Party Island Albania • Guide
Getting to Ksamil and Saranda: the Corfu ferry, flights and arriving in time for the party
Corfu is the short way in: the hydrofoil to Saranda takes 30 to 45 minutes. Tirana is the long way: around four hours or more by road to Saranda. From Saranda's port, Ksamil is about 20 minutes by car.
- Corfu → Saranda, hydrofoil
- 30–45 min
- Corfu → Saranda, ferry
- 55–70 min
- Corfu airport → ferry terminal
- 3.7 km · about 7 min
- Tirana airport → Saranda
- About 245 km by road
Greece is one hour ahead of Albania all year: ferry times are in local time.
Rent your car on the Albanian side: Ionian Seaways notes that rental cars from Corfu stay in Corfu.
Albania is outside the Schengen area: travel with the document your nationality requires.
There are two usual ways to reach the Albanian Riviera for a party trip. Fly to Corfu and take the ferry across the strait to Saranda (Sarandë), or fly to Tirana and travel about 245 km south by road. Here are the crossing times the ferry companies publish, the distances we measured, and how to time your arrival so the first night does not start in a rush.
Via Corfu: fly in, then the ferry
Corfu's airport, Ioannis Kapodistrias (CFU), is about 3.7 km from the ferry terminal in Corfu town, around seven minutes by car. From there, boats cross the strait to Saranda every day.
Ionian Seaways publishes 30 to 45 minutes for its hydrofoils (Flying Dolphins) and 55 to 70 minutes for its passenger and car ferries. Finikas Lines, which has run the Corfu–Saranda route since 1994, gives around 30 minutes, depending on the service and the weather. Both companies sell tickets online.
In the summer 2026 timetable (July to September), Ionian Seaways listed departures from Corfu from 08:30 to 22:30 and from Saranda from 06:00 to 20:00. Check the 2027 timetable on their site before booking flights.
Two crossing speeds
Hydrofoil 30–45 min, ferry 55–70 min (Ionian Seaways). Finikas Lines: around 30 min.
Arriving in Saranda by boat
Boats arrive at the port terminal just west of Saranda's seafront promenade. The centre of the promenade is about 12 minutes on foot, and the 2026 boat-party boarding points are a few minutes further along it.
If you are staying in Ksamil, the port is about 14 km away, roughly 23 minutes by car along the coast road. A local bus also links Saranda, Ksamil and Butrint: see the getting-around guide.
Remember the clock: Greece runs one hour ahead of Albania all year. A boat leaving Corfu at 10:00 Greek time is leaving at 09:00 Albanian time, and the ferry companies show every departure in local time.
Via Tirana: fly in, then south by road
Tirana International Airport (TIA) is 17 km outside the capital. Saranda is about 245 km away by road, four hours or more depending on traffic and stops; Ksamil is about 256 km.
The airport runs a regular bus to Tirana's South and North Bus Terminal, a 20 to 30 minute ride, where buses leave for cities in the south. Albania's official eTransport platform lists bus lines, stations and timetables nationwide, Saranda included: check it for the day you travel.
The airport's official taxi service, Auto Holiday Albania, also offers transfers to every city in the country; its taxis are yellow and carry the airport logo.
Tirana to Saranda
About 245 km by road, four hours or more. Ksamil: about 256 km.
Timing your arrival around the party
In 2026 the earliest starts on this site were the evening boats, boarding at 17:30 on the promenade, the Latin Pool Party at 18:30 in Ksamil and the Infinity Sunset Pool Party at 19:00 at Bougainville Bay. If one of those is your first night, aim to land in Saranda by early afternoon.
Late nights started at 23:00 or later, the Friday white party boat included, so an evening crossing still works for them. For a sunset party, check the sunset time for your date: about 19:37 in mid-August and 19:10 in early September in Saranda.
Parties mentioned
Documents and money
Albania is not part of the Schengen area, so crossing from Corfu means leaving it. Travel with the identity document your nationality requires for Albania.
Party tickets on this site are priced in euros. Albania's currency is the lek, issued by the Bank of Albania.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Corfu to Saranda?
Ionian Seaways publishes 30 to 45 minutes by hydrofoil and 55 to 70 minutes by ferry. Finikas Lines gives around 30 minutes. Crossings run every day.
Should I fly to Corfu or to Tirana?
Corfu is the shorter way in: a few minutes from the airport to the ferry terminal, then 30 to 70 minutes across the strait. From Tirana it is about 245 km by road to Saranda, four hours or more.
Can I take a rental car from Corfu to Albania?
Rent it on the Albanian side: Ionian Seaways' timetable notes that rental cars from Corfu stay in Corfu, so for driving on the Riviera, pick up your car in Albania.
Is there a time difference between Corfu and Saranda?
Yes. Greece is one hour ahead of Albania all year round, and ferry departures are shown in each port's local time.