Is Ksamil, Albania Still Worth Visiting in 2026?

Ksamil, Albania, often called the Maldives of Europe, was once a quiet, undiscovered gem. But with its rise in popularity, many travellers now wonder: is Ksamil worth visiting, or has it lost its charm to overtourism?

I recently returned to Ksamil for a second visit and spent a week exploring its beaches, restaurants, and nearby attractions to find out for myself. Here’s what I discovered.

Is Ksamil Still Worth Visiting?

If your idea of a perfect holiday is private beach clubs, water front bars, and busy but gorgeous beaches, Ksamil is worth visiting and you’ll have an amazing time.

Personally, Ksamil is not my cup of tea. During summer, it’s too touristy, crowded and over-priced for my liking. I prefer Himare to Ksamil, also on the Albanian Riviera.

I do think Ksamil is over commercialized and a bit of a tourist trap. Yet, there’s no denying the beautiful beaches and endless days of sunshine. Ksamil is also very safe, so it’s great for solo travellers.

For some people Ksamil will be a holiday beach paradise. For others (like me) one or two days to see what the fuss is about will be plenty!

When is the Best Time to Visit Ksamil?

Shoulder season is the best time to visit Ksamil: May, June, September and October. Although still busy (May and October not as much), Ksamil is less crowded, cooler and not as expensive.

July and August are the worst and busiest times to visit Ksamil. Make sure you book your accommodation far in advance if you’re planning to visit in peak season.

Almost all Ksamil hotels are fully booked for the entire summer.

Off season is not a good time to visit Ksamil, except as a day trip from Saranda.

I’ve been there in March and it’s a ghost town! Everything is closed. The beaches are empty and free, so that’s nice, but there’s hardly any hotels or restaurants open.

How to Get to Ksamil, Albania

There are two main ways to get to Ksamil: from Tirana, Albania or from Corfu, Greece.

Getting to Ksamil From Tirana, Albania

If you are flying into Tirana, or travelling from Tirana to Ksamil you can rent a car, take a taxi or the bus.

Renting a car is the easiest option, especially if you want to have a car in Ksamil. The highways in Albania are pretty good.

If you’re arriving in Tirana, I highly recommend spending a couple of days there. It’s an interesting, quirky city. Tirana is well worth visiting.

Taxis from the airport were charging 21,000 lek ($249 USD) in 2025 to drive to Ksamil. It might be a little higher from the centre.

If you want to take a bus, you have to take the Saranda or Vlore bus from the South North Bus Terminal in Tirana, and then change to the Ksamil bus.

I prefer the Saranda bus because Saranda has more frequent buses to Ksamil than Vlore, and it’s much closer so you can take a taxi for the last bit. The ride is just over 5 hours.

I did that recently and the taxi fare from Saranda to Ksamil was 2500 lek ($30 USD). The bus fare from Tirana to Saranda was 1700 lek ($20 USD).

Make sure you have cash. I don’t think the buses (or many taxis) take credit or debit cards.

Getting to Ksamil From Corfu, Greece

A great option is to fly to Corfu, Greece and take the ferry to Saranda, Albania. From Saranda you can take the bus or a taxi to Ksamil. Corfu is only 3 km from Albania at the closest point!

The Corfu to Albania route is a pretty convenient way to get to Ksamil.

The flying dolphin (hydrofoil) makes the crossing in 30 minutes, and the slow ferry takes 1.5 hours.

Corfu’s airport is not far from the international ferry terminal. The Saranda port is conveniently in town, close to the bus station and taxis.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Ksamil?

Except for visiting Ksamil’s beaches, there’s not much to do – which makes some travellers wonder if Ksamil is worth visiting for more than a couple of days.

There are popular beach clubs and many great places to eat in Ksamil, but in terms of activities outside of the water, Ksamil does not have much to offer.

Boat tours to the Ksamil Islands and nearby beaches are popular as well as paddle boating, and jet ski.

If you have a car you can get out of town and explore the quieter beaches further up the coast, or visit Butrint National Park (UNESCO).

You could spend a few days or a week in Ksamil, depending on your idea of the perfect vacation.

How to Spend a Week in Ksamil

If you’re trying to decide whether Ksamil is worth a week-long stay or just a quick visit, here’s what I recommend:

• 2 or 3 days exploring the beaches
• take a boat tour one day to Ksamil Islands
• visit Butrint National Park another day (there’s a bus)
• visit Saranda and Gjiorokaster (you’ll need a car) one day

What to Do in Ksamil

The beaches are the star attraction of Ksamil. Apart from the beaches there isn’t much to see.

The town was only built in the 1960s as a ‘model socialist village’ and getaway for the communist elite. So it doesn’t have a lot of historic context or interesting architecture. It’s primarily a beach resort town.

This is what I recommend you do in Ksamil:

1. Enjoy the Beaches

Ksamil has gorgeous beaches all along its coast. This is the number one reason visitors come to Ksamil.

The water is aquamarine, clear and warm. The sand is very fine pebbles, almost white. The slope is fairly shallow and gradual making it a favourite for families.

Keep in mind there are no free beaches in Ksamil. You will have to rent a sunbed and umbrella. Depending on season, they cost between 1000 and 3000 lek ($12 – $35 USD) per day.

The beaches get busy, go early to reserve a sunbed. I saw people on the beach as early as 8 a.m.!

2. Do Watersports

You can rent kayaks, jet skis and paddle boats by the hour in Ksamil. I saw a lot of water sports around Mango Beach and Bora Bora Beach.

It’s possible to kayak or jet ski to the Ksamil Islands.

3. Eat Seafood

Ksamil has amazing fresh seafood! I had wonderful kalamari, crab and fish in Ksamil.

One of my favourite places for seafood in Ksamil is Restaurant Fredi Fresh Fish. It’s one of those places where they sell fish and have a restaurant, so you know it’s going to be super fresh.

If you want to buy fresh fish but not cook it, they’ll cook it on the spot for you (for a small fee), and you can take it back to where you’re staying.

4. Visit Butrint National Park (UNESCO)

Butrint National Park (UNESCO) is one of the most beautiful and important historic sites in Albania. It’s just 5 km from Ksamil. If you only do one excursion, this should be it.

Within the confines of the national park are ancient and medieval ruins dating as far back as the 6th century BC. The ruins are well preserved, and mostly in the same area, making it easy to explore.

There’s lots of walking trails and quiet spots to enjoy – the park is 86 square kilometres. I came here with my dog and he had one of the best days of his life in Butrint!

Butrint is so close to Ksamil you could walk, but a taxi or bus is easier. The bus to Butrint leaves from the bus station on SH81 across the street from Dancer’s Square beside Supermarket Gjordeni.

5. Explore Saranda

Saranda is the small seafront city 15 km north of Ksamil. You probably came through Saranda to get to Ksamil.

It’s a nice change from Ksamil and it’s a pretty city. If you’re looking for things to do in Saranda, stroll along the seafront promenade, enjoy a meal at one of Saranda’s restaurants, and do a little souvenir shopping.

To reach Saranda from Ksamil you can take the bus (there’s stops all along SH81) or taxi.

To return to Ksamil take the Ksamil-Butrint bus from the bus stop on Rruga Skenderbeu across from the Synagogue Basilica ruins. Or you can take a taxi. Saranda Eco Taxi charge 2500 lek ($30 USD).

6. Take A Day Trip to Gjirokaster (UNESCO)

Head into the mountains of Albania and visit Gjirokaster, the enchanting medieval stone city.

Compared to Ksamil, Gjirokaster is a different world. It’s an old historic city, with a beautiful castle, a charming cobbled street bazaar and Ottoman era homes and buildings. It’s full of culture and Albanian authenticity.

Gjirokaster is significant to Albania. It’s the birthplace of Albania’s most famous and celebrated writer Ismail Kadare. I visited Kadare’s apartment and it was one of the most interesting things I did in Tirana.

It’s also the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, Albania’s communist dictator.

The easiest way to reach Gjirokaster is by car or taking a day tour, like this highly rated tour from Saranda to Gjirokaster that includes Syri i Kalter (the Blue Eye).

Taxis are expensive, but doable (I did this from Saranda and had the taxi wait for me). To take the bus you have to go to Saranda first and switch buses.

Things to Know Before Visiting Ksamil

• Book your accommodation early. The best guest houses and hotels are fully booked all summer. Do not arrive without a reservation!

• There are no free beaches in Ksamil. All of them are operated by restaurants, hotels or beach clubs. Two sunbeds and one umbrella will cost 1000 – 3000 lek ($12 – 35 USD) depending on month.

• It is not a budget destination. Compared to beach resorts in Italy and Greece it is cheaper, but Ksamil is expensive by Albanian standards.

• The wi-fi is not the best. I had mixed reception with my Vodafone sim, which locals all say is the best.

• Cash is king! Credit cards and debit cards are not widely accepted outside of hotels and some restaurants.

Where to Stay in Ksamil

Ksamil has lots of small hotels and guest houses. These are my favourites out of all the properties I saw when I was there.

Vila Sun 2e: Excellent budget choice on a quiet street slightly up from the town center. New and spotless apartments in a cute villa with balconies, kitchens, and city views start from $30 USD, parking included.

Galaxy Hotel: Peaceful mid-priced hotel overlooking Butrint Lake, 1 km from the beach. Hotel has a pool and is perfect for families or anyone with a car that wants a quieter location. Simple but comfortable rooms start from $70 USD, including breakfast and parking.

Emar Beachfront Hotel: Terrific value for a mid-priced hotel only 150 metres from Ksamil Beach. A lively location close to beach bars, restaurants and shops. Recently renovated rooms start at $70 USD, including breakfast and parking.

Ori Mare Hotel: Excellent 4 star family hotel with two pools – one for kids and one for adults. Located 800 metres from the beach. Rooms are spacious starting from $75 USD, breakfast and parking included.

Poda Boutique Hotel: Luxury beachfront hotel offering a resort experience. Breakfast and dinner is included in the room rate, which starts from $260 USD. Hotel has beach access, a terrific beach club, waterfront restaurant, bar and swimming pool.

Where to Eat in Ksamil

These were some of my favourite places to eat in Ksamil. The best things to eat in Ksamil are local specialties: seafood, byrek and traditional Albanian dishes.

Did You Know Ksamil, Albania Used to Be a Military Zone?

Until the 1960s there was nothing in Ksamil. Then Enver Hoxha visited (the communist dictator), and decided it was the perfect spot for a model socialist village.

A communist co-operative settled in Ksamil and worked the olive and citrus fields. Because of its close proximity to Corfu, Greece (there were tensions between Albania and Greece at the time) Ksamil became a military zone.

Only the communist elite were permitted to visit Ksamil.

All of this changed after 1992 when communism collapsed in Albania. Unrestricted land grabbing and construction started a building boom. Today Ksamil is Albania’s number one tourist destination.

Last Words on Is Ksamil, Albania Still Worth Visiting?

So, is Ksamil still worth visiting? That depends on what kind of traveller you are.

If you’re looking for buzzing beach clubs, social vibes, and gorgeous turquoise water, Ksamil delivers. For younger travellers or couples seeking fun in the sun, it could be the perfect getaway.

But if you’re after peace, authenticity, or off the beaten path charm, you might prefer somewhere like Himare.

As for me? Ksamil’s not quite my scene, but I can absolutely see the appeal for others.

Share on Social: