Saranda: The Jewel of the Albanian Riviera

Albania is blessed with a long and picturesque Adriatic coastline and one of the top vacation locations on this coast is the city of Saranda.

Today Saranda has a population of about 30,000. For Albanians it is the number one resort area for summer vacations. As the city is situated near the Greek border and facing the Island of Corfu, it also draws a large number of foreign tourists as well, who take advantage of the daily ferry service connecting Saranda and Corfu.

In Albania this city is know as the town of honeymooners as it is a popular place for newly wed couples to spend their honeymoon.

At present, Saranda is home to mixed population of ethnic Greeks and Albanians. The history of the city dates back to the Ilyrian, Greek and Roman eras. Saranda is located near the Illyrian city of Onchesmos and Onchesmos was the name for Saranda in the pre-Byzantine era. The city was subsequently renamed Agioi Saranda, or Forty Saints in Greek and retains a derivative of this name to the present day (though during the Italian occupation of World War II Mussolini renamed it after his daughter and called it Porto Edda).

Due to its long history there are plenty of historical and archaeological sites to visit in his area. The ruins of the fourth century city are preserved and there are also mosaics in a district museum as well as the preserved ruins of the Christian monastery, Forty Saints, from which the present name of the city has been derived. In addition, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint is located a short distance from Saranda.

As you can expect it is a great place for swimming during the months May through September. The surrounding hills are also pleasant for hiking, if you avoid the hot months of June, July and August.

You can choose from a large range of hotel accommodations. They start with small bed and breakfast hostels and go right up to luxury hotels. As tourism grows in Albania, Saranda is sure to play an important role in providing a memorable summer vacation locale for the new visitors to this country.