Sarandë and Ksamil

Sarandë is the largest town on the southern coast, on a wide bay facing the Greek island of Corfu, with a long promenade and fish restaurants. It is a comfortable base for the best of southern Albania.

About 20 km to the south is the ancient city of Butrint, on UNESCO's list since 1992, with its Greek theatre, Roman baths and Byzantine churches among woods on the shore of a lagoon. On the way is Ksamil, with white sand beaches and small islands reached by boat.

Half an hour east of Sarandë is the Blue Eye spring, where water wells up from an unknown depth in a clear blue pool in the forest. Gjirokastër is an hour and a quarter away, so Sarandë brings sea and history together in a few days.