The Greek Island of Corfu is so close to southern Albania that you can add it to your itinerary as a quick day or overnight trip. But is it worth taking the ferry from Sarande to Corfu for this short amount of time? Not always. Have no fear! I’ve covered everything you need to know below.
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Is it worth doing a day trip from Sarande to Corfu?
In my opinion? Not really. But going from Sarande to Corfu can make sense in some situations. I’ll let you be the judge. First it’s important to know you can only get between these Mediterranean beach destinations by ferry.
How long is the ferry from Sarande to Corfu?
There are two ferries that run multiple trips between Sarande and Corfu every day. The slow ferry takes 1.5 – 2 hours, while the fast ferry takes just 30 – 50 minutes. The actual time depends on the weather and which of their ships you’re getting on.
Look at both Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines and their seasonal timetables to find what works best for you! They both have main offices in Sarande where you can book your tickets — but you have to make sure you’re not buying from a third party tour office with jacked up prices. You can also book online and that’s the easiest option.
How much does the ferry from Sarande to Corfu cost?
Ferry fares vary (that’s fun to say) based on whether you’re travelling during peak season, or even at the peak time of day!
For example, the ferry can range from 19€ to 27€ one way depending on the time you book and how fast it gets you there. They often offer discounts for return trips, like 38€ return with Ionian in the low season.
Definitely avoid going to one of the random travel agencies that will shout at you from the street! Sure, the tickets are legit and you’ll be able to get on the boat, but they’ll way over charge you.
This guide is obviously about whether it’s worth taking the ferry from Sarande to Corfu, because that’s what I did. But if you’re already in Greece, you can do the reverse and spend a day or two in Albania. I actually think it’s way better to do it the other way around! If you go from Corfu to Sarande or Ksamil, there’s more to do and see within walking distance from the ferry. It’ll also feel like a better deal because Albanian prices are much lower than Greek island prices.
Fun fact
Even though Corfu is further west than Sarande and Ksamil, it’s an hour ahead! Obviously it just makes more sense for them to follow the rest of Greece, but it was a bit weird to be going forward in time… but actually back in time? I don’t know.
~ TiMe iS jUsT a CoNsTrUcT ~
Albania is in the green time zone, Greece is in the light blue.
Is it budget friendly to go from Sarande to Corfu?
Not particularly. Albania is such an affordable destination, but Corfu is not. The return ferry journey sets you back 38€ and the cost of food & drinks in Corfu is significantly higher.
Our average daily spend in Albania was just under 60€/day (each). That’s total; for accom, food, drinks, activities, our SIM cards… everything.
Our day’s total when we visited Corfu? 100€ each.
Obviously, the cost of the return ferry was a major and unusual expense, but even the food and drinks we had in Corfu (and on the ferry) were more expensive than we’d become used to after 2 weeks in Albania.
If you’re on a budget and taking the ferry from Sarande to Corfu, definitely bring your own drinks/snacks for the boat. Or just hold off, it’s a short journey lol. Two iced teas and one espresso cost a whopping 1000 LEK (9.50€). I genuinely thought he’d done the math wrong, but no, I just hadn’t looked at the price list. And then it was too awkward to “return” a coffee he’d already made, so we just accepted our fate. But wtf.
Don't forget to consider visas and Schengen time
Albania isn’t part of the EU or on the list of Schengen countries, but Greece is. So your days in Corfu will count towards your total 90-day Schengen Zone limit. If you’re from a country that requires a visa to enter Greece, make sure you organize that in advance!
Other ways to include Corfu in your Albania itinerary
Overall, I don’t really think it’s worth taking the ferry from Sarande to Corfu, especially if you’re just going for the day. It’s a fun novelty for sure, and an extra stamp in your passport. (Yes, they give you a real stamp!) But it isn’t life changing and from what I saw, I wouldn’t even rank Corfu among my top Greek islands.
However, there are a few situations in which it makes sense to include Corfu in your itinerary:
Sarande - Ksamil - Corfu (The best option!)
This makes the most sense by far. You can start in Sarande and stay for at least a few days, because it’s a great jumping off point for great beaches and activities.
Then catch a taxi or local bus from Sarande down to Ksamil. Spend a few days soaking up the sun at the beach clubs (but wear your sunscreen!). Ksamil is on its way to becoming a little Ibiza-esque, which may or may not be your thing. It’s still beautiful in any case, but definitely more expensive than Sarande. Albania’s beaches are very pebbly, but some clubs in Ksamil have created artificial soft white sand beaches, just to give you an idea of what it’s like down there lol.
When you’re ready to leave Albania, you can take the ferry from Ksamil to Corfu. The major benefit here is that Corfu has an airport! So you can either use that to get to your next destination or head home. Albania only has one international airport, and it’s all the way up in Tirana. Corfu is well-connected to other parts of Europe and you can find flights for under 100 euros.
Benefits: You only take the (pretty expensive) ferry one way, only cross the border once, and gain access to an international airport.
Sarande - Corfu - Ksamil
You can consider this as an option if you’re dying to visit Corfu but already have flights booked out of Albania or something and need to get back.
Spend a few days enjoying everything in Sarande. Then take the ferry to Corfu and stay for the day or for a night or two if you have the time. When you’re ready to head back to Albania, take the ferry to Ksamil.
Benefits: This just provides a bit more variety rather than taking the ferry back and forth to the same place and then doing a return trip from Sarande to Ksamil on the bus as well.
Things to do when taking the ferry from Sarande to Corfu for the day
I think the biggest question you need to ask yourself is whether there’s anything specific you want to do in Corfu. If you go for more than a day trip, you can rent a car or motorbike and get out to some of the nice beaches. But just a reminder… there are beaches in Albania!
From the ferry terminal, you need to catch a taxi or walk ~30ish minutes to get to the Old Town. This is where are the bars, restaurants, shopping, and monuments are.
Here's what we did:
We chose to walk and passed through the Central Market on the way. It’s quite small, but we stopped for some nice fresh seafood as an early lunch. We also had time to stroll through the Old Town, visit the Old Venetian Fortress, meet some friends at a beach club, and chow down on a gyro before heading back to the ferry terminal.
Things to do when staying in Corfu for several days
There are some cute things to do in Corfu if you have time. I’d definitely recommend these if you’re staying on the island for a couple of days.
Black Rose Pirate Ship (1.25 hrs): This one is super popular, and we saw it go back and forth a few times from the beach club. The boat is a little tacky, but a good way to get some nice views of the island without going out on a boat for the whole day!
Dark Myths and Legends Tour (1.5 hrs): Is it even a trip to Greece if you don’t learn about the mythology?
Visit a Local Organic Olive Oil Farm (2 hrs): K I know I just said it’s not a trip to Greece without mythology… but is it even a trip to Greece without trying some olive oil? Quintessential activity.
Spend the Day at Aqualand (All Day): Because who doesn’t love a good water slide?
See Other Charming Greek Towns by Boat (12 hrs): Ok, so this is not actually in Corfu, but the mainland. But Parga is such a cute little colourful town, and it’s nice to be out on the water when you’re in the Greek Islands! This is a pretty cheap full-day boat tour, but will never beat our boat tour in Sarande.