Writer: Helena Bergström
Updated: August 2026 | Ksamil is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Albanian Riviera, and it's not hard to see why. Here you'll find white beaches, turquoise waters and a price point that allows you to relax. We offer our best tips for a lovely gem on the Ionian Sea.
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Ksamil in Albania
We traveled to Albania with our camper van, from the south via Greece. For us it was love at first sight. Besides the beaches being amazing, we were surprised by how friendly and hospitable the people in Albania are.
Quick Guide: Ksamil
Top 5 attractions in Ksamil – our best tips
Here are the most important experiences in Ksamil – perfect for those who want to experience the town's highlights in a short time.
- Ksamil beaches – some of Albania's most beautiful beaches, with white sand and crystal clear turquoise water.
- Ksamil Islands – small islands just off the coast that you can easily reach by pedal boat, kayak or a smaller rental boat.
- Butrint – an impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site with well-preserved remains from the ancient city, just a few kilometers from Ksamil.
- Blue Eye – a spectacular spring with intense blue water, surrounded by lush nature.
- The restaurants by the sea – enjoy fresh fish, seafood and Albanian specialties with a view of the Ionian Sea.
If you don't have a camper van, you can get here by plane, either via the capital Tirana or via the Greek island of Corfu, which is located just outside Ksamil.
What to see and do in Ksamil?
Ksamil is primarily a sun-and-swim destination, but there are several activities to combine with beach life. You can hire a pedal boat or kayak and head out to the islands, snorkel in the clear waters or stroll along the promenade.
1. Relax on the beaches of Ksamil
Ksamil is primarily known for its fantastic beaches with white sand and crystal clear, turquoise water. Here you can easily spend a whole day sunbathing, swimming and relaxing.
We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived here. The environment on the beaches is almost paradise-like and we chose to stay longer than we originally intended, which says a lot about how we felt.
Since prices are still relatively low, it may be worth renting sun loungers and parasols and really enjoying your holiday.
2. Head out to the Ksamil Islands
Just off the beach are the small Ksamil Islands, surrounded by clear water. You can get there by pedal boat, kayak or a small rental boat. Here you will find quieter swimming areas and a wonderful feeling of getting away from the most popular beaches.
3. Rent a pedalo or boat
One of the most fun ways to experience Ksamil is from the water. We rented a pedal boat and paddled around the islands, which was really nice. There is also the option to rent smaller motorboats or kayaks to discover the coves at your own pace.
4. Enjoy good food by the sea
Ksamil has a wide range of restaurants overlooking the sea, serving fresh fish, shellfish, octopus and grilled meat, as well as classic Albanian dishes and dishes inspired by Greece or Italy.
Compared to other Mediterranean destinations, prices are low, which makes it easy to relax and enjoy a little extra. We ate at, among other places Restaurant Guvat, where we enjoyed both good food and a fantastic view of the sea. This was the very best restaurant experience during our stay in Ksamil.
5. Take a trip to Butrint
Just a few kilometers from Ksamil is Butrint, one of Albania's top UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here you can walk among well-preserved remains from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras – a very interesting visit and a fascinating contrast to beach life.
6. Visit Blue Eye (Syri in Kaltër)
The famous source Blue Eye is one of Albania's most famous natural phenomena. The intensely blue water is surrounded by lush greenery and is a perfect destination for a half- or full-day excursion from Ksamil. Some are brave and swim in the 12-degree water. For our part, we were content to enjoy the lovely environment and the beautiful views.
7. Watch the sun set over the Ionian Sea
When the evening light falls on Ksamil, the atmosphere becomes very special. Sit down at a beach bar or restaurant and enjoy the view of the Ionian Sea as the sun sets. It almost doesn't get better than this!
8. Explore the beaches around Ksamil
In addition to the central beaches, there are several nice swimming spots nearby, such as Mirror Beach (Plazhi Pasqyrat), Pulëbardha Beach and Manastir Beach. If you have a car, it is easy to discover a new favorite beach every day.
9. Experience Ksamil at night
When the sun goes down, the promenade and restaurants fill with holidaymakers. Evenings in Ksamil are relaxed, with outdoor cafes, beach bars and music – perfect for a peaceful end to the day.
10. Discover southern Albania
Ksamil is a great base for exploring southern Albania. From here you can easily reach Saranda, Blue Eye, Butrint and the historic city of Gjirokastër. Many people choose to combine a few lazy days on the beach with exciting day trips in the area.
Ksamil in 2 days – complete day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Sun and swimming in Ksamil
- Morning: Enjoy the sun and swimming at the beach and perhaps rent a pedal boat or canoe.
- Lunch: Have lunch at any of the restaurants near the beach.
- Afternoon: Continue to enjoy the sun and swimming on the beaches, preferably with an ice cream.
- Sunset: Don't miss the beautiful sunset, preferably from a front row seat at a beach restaurant.
Day 2: Excursions
- Morning: Take a trip to the historical site of Butrint.
- Lunch: Eat lunch somewhere along the way.
- Afternoon: Experience the unique and colorful Blue Eye spring.
Accommodation in Ksamil
In Ksamil there are hotels, apartments and simple guest houses. Many are close to the beach and have reasonable prices.
There are also campsites, although standards can be basic. For those travelling with a motorhome or wanting to stay cheaply, this can be an option. We stayed at Camping Sunset when we were here - a simple campsite (or pitch rather) outside the Sunset Bar & Restorant restaurant.
More to see in the neighbourhood
Do you want to continue your journey and discover more in Albania? Here you will find more reports and tips:
Tips in Ksamil – our best advice for your trip
- Get to the beach early during peak season – The best spots and sun loungers get booked up quickly during July and August.
- Load up on some cash – Although you can pay by card at larger restaurants etc., cash is still important in Albania.
- Use e-sim or local sim card – Albania is not included in the roaming-free zone, and using your personal subscription can be very expensive.
- Take the opportunity to shop locally – For example, you can buy honey produced on farms around the area.
FAQ – frequently asked questions about Ksamil
How do I get to Ksamil?
The most common is to fly to Corfu in Greece and then take the ferry to Saranda. From there, you can take a taxi or bus to Ksamil, which takes about 15 minutes.
How many days do you need in Ksamil?
Two to four days is enough to enjoy the beaches and do some excursions. Many people choose to combine Ksamil with Saranda.
Is Ksamil expensive?
No, compared to many other beach destinations in Europe, Ksamil is relatively cheap. However, prices can rise during the high season in July and August.
Are the beaches sand or rock?
Ksamil is known for its white sandy beaches, which is unusual in Albania where many beaches are otherwise rocky.
When is the best time to travel to Ksamil?
May, June and September are ideal months. You'll enjoy good weather, warm bathing temperatures and less crowding than in the high season.
Can you get to the islands off Ksamil?
Yes, it is possible. You can swim as the water is often shallow and calm, hire a pedalo or kayak or take a small boat.
Is Ksamil child-friendly?
Yes, Ksamil is very child-friendly. The shallow and calm waters make it particularly suitable for families with children.
What should not be missed in Ksamil?
The beaches of Ksamil, the islands off the coast, Butrint and Blue Eye are among the absolute highlights.
READ MORE: Facts about Albania - 30 things you (might) not have known
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Anette says:
All right! ☀️????
16 August 2015 - 19:35
Lennart says:
Seems nice there!
A new destination on the list!
Live well!
16 August 2015 - 19:39
anita wag agrimanaki says:
it didn't look bad! It's amazing that Albania has become so popular! There used to be lots of Albanians working here, but when the situation got worse here, many moved back and now they seem to be better off there. I am very interested in hearing more reports from Albanians regarding food, how they live, standard of living etc.
16 August 2015 - 19:50
BP says:
Yep, it was confirmed - Albania is just as cheap as everyone says it is. Fantastic! With such prices in such a nice environment, it is almost more expensive to cook yourself. Congratulations!
16 August 2015 - 20:22
Kors och Tvärs says:
Albania doesn't feel like it attracts that much... not yet anyway 😉.
16 August 2015 - 21:05
Anja says:
Back on the track! (For my part) .... Hmmm. It was probably Kosovo Albanians who worked elsewhere because of the war and as far as I know it's about the poorest country in Europe - or at least was until recently...
Strange how everything can feel so close and yet so far away - Italy, the holiday islands of (now) impoverished Greece and Albania.
Bye now! Good of course!!!
16 August 2015 - 21:42
Ditte says:
What fun to come to Albania. And the price level is attractive for us, but people in general may not have it so great in terms of wages, jobs, etc. But nice if tourism can create more jobs. Hope that tourism can also contribute positively to Albania's development.
Seems very interesting anyway and it will be fun to hear and see more.
Nice that you are here now before all the tourists find it. Will be a completely different feeling.
16 August 2015 - 21:45
admin says:
Anette, right? 😉
Lennart, so far we are very satisfied!
Anita, when you come to tourist resorts (like Ksamil and Sarande) it seems very popular, especially in August. We'll see what we can find out while travelling!
BP, yes it's really cheap. For the first time on the whole trip we go out to eat without worrying too much.
Across and across, you are attracted to different things! We report along the way - both positive and negative.
Anja, how nice that you're back! 🙂 Yes, it actually feels a bit strange. Albania is much more anonymous than Italy and Greece, but is in the same neighbourhood.
Ditte, presumably the wages are low and not everyone is well off. Here in Ksamil it feels quite rich and modern (apart from all the half-built and abandoned houses), but on the way we saw some "camps" with real poverty. Hopefully tourism brings money into the country.
16 August 2015 - 22:16
Steve says:
Times are changing. Going over to Albania when I was in Corfu in the late 70s was not even on my mind. Now I think it looks like an exciting destination, so I'll be watching with great interest.
And that's just the price situation.
16 August 2015 - 22:57
admin says:
Steve, that's probably true. The world is constantly changing. Now it feels like Albania is keen to have tourists!
17 August 2015 - 6:44
solan says:
Was in North Corfu in the 70's . Remember all the patrol boats off the coast. Albania was closed, only "comrade Hodja?" ravaged. Feels a bit special to see motorhomes on site today. Understand that the price situation is different than expensive Italy. Now you have to eat up... 😉.
17 August 2015 - 8:12
admin says:
Solan, yes, it was probably very different in Albania at that time! I have now read that Enver Hoxha was his name, the communist dictator who ruled until 1985. Yes, now there are motorhomes! Maybe not in quantities, but as you can see we are not alone 🙂.
17 August 2015 - 8:29
ontripdk says:
Exciting to read about Albania, a country that we do not yet know much about as travellers. We eagerly follow your experiences. Those prices are definitely enticing 🙂 Continued good trip
17 August 2015 - 9:08
Ama de casa says:
Looks great - and cheap! Must definitely be worth a visit 🙂
17 August 2015 - 10:06
Lena i Wales says:
Albania, exciting! And what a price range!
17 August 2015 - 10:23
admin says:
Ontripdk, Albania is relatively new as a travel destination, but therefore also exciting and interesting! Funny that you follow!
Ama de casa, the price point is a definite plus!
Lena in Wales, it's exciting to travel around here and of course the prices make it easier!
17 August 2015 - 10:28
Maggan och Ingemar says:
Glad you found a "shall we call it a parking space" it looks like that anyway 🙂 Although we were not very long in Albania (Greece was the goal), we liked the country. Nice and friendly people and as you say cheap. The money was long enough 🙂 I would love to go there again but then preferably in August-September. Unfortunately, it will be more expensive later when they have built all the tourist accommodation. Here Leif also writes about Albania http://giazza.se/
Looking forward to reading about what you think of the country.
17 August 2015 - 16:16
admin says:
Maggan and Ingemar, how nice that you link to Leif's blog! 🙂 We met him and his wife in Greece 🙂 So yes, I have read on his blog about Albania and other interesting countries in the area that we may also visit.
17 August 2015 - 16:22
Steel city anna says:
Looks lovely / someone who just paid £14 for 4 figs 🙂 .
19 August 2015 - 14:57
Bengt. Eriksson says:
Where Albania now in summer.Is absolutely worth visiting, Bode in Saranda was to Kasmil one day,There were super nice beaches. The beaches in the shaky town of Saranda are the stone beaches, if you go a bit beyond the harbour there are better beaches you rent a sunbed and parasol for a cheap money.If you want to go around, a taxi costs about 2o eure a day.
20 August 2018 - 15:24
Marias Memoarer says:
How beautiful it looks, I have been thinking about Albania lately actually 🙂 But unfortunately it seems that the country lacks the fantastic Muslim architecture that most other Muslim countries have? Becomes a small minus in the edge for me....
25 February 2019 - 19:17
Elisabeth says:
Planning in full swing. My sister and I are planning to go at the beginning of June 2020. We went to Tbilisi in Georgia last spring and the year before that it was Zadar Croatia. We are looking forward to seeing the beautiful landscape.
We are thinking of flying to Athens and taking a bus from there to wherever we are staying.
Anyone here who has done the same before?
26 December 2019 - 19:50