The Experience

A coast still waiting
to be discovered.

Sarandë sits on the Ionian, an hour's ferry from Corfu and a short drive from some of the richest archaeology in the Mediterranean. The water is clear, the food is local, and the prices are gentler than they ought to be.

The beaches of Sarandë seen from above

No. 01

The Beaches

Twenty metres from the door — and a coastline as varied as your mood.

Just across the road from the hotel, two private beach clubs welcome our guests with arranged loungers, parasols, and full bar service. We have a quiet word with the managers when you arrive — they keep a place for you. The water there is clear, the pebbles smooth, and the day is yours.

For those who prefer something open and unmanaged, the public beaches of Sarandë begin almost at the same point and run several kilometres south. Each has its own character — some lively, some near-deserted. We will gladly draw you a small map on the morning of your choosing.

The Kalemis Tavern terrace, full of guests at midday

No. 02

Kalemis Tavern

Whatever came in from the boats that morning, cooked simply.

Our restaurant sits on a wide terrace under a vine. The menu is short and reflects the day. Sea bass off the grill, a proper Greek salad with feta and good oil, steaks turned by hand, a chicken fillet for the children. There is bread from a bakery two streets down, olive oil from the groves up the hill, and a Vlosh from a vineyard inland that you will probably ask for again.

Breakfast is served on the same terrace from seven. Dinner runs late, in the local way. Guests with allergies or special diets are gently advised to mention them, and the kitchen will quietly work around them.

From the kitchen

Sea bass, off the grill€18 Steak, the way it is done here€15 Chicken fillet, with lemon€14 Greek salad, with our oil€6

A small selection — the kitchen changes daily

The bay of Sarandë as seen from a Kalemi's balcony

No. 03

The Albanian Riviera

A few hours in any direction — and a great deal to see.

Just south, the village of Ksamil sits among small turquoise islets one can swim to. Further still, the UNESCO ruins of Butrint hold Greek, Roman, Venetian, and Ottoman layers across the same hillside. To the east, Lëkurësi Castle watches over the bay — a forty-minute climb and the finest sunset on the coast.

From the port at Sarandë, an hour's ferry will land you in Corfu. We will arrange tickets, transfers, hire-cars, or boat trips if you wish — simply tell us when, and how many.

Our Sister Company

Explore the coast on your own terms.

Sarandacars

15% off for hotel guests

Car rental run by the same family. Modern, well-kept cars at the kindest rates on this stretch of coast.

The Albanian Riviera reveals itself fully when you have a car. From the hotel, the road south to Ksamil and Butrint is one of the great drives in the Mediterranean — and the road north through the mountains to Himarë and the Llogara pass is something most visitors never see.

We run a small fleet ourselves — Sarandacars. As a guest at Kalemi's, you receive a permanent 15% discount on any rental, regardless of season. Mention your reservation when booking, or click below to view the fleet.

Visit Sarandacars.com → Ask the family

Distances From The Hotel

What lies within an hour.

·

Sarandë Centre

15 min on foot. The seaside promenade, the bars, the bakery our bread comes from.

·

Ksamil Islands

15 min by car. Three small islands you can swim to and back.

·

Butrint National Park

25 min by car. A UNESCO archaeological site of remarkable depth.

·

Lëkurësi Castle

10 min by car. The view at sunset is among the finest in the Mediterranean.

·

Port of Sarandë

10 min on foot. Ferries to Corfu in just under an hour.

·

Blue Eye Spring

40 min by car. A natural pool of cold, impossibly blue water.

·

Corfu, Greece

1 h by ferry. A different country, the same sea.

·

Gjirokastër

1 h by car. The Ottoman stone city, also UNESCO.

Plan Your Visit

Tell us your dates — we'll suggest the rest.

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