Renting a car in Saranda (Sarandë) to explore the various places in Albania is not just a good idea, it's a great idea.
With a car, you can easily fit in your short vacation some relaxing on the best beaches on both seas, touring ancient ruins, walking through medieval castles, hiking in the mountains, visiting mysterious the karst spring and much, much more.
Book a car on our website and go on an exciting journey in Albania.
It is best to book a car in advance from home. The earlier you do so, the better choice you will have, especially among the affordable options.
Advantages of booking on our website:
It all depends on your abilities and plans for the vacation.
If you don't mind spending your vacation on a city beach but want to mix it up with a short drive to nearby attractions, you can rent a car for 2-3 days. This way you can visit the best places.
And if you want to check out other beaches along the coast, visit some less touristy places, try the food at the country's most authentic restaurants, then you should rent a car for a week or two. There's plenty to see and do in Albania for a whole vacation.
You’ll need the following documents:
You can take a small compact car for short trips to nearby beaches and attractions.
If you want to drive along the panoramic coastal roads with an open top, you should opt for a convertible.
And you can book a minivan for travelling with a large group. Just make sure everyone on the trip shares the same plans for the vacation.
A mid-size four-wheel-drive car with an engine capacity of 1.6 litres or more is the best choice for driving into the mountain. For a winter vacation, we recommend booking a four-wheel drive crossover with higher power output.
Albania uses European road traffic regulations.
It's best to observe the speed limits responsibly. Not just because of the fines but because of the roads that have many twists and turns.
Speed limits:
The driver and passengers must wear seatbelts.
Switch on the low beam headlights at night or in the rain.
You can only talk on the phone using a headset or hands-free system.
The maximum permitted blood alcohol content is 0.1 ppm.
You can’t drive a rental car on unpaved roads because it is dangerous for both passengers and cars. Insurance does not cover such roads, and all costs will be paid by the renter.
There are mostly paid parking spaces in the downtown. The parking rate is ~200 Lek (~€2) per hour.
Most hotels, restaurants, and shopping centres offer free parking for guests.
At local petrol stations, you can fill up with petrol, diesel or LPG. The quality of fuel varies from station to station, so you should be careful when choosing where to fill up your car.
All petrol stations accept cash (Lek or euros at an unfavourable exchange rate), and only some petrol stations accept card payments.
Saranda lives up to its reputation of ‘the jewel of the Albanian Riviera’. There's a lot to see here. There are so many breathtakingly interesting places within 50 km around the city that you'll have enough experiences for your whole vacation.
About 3 km from the city centre is the Lëkurësi Castle, a Turkish fortress built in 1538. The castle is open 24 hours a day and is free to visit. There is a pizza restaurant. The views from the castle are spectacular, especially at sunset.
About half an hour from the city is a place called Blue Eye, also known as Syri i Kaltër. This is a unique karst freshwater spring of unknown depth. Divers tried many times to go down to the bottom but never succeeded. When diving deeper than 45 metres, the water is pumped up to the surface with such power that the body is pushed up to the surface. Tourists like to jump from the tower into the water here. But please note that the spring water in is ice cold even in summer.
Butrint is a popular tourism destination with ancient ruins, amphitheatre and acropolis. This archaeological site is located 30 km from the city. It takes about an hour to get around the small national park. It is very interesting because it remains intact. Reconstructors didn’t have a chance to “do their thing” here, and every stone breathes authenticity.
About 50 km from Saranda is the town of Himara (Himarë) with very beautiful beaches, a castle, and a submarine bunker. There's a lot to see and lots of places for taking pictures.
Do all rental cars have navigation?
Hello! No, navigation is optional equipment. The rental company will only provide it if this equipment is included in your booking.
Will the child safety seat be available?
Hello! Yes, the child safety seats will be provided as per your voucher.
Do I need to fill up my car before returning it?
Hello! Fuel policy: You must return your rental car with the same amount of fuel you picked it up with. If the amount of fuel is lower, you will pay the difference at the rates of the car rental company. If the amount of fuel is higher, you will not be compensated for the difference.