How to Spend the Perfect Day in Ksamil, Albania (2024)

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Ksamil: Home of Crystal Clear Waters and Stunning Views

Ksamil in Albania has been referred to as the “Maldives of Europe” all over social media recently. It’s clear blue waters, white sand beaches, and party and restaurant scene make this Albania’s most popular tourist destination! Ksamil is fun for all ages; children jump on inflatable water obstacle courses, young adults party all day and night, and parents and grandparents relax out on the beach all day. There are loads of beachside clubs, bars, and restaurants that make Ksamil a top travel destination. We’ll go over how to spend the perfect day in Ksamil as well as a few great day trips to take!

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How to Spend the Perfect Day in Ksamil

Spend the Morning at Butrint National Archaeological Park

When you’re in Ksamil, visiting Butrint National Archaeological Park is a must. Grab a Burek, (a pastry that is stuffed with meat, cheese, vegetables or a combination of these), and take the 8:30 am bus to Butrint that passes through the main road. (This is also around an hour walk from Ksamil, so if you want to start your morning earlier, opt for the exercise-friendly option!) Butrint National Archaelogical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built between the 10th and 8th centuries BC, and occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, French and was even a small fishing village at one point!

Day in Ksamil: Butrint Amphitheater — Amphitheater

Day in Ksamil: Butrint Baptistry — Amphitheater

Even if you aren’t greatly interested in history, this is definitely worth visiting! It takes around 2-3 hours to explore Butrint. Read more about the history of Butrint here!

Albania Image Reel Ksamil — Butrint National Park

Day in Ksamil: Great Basilica — Butrint National Park

Indulge in a Typical Albanian Lunch

If you’re a vegetarian, beware! Albania’s cuisine is heavily meat-based, which you will immediately notice. Grab lunch at Restaurant Korça – this place has delicious moussaka, kofta, and pastitsio, and after our meal the owner came out and took Raki (a traditional Albanian drink) shots with us! This is what a typical Albanian plate looks like:

Dive Into Some Water Activities!

What better way to experience the beautiful blue water than zip through it on a jetski, watch your kids play on the inflatable obstacle course, go for a boat ride, paddle board (book your paddleboard tour here), kayak, or do a boat tour! Whatever your speed (literally), there is something for you! The Ksamil Islands are tiny uninhabited islands that are a top tourist attraction in Ksamil, where you can relax, island hop, and hang out for a few hours. Book your tour of the Ksamil Islands here!

Walk Along the Coast in Search of a Cocktail!

One of the best things to do in Ksamil is walking along the peaceful pedestrian walkway and watching it slowly get less crowded. We eventually got to a bar called Sole Mare, which has the most interesting entrance to a bar we’ve ever seen! You can also rent lounge chairs and relax on the beach here, which is also much less crowded than Ksamil beach.

Relax on the Beach

Ksamil is known for its beaches, and for good reason! While the beaches are beautiful, most are crowded, and you’ll likely have to pay for a lounge chair if you want to do more than just take a quick dip. The further you get from Ksamil Beach, the less crowded the beaches will be. Here are a few of the beaches in Ksamil:

Ksamil beach is the most happening, and is jam-packed!
Bora Bora is probably the most famous of the Ksamil beaches and therefore is also super crowded.
Ksamil Beach 7 offers gorgeous views of the Ksamil islands
Lori Beach is a private beach in a nice and quiet cove
Augusto Beach is the most secluded beach in Ksamil, located just past Lori Beach

Enjoy a Stunning Sunset

Whatever sunset-viewing location you choose, you’ll be amazed! This is the sunset from Bora Bora beach, which was beautiful. Although the owners kick you out after the sun sets, this is a great place to relax after the chaos from the daytime beach goers dies down!

Watch the Boardwalk Come Alive at Night

Whether your a party person or not, make sure to walk the boardwalk at night! Vendors sell anything from ice cream to traditional artisanal crafts, restaurants serve up the catch of the day, and clubs compete with one another for the most exciting party atmosphere. One club was having a bubble/foam party in an infinity pool while a rapper preformed, another had a DJ attracting hardcore EDM enthusiasts, and another had some sort of fun tango dancing. Explore for yourself and see what attracts you!

Day Trips From Ksamil

Quick Visit to the Blue Eye

The Blue Eye is one of one Albania’s most prized natural wonders. Located just 45 minutes outside of Ksamil, this makes for the perfect day trip. Unfortunately you can no longer swim here, but it’s still worth visiting! If you want to experience Butrint National Park, Lekursi Castle, and the Blue Eye (a natural lagoon), book this tour!

Day Trip to Sarandë

Sarandë is a nice beach city that you’ll definitely pass through on your way to Ksamil, but its worth exploring on its own! There’s lots of areas to relax on the scattered beaches and the boardwalk is lined with palm trees and trendy restaurants. The activities are fairly similar to what you’ll find in Ksamil, but nevertheless interesting! You can do a boat trip, like this tour offers, or explore the city’s history with this tour in the morning before cooling off in the bay!

Day Trip to Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster, also known as the “City of Stone” is another Albanian city with a charming old town. Its stone pathways, residences, restaurants and especially castle rightfully earned its nicknames. Gjirokaster has loads of history, ranging from Albanian elites battling each other centuries ago to the recent communism period. The highlights of Gjirokaster are the castle, the cold war tunnel, the Ali Pasha Bridge, the houses of the elite familes, and of course its old town. This is a great day trip from Ksamil! This tour will pick you up from Sarandë and take you to Gjirokaster for a half day.

Check out our guide to The Best Things to do in Gjirokaster!

Day Trip to Corfu

Although Corfu is close to Ksamil, you can get vastly different experiences compared to Albania. Go olive oil tasting, paragliding, sample the cuisine, and much more! Check out the best activities to do in Corfu!

To get from Ksamil to Corfu, take the bus that leaves every 30 minutes from Ksamil to the Sarandë ferry port. The ferry to Corfu costs $45 USD round trip and takes 30 minutes one-way.

Where to Stay in Ksamil

Ksamil Accommodations

BUDGET

Arjana & Nelaj Apartments

How to Get to Ksamil

How to Get to Ksamil by Private Shuttle

There are a few services that offer private shuttles around Albania, which provides flexibility and comfort that other services may not provide. We recommend going with this shuttle service.

How to Get to Ksamil via Car

This is the cheapest and most reliable rental service in the Balkans. You can also take your car on the ferry to Corfu for a higher fee, as long as the rental car service approves this.

How to Get to Ksamil From Outside Albania

The easiest way to get to Ksamil is to fly into Corfu and take the ferry to Sarandë. Hint: Book your flights with Skycanner for the cheapest prices! From Sarandë you can take a taxi, rent a car, or take the bus (follow the instructions below) to Ksamil.

How to Get to Ksamil By Bus

This service provides buses all over Albania (and other Eastern Europe destinations as well!) You’ll likely take one bus from your previous destination to Sarandë, then follow the instructions below to get to Ksamil!

How to Get From Sarandë to Ksamil By Bus

From Sarandë, you can take the public bus that leaves every 30 minutes and costs around $2. The bus runs from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm. This bus passes through the bus stations marked “Bus Stop to Ksamil and Butrint”.

Keep Exploring Albania…

Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.

Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.

Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.

Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.

International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.

eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.

Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!

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Ksamil, Albania FAQs

Is Ksamil or Sarandë better?

If you want the happening party scene that has a resort-town vibe, Ksamil is better. If you want a bigger city (but calmer) vibe, Sarandë is the best place to go.

Is Ksamil worth visiting?

I would recommend Ksamil if you’re with a big crowd who’s looking to party. For budget backpackers, I would skip this and seek out other Albanian destinations. As an alternative, we would definitely recommend Sarandë (or even better, Himarë); it has more of a chill vibe and similar beautiful water.

Is Butrint National Park worth visiting?

Absolutely! It has such interesting history and really cool ruins. If you have time, this can be your kick-off to spending the perfect day in Ksamil!

How many days do I need in Ksamil?

Ksamil is a great place to do nothing. Other than relaxing on the beach and water sports, there aren’t a ton of things to do in Ksamil. However many days on the beach plus the number of day trips you’re interested in is how long you should spend in Ksamil.

When is the best time to visit Ksamil?

The best time to visit Ksamil is in the summer months. This is the hottest time of year making it a great time to relax on the beach. If you want to avoid crowds, try to avoid weekends and go earlier in the summer.

How to Spend the Perfect Day in Ksamil, Albania