What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Sarande?
Emergency number
112
Police: 129. Ambulance: 127.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: albania-spirit.com, albania-streets.openalfa.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 112 is the number to remember by default in Sarande — it works for police, fire, or ambulance and is free to call.
- If you already know which service you need, calling the direct line (129 police, 127 ambulance, 128 fire) can sometimes connect you faster than the general 112 line.
- 125 is worth knowing in a coastal town like Sarande since it covers maritime/water emergencies (e.g. boat trips, swimming incidents).
- Don't count on a smartphone app for emergencies here — there isn't a well-established official Albanian one, so it's safer to have the numbers saved directly in your phone.
- The national ambulance number in Albania is 127, and the general emergency number is 112 — both work in Sarandë.
- The public hospital's emergency department (Urgjenca) is free for both locals and tourists and is the fastest option for urgent issues like cuts, fevers, or minor injuries — several visitors reported being seen within minutes.
- For serious trauma, major surgery, or specialist care, expats and travelers are commonly advised to head to Vlorë or Tirana, roughly 2–3 hours away by car, since Sarandë's facilities are limited in equipment.
- Private clinics like Doctors' Hospital Sarandë only operate daytime hours (09:00–17:00), so outside that window the public hospital's 24/7 Urgjenca is the only walk-in emergency option in the city.
Emergency Numbers
Official Safety Apps
- Status
- No dedicated official Albanian government emergency/safety mobile app was identified for Sarande or Albania nationwide.
- Notes
- A pan-European consumer-safety app (InfoCons) lists Albania's emergency numbers but is a general EU consumer-protection tool, not an Albanian government-run emergency app. Save the direct numbers above rather than relying on an app.
Direct Service Numbers
Police
- Number
- 129
Traffic / Road Police
- Number
- 126
Police Information
- Number
- 122
Ambulance
- Number
- 127
Fire Brigade
- Number
- 128
Maritime / Water Emergency (Relevant for Coastal Sarande)
- Number
- 125
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Notes
- Operators may have basic English ability, especially in tourist areas, but Albanian is the primary language used.
- Description
- General EU-style unified emergency number covering police, ambulance and fire; free to call from any landline or mobile in Albania, including Sarande.
Hospitals
Spitali Rajonal Sarandë "Petro Nako" (Sarandë Regional Hospital)
- Phone
- +355 85 222 312
- Type
- Public regional hospital
- Hours
- Emergency department (Urgjenca) operates 24/7; general outpatient services on standard weekday hours
- Address
- Corner of Rruga Onhezmi and Rruga Studenti, Sarandë, Albania
- Trauma Level
- No formal US/EU-style trauma-center designation exists in Albania's system. This is the main public hospital for the Sarandë district, providing general emergency care (pathology, surgical, pediatric, and obstetric-gynecological urgency services). It is not equipped for major trauma, complex surgery, or specialist critical care — serious trauma cases are typically stabilized here and then transferred to Vlorë or Tirana.
- Notes
- Operating since 1946, with a current capacity of around 111 beds. Emergency care is free of charge for both residents and tourists. Multiple visitor reports describe fast triage and free X-rays/stitches for minor trauma, but note very limited equipment for anything beyond basic care.
Doctors' Hospital Sarandë
- Phone
- +355 69 707 7010
- Type
- Private clinic/polyclinic (network affiliated with Doctors' Hospital Tirana and a Greek hospital group)
- Hours
- 09:00–17:00 daily (not a 24-hour emergency facility)
- Address
- Butrinti Street, km 3, Sarandë 9701, Albania
- Trauma Level
- Not a trauma center — a private outpatient polyclinic offering general/specialist consultations and some emergency care during clinic hours, not equipped for major trauma or overnight emergencies.
- Notes
- Useful as a private, English-capable alternative for non-critical urgent care during daytime hours; for after-hours or serious trauma, the public hospital's 24/7 Urgjenca or a transfer to Vlorë/Tirana is the realistic option.
Healthcare
- Emergency Number
- 112
- Additional Care
- Several private medical clinics in town center offer GP-level consultations in summer, catering to international tourists. Ask your hotel for current recommendations.
- Primary Facility
- Saranda Regional Hospital
- Description
- Handles emergency and general care for the south. Located on the hillside above town center. Adequate for emergency stabilization but limited capacity for serious conditions.
- Emergency Notes
- Operators speak Albanian; English-speaking assistance not guaranteed outside Tirana. When calling, speak slowly and clearly, give location as specifically as possible (city, street name, landmark), and say 'English' (anglisht) immediately if you do not speak Albanian.
- Specialist Note
- For serious conditions requiring specialist care, Corfu General Hospital (Greece) is accessible via 35-minute ferry and is sometimes used for medical evacuation.
Pharmacies
- Availability
- Multiple pharmacies with reliable access
- Communication
- Showing the generic name of medication, its packaging, or using a translation app solves most communication barriers. Pointing and describing symptoms typically gets appropriate results.
- Medication Access
- Albanian pharmacies have relatively permissive over-the-counter policies. Many medications requiring prescriptions in Western Europe are available over the counter, including some antibiotics. Pharmacists are knowledgeable and helpful, willing to recommend OTC solutions for common conditions.
- English Capability
- Many pharmacists in Saranda speak basic to functional English, as it is a tourist-heavy city
- Operational Notes
- Pharmacies are easily accessible in Saranda, with extended hours including some open on Sundays and evenings. Standard hours typically 08:00-20:00 but some operate beyond these times.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Sarande
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.