Lëkurës
Lëkurësi Castle
Lëkurësi Castle was built in 1537 under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to guard the port and the sea and land routes near Sarandë. Its surviving walls look out over the town, the coastline and the Ionian Sea.
Things to see · Sarandë
Butrint
Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose remains span more than 2,000 years, from Greek temples and a theatre to a large early 6th-century baptistery and Ottoman forts. The national park around it takes in lakes, lagoons, forest and coast, and its wetlands are a Ramsar site.
SarandëTrip outside the city
Check opening hours, access and prices before setting off.
Read the official guide ↗BEFORE YOU GO
Practical information
- Getting there
- At the southern end of the SH81, past Ksamil. City buses from central Sarandë run via Ksamil to the entrance; by car or taxi, expect heavy traffic in high season, especially around sunset.
- Distance
- About 14 km from central Sarandë, as the crow flies
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- All year round
- Entry
- Entrance fee
- Coordinates
- 39.74611, 20.02028
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More to see in Sarandë
Kodra e 40 Shenjtorëve
Monastery of the Forty Saints
The Monastery of the Forty Saints dates from the medieval period and was an important spiritual centre for the local community; Sarandë takes its name from it. It stands on the hill of the same name, above the town.
Sarandë
Old Synagogue Ruins
The ruins of Sarandë’s old synagogue are a trace of the Jewish community that lived and worshipped here centuries ago. As they lie within the town, they fit easily into a walk through Sarandë’s religious and cultural history.
Butrint
Ali Pasha Castle
This Ottoman-era fortress near Butrint is tied to Ali Pasha of Tepelena, who used it as a strategic defensive post. It stands where the Vivari Channel meets the sea, and its sturdy walls look out over the coast and the calm Ionian.
Kakome · Rrethinat e Sarandës
St Mary’s Monastery, Kakome
The Monastery of Shën Mëria (St Mary) at Kakome goes back to the 16th–17th century and is a distinctive example of Albanian religious architecture. It sits near Kakome beach, about 10 km from Sarandë, so it pairs well with a day at the bay.
Mesopotam · Finiq
St Nicholas Monastery, Mesopotam
Shën Kolli (St Nicholas) Monastery near Mesopotam dates from the reign of Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (1042–1054); its four-domed church is among the largest Byzantine churches in Albania. Look for the eagle, dragons and lion on the apse.