Ksamil is a small seaside town at the far southern end of the Albanian Riviera, famous for its turquoise water, little islands, sandy beaches and beautiful Mediterranean setting. It sits close to the Greek border, with the island of Corfu visible across the water, and the remarkable ancient site of Butrint just a short drive away.
The photographs are not exaggerating. The water around Ksamil really can be an extraordinary shade of blue and green, especially on a sunny day.
But there is something important to know before you book: Ksamil is no longer Albania’s quiet little beach secret. Its popularity has grown rapidly, and July and August can be extremely busy, with beaches filled with sun loungers, umbrellas, boats and visitors.
That does not make Ksamil less beautiful. It simply means that timing and choosing where to stay can make a big difference to your experience.
They call Ksamil the “Maldives of Europe” — and when you first see that impossibly blue water, you can understand why. Little islands sit just offshore, boats bob on the Ionian Sea and pale beaches curve around the bays.
Location: Southern Albania, on the Ionian coast
Nearest larger town: Sarandë
Country: Albania
Known for: Turquoise water, beaches, small islands and boat trips
Nearby highlight: Butrint archaeological site
Across the water: Corfu, Greece
Best for: Beach holidays, swimming, boat trips, seafood and relaxed Mediterranean days
Busiest period: July and August
Quieter months: May, June and September
Airport option: Corfu is a practical arrival point for the southern Albanian Riviera, with a ferry connection to Sarandë.
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The first thing you notice is the color of the sea.
Ksamil sits around a series of small bays with clear, shallow water and little green-covered islands just offshore. From the beach, you can look across the Ionian Sea towards Corfu, giving the coastline a distinctly Greek-island feeling without actually being in Greece.
There are beaches where you can simply find a sun lounger, order something cold to drink and spend half the day looking at the water. Then there are the little islands.
Some can be reached by swimming, while boats and pedal boats make it easy to get further out into the bay. The islands are one of the features that make Ksamil instantly recognisable in photographs.
And Ksamil has another big advantage: you can combine a beautiful beach holiday with one of Albania’s most important archaeological sites: That place is Butrint.
Do not come all the way to Ksamil and spend your entire visit on the beach.
About 10–15 minutes by car from Ksamil is Butrint, an extraordinary archaeological site surrounded by the landscape of Butrint National Park.
The site contains remains from more than 2,500 years of history, including Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods. You can walk among ancient walls, a theatre, basilica and other ruins with trees and greenery growing around them.
It is a particularly good contrast to Ksamil.
One moment you are swimming in bright blue Ionian water. Not long afterwards you can be walking through an ancient city surrounded by trees.
Allow at least two hours for Butrint, especially if you want to explore rather than simply take a quick look.
The landscape around Ksamil is more interesting than just its beaches.
Butrint Lagoon lies behind the coastal area and connects with the sea through the Vivari Channel. The lagoon is an important natural area, with numerous water birds and other wildlife.
The drive between Ksamil and Butrint takes you through this changing landscape of water, vegetation and small villages.
It is a good reminder that southern Albania offers more than beach resorts.
One of the pleasures of being in Ksamil is simply looking out to sea. Corfu is remarkably close. On a clear day, the Greek island can be seen across the water, adding another layer to the scenery.
This is also why combining Corfu and southern Albania can work so well for a holiday. Corfu has an international airport and ferry connections to Sarandë, from where Ksamil is only a short onward journey.
For travellers already planning a Greek island holiday, adding a few nights in southern Albania can create a very different experience without travelling a great distance.
Ksamil is a seaside destination, so seafood naturally features on restaurant menus.
You’ll find restaurants around the beaches and town serving fish, prawns, mussels and other Mediterranean-style dishes, alongside Albanian favourites.
You don’t need to plan every hour of your day.
Then watch the colour of the water change as the afternoon light moves across the bay.
The beaches are the main reason people come here, and the color of the water is genuinely impressive.
You will find a mixture of sandy and pebbly stretches, small coves and organised beach areas with umbrellas and loungers. Some beaches are tiny, while others open onto wider views across the bay.
The famous images of Ksamil usually show bright turquoise water, white or pale sand and small islands in the background. This is not a single beach, but a collection of beaches and bays around the town.
A useful tip: don’t judge Ksamil from one beach alone.
Walk around and look at several different stretches of coastline. The atmosphere, views and amount of space can change surprisingly quickly from one bay to another.
In high summer, however, expect crowds. Currently Ksamil is one of Albania’s most popular beaches, with July and August being particularly busy.
The little islands just offshore are part of the magic of Ksamil.
You can see them from the beaches, but getting out onto the water gives you a completely different view of the coastline.
Depending on conditions and the operator, you can take a small boat to explore the islands and surrounding water.
This is one of those places where a short boat trip can turn into the highlight of your beach day.
Looking back towards Ksamil from the water, we quickly understood why photographs of this part of Albania have become so popular.
Ksamil makes a good base for exploring this corner of Albania.
This is one of the most important questions you need an answer on before booking.
For a first visit, 3 nights is a good starting point. That gives you enough time for:
Stay longer if your main aim is simply to slow down and enjoy the sea.
As always the best location depends on the type of holiday you want.
TRAVEL TIP: Always book accommodation with a balcony or terrace with a sea view. Imagine opening the curtains in the morning and seeing that extraordinary blue water before you’ve even had your coffee. I’m telling you it is worth it.
WHY WE RECOMMEND: If you want to wake up beside the Ionian Sea, Manta Hotel is one of the places I would look at in Ksamil. This waterfront boutique hotel sits directly beside the sea, with its own beach area, sunbeds, garden and rooms with sea or garden views.
The setting is the real attraction. You can have breakfast overlooking the water, spend the day on the beach and then return to the hotel without needing to drive anywhere. The hotel also has a restaurant and bar, while private parking is available on site.
Its location also puts you close to the things you came to Ksamil for — the beaches, the little islands and the beautiful water — while Butrint is only a short drive away.
WHY WE RECOMMEND: Euro Hotel is on Rruga Eqerem Çabej, in a quieter waterfront position, with direct beach access, sea-view rooms, a swimming pool, restaurant, bar and free private parking.
It is a lovely option if you want the sea right outside your door but prefer to be a little away from the busiest part of Ksamil.
There is also a restaurant serving Greek and Italian dishes, a bar, breakfast and free private parking.
The setting is perhaps the biggest reason to choose Euro Hotel. You get the beautiful Ksamil sea and a beach directly below the hotel, while the livelier central beach area is still within walking distance.
Why we recommend Hotel Camelot by Artur: We like Hotel Camelot by Artur for its relaxed, friendly feel and beautiful setting close to the sea.
It is the kind of place where you can enjoy a slow breakfast, head down to the beach, and come back for a swim in the pool later. A good choice for enjoying Ksamil without making your holiday feel too formal or complicated.
…And the view from your room is simply spectacular.
Why we recommend Hotel Denoel: This is a hotel where you can happily spend the whole day.
Wake up to a sea view, have breakfast overlooking the water, settle onto the hotel’s private beach and take your time over lunch at the beachfront restaurant.
There is no need to rush off sightseeing — you have the sea, sun terrace, garden and restaurant right there. It is a lovely choice for those slow Ksamil days when you simply want to swim, relax and enjoy the view.
There are two particularly useful options for visitors coming from abroad.
Driving gives you more freedom to explore the coast, although Albania’s roads and driving style can require extra attention.
Ksamil is beautiful. However, you need to visit it with realistic expectations.
This is no longer an undiscovered beach town. The spectacular photographs have brought spectacular numbers of visitors, particularly during July and August. But come at a quieter time, stay for several nights, get out onto the water, visit Butrint and explore beyond the busiest beaches, and you can see much more than the postcard version of Ksamil.
And that is perhaps the best way to experience it.
Day 1: Arrive, settle in and spend the afternoon at the beach.
Day 2: Take a boat around the islands and enjoy a long seaside lunch.
Day 3: Visit Butrint and explore the surrounding area before returning to Ksamil for the evening.
Day 4: Continue towards Sarandë or begin exploring more of the Albanian Riviera.
That gives you a taste of Ksamil without turning the holiday into a checklist. And in our opinion, most of the times that is exactly how you should explore a beautiful seaside destination.
Don’t simply come for the photograph.
Come for the blue water, the little islands, the seafood lunch, the ancient ruins, the view towards Corfu and those wonderfully slow afternoons beside the Ionian Sea.
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