BUTRINTI
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📍 2. Nature Walk & Vivari Channel
•Stroll along Butrint’s lush forests, home to rare bird species and turtles.
•Walk to the Vivari Channel, which connects Lake Butrint to the Ionian Sea, and enjoy views of the wetlands.
•Optionally, take a short ride on the Butrint Ferry, a traditional wooden platform ferry that crosses the channel.
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🔹 Return to Saranda
After exploring the ruins, head back to Saranda, with optional stops in Ksamil for lunch or a beach visit.
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This half-day tour is perfect for history and nature lovers, offering an unforgettable journey through Albania’s ancient past in a stunning setting!
Detailed Tour to Butrint from Saranda
This tour takes you from Saranda to Butrint National Park, one of Albania’s most significant archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Butrint is an ancient city with ruins from Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian periods, set within a stunning natural landscape of forests, lagoons, and the Ionian Sea.
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🔹 Departure from Saranda
•Departure Time:
•Mode of Transport: Minibus, private car, or guided tour
•Distance: 18 km (~25-minutes by car)
•Route: Scenic coastal drive along the SH81 road, passing through Ksamil and the Vivari Channel.
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🔹 Arrival at Butrint
•Entrance Fee: ~1000 lek (€10) per adult
•Opening Hours: 08:00 AM – Sunset
Upon arrival, you will enter Butrint National Park, a site that has been inhabited since prehistoric times and developed into a Greek colony, a Roman city, and later a Byzantine settlement.
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📍 1. Exploring the Archaeological Site
The self-guided walking tour (1.5 – 2 hours) will take you through the most important landmarks of Butrint:
🔹 The Ancient Theater
•Built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and later expanded by the Romans.
•Could accommodate 1,500 spectators, used for performances and political gatherings.
•Offers great photo opportunities, especially in the early morning light.
🔹 The Temple of Asclepius & the Agora
•Dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine.
•The Agora (marketplace) was the heart of Butrint’s public life.
🔹 The Baptistery & Basilica
•The Baptistery (5th century AD) has one of the most beautiful mosaics in Albania, depicting animals and Christian symbols.
•The Basilica (6th century AD) is a large, partially ruined structure that highlights Byzantine architectural influence.
🔹 The Lion Gate & Venetian Castle
•The Lion Gate is an ancient city entrance, featuring a relief of a lion devouring a bull (symbol of power).
•The Venetian Castle, built in the 15th century, now houses the Butrint Museum, where you can see artifacts excavated from the site.