The Corfu Saranda ferry looks like the easiest border in Europe: a 30-minute hop between a Greek island and the Albanian Riviera. In July it nearly is, with a boat roughly every hour. In November it is one boat a day each way, at times that make a Saranda-based day trip to Corfu impossible. And the clocks on the two sides of the strait are an hour apart, which is where most missed connections start. Below is the published 2026 timetable season by season, what you actually pay, which boat takes cars, and how to time a day trip in either direction.
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Corfu Saranda ferry timetable 2026, by season
These are the departures Ionian Seaways publishes for 2026 on its own timetable page, read on 10 October 2026. Times are local: Corfu runs on Greek time, Saranda on Albanian time, and Greece is one hour ahead of Albania.
| Season (2026) | From Corfu (Greek time) | From Saranda (Albanian time) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul – 30 Sep | 13 a day, 08:30 to 22:30 | 12 a day, 06:00 to 20:00 |
| 1 – 15 Oct | 12 a day, 08:00 to 22:30 | 12 a day, 06:00 to 18:00 |
| 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 daily | 10:00 (Fri and Sat 14:00) |
| 1 Jan – 6 Mar | 09:00 daily | 10:00 daily |
| 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 | 7 a day, 09:00 to 20:30 | 7 a day, 09:00 to 18:00 |
Finikas Lines prints the same high-season grid on its home page for 1 June to 15 October. Neither operator says which boat runs which departure, and that matters, because the crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes on a hydrofoil and 55 to 70 minutes on a conventional ferry (Ionian Seaways' own figures). Strong wind in the strait cancels sailings, mostly in winter, so check the day before outside summer.
Quick facts
| Sea distance | ~18 km, Saranda port to Corfu New Port |
| Crossing time | 30–45 min hydrofoil, 55–70 min conventional ferry |
| Operators | Finikas Lines, Ionian Seaways, Albania Luxury Ferries |
| Adult one-way | €30 fast boat / €25 ferry in high season, €25 / €20 low season (Finikas Lines tariff) |
| Car one-way | €50 on Finikas' tariff, conventional ferries only |
| Check-in | At the terminal 1 hour before; boarding closes 30 minutes before (Ionian Seaways) |
| Saranda side | Saranda port, on the central waterfront |
| Corfu side | New Port (Neo Limani), about 15 minutes' walk from the Old Town |
Ferry operators compared
Three companies run Corfu–Saranda. They are not all fast boats: both big operators run hydrofoils (Flying Dolphins) for foot passengers and slower conventional ferries that also carry vehicles.
| Finikas Lines | Ionian Seaways | Albania Luxury Ferries | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet | Hydrofoils Kristi, Hariklia, Stavros; ferry boats Marina, Kaliopi | 2 Flying Dolphins, 1 passenger ship, 2 car ferries | Fast ferry |
| Crossing | ~30 min hydrofoil, ~50 min ferry | 30–45 min hydrofoil, 55–70 min ferry | ~30 min |
| Cars | On the ferry boats only | On the car ferries; rental cars are not accepted from Corfu to Albania | Confirm directly |
| Discounts | 50% for children 5–11; 10% off same-day returns issued together; 10% for early online booking | Up to 10% for groups of 16+ | n/a |
| Saranda office | By the port | Terini Travel, Rruga Mitat Hoxha, next to the port | n/a |
The 10% early-booking and same-day-return discounts are Finikas' own offers on its site. In July and August book the morning departures a day or two ahead. In shoulder months you can usually buy at the port counter.
Prices: what the Saranda to Corfu ferry costs in 2026
Neither operator keeps a fare table online right now: Finikas' 2026 tariff came down in early October, and Ionian Seaways' fares table loads empty. The last published Finikas figures, archived on 2 August 2026, are the best number to plan with.
| Ticket | High season | Low season |
|---|---|---|
| Adult one-way, fast boat | €30 | €25 |
| Adult one-way, conventional ferry | €25 | €20 |
| Same-day return, fast boat (two legs, 10% off) | ~€54 | ~€45 |
| Child one-way | €13–15 | about half the adult fare |
| Car one-way (on top of passengers) | €50 | €50 |
| Motorcycle one-way | €25 | €25 |
| Port taxes | Included | Included |
Aggregators quote higher in places: Ferryhopper's route page shows cars from about €70 and most September 2025 adult fares at €30–32, with €15–20 in December. Budget €25–35 per adult each way in summer and you will not be caught short.
Day trip budget per person, summer: ferry return about €54 + lunch in Corfu Town €15–25 + coffee and a museum or fortress ticket €10–20, so roughly €80–100.
Saranda port: what to expect
Saranda's ferry terminal sits on the waterfront promenade, walkable from most central hotels. Our Saranda ferry terminal guide covers the building, parking and taxis in detail.
- 1 hour before departure: be at the international passenger terminal. Ionian Seaways asks for this for every passenger, and vehicles need it for customs.
- Passport control: Albanian exit checks happen here. Allow 10–30 minutes in summer.
- 30 minutes before departure: boarding closes. Seats are not numbered.
Bring your passport (EU citizens can use a national ID card), the ticket on paper or phone, and some euros for Corfu.
Passports, Schengen and the EES check
This is an external Schengen border, so you get full checks on both sides.
- Leaving Saranda: Albanian border police at the port.
- Arriving in Corfu: Greek passport control at Corfu New Port. Since 10 April 2026 Greece runs non-EU travellers through the EU Entry/Exit System, which takes a face image and fingerprints on the first entry instead of a stamp. The first crossing can be slower.
- Schengen days: a Corfu day trip uses a day of your 90-in-180 allowance. Days in Albania do not count. Our Albania Schengen status explainer has the detail.
Day trip timing, both directions
The one-hour time difference decides everything here. A 09:00 boat out of Saranda lands in Corfu at about 10:30 Greek time, not 09:30. Coming back, an 18:00 departure from Corfu lands in Saranda around 17:30 Albanian time.
From Saranda to Corfu (summer and early autumn):
| Albanian time / Greek time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 08:00 Albanian | At Saranda terminal, ticket and passport control |
| 09:00 Albanian | Departure (from 16 October the first boat is 09:00) |
| ~10:30 Greek | Arrive Corfu New Port, 15-minute walk to the Old Town |
| 10:30–17:00 Greek | Old Town, the Liston, the Old Fortress, lunch |
| 18:00 Greek | Return boat (later ones run until 20:30 in late October) |
| ~17:30 Albanian | Back in Saranda |
From 11 November the Saranda day trip stops working. The only boat out of Saranda leaves at 10:00 and the only boat back from Corfu leaves at 09:00 the next morning, so a visit to Corfu becomes an overnight stay.
From Corfu to Saranda: take the 09:00 from Corfu (arrives about 08:30 to 09:10 Albanian time) and come back on the 16:00 or 18:00 from Saranda in summer and October. In the 11 November to 31 December window the only return is 10:00, or 14:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, which gives you a few hours in Saranda on those two days only. Butrint and Ksamil are the usual targets; see Saranda to Butrint.
Getting from Himara to Saranda port
If you are based in Himara, Saranda port is about 53 km south on the SH8, 1h 15m off-peak and closer to 2 hours in August, per our Riviera drive times table.
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car | 1h 15m–2h | Fuel, plus paid parking near the port | Rental cars cannot go across to Corfu |
| Bus | 1.5–2 hours | 500–800 ALL (€5–8) | Morning buses may not line up with the first boat |
| Taxi/transfer | 1h 15m–1h 30m | 4,000–5,000 ALL (€40–50) | Most reliable for an early sailing |
For an early boat, sleep in Saranda the night before. The Himara to Corfu day trip guide runs the full day from Himara.
Cars on the Corfu Saranda ferry
Only the conventional ferries carry vehicles, at €50 one way on Finikas' tariff plus every passenger's ticket. Ionian Seaways' 2026 timetable carries a standing note that rental cars may not be taken from Corfu to Albania, and Greek rental insurance usually stops at the Greek border anyway. Crossing on foot and renting a car in Saranda is the cheap answer for most people. The full document checklist is in the Corfu to Saranda ferry with car guide.
Weather and cancellations
The Corfu Strait is usually calm in summer, but strong north-westerly winds cancel the hydrofoils first, and winter storms can stop everything for a day. Operators post cancellations at their port offices and on social media; refunds or rebooking are standard. If you must reach Greece that day, drive south to the Qafë Botë border, 45–60 minutes from Saranda, and on to Igoumenitsa, which has ferries to Corfu.
FAQ
How long is the ferry from Saranda to Corfu?
The sea crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes on a hydrofoil and 55 to 70 minutes on a conventional ferry, per Ionian Seaways. Add an hour at the terminal for check-in and passport control, and remember Greece is an hour ahead, so a 09:00 departure from Saranda arrives around 10:30 Corfu time.
How much is the Corfu Saranda ferry?
On Finikas Lines' 2026 tariff an adult paid €30 one-way on the fast boat or €25 on the conventional ferry in high season, and €25 or €20 in low season. Children were €13–15, cars €50 and motorcycles €25. Same-day returns booked together get 10% off. Aggregators sometimes show higher prices.
How many ferries run between Corfu and Saranda in winter?
From 11 November to 31 December 2026 the published timetable has one boat a day each way: 09:00 from Corfu and 10:00 from Saranda, moved to 14:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. January to early March is the same single daily crossing. Wind can still cancel it, so confirm the day before.
Do I need a visa for the Corfu day trip?
If you can enter the Schengen Area visa-free, no extra visa is needed. Most US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU passport holders can stay up to 90 days in 180. Since April 2026 non-EU travellers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System at Corfu. Albania's own rules are in our Albania visa requirements guide.
Can I take a car on the ferry?
Yes, on the conventional ferries only, not the hydrofoils, and not on every departure. Finikas charged €50 per car one way in 2026 on top of passenger tickets. Rental cars are refused from Corfu to Albania on Ionian Seaways, so most visitors cross on foot and rent in Saranda.
Can I do a day trip from Himara to Corfu?
Yes, from April to early November. Drive or take a taxi to Saranda (about 1h 15m), catch a morning boat, spend six to seven hours in Corfu and return on an evening sailing. Total day is 12 to 14 hours. From mid-November it no longer works as a day trip, because only one boat a day leaves Saranda.
