How to Take the Ferry From Corfu to Albania
Did you know you can take a 30-minute ferry in Greece and end up in Albania? This country is way more affordable than Greece and just as beautiful.
In this post, I’ll explain how to take the ferry from Corfu to Albania. I actually flew into Corfu Airport, which is closer to the southern part of Albania than flying into Tirana Airport. I spent a few days in Corfu first (you can find my Corfu itinerary here). But you can go straight to Albania if you want. Save my Albania Itinerary for ideas on where to go!
The airport was just a 10-minute taxi to Corfu Port, and before I knew it, I was in Sarandë, one of Europe’s most underrated spots. Such an easy way to visit two countries in one trip! But there were a few things I wish I knew before going. So don’t make my mistakes and read on for the full low-down.
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How to Book Ferry Tickets to or from Corfu/Sarande
I used the app Omio to easily book my ferry ticket to Albania from Corfu. Just search your route and pick your date/time, that’s it! This app shows you all the ferry options from multiple companies all in one place so you can easily see which one to pick. It also lets you select if you want a ferry with a vehicle option or not. Omio makes it super easy and convenient to book ferry tickets, open up your boarding pass when the time comes, and check for updates.
You will find that 3 main ferry companies will operate to and from Albania. That’s Ionian Seaways, Finikas Lines, and Albanian Luxury Ferries. All of them are reputable companies to choose from.
Corfu Port Location
Address: Eth. Antistaseos 24, Kerkira 491 00, Greece
Sarandë Port Location
Address: Rruga Mitat Hoxha, Sarandë, Albania
Tips for taking the ferry from Corfu to Albania
How Much does the Ferry from Corfu to Sarande cost?
Ferry costs between €12 and €30 one-way. The slower ferries are cheaper. If you want to bring your vehicle on board, it’s an additional €60.
How early do you need to get there?
I recommend arriving at least 1 hour before departure, especially during the busy summer season. Since you’re crossing an international border from Greece into Albania, you’ll need to go through passport control and customs before boarding.
This process can take extra time depending on how many people are traveling, and it’s better to be early than risk missing the ferry. If you’re traveling with luggage, you’ll also want to allow time for check-in or bag screening, depending on the ferry company. I used Albanian Luxury Ferries and there was no bag screening.
Going from Corfu Airport to Corfu Port
If you’re flying into Corfu Airport and going directly to the ferry port, you can step outside the airport, turn left, and head to the taxi stand.
The taxi ride should cost €20, and they do accept cards.
The airport is super close to the port – only a 10-minute drive. Make sure to tell your taxi driver to take you to the port for ferries going to Albania, as it’s a different drop-off than the local ferries.
It took me 45 minutes from landing to being out of Corfu Airport with no delays. So I’d say book your ferry ticket for 2-3 hours after your flight arrives.
Can you bring a vehicle on the ferry from Greece to Albania?
Ferries do allow vehicles on board, but things get tricky when renting a car in Greece and traveling to another country like Albania.
Most Greek rental agencies do not allow cross-border travel. I researched this extensively as it would have been nice to rent a car and bring it to Albania. Both countries can properly be explored by car.
What I found was that it’s near impossible to do it from Corfu. The reason is that the car rental insurance covers travel in Greece and not in another country.
Only Avis allows cross-border travel, and only if you call them 1 week ahead to arrange it. However, when I called, they told me that the Corfu rental offices don’t allow the cross-border option, and I could only do it from a rental agency in Thessaloniki, which did not help me at all.
So what I did was rent a car in Corfu and return it before I took the ferry. Then, I rented a car at the Sarande port. This was actually better for me as I ended up not returning to Corfu, and I flew out of Tirana Airport. I returned my vehicle at Tirana Airport. Although there was a €140 surcharge to do this (at my specific rental agency), I found it more convenient.
If you do really want to take your vehicle on the ferry, your best bet is to start in Albania. Albania has looser rules than Greece for crossing the border. You still need to request ahead to do this and typically you will be charged an extra fee to cross the border. Expect it to be €50 or more.
I used Discover Cars to find a good deal on my car rental and also opted to get their full insurance protection.
What to expect on the ferry from Corfu to Albania
So here’s the exact process on how to take the ferry from Corfu to Albania.
You will arrive at Corfu Port (use this location) and find signs to Albania. There is a small snack bar to grab some snacks before you depart. One hour before boarding, check-in will open.
From here, you can show your tickets (I’d recommend booking them a few days in advance with Omio). You will then go through Passport Control. It was pretty quick for me. After that, you’ll be waiting in a room or outside until your ferry departs.
Be sure to check the timings as we had a ferry depart before ours and we started walking to the ferry to get on, only to find out it wasn’t our ferry!
Onboard, show your ticket to the crew, store your luggage, settle into your seat, and grab snacks if you want. There’s no assigned seating.
When you get to Albania, you will need to go through passport control once more.
The views were stunning, and before you know it, you will be in Albania. It’s seriously the most underrated place in Europe and way cheaper than Greece or Italy.
Just note: a lot of the time, the ferry departs late. Ours was one hour late, but maybe you will be luckier.
Are the ferries smooth sailing?
Yes — the ferry ride from Corfu to Sarandë is usually smooth and quick. The journey takes between 30 minutes (by high-speed ferry) and 1 hour and 10 minutes (by car/passenger ferry). The waters in the Ionian Sea along this route are generally calm, especially during the spring to early autumn months.
However, like any sea journey, conditions can vary slightly depending on the weather. Try to avoid very windy days when traveling on the ferry. On these days, you will feel motion, especially on the smaller, faster ferries. And it can be scary if there are high winds, as the boat will rock. If you’re prone to seasickness, it’s a good idea to bring motion sickness tablets. If you book the slower ferries that accept a vehicle, you will have a smoother journey.
Can you bring pets?
Yes, you can bring pets free of charge on board the ferry. However, you will need to bring your pet’s passport and vaccinations.
Can you take a day trip from Corfu to Sarande?
It’s definitely doable to do a day trip from Corfu to Sarande. Check the Omio app for the timetable to be sure, but I’ve seen that the first ferry leaves typically at 5 am and the last ferry back to Corfu is at 8 pm.
Just note that there’s a lot to see and do in Albania. I spent a whole 10 days there and didn’t see it all. But if you just want to see the coast for a bit, you can do it as a day trip.
You will need to take a taxi or bus to places like Ksamil if you’re exploring outside of Sarande.
Here’s what I’d recommend doing in one day:
- Sarandë’s seaside promenade
- Ksamil beaches (& don’t miss dining at Guvat Restaurant)
- Butrint National Park (UNESCO site)
- Lekursi Castle for incredible views and a cocktail
If you have a week in Albania, don’t miss:
Gjirokaster, Dinner at Zoe Hora in Dhermi, Dhermi Beach, the beaches in Himare, the town of Berat, and the capital of Albania: Tirana. If you have even more time, consider exploring the beautiful North, which boasts stunning mountain scenes.
Corfu to Sarande checklist
✔️ Ferry costs between €12 to €30 one-way. The slower ferries are cheaper. If you want to bring your vehicle on board, it’s an additional €60.
✔️ Arrive ~1 hour early for passport control
✔️ Motion sickness? Take a bigger ferry (they also take cars) and pack Dramamine
✔️ Renting a car? Most Greek companies don’t allow border crossing — it’s easier to rent one in Albania
✔️ You can bring pets on the ferry for free
For more reading, you may also like:
🇦🇱 Albania 10 Day Itinerary
🍴Best Restaurants in Albania
🇬🇷 Corfu 7 Day Itinerary
