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Trying to decide which beaches in Saranda to spend your precious beach time on? Our complete guide outlines not only the best Saranda has to offer, but also what to expect, when to visit, and where to stay.
Enjoying some sunny beach time is always high on our agenda every time we visit Saranda.
And this is an easy task as the popular Albanian beach town sees more than 300 sunny days each year!
But what we didn’t find so easy was working out which ones are worth checking out, especially with so many becoming privatised and crowded in recent years.
We’ve now visited the coastal town that sits in the heart of the Albanian Riviera three times, visiting more beaches than I can count in the process, so we’ve compiled the only Saranda Beach guide you need, which includes all of our favourite spots!
In order to keep the guide as clear and easy to follow as possible, we’ve split the best beaches into three categories: Free beaches, private beaches, and beaches near Saranda.
Important Things To Know From Our Experience
Before getting stuck into this guide, there are a couple of things I need to mention for the sake of managing expectations.
The first is that I won’t paint an overly positive fake picture and will admit that the beaches in the centre of Saranda aren’t the most postcard-worthy that the Albanian Riviera has to offer, and honestly, we much preferred the beaches in Himare overall.
That being said, there are still some stunning spots in Saranda and some of the best beaches in Albania are only a short distance from the city. And spending some (or a lot) of time at the beach is always one of our favourite things to do in Saranda!
Another important thing to be aware of before visiting is that many beaches are now privatised. This means that you need to pay for sun beds if you’d like to spend the day (or any time at all) there.
And while you wont be paying as much as you would in other European hotspots, it’s not as dirt cheap as it once was either. And we’ve noticed prices creeping up year on year.
We still found some public beaches in Saranda that we could lay our towels down and sunbathe for free, but a large portion of the coastline is now privately owned.
Where To Find The Best Beaches In Saranda – Saranda Beach Map
Our favourite beaches in Saranda are spread along the coastline of the town and the surrounding area.
However, we’ve never had a car while in Saranda so these beaches are all accessible by either walking, taking the public bus, or joining a boat tour.
I’ve pinned them all on the map below so you can get a visual idea of where they are all located.
Related Post: How To Get From Tirana To Saranda
Free Beaches In Saranda
As budget travellers, finding free beaches is always a priority for us and, even in this age of beach club development, there are thankfully still some places where you can relax for free, even in the peak summer months.
These beaches aren’t as pretty as the private ones, which have the budget to be kept pristine, but they’re not bad either. And we loved that we could just rock up to these beaches and soak up the sun on our beach towels without having to fork out 10, 20, or 30 euros!
Saranda City Beach (Plazhi Sarande)
Located right in the centre of the city and running parallel to the promenade, Saranda City Beach (also known as Saranda Public Beach) is the biggest free beach in the city.
Popular with tourists and locals alike, it’s actually split into three separate sections. All of which are small pebble beaches, have lifeguards in the summer, and are south-facing so therefore in the sun until late in the day.
One thing we loved about the city beach is that we were always just steps from the promenade’s cafes and restaurants. Or in other words, a couple of macchiatos were just steps away!
The two largest sections have showers for washing off, but bear in mind there are no changing facilities, so we always had to do a towel wrap-around job.
The Main Section
The main section is a 200 metre stretch located at the eastern end of the promenade, on the opposite side to the port.
Backed by restaurants and shops on the promenade, it’s also the most commercialised with water sports like jet skis, inflatable assault course, and kids bungee trampolines on our most recent visit.
This is the beach we spent the most time on during our second trip to Saranda when we stayed for two months while working remotely, as it was an easy walk down from our apartment.
There are also beige deck chairs and umbrellas put out for free use during the summer season, although these are first come first serve, and as we’re not early birds, they were always taken by the time we got there around 10am.
Alternatively, you can rent umbrellas for 500 ALL if you would like some shade.
This is the only section with public toilets nearby, opposite Rox Cafe Bar, but honestly we never ventured down the stairs to them as we questioned whether we’d make it back out!
The Middle Section
On the other side of the small Limani Marina is the middle section of the public beach.
Featuring a no-frills concrete pontoon diving platform, this section is backed by a wall with three access stairs.
This was actually our favourite part of the city beach as it was narrower and shorter with a less chaotic atmosphere, which we preferred.
It became one of our habits to grab a coffee from Hashtag2, one of our favourite cafes in Saranda, in the late afternoon and head down to this bit of beach until the sun dropped behind the port-side apartment buidlings.
Port side Section
The smallest section is located at the port side of the promenade.
Backed by Saranda’s small theme park and Ferris wheel, there’s also a swimming lane area here.
This was the part we spent the least amout of time on, but it’s the most convenient if you’re staying in one of the apartments or hotels in the port-side of town.
Related Post: Saranda Travel Guide: Things To Do, Day Trips, And More
Public Rock Beach
After arriving in Saranda, we immediately searched for free beaches on Google Maps, and we came across Public Rock Beach, located on a small peninsula to the west of Saranda.
This small rocky area is very wild and rustic with absolutely no facilities around.
However, if you’re happy with the European style of finding a simple spot to lay your towel down and soak in the sun, this makes a perfect escape from the crowds at the busier beaches.
There are several little sections that you can lay your beach towel down on. Some of these have pebbles, some with flat rock, and one sandy spot which is the most comfortable for getting in the water if you don’t have water shoes.
There were only a handful of other people here when we visited and we found a nice little pebble cove to swim from, but as we went in for a swim, we found out the hard way that the pebbles are large and uncomfortable underfoot!
However, the positive of this is that the pebbles make this beach one of the best and clearest spots for snorkelling in Saranda.
We walked here from the centre of the promenade, which took us 40 minutes.
We looked up the directions on Google Maps and followed the main road west from Saranda (Rruga Idriz Alidhima) before taking the left-hand turn directly before the cemetery, following the gravel road and staying left at the fork.
You can also drive here but the last section is very uneven so take care, especially if you have a rental.
An alternative option is to hire a kayak in Saranda and paddle your way along.
We actually did this on one of our final days in Saranda, renting from What’s SUP Saranda, which was more fun than when we’d walked it!
This makes it quite far to venture for a beach day, especially if carrying an umbrella, snacks, and other beach day essentials, so we’d only recommend it if you’re up for an adventure or looking for some of the best snorkelling in Saranda.
Unnamed Secret Beach
With a similar rustic style to Public Rock Beach, we found another public beach located at the opposite end of Saranda, next to Hotel Visad.
There’s no official name for this tiny untouched beach, but we decided to check it out after visiting the nearby Mango Beach. And what we found after walking down the unassuming access track was a tiny gem with bright white pebbles and insanely crystal clear water.
It’s yet another great spot for snorkelling but, while the water was calm on our visit, it is very open to the wind and gets chopy if it picks up.
We walked here from Mango Beach just along the road, but first took the public bus heading towards Ksamil from Saranda centre, and got off at Planet Market. From here it’s an easy walk back towards Ami Mar Hotel, and follow the road down to Hotel Visad where we found the gravel path down to the beach.
However, I should mention that this was via Planet Supermarket and Pasticeri Zyka where we picked up some snacks and fresh byrek that we took down for a beach picnic. So you don’t need to worry about finding food and drinks nearby!
Unfortunately, the only thing that taints this little beach was the rubbish strewn on the bank behind the beach. It wouldn’t stop us visiting, but if tidied up, it would add the missing magic to this little secret spot.
Bistrica Beach
The final free beach that we recommend is Bistrica Beach, which has two sections and is split by the estuary of the Bistrica River that flows down from the mountains.
After comparing the two, we preferred the northern section as not only was it just a nicer beach, but it also had a unique sandbar with the estruary on one side and the Ionian Sea on the other. And this is where we joined the other couples and families, although thankfully it wasn’t too busy.
There is also a small private section owned by El Primero Hotel with a beach bar and sun beds, but we found plenty of space in the public area.
There is also a campsite right behind the beach too right behind the beach which looked like an awesome spot to park up with sea views!
At this point, we realised crystal clear water with a pebble seabed is pretty much guaranteed in Saranda, but what really stood out to us at Bistrica Beach was the double view, with the mountains of Corfu in one direction and the developed centre of Saranda in the other!
It takes about an hour to walk here from the promenade, so we decided on the easy option of catching the bus along to Planet market again. And from here, it took us just five minutes to reach El Primero Hotel, where we found the access road down to the beach.
Best Private Beaches and Beach Clubs In Saranda
We’ve spent a lot of time on the public beaches in Saranda, but that’s not to say we haven’t indulged in the comfort of luxury loungers, on-site bar and restaurant, and fancier vibe that Saranda’s beach clubs offer.
We’ve been to our fair share of these too, especially on more recent visits after we’d transitioned to boujee backpackers.
But I haven’t included every single private beach in Saranda in our list. Instead, these are the ones we think are worth it after visiting them for ourselves.
Travel tip: The beach clubs in Saranda are only open in the official summer season between June and September. Most were closed when we were there in May and October, and in 2024, some even closed in September as bad weather ended the season early.
Plazhi Era
Located in the Kodra area in the east of Saranda, Plazhi Era is our favourite private beach due to the intimate and classy atmosphere we experienced. It’s on the smaller side with fewer loungers than other places, but the elegance really shines through!
Part of the hotel Vila Era, the beach is a small section of a wider bay which has been split into several private beaches. And although we were quoted some slightly lower prices at some of the others, we felt Plazhi Era is worth paying more for as we loved its chic and luxurious vibe.
Two sun beds and a parasol cost around 2000 ALL (20 euros)in the summer, but the prices come down towards the end of the season.
As well as a restaurant, toilets, and beachfront bar, we also appreciated the cushioned loungers, wooden walkways, and several beach cabanas.
I’d recommend arriving earlier rather than later in the day as Plazhi Era is on the small side, meaning there are fewer loungers available. However, this does make for a nice and intimate atmosphere.
We walked here from the promenade by heading towards the Port of Saranda and continuing until we saw the sign for Vila Era outside Cafe Vence. From here it’s just a short walk down to the beach and this took us about 20 minutes in total.
Parking at the beach is reserved for guests of the hotel only, so if you’re driving you’ll need to pay to park in one of the nearby car parks, such as Inferno Parking.
If I could only choose one place to lie back and sip on an Aperol Spritz in between cooling dips in the sea, it would be Plazhi Era without a doubt!
Mucobega Beach
On our last trip to Saranda, we also enjoyed a beach day at Mucobega Beach, attached to a hotel of the same name, thanks to the pristinely manicured white sand beach.
Yes, you heard me right, a sandy beach in Saranda! No water shoes needed.
However, if sandy feet grind your gears, there are also plenty of sun beds overlooking the sheltered bay on different levels with stairs for sand-free access to the water.
As well as the cabana platform, on-site restaurant, and thick lounger cushions that gave Plazhi Era a run for its money, we were grateful that the music wasn’t overbearingly loud. It struck the perfect balance between a relaxing and feel-good atmosphere.
Oh and did I mention the clear turquoise water that will immediately invite you in for a swim!
Located in a quiet area in the western outskirts of Saranda, away from the town centre bustle, Mucobega Beach is a great spot for families and couples alike!
Next Read: The Best Beaches In Ksamil – Really The Maldives Of Europe?
Mango Beach
After reading some mixed reviews on Google Maps, we decided to go and check out Mango Beach for ourselves. And although we were there in September and not peak summer, we were pleasantly surprised.
With bigger pebbles than other Saranda beaches and views looking back to the developed bay, Mango Beach had some of the clearest water we saw in the city.
As with the other pebble beaches, it was a little uncomfortable getting into the water barefoot, and I had a few wobbles, but once I was floating on my back, the water was just perfect.
We forgot to bring our snorkels with us which, once we arrived, immediately kicked ourselves for as the water clarity looked insane!
As our visit was in late September, the atmosphere was definitely more subdued as the season was coming to a close. However, reports from the busier months state that the music can be pretty loud and lively, so it may not be the most relaxing choice in July and August.
There’s all the usual beach club facilities here, including toilets that were clean enough, although lacking a toilet seat which we found as a common occurrence in the Balkans.
Like with Bistrica and the Unamed beaches, the easiest way to get here from the promenade is to catch the public bus and get off at Planet Market. This is what we did and then followed the nearby road down to the beach, where we saw the big sign for Mango Luxury Resort.
Note: After Mango Beach, we went to check out nearby Flamingo Beach. However, as well as now being renamed as Saranda International Beach, we were made to feel unwelcome by the staff before even stepping foot on the beach. We didn’t even get to ask the price of the sun beds, so from our experience, we can’t recommend Flamingo Beach.
Lost Seaside Saranda
A frontrunner for the fanciest beach club in Saranda, we came to Lost Seaside as a treat to splash on the ultimate boujee beach day!
Located on the southern coast of the city, there’s not actually a beach here as such.
Rather, the best way to describe it is a raised beach club with multiple levels of sun beds and cabanas built into the coast with water access. It may lack an actual beach area, but still, there’s no denying that this place is an absolute vibe!
You can’t bring in your own food and drink, but there is a restaurant on site that you can order from.
Considering the 3000+ ALL lounger cost for two people, the only disappointments we had here were that the sun beds were quite basic and just canvas without thick cushions and the pool area is reserved for guests only. Ok the second one is fair but it was a tease to have such a beautiful pool so close yet out of reach!
It’s not the best value for money in our opinion, which is why we don’t rank it higher, but we still enjoyed the classy and upbeat vibe. However, next time we’d upgrade to one of the cabanas, which cost 10,000 ALL (100 EUR) in summer, for the ultimate experience!
Best Beaches Near Saranda
Some of Saranda’s best beaches are not in the city itself, but just along the coast.
All of these were close enough for us to visit on the bus or on a boat tour, but if you have a car, then it will give you the ultimate freedom to explore.
Therefore, these beaches are all perfect day trips from Saranda.
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Mirror Beach (Plazhi I Pasqyrave)
Starting this section with one of our favourites in this entire guide, Mirror Beach (also known as Plazhi I Pasqyrave or Pasqyra Beach) is a sensational spot close to Saranda.
Located 9km south of the city, on the stretch of coast between Saranda and Ksamil, this beach has recently been handed the title of having the bluest water in the world! And after visiting a few times ourselves, we can see why!
Not only is the water marvellous shades of turquoise and blue, but the magnificent curved cliff-face towering in the corner of the beach caught our immediate attention the very first time we set foot on the beach!
However, despite having it almost to ourselves when we first visited in October, it’s no secret spot in summer, and renting sun beds is mandatory as it’s now privately owned.
But even though it was still pretty busy the second time we went in September, we were still able to appreciate natural beauty of the beach, and it became our favourite escape to get out of town!
You’ll also find a restaurant, toilets, showers, changing facilities, and a couple of old bunkers.
While there is a car park behind the beach, and two overflow car parks nearby, we jumped on the Saranda to Ksamil bus, which dropped us at the start of the single-track road to Mirror Beach. From here, it was around a 20-minute walk along a single-track road to the beach.
Read The Full Guide: All You Need To Know For Visiting Mirror Beach (Plazhi I Pasqyrave)
Shpella E Pellumbave Beach
Just to the south of Mirror Beach is Shpella E Pellumbave and, I have to say, each of the coves on this stretch of coast are magnificent (and privatised)!
With a narrow strip of sand beach that transitions to fine pebbles at the shoreline, there are two rows of loungers to rent and a restaurant built into the magnificent steep cliff-face overlooking the beach.
It reminded us of Filikuri Beach up in Himare, except with much easier access!
We definitely felt a more lively atmosphere here compared to Mirror Beach with louder music ,
but the rustic loungers and colourful parasols are all of the same quality. There are also toilets and basic showers for washing off here too.
As well as the main strip of beach, there is another tiny cove which is designated as a free beach. If you can find some space, it’s a perfect little spot for those who just want to lay their towel down and catch some rays.
You can actually walk around the coast between the two at low tide, but it’s more of a chest-deep wade or swim when the tide is in.
So we followed the inland route on our two visits to the beach which takes about 30 minutes from the bus stop (the same one to get to Mirror Beach).
There are a couple of car parks just above the beach, before the 15-minute stepped path down to the final entrance stairway.
When we peered down these near-vertical stairs on our first visit, we realised just how steep the cliff is!
Read The Full Guide: A Short Guide To Shpella E Pellumbave Beach
Pulebardha Beach
The third beach we visited along this section of coastline was Pulebardha Beach, which sits to the south of Shpella E Pellumbave.
Our visit to Pulebardha was actually part of a beach-hopping day where we caught the bus from Saranda and walked to Mirror Beach, before hiking around to Shpella E Pellumbave, and then finally on to Pulebardha Beach.
We hiked along the trail which began at the fork in the road just before the descent to Shpella E Pellumbave, following the route on Maps.me.
Finally, we made it to Pulebardha Beach which also has a steep cliff backdrop and magical turquoise water, but we didn’t get the same wow factor as we did at the first two.
However, the part that did trump the other two was the restaurant. Overlooking the beach in the northern corner, next to the access stairs, the sea views from the restaurant terrace were phenomenal, and the quality of food they served was much better too. So, if beachfront dining is a priority, that’s where Pulebardha wins!
We didn’t stay too long as we arrived later in the day, and followed the direct track that leads back to the main road (not retracing our steps), catching the bus back to Saranda from there.
Note: Monastery Beach is also mentioned on many blogs but it has been completely closed off for a couple of years due to new developments happening there. Whether it will open again remains to be seen, but currently there are security officers who will send you on your way if you try and visit. So we can’t recommend Monastery Beach.
Krorëza Beach
We took some fantastic day trips from Saranda, but if we had to choose a favourite, it has to be our brilliant boat trip to Kroreza Beach!
This long, secluded, and relatively unspoiled pebble bay to the north of Saranda is surrounded by rolling hills, large rocks and the endless blue of the Ionian Sea. But it’s the sense of adventure that we really loved about it.
The adventure isn’t only in the boat ride to get there though, as we left the sunbathers behind to explore to the south, clambering over rocks just to see where it would take us.
Just like when we took a boat to Grama Bay in the north of the Albanian Riviera, we really felt like we’d escaped the world for a few hours!
However, we were really lucky when we visited at the end of the summer season, as there were only a few other boats there and it felt like a hidden gem. Thankfully, it wasn’t like July and August when all the lively pirate-themed ships all anchor up!
Even with its remote location, Kroreza Beach hasn’t completely escaped development, and there are a couple of beach bars which have sprung up to accommodate the boat trips as well as sections set up with sun beds and umbrellas to rent.
Just don’t expect anything as fancy as the more luxurious beach clubs back in Saranda!
Secure Your Boat Trip Spot!
Whether you want to go on a Catamaran or join a group tour, reserve in advance!
Kakome Beach
Just before our boat tour arrived at Kroreza Beach, we made a brief stop at Kakome Beach, another isolated bay tucked into a little sheltered bay.
What impressed us the most here was actually the view of the beach from our boat. As we anchored up at a swimming spot a few hundred metres from shore, I found myself grabbing my camera rather than my snorkel, as the curved beach backed by towering hills that sloped into a valley was a picture-perfect scene!
Like Kroreza Beach, Kakome is best accessed by boat, but depending on the tour, some take you right up to the beach, whereas others just anchor up and let you jump in for a quick snorkel before moving on to Kroreza Beach.
Our trip was like the latter, but we were quite happy as we preferred Kroreza anyway.
Edon Bina Beach
2026 Update: This beach was permanently closed throughout 2025 but I’ll leave the information here as I imagine it will reopen again at some point, albeit probably with some developments.
While Shpella E Pellumbave lies to the south of Mirror Beach, Edon Bina Beach (also known as Brilliant Beach) sits to the north.
The three of these beaches are all accessed via the same turning on the main road between Saranda and Ksamil, but Edon Bina is the first and easiest to get to.
You can park your car at the top of the hill and walk down to the beach from here, don’t try to drive down as the track is terrible and there’s no car park.
Again, this beach is private and the owner has a reputation of being firm, which is reinforced by a big sign with the private beach’s rules in the car park.
Unlike the other nearby beaches, the owner completely closes off the beach in the off-season, and you’ll be told to leave if you try to access it. We were told to leave in late September, when the season had finished early due to the weather.
However, we managed to get a great view of the beach from above, which is when we decided it deserves a place on this list. The small pebble cove had clear water which looked to die for and the rocky southern corner looked primed for snorkelling!
Best Time To Visit The Beaches In Saranda
Seasonality has a big effect on the experience at Saranda’s beaches and this may be an unpopular opinion, but we don’t think July and August are still the best time to visit Saranda’s beaches. The peak of summer may guarantee sunny days and roasting temperatures perfect for swimming, but the growing popularity of Albania is bringing bigger crowds year on year.
This means that the beaches themselves are unbelievably busy, and the traffic to get there verges on chaotic.
Therefore, we are in complete agreement that the best time of year is June and September.
These shoulder months provide the best balance as the crowds aren’t as crazy and the heat isn’t as unbearable, but the weather is still fantastic, the private beach facilities are open, and there is still that upbeat summer holiday atmosphere, which makes us feel so good!
We also loved Saranda’s beaches in both May and October too. The weather was more of a gamble, especially in May, but we enjoyed not having to pay for any sun beds (even on private beaches) and it was nice to have a break from the constant music.
From November to April, it might be very quiet but it’s just too cold for us to enjoy the beach.
Best Hotels and Apartments On The Beach
While you’re never that far from the beach in Saranda, finding hotels with direct beach access was actually more difficult than I thought. This is because the centre is dominated by the promenade and public beach, while the coastline on either side contains a lot of rocky sections.
If accommodation with direct beach access is a priority for your Saranda trip, these are our top recommendations:
- Buzë Boutique Hotel features a private pebble beach, a swimming pool and a sunbathing terrace offering bright rooms with balconies overlooking the sea.
- Mucabega Hotel is the ultimate choice for anyone who prefers a sandy beach – which is difficult to come by in a city (and country) that is mostly made up of a pebbled coastline.
- Orchids Hotel in the south of Saranda has its own private beach with comfortable padded loungers. There’s also an on-site restaurant on the waterfront terrace which is perfect for a sunset dinner or cocktail.
FAQs
Are There Any Sandy Beaches In Saranda?
Mucobega Beach and Shpella E Pellumbave are the only sandy beaches in Saranda. The rest all have small or large pebbles.
Can You Swim In Saranda?
Yes, Saranda’s beaches are great for swimming and cooling off and the main city beach even has lifeguards on duty in the summer.
Do you need water shoes?
Water shoes are not essential in Saranda and we managed without but they would definitely make getting in and out of the water more comfortable!
Where’s The Best Place To Snorkel In Saranda?
The best places to snorkel in Saranda are at the Public Rock Beach and Mango Beach as the pebble seabeds mean great visibility.
To Finish
Whether you’re looking for a fancy beach club or a simple spot to lay your towel down, there are plenty of beaches to choose from
But don’t forget to peel yourself away from the beach to visit the likes of the Blue Eye, Butrint National Park, and Lekursi Castle too!
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