Ksamil is the postcard Albania most people picture: shallow, impossibly clear water and three small wooded islets you can swim or paddle out to. It sits at the very southern tip of the Albanian Riviera, a short hop from Sarandë and within sight of Corfu.
Ten minutes further south is Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian ruins sit in a forest beside a lagoon. Go early or late in the day, when the light is soft and the tour groups have gone.
Don't miss in Ksamil & Butrint
- Swim or kayak out to the Ksamil islets
- Walk the Greek theatre, baptistery and Venetian tower at Butrint
- Mussel farms and seafood lunches on Lake Butrint
- Sunset over Corfu from the Sarandë promenade
How to get to Ksamil & Butrint
- From Corfu: fast ferries to Sarandë take around 30–40 minutes, then 20 minutes by bus or taxi to Ksamil. This is the easiest way in for many first-time visitors.
- From Tirana: buses to Sarandë take roughly 5–6 hours. Local buses run Sarandë → Ksamil → Butrint throughout the day in summer.
- By car: the coastal road via Vlorë and the Llogara Pass is beautiful but slow; the inland route via Gjirokastër is faster.
Watch out for
- Most of the beach is covered with paid sunbeds in summer. A day bed is normal; free patches fill up early.
- July and August bring heavy traffic and prices to match. Book stays well ahead.
- Build quality and noise vary a lot between apartments; read recent reviews.
Popular tours near Ksamil & Butrint
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