Corfu to Albania
Prices and departure times checked
Cross the strait from Corfu to Saranda and the UNESCO ruins of Butrint — a different country in a single day. Two tours run this trip: an all-in guided version and a cheaper flexible one. This guide compares both, plus how to get there and what to expect.
A Corfu to Albania day trip crosses the strait by ferry to Saranda, on the Albanian Riviera, then visits the UNESCO ruins of Butrint. Two tours run it: a guided trip with Butrint and lunch included (from $75, rated 4.3), and a cheaper Albanian Adventure where Butrint is optional (from $49). Both need a passport and a €20 border fee, and both run about 9–10 hours.
- You want Butrint + buffet lunch included, no decisions
- A higher rating matters to you (4.3★)
- You prefer a fully structured, guided day
- You’d rather everything be sorted in one price
- You want free time in Saranda instead of a guided day
- You’d rather add Butrint only if you feel like it (+€20)
- You don’t mind a slower ferry — about an hour each way
- You accept a 3.7 rating for the flexibility
Shared by both
Whichever you pick- Ferry crossing Corfu ↔ Saranda
- Free time in Saranda town
- Passport required · €20 border fee
- Free cancellation up to 24h
- Reserve now, pay later
- Run spring through autumn
Only the guided trip
From $75 · ★ 4.3- Butrint included in the price
- Buffet lunch included
- Higher rated — 4.3★ (948 reviews)
- Fully structured, nothing to decide
Only the Adventure
From $49 · ★ 3.7- Cheapest option — from $49
- Butrint is optional (+€20)
- Guide in 5 languages
- Flexible — more free time if you skip Butrint
Until recently the Albanian Adventure was the budget way into Albania — around $49 against $75 for the guided trip, with Butrint left as an optional add-on. That argument is gone. As of 5 August 2026 both tours cost $75. At the same price the guided Saranda & Butrint trip includes the UNESCO site and a buffet lunch and averages 4.3 from 948 reviews; the Adventure averages 3.7 from 381 and charges about €20 extra for Butrint. The only reason left to choose it is that you genuinely want unstructured free time in Saranda rather than a guided day.
Included in the $75
- Return ferry crossing Corfu – Saranda, about an hour each way
- Guide on the coach and at the port
- Free time in Saranda and along the promenade
- Optional hotel pickup where offered
Not included
- Butrint — optional add-on, about €20 on the day
- Albanian border fee, about €20
- Lunch and drinks
- Anything guided once you are in Saranda
Why the 3.7 The rating is the lowest of any tour we cover, and the pattern in the reviews is consistent: the day is sold as a trip to Albania but a large part of it is waiting — at the port, at the border, and on the slower ferry. Nothing is wrong with the crossing itself; the complaint is how much of the ten hours it eats. If you want to be walking around Butrint rather than queueing, pay the same $75 for the guided trip instead.
Corfu sits just a few kilometres off the Albanian coast, so the ferry to Saranda takes only about 30 minutes to an hour. There’s no bridge and no car ferry on the day-trip routes — you cross as a foot passenger and travel by coach inside Albania. A passport is required at the border, where a €20 fee is paid in cash.
Travelling Independently by Ferry
Direct Corfu → Saranda · no tourPrefer to skip the tour and explore on your own? A scheduled passenger ferry runs Corfu to Saranda — no guide, no Butrint, just transport. You set your own pace and arrange Butrint yourself once there. Here’s what to know:
- Operated by lines such as Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines — high-speed and conventional ferries.
- Departs Corfu Port (New Port). A passport is required — this is an international crossing.
- Arrives at Saranda Port, walkable to the town’s seafront promenade.
- Butrint is a 20 km taxi or local bus ride from Saranda — entry is paid separately on arrival.
Almost everyone who crosses from Corfu to Albania comes for one thing: Butrint. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that layers several civilisations onto a single small peninsula — and it’s the reason this day trip is worth the early start.
2,400 years in one walk
Unlike many ancient sites, Butrint isn’t a single ruin — it’s a layered city. You walk from a 4th-century-BC Greek theatre past Roman baths and a gymnasium, an early-Christian baptistery with a famous mosaic floor, and up to a Venetian castle with views over the lake. A guide turns scattered stones into a continuous 2,400-year story.
Why a guide makes the difference
Butrint rewards context. Without a guide it can read as pretty but confusing ruins; with one, each layer clicks into place. That’s why the guided trip bundles it in — and why, on the cheaper Albanian Adventure, adding the €20 Butrint option is usually money well spent.
- You want Butrint and lunch included, with nothing to organise
- A higher rating (4.3★) gives you confidence
- You’d rather a guide handle the whole day
- You want the cheapest crossing into Albania
- You’d rather have free time than a fixed itinerary
- You’re happy to add Butrint only if you feel like it
- You want independent travel, not a guided tour
- You’d rather set your own pace in Saranda
- You’ll arrange Butrint yourself once there
Ready to book?
Both tours are on GetYourGuide with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Corfu to Albania Day Trip
- 10 hours
- ★ 4.3 · 948 reviews
- from $75
Can you do a day trip from Corfu to Albania?
Yes. Corfu sits just a few kilometres from Albania, and daily ferries cross to Saranda in about 30 minutes to an hour. Organised day tours combine the crossing with a visit to the UNESCO ruins of Butrint and free time in Saranda, returning to Corfu the same evening. You need a passport and pay a €20 border fee.
Which Corfu to Albania tour is best?
It depends on your priorities. The guided Saranda & Butrint trip (from $75, rated 4.3) includes Butrint and lunch in one price — best if you want everything sorted. The Albanian Adventure (from $49) is cheaper and flexible, with Butrint optional — best for budget and free time.
Do I need a passport to go from Corfu to Albania?
Yes. Albania isn’t in the EU, so crossing from Corfu is an international border. A valid passport is required (EU ID cards are also accepted). A €20 per-person port fee is paid in cash at the Albanian border and isn’t included in tour prices.
How long is the ferry from Corfu to Saranda?
Between 30 minutes and about an hour depending on the vessel. High-speed ferries are quickest; conventional ferries on the tour routes take a little longer. The crossing is short and usually calm, as Corfu sits very close to the Albanian coast.
Is Butrint worth visiting?
For most visitors, yes — it’s the highlight of the whole day. Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site layering Greek, Roman, and Venetian ruins on one peninsula. On the guided trip it’s included; on the cheaper Adventure it’s a €20 option, and adding it is usually worth it if you’re curious about history.
How much does a Corfu to Albania day trip cost?
From $49 for the Albanian Adventure or $75 for the guided Saranda & Butrint trip. Budget an extra €20 cash for the border fee, plus another €20 if you add Butrint on the Adventure. Both tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Can I visit Albania from Corfu without a tour?
Yes. A scheduled passenger ferry runs Corfu to Saranda independently of any tour, from around €20–25 one way. You travel as a foot passenger, set your own pace in Saranda, and arrange Butrint yourself (a 20 km ride from town). It’s the most flexible option, but you lose the guide and the organised logistics.
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