The Best Things to Do in Ksamil, Albania | A Travel Guide
Plan your trip to Albania’s most famous beach destination with our honest guide. Discover the best things to do in Ksamil, tips on where to stay and eat plus our personal insights so you arrive with realistic expectations and make the most of your time.
Ksamil is the place that changed the conversation about Albania.
In the space of a few short years, this little town on the southern coast became a social media sensation, with its white beach and stunning turquoise bay going viral on mainfeeds, magazine spreads and any newspaper feature talking about the unknown, slightly suspicious outlier transformed to the hot, new summer destination in the Balkans.
Christened ‘The Maldives of Europe’, it’s probably responsible for a generation of travellers now thinking of travel in Albania as more about beach beds than bunkers.
It’s time to set some expectations straight though.
From our experience, in peak summer Ksamil has far more in common with the Costa del Sol than the undiscovered, ‘cheap’ idyll on the Ionian it’s still often sold as. Unabashedly a holiday and tourism town, it’s growing all the time and very very popular with wealthy locals and families. Unlike other spots we visited along the Albanian Riviera, the demographic and appeal is catering more to the exclusive, the romantic, the influencer, the powerful, the see-and-be-seen set, and those 20-year-olds you’ll see driving Porsches with Swiss licence plates.
Before planning your trip to Ksamil, you need to appreciate that, in parts, this is the place for young, rich Albanians coming to have a good time on the weekend or summer vacation at beach clubs, and it's increasingly set up to cater to their preferences and tastes (and other Europeans who share them).
The vibe, at times, is sort of what we imagine Dubai would be like.
That status is one thing, but throw in that it’s often densely packed with private beaches and some of the most expensive prices we’ve seen in Europe outside of Santorini - even surpassing it at times - and it’s enough to make those tantalising turquoise waters just across from Corfu far less appealing.
Unlike the laid-back vibe of Himarë and other beaches further to the north, this isn’t a place designed around budget travellers, backpackers, campers, or those who want to save their money and hang out on public beaches. As we explain in 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Albania, anyone choosing the country because it's often promoted as 'cheap' may be in for a shock.
Does that mean you shouldn't be looking forward to Ksamil, or you should skip it entirely? No - it could still be a good spot for a couple nights R&R and, in comparison to Sarandë, it's still going to be the better option as a base for many of our readers (though some may have to stay in the latter due to accommodation costs).
We also visited in July, and shoulder season will offer a very different impression.
And, by learning from our mistakes for your stay or day trip, you'll arrive with a clearer idea of how to lean in and do it better. Indeed, armed with realistic expectations and a plan for where to swim, eat, and escape for the day, it may actually be a place that you can have leave with a more positive experience.
In our traveller’s guide to Ksamil, Albania, we’ll focus on best beaches and beach clubs (plus some to avoid), cocktails spots and some restaurants we liked, as well as share our pick of accommodations to suit every travel style, day trips to take, transport connections in/out, parking advice, and a few other travel better tips.
(And if you’re wondering, it’s pronounced a bit like “Casa-meal” in a soft Italian accent.)
The Ksamil Essentials
What / A popular base for southern coast
Find / The best beach club for your travel style
Expect / Crowds in summer
Visit / Nearby Butrint ruins
Eat / Casa Mexicana
Enjoy / Sunset cocktails on Poda’s rooftop
Escape / To stunning nearby beaches
Stay / We spent a few nights in Area Hotel and were happy with our choice but if you want somewhere beachfront, check out Poda Boutique Hotel and EMAR
Ksamil Beach
Ksamil’s main beach - Plazhi Ksamilit - is the star of the show.
A short, curving strip of powdery white imported sand, it hugs a shallow, aquamarine bay that is so perfect it looks almost like an AI or CGI imitation.
It’s easy to understand why it became famous - and the sand is now laid each spring in time for the first wave of tourists, then regularly topped up before the peak summer to maintain that reputation and blindingly white ‘Maldives’ aesthetic.
Backed by seafront cafés, cocktail bars and seafood grills, in high season every square mile of sand and shoreline is claimed by cramped rows of sunloungers and macramé umbrellas.
Not an inch of space is left bare by the beach clubs, and there is not a patch of public beach if you want to lay your towel down in peak summer.
At times, it really is just too cluttered and busy to warrant praise.
Due to the volume of people and the churn from pedals and boats, the waters unfortunately weren’t as clear or clean as we’d hoped. However, it’s incredibly calm, shallow, and like a blissful warm bath at times.
The central section - here on Google Maps - is very popular for families, turning it into a padddling pool crèche at times. You should probably only head there for the day if that's going to be a good fit for you (or avoid if you'd prefer not to have lots of young kids playing all around).
To the left, the beach recedes and everything becomes more manmade: private beach clubs, daybeds, floating pontoons, infinity pools, hammocks, and Instagram-friendly decks on stilts above the startling blue. That’s the more adult-focussed, flashy side and where we ended up reluctantly spending €50 for a couple of beds.
In front of all of this, as well as genuinely wonderful views out on the water, the Ksamil islands and the outline of Corfu, there’s too many yellow and orange buoys marking out lanes for the cavalcade of pedalos, boat taxis, inflatables, jet-skis, and speedboat water taxis buzzing constantly between the shore and the islets.
The Ksamil Beach Clubs
It’s super important to appreciate that you have to pay for the privilege to lie down here.
As we’ve explained further in The 19 Best Beaches in Albania, the country operates a very similar system to Italy when it comes to private beach clubs and lidos. Basically, some beaches have a good amount of free, public sand and paid-for sunbeds, whilst some are dominated by the beach clubs.
The main Ksamil beach falls firmly in the latter category, and if you aren’t willing to spend at least €20 on a sunbed & umbrella combination in summer, then it may not even be worth coming on a day trip. For those basing themselves in the town for a holiday, it’s also super important to factor this into your budget
We’re not aware of any hotels that provide free access to sunloungers, so please let us know if you come across one!
The prices depends on proximity of your sunbed to the water and the swagger of the beach club attached, and range from €20 and €80 in the July to August high season - but drop considerably in less popular months.
The VIP areas - such as those Bali-esque daybeds on stilts - can set you back as much as €120 for the day. Interestingly though, these appear to only be made available if the staff think you are baller enough to even deserve them - and they turn away more enquiries than they accept. We assume it’s because they want to ensure that whoever pays that amount is enough of a high-roller to then spend 10x on drink and food.
Even if you turn up first thing, looking more backpacker than baller, some clubs will tell you the front row is all reserved (even though it remains largely empty the rest of the day).
As mentioned, it's very important before planning your trip to Ksamil to appreciate that this is the place for young, wealthy Albanians coming to have a good time on the weekend or summer vacation.
This means, depending on the beach club you choose, the total cost of your Ksamil beach day may be much much more than you anticipate. Prices are not often on menus for drinks / cocktails = another aspect of the 'catering for those who aren't thinking of price" aspect, which only applies here really. At Orange, cocktails were about €10-20, and the only beer they served was €7 for a bottle of Heineken and €10 for a Corona - and their staff watch like a hawk for any brought-in drinks.
You will also see lots of Google Reviews telling you that staff at these beach clubs and restaurants can be quite rude or dismissive toward foreign tourists and, from what we saw and experienced, it’s not uncommon (thought not ubiquitous).
Another very common complaint - that we can also back up - is that you’ll sometimes be asked twice for payment by different employees: make sure to double-check any bill at the end of the day and ask for receipts for everything.
Know // You can turn up and access the beach and water, but won't be able to sunbathe on your own spot. We saw a lot of tourists that were very surprised and frustrated about this, and some were even escorted off the sliver of sand that they’d tried to set up on in front of the sun loungers (which would have been a terrible spot to spend the day anyway). We looked hard for a free beach in Ksamil for you, but unfortunately this spot on a nearby bay on the right of the main beach (here on Google Maps) is no longer free. However, it wasn’t any better than the stunning nearby beaches you can access on a day trip.
There is another section further out by a camper van car park (here on Google Maps), which is a bit unappealing on first sight, but we would have liked for a few hours of sunbathing. However, some people report being asked payment by a gentleman who claims he owns the beach.
How To Choose a Beach Club
Unless you have a personal recommendation, it’s a good idea to walk along the shoreline to get an idea on which club’s best or available, rather than trying to judging from above or behind from the narrow road that runs behind.
For some in peak summer weekends, it’s going to be necessary reserve or turn up early for weekends and busy summer season.
It’s also not a bad idea to take five minutes on the Google Maps reviews of places, just to get an idea on vibe and current prices, but prepare for many of them having horrendously low overall ratings due to poor service, cancelled reservations, bad food, and the overall prices charged.
Note that all of them have beds that are too cramped and close together.
We’ve shared our impressions on a few those that we visited and considered to save you some time:
Greg Bar | Possibly the nicest vibe and aesthetic, with the popular restaurant behind and a deck bar/cafe overlooking bay. Sunbeds are around €40, but this is also the section with lots of kids. One of the best views of the sunset in Ksamil too.
PODA Seaview & Beach Bar | Attached to the Poda Boutique Hotel, this large retaurant-bar-lido had a really good set-up if you want a decadent beach day. Their famous VIP beds cost over €100 - don’t be surprised if you’re told they’re all full up - but they have a selection of more reasonably-priced from €20.
Orange Beach Club | For the flash, young, and wealthy crowd, this is where we somehow ended up after scouting out all the options on the main beach. It was €50 for two beds on the front row and €30 for anything behind that. A daybed up in their VIP section by the infinity pool was €100, and pool access was limited to those clients. Drinks were outrageously expensive and the service poor, so it’s not a ringing endorsement. However, if you are set on a beach day in Ksamil, this location is still one of the better options. In the evening, this becomes one of the main late-night drinks and dance spot for young 'uns.
Aloha Beach Bar | Between Poda and Orange, this charged €30 and prices were more reasonable overall. Its recent reviews are much more positive than alternatives, particularly on service.
There are a couple more less-fancy options to the left of Orange, but the location isn’t as good. To the right of Greg, you can find a few more restaurants and beach bars: Mango Beach Bar had cheaper umbrellas than elsewhere whilst Ostro Beach Bar & Restaurant has reasonably priced sunbeds and excellent reviews for the food.
A few pointers before making your selection:
· turn up early to get the most bang for your buck
· if you make a reservation, make 100% certain you get a (non-verbal) confirmation
· if you can, turn up the day before to get an idea of vibe / fit / prices for your own upcoming Ksamil beach day
· bring a towel for the sunlounger
· some people find the music volume and selection at their chosen beach club to be the worst aspect
· set expectations where they need to be on service, and you may have a much more pleasant experience!
Go To The Little Islands
Just a few hundred metres offshore from Ksamil’s main beach, a cluster of small, uninhabited islands rise from the Ionian Sea.
Known as the Ksamil Islands, these tiny islets are one of the area’s simplest, most beautiful pleasures. Their rocky shores and pine-fringed edges surrounded by the pristine water offer a chance to escape the packed loungers and noisy lidos for a couple of quiet, sun-soaked hours.
You can head over with a boat taxi in less than 10 minutes, or self-propel with a rented pedalo, SUP, or kayak; the latter are the best if you want to enjoy just being in the water and exploring around the islands independently.
There are four islands in total, but most visitors prioritise Isole Gemelle di Ksamil (maps), where two islands are connected by a narrow spit of white stone and shallow water. These islets have no beach clubs, sun loungers or music and are all about enjoying somewhere low-key to swim, snorkel, and sunbathe.
Go | Water taxis shuttle back and forth from the main beach for around 500-1000 lek (€5-10) per person, round trip (prices negotiable).
With the pedalos, you can reach them in about 10-minutes and the maximum rental period we were quoted was five hours.
You can also rent a transparent kayak (from around €15 per hour), a normal kayak, or go by SUP.
There are also lots of guys in small boats offering trips across to this islands and along the coast to other beaches.
Know / Bring over water, snacks, and sunscreen, as there’s nothing to buy and no shade once you’re over there (although sunbed and lounger rental as started to creep in).
Visit Butrint Archaeological Park
Whilst a set of ruins by a lagoon may not exactly be what you’re visiting Ksamil for, Butrint offers a worthwhile change of scene and pace for those who fancy it.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the ancient city of Butrint is also Albania’s most important archaeological treasure.
For over two thousand years, people lived, built, and worshipped there.
First came the Illyrians, then the Greeks, who founded a small colony on the hillside in the 4th century BC. The Romans followed - as they usually did - expanding the settlement into a flourishing port, complete with bathhouses, a forum, and an amphitheatre that still holds water during the winter months. Later, Butrint became a centre of early Christian worship under the Byzantines. Even the Venetians left their mark, strengthening the fortifications and building the tower that now looks down across the Vivari Channel.
And then, silence.
The city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages, its decline blamed on a combination of earthquakes, shifting coastlines, disease, and neglect. Over time, fig trees wrapped themselves around the columns. Ivy crept over mosaic floors. The forest thickened, and Butrint slowly disappeared from view.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that archaeologists began peeling back the layers.
Where | Butrint Archaeological Park is just 5km from Ksamil - find it here on Google Maps.
Local minibuses - known as furgons - run fairly regularly from the centre to Butrint, increasing during the summer months. They usually depart from the main road junction in the middle of the village, just by the small bus stop on the eastern side (maps). Tickets cost around 100 lek (cash only), and the journey takes about 15 minutes.
There's no timetable posted, but most minibuses run every 30 to 60 minutes from morning until early evening. If you're visiting in shoulder season, expect longer gaps between departures.
Taxis are also easy to arrange in Ksamil, with the short 10-minute drive typically costing between €6 and €8 one way. It’s a good option if you’re in a rush, or if you’d prefer not to wait around but make sure to confirm the price before setting off.
You can also walk or cycle the 4km along SH81 - the road is paved the entire way, but note that traffic picks up later in the day and there are several long sections with no pavement. In peak Albanian summer heat, this not a walk we’d recommend.
When | The archaeological park is open daily from 8am until sunset, though exact closing times vary slightly depending on the time of year. The small museum, housed in the tower at the top of the hill, generally opens between 9am and 4pm, but may close earlier in the off-season or during public holidays.
Cost | A standard adult ticket to Butrint costs 1,000 LEK (around €10). Children aged 12 to 18 pay half that, and under-12s can enter for free. Payments are taken at the small kiosk just inside the entrance, but it's worth noting that card payments aren’t always accepted, so be sure to bring enough local currency in cash to cover your visit.
Plan // Our Guide To Visiting Butrint
Bora Bora & The Other Ksamil Beaches
Ksamil isn’t built around one long, continuous beach, but a series of small, sheltered inlets and narrow coves that dip in and out of the shoreline.
If you walk the waterfront path or trace the curve of the bays on foot to the left of the main beach, you’ll find a mix offering slightly different vibe, view, and soundtrack. You’ll quickly notice that almost all stretches are claimed by private beach clubs and lidos - and each passing year those that were once free are bought or claimed (a common issue as the Albanian costs becomes more popular and commercialised).
These distinct beach areas can offer a more chilled, spacious, and enjoyable environment - and absolutely worth considering before you settle on the main beach.
Bora Bora Ksamil is one of the most popular, basically owned by the eponymous beach bar and restaurant which also manages their sunbeds and umbrellas (prices range from 1500-3000 Lek).
Other bays are numbered, and offer a much more affordable version of Ksamil for those on a tight budget - we thought Plazhi Ksamil 7 (maps) looked quite nice.
The further left you went after Bora Bora - around Castle Beach / Plazhi Ksamil 9 - the lidos were cheaper (a bed and umbrella for 1000LEK), but this is often involved concrete platform with old tatty looking beds and less appealing view of the blue.
The coast and small enclave beaches continue until highly-regarded Lori Beach (maps), Puerto Rico beach, and the pebbled Last Bay (maps) which offers very decent views and an environment that’s quite unlike the social media version of Ksamil. As it’s out of the way, there’s far less of packed-in fell and two sun beds and an umbrella can also be had for around €10
If you’re based in Ksamil for a holiday or longer stay, then you should absolutely get acquainted with these bays as they’re likely to be amongst your favourites. For those on an Albania road trip, they’ll also offer an experience closer to what you hoped for - but the choice comes down to whether you would prefer prioritising these over accessing other better, nearby beaches.
Travel Tip // Although increasingly focussed on the high-end market, you can find still value in Ksamil. If you wander around and go away from the beach, there are restaurants that are decent and affordable, espressos and local beers with the reasonable prices charged elsewhere in the country, and excellent night time gelato for €1 a scoop. Supermarket-bought balcony beers and booze are also an entirely acceptable option!
The Best Time To Visit Ksamil
We’ll admit that our experience of Ksamil would likely have been quite different if we hadn’t visited in mid July - the peak time for summer tourism and local holidays.
The season here runs from late May to early October, with mid-July and August bringing peak crowds, soaring prices, and sweltering heat. This is when the town is at its busiest, with beach clubs packed, water taxis buzzing to the islands, and hotels often fully booked.
If you want that old school Ksamil look and aesthetic, then you should definitely consider visiting in the off-season (May to June, and the second week of September to October). The weather is still reliably hot and the sea suitable for swims, but you’ll find space on the beaches, lower prices at the beach clubs, and a chance to enjoy Ksamil’s natural beauty without battling for a sunbed.
The caveat is that services won’t have started (or start to wind down), so some beach clubs, bars, and restaurants may be closed.
Cocktails & Casa Mexicana
Despite our slightly more negative (honest) take on summer season Ksamil, there’s no doubt that it delivers on that post-beach sunset vibe and holiday glow. If you’re looking for a decent spritz or cocktail and sunset view over the sea, we can recommend the rooftop of PODA Seaview & Beach Bar.
Whilst not on the beach, Vamos is decent cool-ish cocktail bar in the fancier hotel area.
The main thing to know is that the prices charged for drinks by the beach in Ksamil quite often ridiculous.
Although most will understandably venture toward the larger, sea-facing restaurants for lunch and dinner, our main eating out recommendation deserves your attention.
Long-time readers will know how much we adore Mexico and its food, so after a decent amount of time solely focussed on the traditional Albanian flavour profile on our road trip, we let ourselves get tentatively excited after seeing this place’s menu on our first walk down to the beach.
So good we went there twice, the Oaxacan chef is responsible for Albania’s first (only?) Mexican and the authentic flavours really shine through.
The cocktails also met our expectations.
A few more options for eating out on the front that we liked the look of, or which are highly rated, include:
· Ostro Beach Bar & Restaurant -
We welcome your personal favourites and recommendations in the comments to help out other travellers like you.
Good to Know // Heads up - at night, the gulley of a backstreet to the beach and the restaurants becomes a sort of flashing-light souvenir market and fairground, with the soundtrack provided by whichever bar has the big late night party that day. We had lots of fun on the dodgems and arcade games though!
Beach Day Trips from Ksamil
From what we saw - and for our style of travel - we’d still actually recommend Ksamil over Sarandë as the best base of the two for visiting the gorgeous beaches of southern Albania.
Whilst we only drove through and stopped in Sarandë briefly on our Albania Road Trip, it was more than enough to form a judgement.
So, if you’re planning a few days or longer in Ksamil, you absolutely need to make a point leaving the town to spend a few hours or a whole day at the following beaches which are just a short drive to the north.
Pulëbardha Beach | One of our favourites, Plazhi i Pulëbardhës gave us exactly the sort of vibes we were hoping to find on Albania’s beaches.
Lukova Beach | A really lovely grey and white pebble beach, Plazhi I Lukovës offers a very good balance between free, public areas and beach clubs. We think it’s a great pick for a full day at the beach in a wilder setting.
Plazhi I Pasqyrave | Better known as Mirror Beach, it deserves all the plaudits. A small, sheltered cove edged by the most iridescent of calm, turquoise blue waters, it reminded us of several of our favourites in southern Italy, in part because of the colourful pops of parasols but also due to the unpretentious air of those that chose this charming beach for their time in the sun. If you’re looking for a full beach day from Ksamil, we highly recommend it.
Shpella e Pëllumbave | This is a great spot, just along the coast from Mirror Beach, but really sums up why it’s not necessary for everywhere to have a beach club.
Remote, secluded, and small if this was left just for those who arrive with their towels and snacks for the day, it would actually be much much better. However, it looks and feels like those in charge are very much looking to make it 95% private beach club coverage.
There’s also Gjiri I Hartës (maps) - which didn’t make the cut for us - and Dua Lipa’s favourite Kep Merli which is basically fully private and exclusive now, not catering to those who just show up and don’t look the part.
We’ve shared everything you could possibly need to know - from access, transport connections, facilities and whether each beach is a good match for your budget or travel style - in our main guide to the best beaches in Albania.
If you’re planning a beach holiday here, then you 100% want to read that before you arrive.
Know | As we had a rental car for our Albania road trip, we simply drove to these day trip beaches. If you don’t have a car, then a good alternative would be to rent a scooter for a few days. There are several scooter rental companies in Ksamil, and we spotted loads of people visiting the nearby beaches on the orange/white ones. However, do note that the dusty downhills and uphills may be a little challenge for many, and you should only rent if you have the necessary experience, licence, and insurance coverage.
Alternatively, you can look + book car rentals in Ksamil and Sarandë here.
Plan // Want to know more about the roads, the risks, the routes, and the costs of car rental? Read our essential guide to driving in Albania.
A Day Trip to The Blue Eye
The mesmerising Blue Eyes of Albania, split between the north and south, sparkle in the sunshine and draw hundreds towards them.
The most famous ‘Blue Eye’ is Syri I Kaltër, about 13 miles/22km outside the coastal city of Sarandë and a very easy day trip from Ksamil.
An impossibly deep natural spring, it’s responsible for gushing out much of the country’s fresh water at a rate of 18,400 litres per second!
Its beauty and setting in lush nature is what makes it such a popular day trip, but the site and experience is unfortunately now on the ‘big tourism’ trajectory: contrary to spending a summer day immersed in remote nature and submerged in turquoise waters, it’s better to anticipate crowds, electric scooters, and much more modern developments in the vicinity.
And, although many expect that they can swim in the Blue Eye itself, this is now actually forbidden (although you can get in the nearby river waters).
Yes, we’re bored of saying this too, but we trade in reality here at ADR and would rather help you travel better than lead you down the garden path.
Where & When | Find the Blue Eye here on Google Maps, about an hour’s drive from Ksamil
There is no direct bus from Ksamil (let us know if that changes), meaning you'd have to take a bus or taxi to Sarandë to connect to the public bus or shuttle
The Blue Eye is open from 8am, set aside 2-3 hours and we recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds
Where To Stay in Ksamil
You’ll see old men and women sitting on the roadside holding up 'room for rent' signs in Albanian, but it’s probably a better idea to have something booked ahead of your arrival.
Prices are generally higher in Ksamil than elsewhere in the country due to popularity and the demographic it’s appealing to, and availability very limited if you leave it last-minute for peak summer visits.
Backpackers and those on a tighter budget may end up staying in Sarande and doing a day trip to Ksamil instead, solely due to the increasing high-end focus and cost of accommodation. However, bear in the mind that, given the cost of a beach club here, it may actually be a false economy to stay in Sarande and coming here, rather than the other southern beaches.
Hotels
Area Hotel | We booked this place as it was the best of the bunch left for our budget, and it also had free, secure parking for guests. Whilst the breakfast wasn’t that great, we were impressed with everything else, and the room was incredibly comfortable. Its reviews since we stayed are generally excellent too!
Hotel Mira Mare | One of the more refined mid-range options in Ksamil, with a rooftop pool, sea views, and easy access to Paradise Beach. Rooms are modern and clean, some with kitchenettes, and there’s a quiet terrace for breakfast. Not luxurious, but a dependable, well-located base.
Otto Hotel | A small, well-kept hotel with big, spotless rooms and a calm, understated feel. It’s not flashy, but the staff are genuinely helpful, the balconies are great, and it offers that rare combination of space, comfort and good value right near the centre.
Poda Boutique Hotel | A rare beachfront stay in Ksamil that actually lives up to the name. There’s a rooftop bar, a small pool, and its own beach club, but it’s the stylish interiors and thoughtful service that make it feel more boutique than resort. The views are just the icing on the cake.
Nobbu Hotel Ksamil | Bright, modern and quietly upmarket, Nobbu has a more grown-up feel than most hotels in town. Rooms are well-designed, the staff are consistently praised, and everything’s finished to a high standard. A good pick if you’re after comfort in a calm setting.
EMAR Beachfront Hotel | Right on the water, EMAR has a polished, peaceful feel that’s a cut above your typical Ksamil beachfront. Rooms are light and contemporary with balconies, the staff are professional, and it’s just far enough from the main strip to feel relaxed while still being close to everything.
Budget-Friendly Options
J&B Hotel | A quiet, well-kept spot with simple rooms and private terraces set around a small garden. It’s not the most central, but everything’s walkable, and for the price, it’s one of the more consistently well-reviewed places in town.
Villa Kreshta | A solid, good-value choice just a couple of minutes from Paradise Beach. The apartments are clean and straightforward, with balconies or small kitchens, and the location makes it an easy base for a few days by the sea.
Brothers of the World is the only place offering dorms in Ksamil.
Lots of backpackers end up in staying in Sarandë and doing a day trip to Ksamil (and the above beaches) as it has several excellent, highly-rated hostels with dorms like Hasta La Vista Saranda, Poseidonas Hostel, and Central Boutique Hostel.
Airbnbs
Like many towns and beach areas in Albania, the Airbnb options are pretty much of a muchness - the same goes for Ksamil.
Expect renovated flats or purpose built apartments that are modern and functional, but a little soulless.
Four that stood out to us are:
· Studio With Incredible Rooftop Terrace
A handful of others to check out are Classic Triple Room, Dori 4, Seaview Villa and Comfy Studio (purely for its affordability)
How To Get To Ksamil
By Car
The traffic in and out of Ksamil can often be jammed up in a slow-moving tailback, particularly on weekends as people are arriving and exiting. On the day we left (a Tuesday), there was a near two-mile queue of people trying to enter the town!
Unsurprisingly, free parking isn’t easy to find and the costs are significantly more than the beaches elsewhere in the country.
Free parking is a big problem for some to find, especially in summer and on busy weekends. We anticipated this, which is why we booked a hotel that offered private parking for guests (Area Hotel). If you're staying here for a few nights, rather than arriving for a beach day, then we highly recommend clarifying that point first to make life easier.
Note some beach clubs have private car parks or reserved spaces for guests - double check before arrival. Cash best.
Car Park A | The best value option we found, this is a large secure paid parking lot for 500LEK in a great location for the beaches.
Car Park B | A massive, central parking lot by Greg restaurant and the beaches - it used to be 1000 LEK for the day (which was nuts then) but they seem to have jacked it up to 500Lek for 3hrs, 800 lek for 3-6 hours, and €15 for the day
Alternatively, it's a case of taking your chances on the back and side streets off the SH81 and roundabout. If you find a good spot, let us know!
For campervans, Finns Camping Caravan site at the entrance to town is worth investigating (maps). It’s very basic, but please read recent reviews as they are so so mixed in terms of experience that it's difficult to know whether to recommend it or not. The price quoted when we stopped by was €5-10.
By Bus / Furgon
To get to Ksamil by bus, the most common route is via Sarandë
The modern Sarandë to Ksamil bus runs roughly every 30 minutes in high season (60 minutes outwith), and takes around 20 minutes. You can catch it in various places (i.e. here on Google Maps), but it’s a good idea to try and get on earlier to increase your chances of grabbing a seat.
If that’s possible, the best place to wait is found here on Google Maps (Rruga Jonianet, Saranda, about 20 metres from Pizza Amaris).
One-way tickets are 150 LEK (€1.50), paid cash on board. There are several stops in Ksamil, so just pay attention to where you need to disembark, but the third one is usually best for day trippers heading to the beaches.
This is also same bus that will take you from Ksamil to Butrint.
Furgons to Gjirokastër and nearby villages also pass through Ksamil, typically leaving from the town’s small central stop or arranged by your guesthouse. Check times locally in bus shelters as schedules aren’t always posted online and can shift with demand.
For onward connections to Himarë, Vlorë, and Tirana, you’re likely to require a change in Sarandë.
If you’re a group or want a comfier ride, you’ll find lots of taxis running between Ksamil and Sarandë. Typically charging between 1,500 and 2,500 lek (€15-25) depending on the time of day and your haggling skills. It’s always worth agreeing on the price before you set off, as meters are rarely used.
From Corfu
Until the new Vlore airport gets completed, one of the most popular ways to reach southern Albania is actually via Greece.
The island of Corfu is just across the water, and it’s often cheaper, faster, and logistically simpler for those focussed on beach holidays to fly to Corfu and cross by ferry to Sarandë, than to fly to Tirana and drive 5+ hours south.
Finikas Lines, Ionian Seaways, and Albania Luxury Ferries offer daily crossings from Corfu to Sarandë, ranging from 1 in winter to up to 30 in high season (30-50 minutes, €19-22 one-way). You can then connect to the above bus to Ksamil or take a taxi.
