Can you visit Sazan Island?

Yes, on organised boat trips from Vlora; the island has been open to the public since July 2015. Some trips land, others sail around it — check the itinerary. There is no public ferry and no accommodation.

What is there to see on Sazan?

The remains of a century of military use — an Italian post from 1914, later Albanian and, briefly, Soviet installations — on a small limestone island inside the Karaburun-Sazan marine park.

Can you see Sazan from Vlora?

Yes: it is the long, low island on the horizon in the live camera’s west-facing views, sharpest on clear mornings and a silhouette at sunset.

Explore · Destination

Sazan Island

Albania’s largest island closes the mouth of Vlora Bay: a century of military history on a small limestone island, now inside the marine park — and the silhouette behind almost every sunset on the camera.

Choose a boat trip

Checked 17 October 2026 · next check by 17 April 2027

A century behind fences

Sazan is small — about 5.7 km² of limestone and scrub, rising to 344 m — but its position at the entrance to the bay made it a military prize for most of the 20th century.

1914–1947: Italy set up a military post after the Balkan Wars, built a lighthouse and fortifications, and held the island until the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty transferred it to Albania.
Cold War: the Soviet Union based submarines in the bay and stationed personnel on the island until the Soviet–Albanian split of the early 1960s; Albania kept it as a closed military zone afterwards.
Today: the island is uninhabited and has been open to visitors since July 2015. Its surrounding waters have been part of the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park since 2010.

How to visit

Only by boat. Organised trips leave the Vlora waterfront in the morning, usually combining Sazan with the Karaburun coast and the Haxhi Ali cave. Itineraries follow the sea state: some trips land on the island, others sail around it, so read what is included before you book.

Landing is not guaranteed

Landings are controlled and depend on the weather on the day. Operators decide; Vlora.live does not assess sea conditions.

Boat trip

Sazan Island & Karaburun boat trip

The classic Vlora day on the water: across the bay to Albania’s largest island, then along the wild Karaburun coast with swim stops.

⏱ Half day or full day

Adventure

Snorkelling along the Karaburun coast

Clear water, sea caves and rocky coves inside the Karaburun-Sazan marine park, reached on boat trips that build in swim and snorkel stops.

⏱ Half day or full day

Sazan on the camera

Sazan is the long, low island on the horizon in the camera’s west-facing views. Clear mornings show its outline sharply; at sunset the sun often drops right behind it.

The red sun setting behind Sazan Island — A photo from the camera, not the live view Watch live video →

Sources and checks

Facts that can change are dated and checked against the sources below. Vlora.live has no relationship with these organisations; if something has changed, please tell us.

Wikipedia — Sazan Island Reference · read 17 October 2026
National Tourism Agency of Albania (AKT) — Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park Official · read 17 October 2026