Corfu to Saranda Ferry: Routes, Prices and Tips

Two companies, Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways, run ferries between Corfu and Saranda, with the fastest crossing taking about 30 minutes and slower car ferries taking roughly an hour. Sailings run year-round but are far more frequent from June to September, when both companies add departures into the evening. One-way adult fares are typically in the €10–€30 range depending on the operator, vessel and season, according to the operators' own sites and the booking platform Ferryhopper. Below is what both companies publish for the 2026 season, how to book, and what to expect at the port.

The two ferry operators

Ionian Seaways, working with its sister company Ionian Cruises, has run the Corfu–Saranda crossing since 1979. Its current fleet includes two high-speed Flying Dolphin hydrofoils, one conventional passenger ship and two car ferries. Finikas Lines, based in Saranda, has operated since 1994 and runs three Flying Dolphin hydrofoils and three passenger/vehicle ferries. Both sell tickets online, through travel agencies on each side of the crossing, or through resellers such as Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries, which add their own booking fee on top of the operator's fare.

A third operator, Albania Luxury Ferries (part of Joy Cruises), also appears on booking platforms for this route, but it does not publish its own timetable or fares online, so its schedule and prices could not be verified directly for this guide.

Crossing time: fast boat or car ferry

Ionian Seaways' published timetable gives two different journey times depending on the vessel: its Flying Dolphin hydrofoils cross in 30–45 minutes, while its conventional passenger and car ferries take 55–70 minutes. Finikas Lines' site is less precise, with one page citing roughly 30 minutes and another giving up to 1 hour 30 minutes, so the vessel type matters more than the operator. Only the slower conventional ferries carry vehicles; the hydrofoils take foot passengers only. The direct distance between the two ports is about 15 nautical miles (28km).

2026 timetable

Ionian Seaways publishes a full-year 2026 timetable with departures changing roughly monthly. All times below are local port time as published by the operator; Greece and Albania can be in different time zones, so double-check local time on each side when you plan a connection. The table below is condensed from that timetable; always check the operator's site for the exact day and time before booking, since some weekdays carry an extra or missing sailing.

Finikas Lines publishes a separate high-season timetable for 1 June to 15 October 2026, with departures from Corfu between 08:30 and 22:30 and from Saranda between 06:00 and 20:00, broadly matching Ionian Seaways' hours. In high season, Finikas Lines also runs between Corfu and Himara.

Ticket prices

Neither operator publishes a fixed public fare table that loaded in full when checked for this guide; both direct customers to their online booking engines for the current rate. Ferryhopper's listing for the route shows an adult one-way fare from about €10, two adults from about €20, and a car with two adult passengers from about €55 one way, with a standalone car fare from around €70 and a motorcycle from around €40; these figures can vary by date and sell out at the cheapest tiers. Finikas Lines' own FAQ gives a general one-way range of about €10 to €25 per adult. On both companies' sites, children aged 5 to 11 travel at 50% off the adult fare, and discounts apply for groups of 15 or more. Finikas Lines also offers 10% off for early bookings and 10% off a same-day return booked as one transaction.

Taking a car or motorcycle

If you want to bring a car, you need one of the slower conventional ferries, not a hydrofoil, and you should book a vehicle space in advance in summer. Ionian Seaways' timetable carries an explicit note that rental cars may not be taken from Corfu to Albania, so check your rental agreement and insurance before planning to drive across; this restriction does not necessarily apply to a privately owned car. Vehicle passengers should still arrive with the same lead time as foot passengers to clear customs.

Booking and boarding

Finikas Lines lets you book and pay online up to four hours before departure, or reserve by phone and collect your ticket at the agency at least an hour ahead. It advises travellers to go straight to the international passenger terminal with a printed or mobile ticket rather than queuing at the central ticket office. Its FAQ asks passengers to arrive at least an hour before departure, with boarding opening an hour out and closing 30 minutes before sailing; it says each passenger can bring up to 25kg and 0.25 cubic metres of luggage free of charge. Ionian Seaways sells tickets through its own site (tickets.ionianseaways.com) and through central agencies on Corfu (New Port, Ethnikis Antistaseos) and in Saranda (near the port, on Rruga Mitat Hoxha). Whichever company you book with, keep your passport ready: you will show your ticket at a security check, then your passport at passport control, before boarding.

Luggage, bicycles and pets

Finikas Lines states a free luggage allowance of 25kg and 0.25 cubic metres per passenger; its fare table lists a bike category without saying whether that covers bicycles, motorcycles or both. Neither company's website states a pet policy for this route, so if you are travelling with an animal, contact the operator directly before booking rather than assuming it is covered. Seating on both lines is non-numbered, meaning there are no assigned seats.

Getting to and from the ports

On Corfu, ferries to Albania leave from Corfu's New Port, a walk of around 10–15 minutes from the old town, according to Direct Ferries' guide to the route; parking near the port is limited, so most people walk or taxi in rather than drive. On the Albanian side, Saranda's ferry terminal sits in the town centre, close to the seafront promenade, with taxis available outside and currency exchange offices nearby; Direct Ferries' guide suggests using an official exchange office rather than money changers at the port itself.

Crossing the border

Greece is in the Schengen Area and Albania is not, so you clear passport control in both directions, and your Albania days do not count towards a Schengen 90-day limit. For who can cross visa-free, how long you can stay, and what documents to carry, see our Albania visa and entry guide; the rules there apply the same way whether you arrive by ferry, land border or air.

Is a day trip possible?

In high season, the frequency supports it: Ionian Seaways' 2026 summer timetable has boats leaving Corfu from 08:30 and returning from Saranda as late as 20:00, giving several hours in Saranda on a single day. Outside June–September, departures drop to a handful a day each way, so check both the outbound and return times before committing, and allow margin either side of your chosen sailings for border checks and the walk to and from each port. A day trip only works well on the hydrofoils; the slower car ferries eat into the time available on the other side.

Practical tips

• Book ahead for July and August sailings, especially if you need a vehicle space; the cheapest fare tiers on aggregator sites sell out first.
• Carry your booking confirmation and passport together; you'll need both to pass security and passport control before boarding.
• If schedules matter for a connecting flight or bus, build in spare time: both operators' own FAQs give inconsistent crossing times, and weather can add delay on the hydrofoils.
• Outside the June–September season, sailings drop to one or two a day each way, so check the current timetable rather than assuming a summer frequency.
• Carry some euros for Corfu and Albanian lek for Saranda; Albania does not use the euro as its everyday currency.
• Compare the operator's own site against aggregators like Ferryhopper or Direct Ferries before paying: the booking fee on a reseller can erase a small fare difference.
• If you're continuing to Ksamil or elsewhere on the Riviera from Saranda, see our Ksamil travel guide for onward transport options.