Where to Stay in Saranda: Best Areas and Hotels 2026

Considered the capital of the Albanian Riviera, Saranda isn’t big, but the accommodation options are spread out. Many are nowhere near the centre and others are up steep hills.

Before I went to Saranda the first time it was hard to figure out the best location to base myself for a month. Luckily I ended up in Kodra and not up a steep hill or way out of the centre.

Unless you have a car or want a more remote location, the best areas to stay in are Kodra or the town centre.

Saranda is built on a hillside, and the further out you go from the water, the steeper it gets. You might choose a hotel that is close to the centre, but if it’s not on the first horizontal road – it’s probably going to be up a steep hill.

Where to Stay in Saranda

The best areas to stay in Saranda are Kodra and the centre, by the promenade. These areas are within walking distance of all the amenities: shops, restaurants, cafes, waterfront promenade, nightlife, and the main attractions of Saranda.

Kodra

I stayed in Kodra for a month in 2024, and it’s always my first choice when looking for accommodation in Saranda.

The top half of Kodra is very local – lots of low rise apartment buildings, grocery stores, markets and neighbourhood cafes. The bottom half closer to the water has more new condo buildings and hotels.

The main street Rruga Idriz Alidhima runs across the top of Kodra. It is the most popular retail area for locals. There’s lots of cafes, fast food spots and shops along here.

Kodra is very central. You can walk to the promenade and several Saranda beaches in 10-15 minutes depending on where you are.

My top choices in Kodra, Saranda are:

• Yacht Premium Hotel: A very nice 4 star hotel behind the port with unobstructed water views. Excellent location 500 metres from the promenade. Rooms are large, modern and have balconies. Doubles start from $85 USD, including breakfast and parking. Wonderful location close to all amenities, including the beach.
• Vila Era Beach: Lovely small beach front hotel on the nicest beach in the centre. Simple but updated rooms starting at $70 USD, including breakfast, beach loungers and umbrellas. Just 800 metres from the promenade and right on the water. There’s a great beach bar too! Amazing location on the beach and close to everything.
• Hotel Olsi: Small boutique property on a quiet street located 600 metres from the promenade. Comfortable and updated rooms start at $40 USD, including breakfast. Family run property. This is excellent value for the area.

The Centre (Promenade)

This is the area along and behind the promenade on Boulevard Hassan Tahsini. This part of Saranda is very central with the public beach, many restaurants, bars and shops.

The area closest to the promenade is touristy, but the neighbourhood gets more local as you move back away the beach.

The centre can get crowded and noisy in summer, especially near the promenade. But off season it’s very quiet.

My top choices in the Saranda centre are:

• Hotel Vale: 4 star luxury hotel located on the promenade, in front of the ocean. Rooms exude Scandinavian luxury vibes, with high tech bathrooms, sound proof windows, and huge balconies overlooking the water. There’s even a gelato bar! Doubles start at $130, including breakfast and parking. Saranda Beach is steps away. My top recommendation for a luxury stay in Saranda.
• Titania Hotel: Excellent 3 star hotel located behind the Saranda promenade within a few metres of Saranda Beach. Charming area but busy during the summer. All guest rooms have balconies starting at $65 USD, including breakfast and parking. Wonderful seaside views from the rooftop restaurant.
• Hotel Qurku 2: Small new hotel just 300 metres from the promenade. Large rooms with balconies from $40 USD, including breakfast and parking. Away from the crowds, but still very central.

Planning a longer trip to Albania? See how I fit Saranda into this two-week highlights of Albania itinerary, with both car and bus versions.

Butrinti

When I was looking for a place to stay in Saranda, I saw a lot of Airbnbs and hotels along Rruga Butrinti – that is the long main road you see going down the right side of the map above. Rruga Butrinti actually has some of the most expensive real estate in Saranda.

I’m not a fan of this area, even though it’s popular. But the reasons I don’t like it are the reasons some people love it. This is the party area, a very busy stretch of road that has more tourists than locals.

Tourists like it during the summer because some of Saranda’s best beaches are along this road, and there’s lots of restaurants, bars and beach clubs.

I prefer a more local feel and also think the location is bad, being a bit further from the centre. The traffic along this road is terrible during the summer. It’s also quite steep. Unless you’re staying directly on Rruga Butrinti, you’ll be dealing with a good incline.

My top choices on Butrinti, Saranda are:

• Demi Hotel: 4 star luxury hotel on the ocean side of Rruga Butrinti. Large rooms all with balconies and sea views start from $315 USD, including the best hotel breakfast in Saranda. Hotel has its own beach with towels, sunbeds and umbrellas. Luxury stay right on the beach.
• New Heaven Hotel: Very nice small hotel with doubles starting from $75 USD, including breakfast and parking. This hotel is right on Rruga Butrinti (no steep incline to deal with), and across the road from the beaches. Fantastic sea views from the rooftop breakfast restaurant.
• Hotel Brilant: Located on a quieter street, just 200 metres from the beach. There is a short incline to reach the hotel. Staff are exceptionally friendly. Rooms are large, starting from $50 USD, including breakfast and parking. Excellent value for a 4 star hotel in this area.

Stadium

Stadium is the area behind the sports stadium, and on the opposite side of the main street from the Kodra area. There’s no hotels here, it’s all guest houses and rooms for rent.

The area is pretty local, and you can walk to the centre in 10-15 minutes. The only drawback is that it’s on a steep incline. The further back from Rruga Idriz Alidhima (the main road) you go, the steeper it gets.

I don’t normally recommend this area because of the steep incline, but I recently stayed at this guest house for 2 weeks and really liked it. It’s only one street away from the main road (so only a bit of an incline).

My favourite guest house in Stadium, Saranda:

• Vila Konomi: Small guest house with studios from $25 USD. Really friendly and helpful owners, and the place was spotless. All studios have balconies and mine had a sea view. Fantastic budget stay near the centre.

Ksamil

Ksamil is not in Saranda. It’s almost 15 km from the Saranda centre, but it’s part of the municipality of Saranda, so that’s where the confusion comes in.

Ksamil does have gorgeous turquoise beaches and is a lively town during summer. Sometime visitors can’t decide if Ksamil or Saranda is better – but I think it’s better to stay in Saranda and visit Ksamil.

If you want to stay in Ksamil these are my top choices:

• Poda Boutique Hotel: Located on beautiful Poda Beach, doubles start at $260 USD, including breakfast, dinner, beach access and parking. There’s a terrific beach club, waterfront restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Luxury beachfront hotel offering a resort experience.
• Ori Mare Hotel: 4 star hotel with two pools – one for kids and one for adults. Located 800 metres from the beach. Rooms are spacious starting from $75 USD, breakfast and parking included. My top pick for a family hotel in Ksamil.
• Emar Beachfront Hotel: Located 150 metres from Ksamil Beach and close to all the action. Recently renovated rooms start at $70 USD, including breakfast and parking. Terrific value this close to the beach.
• Vila Sun 2e: Spotless holiday apartments with balconies in a cute villa. Located on a quiet street just up from the centre of Ksamil. Apartments start from $30 USD, parking included. Charming and affordable, close to everything.

Last Words on Where to Stay in Saranda

I’ve visited Saranda twice for extended stays and personally visited all the properties listed here. The best areas to stay are Kodra and the town centre—both walkable, convenient, and close to everything.

If you have a car you can stay a bit further out, but keep in mind parking can be problematic in the centre.

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