Sazan Island

The Albanian Riviera

LoginSave

Floating off the coast of the remote Karaburun Peninsula, 5.7 sq km Sazan Island is little known to even most Albanians. Once used as a submarine and chemical-weapons base by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it's now home to an Albanian-Italian military base used to combat narcotics smuggling. In the summer of 2017, a small area of the island opened to visitors, making parts of its pristine coastline and historic relics accessible for the first time.

Boat tours to Sazan Island normally also include stops at little coves with good snorkelling on the Karaburun Peninsula. Daily boats run from Vlora port to the island and cost €25 per person.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Ancient Apollonia, Albania

    Apollonia

    18.62 MILES

    The evocative ruins of the ancient Illyiran city of Apollonia sit on a windswept hilltop some 12km west of the city of Fier. While a large part of the…

  • Ardenica Monastery

    Ardenica Monastery

    27.73 MILES

    This rarely visited yet magnificent little monastery is remotely located on a hilltop between the towns of Lushjë and Fier. With your own transport it's…

  • Llogara Pass National Park

    Llogara Pass National Park

    26.19 MILES

    Watch clouds descending onto the mountain, shepherds on the plains guiding their herds, and thick forests where deer, wild boar and wolves roam in this…

  • x-default

    Drymades

    28.81 MILES

    One of the more attractive beaches on the Albanian Riviera is Drymades. It's a long, shingle white beach backed by olive groves and the first stirrings of…

  • Palasa

    Palasa

    27.32 MILES

    As you zigzag down the mountain from the Llogaraja Pass National Park, the white crescent-shaped beaches and azure waters lure you from below. The first…

View more attractions

Nearby The Albanian Riviera attractions

1. Apollonia

18.62 MILES

The evocative ruins of the ancient Illyiran city of Apollonia sit on a windswept hilltop some 12km west of the city of Fier. While a large part of the…

2. Llogara Pass National Park

26.19 MILES

Watch clouds descending onto the mountain, shepherds on the plains guiding their herds, and thick forests where deer, wild boar and wolves roam in this…

3. Palasa

27.32 MILES

As you zigzag down the mountain from the Llogaraja Pass National Park, the white crescent-shaped beaches and azure waters lure you from below. The first…

4. Ardenica Monastery

27.73 MILES

This rarely visited yet magnificent little monastery is remotely located on a hilltop between the towns of Lushjë and Fier. With your own transport it's…

5. Drymades

28.81 MILES

One of the more attractive beaches on the Albanian Riviera is Drymades. It's a long, shingle white beach backed by olive groves and the first stirrings of…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "albania/the-albanian-riviera/attractions/sazan-island/a/poi-sig/1609236/1324728",
  "destination": "The-Albanian-Riviera",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "country": "Albania",
  "region": "The-Albanian-Riviera",
  "position": "superzone"
}