Taking your dog from Saranda, Albania to Corfu, Greece.
After living in Saranda, Albania, for about 6 months and looking across at the island of Corfu, Greece, every morning, we decided it was time to check it out. We wanted to take our dog Sage, a 26 kg Labrador mix, with us as we were planning a full day trip. So I stopped by the ferry company’s office one day and chatted with a friendly girl about my options.
Some quick pointers if you would like to travel to the island of Corfu, Greece from Saranda, Albania, with your dog:
You can take your dog on the ferry from Albania to Greece.
- The ferry company we used is Finika lines. They are pet friendly and do not charge for any size of dog. They require you to bring your pet’s passport and your pet should be up to date on their vaccinations.
- For any American travelers, pet passports are something that are used in Europe. Pet passports keep vaccination records and health certificates in one place.
You will be able to buy tickets online or in-person at the office located near the port.
- Buying online and 24 hours ahead will get you a 10% discount. Depending on the high or low season, ferry times and prices will vary. Returning on the same day will also be a little bit cheaper.
There are fast ferries that take about 30-45 min and regular ferries that take 1 hour and a half.
- We took a fast one on the way to Corfu and the fast one back to Saranda.
NOTE: All arriving and departure times are local times! Corfu will be an hour ahead of Albania. Your phone will probably update itself automatically, but remember the time difference when planning the trip! We left Corfu at 19:00, our ferry took 1 hour and a half, and we arrived in Saranda, Albania at 19:30.
You will be asked to arrive at the terminal at port 45-30min before the departure for the passport control and customs.
- The process is very easy and fast. We were not asked to show any documents for Sage. But having your documents in order and with you is always a good idea.
- It is important that your dog behaves and is friendly because you will be close to other passengers. If your dog is barking or growling at people they may need to be muzzled—for your dog and the passengers’ protection.
- We were asked to move to the end of the ferry where there were fewer passengers because we had Sage with us. But because it is where you can go out on the deck and see outside, many passengers decided to come over to the back section too.
Our journey took about 45 min on the fast ferry. From the moment we got on board until we left the boat.
It took us about 15-20 minutes to walk to Corfu old town, where most of the shopping and restaurants are located.
- You can also take a taxi, but I recommend just walking there, just follow the water, it should be on your left.
Corfu is a very beautiful place, and most restaurants and cafes are pet friendly. The only problem was the pigeons. Sage didn’t like them much or maybe she liked them too much; she was determined to get one! So if your dog is likely to be interested in hunting pigeons, you will need to plan accordingly.Traveling with a dog can be stressful for both your and your pet, so make sure to check regularly for stress signs like panting, heavy breathing and lip licking. Take plenty of breaks in shaded, calm areas. Being around new places and people can be overwhelming for your dog! Corfu is a great place to visit and walk around with a dog. It is full of boutique shops and restaurants with outdoor seating, little cafes, bakeries, and ice cream shops. There are a lot of narrow cobbled streets, so plan your shoes properly!
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