external border of the EU, so bring your passport or national ID card. Allow time for passport control on both sides, especially on busy summer mornings.
Option 1: bring a car on the ferry
Not every sailing carries vehicles, and car space is limited when it is offered. The bigger issue is usually the car itself. If you rented it in Corfu, the Greek rental company must allow you to take it out of the EU into Albania, and the insurance must be valid there. Not every company allows this, and some charge extra for it. Ask before you book, and get the permission in writing.
If you are driving your own car, check that your insurance covers Albania; you may need a green card. Then confirm with the ferry operator that your sailing takes vehicles.
Option 2: walk off and pick up a car in Sarandë (usually simpler)
Several Sarandë rental companies hand over cars at the port. One even has its office inside the passenger terminal. In practice it works like this:
- Book the car a few days ahead and give the company your ferry name and arrival time.
- Agree on a WhatsApp or phone number. Albania is not in the EU, so check your roaming costs before you sail, or have Wi-Fi as a backup.
- After passport control, the company meets you at the terminal, you sign the contract and do the walk-around, and you drive away.
- For the return, agree on the port again if you are taking the ferry back, and leave yourself time before the sailing.
The advantages are clear: no cross-border permission to arrange, insurance written for Albania, and often a lower price than a car brought from the island. See our list of local car rental companies in Sarandë, including those that deliver at the port.
Day trip or longer stay?
Many people visit Sarandë as a day trip from Corfu. A rental car is not really worth it for that: a taxi or an organised tour to Butrint and the Blue Eye is simpler. If you are staying two nights or more, a car makes sense. With one you can reach Butrint, the Ksamil beaches, the Blue Eye and Gjirokastër on your own schedule. Our page on day trips by car from Sarandë has the distances and a few ideas.
A few practical notes
- Money: the currency is the Albanian lek. Euros are widely accepted in Sarandë, but you will often get change in lek. Some small rental companies ask for cash, so check before you arrive.
- Driving in Albania: the roads around Sarandë are generally good, but the driving style takes some adjusting to. The country guide linked below covers what to expect.
- Coming back to Corfu: do not leave the car return to the last minute. Summer queues at the port and passport control can take a while.
More for your Sarandë trip
- Local car rental companies in Sarandë.
- Day trips by car from Sarandë.
- Renting a car in Albania: the full guide.
Want prices from local companies in Sarandë? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.