Lekuresi Castle

Lekuresi Castle stands on a hill about 250 metres above Saranda and is the town's best-known viewpoint. The compact stone fortress, a short drive from the centre, looks over the whole sweep of the bay, the rooftops of the town, the Ksamil coast to the south and the dark outline of Corfu across the water. It is traditionally dated to the sixteenth century and credited to the Ottoman period, and its walls and tower have been restored for visitors. At sunset the sky and the sea turn orange and pink, which is why most people come in the late afternoon.

The castle is modest in size, and the pleasure is the setting rather than a long exploration. You walk through the gate, climb a few steps along the walls and reach terraces and a tower with the finest views. Inside the complex there is a restaurant and bar in the courtyard, and many visitors time their stop so they can have a drink or dinner while the sun goes down.

The terrace is open to tour groups and independent visitors alike, so it is worth arriving a little before sunset to claim a table or a good spot on the wall.

Because it is close to Saranda, the castle is easy to combine with other things. The tour linked here pairs it with the Blue Eye spring, a combination that has become a standard half-day circuit: the spring in the heat of the day, the castle as the light softens. Others add Ksamil or Gjirokaster. You can also reach the hill by taxi in about fifteen minutes, or on foot if you are a confident walker, although the road climbs steadily and has little shade.

Photography is the main draw, and the best shots are taken at golden hour from the western wall, with the sun dropping into the sea behind Corfu. The same view after dark, with the lights of Saranda spread below, is also memorable, so linger if the evening is clear. Wind can pick up on the hilltop, so bring a light layer outside summer, and check that the restaurant is serving on the day you plan to go.

Together with the promenade below, the castle gives you a complete picture of the town: the ancient harbour, the apartment blocks that climb the hillside and the islands across the strait. It is an easy, inexpensive way to end a day and an especially good option for travellers who prefer sights without long walks. In peak season sunsets are busy, so reserve a table if you intend to dine.

The castle is also a handy place to plan the rest of your stay. From the terrace you can see how the bay is laid out, where the marina sits, how far the promenade runs and where the coast curves south towards Ksamil. Many visitors use the view to decide where to eat that evening or which beach to try the next day, and staff at the restaurant are used to answering questions from first-time guests.

Entry to the hilltop is simple, and the visit rarely needs planning beyond the choice of time. If you are travelling with a driver, ask him to wait or to return at a set time, because taxis can be scarce on the hill after sunset. Dress in layers outside summer, since the wind picks up once the sun goes down.