Written by Rita Serra | Published Oct 21, 2026

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The ferry office in Saranda is close enough to my apartment that I’ve walked over and bought a ticket on my way to the port.

I’ve taken the Saranda-to-Corfu ferry more times than I can count, in every season, so I know this route best. If you’re planning the crossing, here’s how it actually works, in both directions.

Saranda to Corfu Ferry at a Glance

Crossing time	About 30 minutes on a fast boat, around an hour on a regular ferry
One-way ticket	Roughly €15 to €40, depending on the company, boat and season
Sailings in summer	Several a day
Sailings in winter	One a day in each direction, from around mid-November to early March
Main companies	Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways
Time difference	Corfu is one hour ahead of Albania

Which Ferry Company to Use

I’ve used both Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways, and honestly, I pick whichever fits my time or my budget that day.

What matters more is which boat you’re on. I always try to get the fast ferry, which takes about 30 minutes.

Sometimes I end up on the slower ferry, which takes about an hour. It’s a little cheaper, there’s more room to spread out, and you can sit outside if you want. I still prefer the fast one.

Saranda to Corfu Ferry Schedule in Summer and Winter

The schedule changes a lot depending on when you go.

In summer, there are several sailings a day in each direction, on both the fast and the slower ferries. In spring and fall, there are fewer, usually a few a day.

In winter, from around mid-November to early March, it drops to one sailing a day in each direction. The boat leaves Corfu in the morning, crosses to Saranda, then heads back to Corfu, usually mid-morning.

Schedules change every season, so always check the current times on the ferry company’s website before you plan anything around them.

Wind can also delay or cancel sailings, mostly in winter. It’s never happened on any of my crossings, but it does happen. If you have a flight to catch in Corfu, give yourself some breathing room.

How to Buy Your Ferry Tickets

You can always buy your tickets online, and that’s what I usually do. It’s just easier.

In Saranda, you can also buy them in person. There are several ticket shops around the port, and the ferry office is close enough to my apartment that I’ve walked over to buy one.

If you buy in person, bring your passport. They won’t sell you a ticket without it.

Bring some cash too. Some of the ticket shops take cards, but not all of them.

In summer, I book the day before, and I rarely leave it until the day of. The popular times sell out fast, especially for the fast ferry.

In winter, with only one sailing a day, booking ahead is still smart so you know you have a spot.

What to Expect at Saranda Port

Saranda port sits at the end of the promenade, so it’s an easy walk from most of the town center.

Checking in is usually easy, even in summer.

There are normally one or two people checking passports. Once they’ve checked yours, you walk into the port area and find your ferry.

In summer, the lines get much longer. Get there at least 30 minutes early, and more in peak season.

Passport Control in Corfu and the New EU Entry System

Passport control in Corfu has changed since April 2026, when the EU’s new Entry/Exit System fully launched.

Instead of just getting a stamp, you scan your passport and your fingerprints at the border. I’ve crossed since the change, and it’s a quick, simple process.

If you’re American, or from anywhere else outside the EU, the first time you enter the Schengen area under the new system, your fingerprints and photo are registered. If Corfu is your first stop in Europe, that happens here.

One more thing that matters if you’re spending a long time in Albania. Albania isn’t in the Schengen area, but Greece is.

The day you arrive in Corfu, your Schengen days start counting. Americans get 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined. Keep that in mind if you’re bouncing between Albania and Europe.

Arriving in Corfu

After passport control in Corfu, you’ll exit the building and head out to the parking lot.

The taxis wait right there, so if you want one, that’s where you’ll find it.

To take the city bus, walk past the taxis and down the parking lot. You’ll see a covered bus stop where other people are waiting.

The bus you want is line 15. It goes into the city center first, and its last stop is the airport, so you don’t need to change buses. If you’re staying in Corfu Town, get off in the center. If you’re flying out, stay on until the end.

I think it runs roughly every hour, maybe more often in summer. The fare is under €2, and you can tap your card to pay, so don’t worry if you don’t have euros yet.

Taking the Ferry from Corfu to Saranda

Going back the other way is mostly the same, with one big catch: buying your ticket in person in Corfu is a hassle.

The ferry ticket offices aren’t inside the port. They’re on the road outside the old port, about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the terminal where the Saranda ferry leaves.

You’ll see a few small offices at the port itself, but those sell tickets for other routes. I have no idea why the Saranda ticket offices are so far away, but that’s just how it is.

If you show up at the port hoping to catch the next ferry, you’ll have to walk to the office, buy your ticket, and walk back. That’s a stressful way to start the trip.

So book your return online. It saves you all of that.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early in Corfu too. The lines are sometimes longer than in Saranda, and it’s usually more crowded.

Also remember that Corfu is one hour ahead of Albania. Ferry times out of Corfu are listed in Greek time.

Can You Do a Day Trip from Saranda to Corfu?

In summer, yes. I’ve done it more than once.

I have a friend who lives in Corfu, so sometimes I stay a night or longer. Other times I’ve had to pop over for something and come back the same day, and it’s never been a problem.

In winter, skip the day trip. With only one ferry a day, you’ll arrive in Corfu with no boat back that day, so plan to spend at least one night.

Can You Take a Car on the Saranda to Corfu Ferry?

Yes, but only on the regular ferries. The fast ferries are too small to carry cars.

I haven’t taken a car across myself, but friends of mine have. You buy your passenger ticket as usual, then a separate ticket for the vehicle.

Car space is limited, so book early. Check that a car-carrying sailing runs on your date, especially in the off-season.

If your car isn’t registered in Greece, you’ll need the right insurance to bring it into the country. My friends had to buy it at the border. Check with your insurer before you go so you know exactly what you need.

Renting a car in Corfu and bringing it to Albania usually isn’t possible. Ionian Seaways says it won’t carry rental cars from Corfu to Albania, and most Greek rental contracts only cover Greece.

My Tips for the Saranda to Corfu Ferry

Book your return ticket online. Buying it in person in Corfu means a 10- to 15-minute walk from the port to the ticket office, and that’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to catch a ferry.

If you know when you’re coming back, buy a round-trip ticket. Sometimes it works out a little cheaper than two one-way tickets.

If your plans change, go to the ferry office before your sailing leaves. They can usually switch you to a different time.

If you get seasick, take something before you board. The fast ferry really does go fast. I get carsick, and while the ferry has never made me sick, even the slower one sometimes leaves me feeling a little off.

Pharmacies in Saranda and Corfu sell seasickness tablets, and they’re not expensive.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early to beat the worst of the lines, and bring a bottle of water.

Saranda to Corfu Ferry FAQs