The ferry from Corfu to Albania looks simple on the timetable page, a 30-minute hop across the Ionian Sea, and mostly it is. What trips people up isn't the crossing itself. It's the parts the booking sites gloss over: the Corfu Saranda ferry timetable is printed in two time zones an hour apart, the winter schedule shrinks to one boat a day, rental cars are refused, and nobody tells you that the boat for Ksamil is the boat for Saranda.
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Route at a glance (2026)
| Route | Corfu (Greece) → Saranda (Albania) |
| Distance | ~18 km across the Ionian Sea |
| Crossing time | 30–45 min hydrofoil, 55–70 min conventional ferry |
| Operators | Ionian Seaways, Finikas Lines, Albania Luxury Ferries |
| Frequency (July–September) | 13 departures a day from Corfu on the published 2026 timetable |
| Frequency (11 Nov–6 Mar) | 1 departure a day each way |
| Adult one-way fare | €25–30 high season, €20–25 low season (Finikas Lines tariff) |
| Corfu-side port | Corfu New Port (Neo Limani), ~15 min walk from Corfu Old Town |
| Albania-side port | Saranda Port, central waterfront |
There is no Corfu-to-Himara or Corfu-to-Ksamil ferry on either operator's 2026 timetable. Saranda is the only Albanian port this route serves. Himara is about 53 km north by road and Ksamil about 14 km south. If Himara is your actual destination, see our dedicated Corfu to Himara guide for the full two-leg journey planner.
Corfu Saranda ferry timetable 2026
Ionian Seaways publishes its 2026 departures on its own site (read 10 October 2026). Corfu times are Greek time, Saranda times are Albanian time, and Greece is one hour ahead, so a 09:00 boat from Corfu reaches Saranda around 08:30 to 09:10 local time.
| Season (2026) | From Corfu (Greek time) | From Saranda (Albanian time) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul – 30 Sep | 08:30, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:30, 22:30 | 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 |
| 1 – 15 Oct | 08:00 to 22:30, 12 a day | 06:00 to 18:00, 12 a day |
| 16 – 31 Oct | 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:30 | 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00, 18:00 |
| 1 – 10 Nov | 09:00, 11:30, 14:00, 17:00 | 09:00, 10:00, 12:00, 16:00 |
| 11 Nov – 31 Dec | 09:00 | 10:00 (Fri and Sat 14:00) |
| 1 Jan – 6 Mar | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| 7 Mar – 10 Apr | 09:00, 16:30 | 10:00, 16:00 |
| 11 – 30 Apr | 09:00, 11:00, 16:30, 19:00 | 09:00, 10:00, 12:00, 16:00 |
| May | 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, 17:00, 19:00, 20:30 | 09:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 18:00 |
Finikas Lines prints the same high-season grid for 1 June to 15 October. The timetables don't say which departures are hydrofoils and which are the slower car ferries, so ask when you book if the 30 minutes matters. Wind cancels sailings, mostly in winter. The return-direction view, with day-trip timings worked out, is in our Corfu Saranda ferry guide.
Ferry operators compared
Three companies run this crossing. The two big ones run both hydrofoils (Flying Dolphins) and slower conventional ferries, and only the conventional boats take vehicles:
| Operator | Vessels | Crossing time | Adult one-way | Car transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ionian Seaways | 2 Flying Dolphins, 1 passenger ship, 2 car ferries | 30–45 min hydrofoil, 55–70 min ferry | No fare table online | Car ferries only; rental cars refused from Corfu to Albania |
| Finikas Lines | Hydrofoils Kristi, Hariklia, Stavros; ferry boats Marina, Kaliopi | ~30 min hydrofoil, ~50 min ferry | €30 fast / €25 ferry (high season) | Ferry boats only, €50 per car |
| Albania Luxury Ferries | Fast ferry | ~30 min | Check at booking | Confirm directly with this smaller operator |
All three sell tickets online and at port ticket offices. Finikas Lines advertises 10% off for early online booking and 10% off same-day returns issued together. In July and August, book a day or two ahead for the morning departures. Walk-up tickets are usually fine for afternoon sailings and in shoulder season.
Prices in full (2026)
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Adult one-way, fast boat | €30 high season / €25 low season |
| Adult one-way, conventional ferry | €25 high season / €20 low season |
| Same-day return | 10% off two legs issued together (about €54 on the fast boat in summer) |
| Child one-way | €13–15 high season; Finikas gives 50% off for ages 5–11 |
| Car one-way | €50, conventional ferries only |
| Motorcycle one-way | €25 |
| Port taxes / fees | Included in the ticket price |
These are Finikas Lines' 2026 tariff figures, last archived on 2 August 2026 before the fare table came off its site. Aggregators sometimes show more, with cars from about €70 on Ferryhopper. For a deeper cost breakdown, see our Corfu to Albania ferry price guide.
The Corfu side: which port and how to get there
Ferries to Saranda leave from Corfu New Port (Neo Limani), not the old fishing harbor near the Old Town. Look for signs to "Neo Limani / New Port" if you're driving or walking:
- On foot from Corfu Old Town / Liston: about 15 minutes, mostly flat, along the waterfront.
- From Corfu Airport (CFU): roughly 10–15 minutes by taxi, or city bus 15, which runs from the airport through San Rocco to the port. The operator timetable valid from 28 September 2026 has through buses to the port leaving the airport every 20–30 minutes between 07:30 and 21:30, reaching the port about 20 minutes later. Earlier and later runs stop short at San Rocco square, a 15-minute walk from the port.
- Ticket offices: located at the New Port terminal building; most operators also sell online in advance, which is worth doing in peak season to skip the counter queue.
Arrive at least 45–60 minutes before departure in summer to allow for ticket collection and passport control. This is an international border, and Albania is outside both the EU and Schengen, so full passport checks apply in both directions even though the crossing itself is short.
Vehicle ferry rules: what to check before you book a car on
Car transport is available on this route, but treat it as conditional, not guaranteed, every time you book. Ionian Seaways' 2026 timetable repeats one line under every season: rental cars may not be carried from Corfu to Albania.
- Availability varies by sailing. Not every departure carries vehicles. Car transport runs on select sailings per operator, so confirm at booking rather than assuming any listed time works.
- Rental car contracts often restrict cross-border ferry use. Many Albanian and Greek rental agreements exclude taking the vehicle across an international ferry route entirely, or require written pre-authorization. Verify this in writing before you drive to the port, not at check-in.
- Vehicle check-in closes earlier than foot-passenger boarding. Budget 60+ minutes before departure as a baseline, more on peak summer weekends when car slots are limited and queues build.
- Required documents: passport/ID, driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance (including Green Card coverage where applicable for cross-border use).
- Owner vs. renter: if the driver isn't the vehicle's registered owner, authorization paperwork may be required at check-in.
Because vehicle rules and pricing are genuinely more involved than the foot-passenger crossing, we've written a full separate walkthrough covering required documents, the realistic door-to-door time model, and the exact rental-contract questions to ask before you book, in our Corfu-Saranda ferry with car guide.
Saranda side: arrival and onward travel
Saranda Port sits on the central waterfront, walkable from most hotels in town. After disembarking:
- Albanian entry stamp: processed at the port terminal, typically 10–30 minutes depending on how many sailings have just arrived.
- Onward to Himara: about 53 km, 1h 15m off-peak by rental car, bus (5–8€, though morning schedules don't always align neatly with the first ferry), or private taxi/transfer (40–50€). See our Corfu to Himara ferry guide for the full connection plan, including which ferry sailings actually leave enough daylight for the onward drive.
- Border crossing context: if you're continuing overland rather than by ferry on a future leg, our Qafë Botë border crossing guide covers the alternative southern land route between Albania and Greece.
Corfu to Ksamil: the ferry lands in Saranda
There is no scheduled Corfu to Ksamil ferry. Every public boat from Corfu docks at Saranda port, and Ksamil is the last leg: about 14 km south on the coast road towards Butrint.
| Saranda port to Ksamil | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saranda–Ksamil–Butrint bus | 15–20 min | 100 ALL cash | Every 20–30 min in summer, from near the port |
| Taxi from the port rank | 12–15 min | 1,500–2,000 ALL (agree first) | Easiest with luggage |
| Rental car picked up in Saranda | ~20 min | Day rate plus fuel | Ksamil parking is tight in August |
So a Corfu to Ksamil trip is the Corfu Saranda ferry (30–70 minutes on the water) plus 15–20 minutes by road. From Corfu Town a Ksamil day trip works from April to early November: take the 09:00 from Corfu and come back on the 16:00 or 18:00 from Saranda. Bus stops, fares and timetable are in our Saranda to Ksamil bus guide. Some private boat charters do run Corfu to Ksamil direct; they are not scheduled ferries and we have not priced them.
Booking direct vs. aggregators
You can book this crossing three ways: directly through an operator's own site (Ionian Seaways or Finikas Lines), through an aggregator (Ferryhopper, Direct Ferries, Omio), or in person at the port counter. Each has a trade-off worth knowing before you commit:
| Method | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|
| Direct with operator | No booking fee, direct customer service if something changes | Have to compare operators yourself; some sites are Greek/Albanian-first with clunky English |
| Aggregator (Ferryhopper, Direct Ferries) | Compares all operators and times in one search, easier English UX | Small booking fee often built into the fare shown |
| At the port counter | No pre-booking needed, flexible for same-day plans | Risky in peak summer, the popular morning sailing can sell out before you arrive |
For a fixed-date summer trip, book ahead through either the operator or an aggregator. For a flexible shoulder-season day, showing up at the counter works fine and gives you the freedom to pick whichever operator's next sailing suits you.
What to expect at check-in
Both ports run a similar sequence, and knowing it in advance saves the "wait, where do I go" scramble that eats your buffer time:
- Ticket collection or confirmation at the terminal counter (if you didn't print/download your ticket already).
- Passport control queue. This is the step that varies most in length; budget 15–45 minutes depending on how many sailings have clustered together.
- Security/boarding check. Light, typically just a bag scan or visual check, not a full airport-style screening.
- Boarding. Seating is open on most sailings, no assigned seats, so there's no advantage to being first in line beyond grabbing a window seat.
Foot passengers can generally arrive later than the vehicle cutoff, with 45–60 minutes before departure a safe baseline in summer, 30 minutes in the quieter shoulder months.
Seasonal schedule shifts
- Peak summer (July–September): 13 departures a day from Corfu on the 2026 timetable, but also the tightest car-slot availability and the longest passport-control queues. Book ahead for popular times.
- Shoulder season (May, October): seven to twelve departures a day with less booking pressure. The easiest window to travel this route.
- Winter (11 November to 6 March): one boat a day each way, 09:00 from Corfu and 10:00 from Saranda. March and April step up to two and then four. Confirm the day before, because wind cancels winter sailings.
For international travelers
US travelers: you're entering Albania (non-Schengen, non-EU) from Corfu (Greece, Schengen). Keep track of Schengen day-counting if you're combining this trip with other EU travel. Days spent in Albania don't count against your 90/180-day Schengen limit, but days in Corfu/Greece do. No visa is required for US citizens for Albania stays up to 90 days.
UK travelers: the same Schengen day-counting logic applies since Corfu is in Greece. Check the FCDO travel advice for Albania before crossing, and note that UK passports need to meet standard EU entry validity requirements for the Corfu/Greece leg specifically.
EU travelers: EU/EEA citizens get a straightforward passport scan (no stamp) entering Greece and a standard entry stamp into Albania. The Albania side is the only actual border formality on this route since you're already inside the EU on the Corfu side.
FAQ
How long does the ferry from Corfu to Albania take?
The Corfu–Saranda crossing takes 30–45 minutes on a hydrofoil and 55–70 minutes on a conventional ferry. Total port-to-port time with check-in and passport control runs closer to 90 minutes to 2 hours. Greece is an hour ahead of Albania, so the clock on arrival can look like you barely moved.
Which port do I need in Corfu?
Corfu New Port (Neo Limani), about a 15-minute walk from Corfu Old Town. Don't confuse it with the old harbor near the Liston. Ferries to Saranda leave from the New Port terminal.
Can I take a rental car on the Corfu to Albania ferry?
Sometimes. Car transport runs on select sailings per operator, not every departure, and many rental contracts restrict cross-border ferry use entirely. Confirm both with the ferry operator and your rental agreement in writing before planning around it. See our car ferry guide for full details.
What is the Corfu Saranda ferry timetable in winter?
From 11 November to 31 December 2026 the published timetable has one crossing a day each way: 09:00 from Corfu (Greek time) and 10:00 from Saranda (Albanian time), with the Saranda departure moved to 14:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. January to 6 March is the same one boat a day. Weather can still cancel it.
Is there a ferry from Corfu to Ksamil?
Not a scheduled one. Ferries from Corfu land at Saranda port, and Ksamil is about 14 km further south, 15 to 20 minutes by the 100-lek Saranda–Ksamil bus or a taxi. Plan Corfu to Ksamil as the Saranda ferry plus one short road leg.
Does this ferry go to Himara?
No. The ferry only serves Saranda. Himara is about 53 km north by road, roughly 1h 15m off-peak. See our Corfu to Himara connection guide for the full two-leg journey.
How much does the Corfu to Albania ferry cost?
On Finikas Lines' 2026 tariff an adult paid €30 one-way on the fast boat or €25 on the conventional ferry in high season, €25 or €20 in low season. Cars were €50 one-way on the ferry boats. Full pricing breakdown, including day-trip budgets, is in our ferry price guide.
Bottom line
The Corfu-to-Saranda crossing is short, frequent in summer and easy for foot passengers. Get three things right: read the timetable in the right time zone, book the morning summer sailing ahead, and use Corfu's New Port, not the Old Town harbour. Rental cars from Corfu are refused, so cross on foot and rent in Saranda. And if Ksamil or Himara is the real destination, budget the road leg from Saranda into your day.
