These are the best places to travel this summer

Saranda

Western Balkans Travel Guide

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
Elevated city view at dusk, Saranda, Albanian Riviera, Albania

Getty Images/Gallo Images

LONELY PLANET’S RECOMMENDED eSIM

Stay connected in Saranda

with

Saily is an affordable eSIM service that helps you stay connected and secure, anywhere in the world.

Get your eSIM

Overview

Saranda is the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, and come the summer months it seems like half of Tirana relocates here to enjoy the busy beach and busier nightlife along its crowd-filled seaside promenade. What was once a sleepy fishing village is now a thriving city, and while Saranda has lost much of its quaintness in the past two decades, it has retained much of its charisma. The town's beaches are nothing special, but Saranda is a great base for exploring the beaches of the riviera if you have your own transport.

Must-see attractions

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.