Ksamil, Albania is quickly becoming one of the most desirable beach destinations in Europe. Located in the Albanian Riviera, the beaches in Ksamil offer a bit of paradise along the Ionian Sea!
With Ksamil’s stunning white sands and crystal clear, turquoise waters, you’re sure to have an incredible vacation soaking up the sun in Albania.
We spent one week testing out all of the best Ksamil beaches, and we’re sharing our favorites in this article.
At the end of the article, you’ll find some tips to help you plan your trip to Ksamil, such as an Albania travel planning guide, where to stay in Ksamil, and the best ways to get to Ksamil.
From hidden gems to the most popular beaches, come and explore the 13 best beaches in Ksamil that you won’t want to miss!
13 Best Beaches in Ksamil
1. Ksamil Beach
Ksamil Beach (Plazhi Ksamilit) is one of the most popular beaches in Ksamil. The white sandy beach and crystal clear water make it one of the most beautiful spots in the Albanian Riviera.
Located in a small cove, Ksamil Beach is conveniently located and is the perfect spot to relax for the day. The water at Ksamil Beach is usually calm and has some shallower parts that are nice for wading in.
As with most of the beaches in Ksamil, you have to pay to rent beach chairs and umbrellas for the day. The cost is usually between 1,000 to 2,000 lek ($10-$20) for two beach chairs depending on the time of the season. It’s always cheaper to rent the chairs in May and September.
If you’re looking for a bit of an adventure, you can hire a motorboat with a driver for a couple of hours. They’ll take you around the islands and give you a little tour of the area for around 3,000 Lek ($30).
Otherwise, we highly recommend renting a kayak or a paddleboat for a few hours and exploring the islands on your own. You can find paddleboat rentals right on the beach for around 1,000 Lek ($10) per hour.
There are plenty of amenities nearby (right behind the beach), so you never have to go too far if you need to get something to eat or pick up a snack from the market.
Just a 6-minute walk from the beach is a delicious spot for gyros called Beshiku. They are super fast, cheap, have take away, so you can grab a gyro and head back down to the beach to eat.
While this is one of the larger beaches in Ksamil, it can get really busy and crowded during the summer months. To make sure you get a spot, you may have to arrive earlier in the morning to get a prime location and to snag a beach chair rental for the day.
2. Lori Beach
Lori Beach is one of our favorite beaches in Ksamil! This beautiful private beach feels like a slice of paradise with its stunning turquoise waters and white sand.
The beach is secluded in a bay, which helps to keep the water calm and the winds out. It’s also nice and shallow, so you can dip your toes in if you don’t feel like swimming.
Since this is a private beach, you must rent beach chairs and an umbrella in order to stay at the beach. The cost is around 1,500 lek ($15) for two chairs during the high season.
Due to its small size, the beach can fill up quite fast during the summer. Arrive early to secure a spot. Some of the hotels nearby, like Delight Hotel, have exclusive (and free) access to this beach, so you are potentially competing with these people for spots at Lori Beach. Alternatively, you can just stay at the hotel and get free access yourself!
There is a small cafe directly behind the beach that serves drinks and snacks. It’s a good spot for drinks, but you’ll find better food elsewhere.
Looking for a complete guide to Ksamil? Check out our post on the 11 Best Things to do in Ksamil.
3. Augusto Beach
Augusto Beach is a hidden gem in Ksamil. If you’re looking for a quiet escape from all of the music and crowds, then this beach is for you.
Augusto Beach is located the furthest south, yet it is still in walking distance from all of the centrally located hotels. There is also parking located nearby if you prefer to drive.
The sand on this beach in Ksamil is made up of small pebbles and doesn’t feature the softer white sand like the other beaches. However, since this beach is less popular, you’ll have more space to relax and enjoy.
You can rent a couple of sunbeds and an umbrella here for 1,000 lek ($10). There is also a bar located on the beach where you can grab some affordable drinks.
Overall, this is a great beach for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing without the crowds.
4. Ksamil Beach 9
Ksamil Beach 9 is another one of the most beautiful beaches in Ksamil. Its central location makes it very accessible no matter where you are staying in Ksamil.
Sunbed rentals can cost up to 1,500 lek ($15) for two chairs and an umbrella during high season and around 1,000 lek ($10) during the off season.
As with all of Ksamil beaches, it tends to get busy during the months of June to August, so all of the beach chairs can feel a bit crammed and close together.
This is technically a public beach, but there isn’t a lot of room for sitting on the beach without a sunbed. You may have to end up renting one anyways to get a spot on Ksamil Beach 9.
There are toilets and plenty of restaurants nearby, so you have a lot of options for lunch.
5. Bora Bora Beach
Bora Bora Beach is another iconic beach in Ksamil! It’s a smaller beach but has a lot of amenities close by and is often considered a favorite spot amongst travelers. The white sand is made up of small pebbles, but it’s perfect if you have a chair to sit on.
Since this is a small beach, they tend to pack the sunbeds pretty tight at Bora Bora Beach. If you’re traveling to Ksamil in June, July, and August, you may want to opt for a beach with more space.
6. Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is a half public and half private beach. If you’re hoping to bring your own towel without having to pay for a sunbed, then you’re in luck!
This beach is narrow, so spots are limited. The water is a beautiful turquoise blue and it’s is a nice place for swimming.
Parking is just behind the beach.
7. Ksamil Beach 7
Ksamil Beach 7 is another one of our favorite beaches in Ksamil! It’s located right next to the Ksamil islands, the sand is white and soft, and the water is almost transparent. What more could you ask for?
The best part of this beach is its proximity to the Ksamil islands. Located less than 100 meters away, you can easily swim to two of the islands from here and go exploring on your own.
Additionally, you can rent kayaks for a couple of hours from this beach and paddle out to the furthest island. We rented two kayaks for one hour, and it cost us 1,000 lek ($10) total. We visited in May, so the prices for kayaks may go up during the height of the season.
Ksamil Beach 7 is a nice, wide beach, so it doesn’t feel as crowded as some of the other beaches. The food is okay – we’d recommend getting food elsewhere.
Otherwise, if you’re wanting to explore the islands, rent kayaks, or simply swim to the islands on your own, this the perfect beach for it!
8. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is located on the north end of Ksamil. The beach is aptly named, as it’s one of the best places to watch the sunset in Ksamil.
While this beach isn’t quite as picturesque as the other Ksamil beaches, it’s still a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing in the sun.
You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas for a similar price to the other beaches – around 1,000 lek ($10).
9. Puerto Rico Beach
Puerto Rico Beach is located just across the bay from Lori Beach. You can rent a sunbed and a floating net that hovers above the water here. The cost for the net comes at a minimum of around 5,000 lek ($50) for the day.
This lively beach can often be crowded with families, but what do you expect at a beach?
The Ohana Beach Bar is located near this beach, which is a fantastic spot for drinks and food.
10. Ohana Beach
Ohana Beach is a nice, clean beach with lovely views of the Ksamil islands. The water is beautiful and clear and is not as popular as the more centrally located beaches.
There is a bar called the Ohana Beach Bar located on the beach that’s nice for drinks and lunch. While we didn’t eat at the restaurant (it wasn’t open in May when we visited), we’ve heard a lot of positive reviews and would recommend trying it.
You may want to bring water shoes because it’s a bit rocky getting into the water from the beach.
11. Mirror Beach
Mirror Beach (Plazhi Pasqyra) is located just a 10-minute drive from the center of Ksamil. This beach is truly a hidden gem in Albania and gets its name from its crystal clear water that reflects off of the sun.
To get to Mirror Beach, you can either drive, take the bus, or grab a taxi. If you are taking a bus from Ksamil or Sarande, then ask the bus driver to stop at Mirror Beach. They’ll drop you off at the bus stop on the main road. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the bus stop down to the beach.
The drive to the beach is a bit rocky and steep but it’s definitely doable. Make sure to arrive early in the morning during the busy season, as parking is limited and the beach fills up fast.
12. Relinda Beach
Relinda Beach is one of the most gorgeous, hidden beaches in Ksamil. It’s tucked away from the crowds of the main Ksamil Beach and feels like a private island paradise.
The water here is gorgeous and clean, which makes it lovely for swimming in. The beach itself is quite small, so spots are limited. There are nets available for rent on the deck that hover over the water. It’ll cost you around 10,000 lek ($100) to rent one for the day during peak season.
The restaurants surrounding Relinda Beach are some of the best beach restaurants in Ksamil. Abiori Beach Bar Restaurant has delicious fresh seafood and Guvat restaurant has a mix of seafood and classic Albanian dishes.
13. Isole Gemelle di Ksamil
Isole Gemelle di Ksamil is the most stunning and secluded beach in Ksamil. It’s located on the furthest Ksamil island and can only be accessed by kayak, paddleboat, or motorboat.
The beach is very narrow and connects to larger land masses together. The views of the greek island of Corfu are incredible, and you feel completed isolated from the rest of Ksamil.
The best way to see the island is to rent a kayak or paddleboat, so you have flexibility and freedom to explore. We rented kayaks to visit the island from Ksamil Beach 7, and it was by far our favorite activity during our time in Ksamil.
There are no amenities on this beach, so you’ll need to bring your own food and drinks if you plan to spend the day here.
The actual beach can fill up fast during the summer, but there are plenty of spots available up on the rocks above the beach if it’s full.
Map of Beaches in Ksamil
To help you navigate your way around, all of the best Ksamil beaches mentioned in this article are saved to this map. You can download this to Google Maps on your phone, or you can click the arrow on the upper lefthand side to see a list of all of the beaches.
The Ksamil Islands Albania
The Ksamil islands are located just off the cost of the mainland. These can be explored on your own by kayak, paddle boat, or if you’re up for it, you can even swim to a couple of them.
There are also private boats that will take you there, which is a great idea if you’re traveling in a group.
In total, there are three Ksamil islands, all of which are uninhabited.
Renting paddle boats or kayaks
The best way to explore the Ksamil islands on your own is by renting a kayak or a paddleboat! We rented two kayaks for 1,000 lek ($10) total per hour. Alternatively, can expect to pay around 1,000 lek ($10) per hour for a paddleboat.
We suggest renting these for at least 3 hours to have enough time to enjoy the beach and to explore all three islands.
Are the beaches in Ksamil private?
Some of the beaches in Ksamil are private, such as Lori Beach and Ksamil Beach 7, which means you have to pay for a sunbed in order to stay at the beach.
Although during the months of June, July, and August, expect to pay for a sunbed at almost all of the beaches. They really cram them onto the beach, so there isn’t much room to lay out your own towel.
The cost of sunbeds varies across Ksamil, but on average, you can expect to pay around 800 ($8) to 2,500 ($25) LEK for a set of sunbeds and an umbrella for the day. The prices are usually the highest in July and August and cheaper in May and September.
Best Time to Visit the Ksamil Beaches
The best time to visit the Ksamil beaches is from the end of May to June and in September. We visited Ksamil during the middle of May and the weather was cold and rainy almost the entire time.
We heard this rainy weather was unusual for May, but you never know during the spring. Additionally, a lot of the restaurants were still closed in the middle of May, as the locals were still preparing for the season.
If you want more of a guarantee for good weather, then visiting from the end of May or in June is a safer option.
The busiest time to visit Ksamil is between June and August at the height of peak summer season. Of course, you’re almost guaranteed to have fantastic weather during this time of year, but that comes at a cost of higher prices and more crowds.
How do you get to Ksamil, Albania?
Whether you have a rental car or are planning to take public transportation, there are several options to get to Ksamil.
Renting a car
Renting a car is the best option for getting to Ksamil. It will provide you with a lot of flexibility while traveling in Albania, and it’s the easiest way to get around.
We rented our car from Discover Cars and picked it up at the Tirana airport. The drive from Tirana to Ksamil takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Public transportation
The second option is to take a bus from Tirana to Ksamil. Unfortunately, there is no direct route to Ksamil from Tirana. Instead, you have to go to Sarande and then catch the local bus from there to Ksamil.
Buses leave daily from Tirana from 6:15am – 10:00pm with several departure times throughout the day. You can check the Girafa website for an official timetable.
The cost is around 1700 lek ($17) per ticket, and you need to pay the bus driver in cash for your ticket. You do not need to reserve your ticket in advance.
Once you arrive in Sarande, go to the bus stop near the ferry port. The buses arrive every 30 to 60 minutes, and the cost is 250 lek ($2.50) each way. The bus takes around 10-20 minutes to get to Ksamil.
If you prefer, you can take a taxi from Sarande to Ksamil. The cost is 2,000 lek ($20) per car. Often, you’ll find other travelers waiting at the bus stop, and you can ask if they want to split a taxi ride to save some money. We did this with two other travelers and paid $5 per person for the 4 of us.
Visiting Albania from Corfu? Check out our guide on how to get from Corfu to Ksamil.
Where to eat near the beaches in Ksamil
From high-quality restaurants serving fresh fish and local Albanian specialties to fast food restaurants serving gyros, there are plenty of options near the Ksamil beaches. Here are a few restaurants that we recommend:
- Guvat Restaurant & Bar – Amazing views overlooking the sea and delicious seafood and pasta options.
- Abiori Beach Bar Restaurant Pizzeria – Fantastic views of the sea with good seafood options.
- Beshiku – Delicious and quick gyros just a quick walk from the beaches.
- Ohana Beach Bar Ksamil – Good food and drinks with seafood and snack options.
- Pizza Rei & Rai – Good option for pizza in Ksamil.
Where to stay in Ksamil
There are plenty of hotels in Ksamil to choose from for your beach getaway. Here are a few fantastic options that we recommend for your trip:
- Delight Hotel – Located on the water next to Lori beach, one of the best beaches in Ksamil. It’s more expensive compared to other hotels in Ksamil, but you get a private pool and free access (free sunbeds) at Lori Beach.
- Hotel Meta Ksamil – This hotel is in one of the best location and is within walking distance to the beach. Some of the rooms have balconies with a sea view.
- Ksamil Central Park Hotel – Located just a 5-minute walk from Ksamil Beach, this 4-star hotels offer free breakfast and everything you need for a wonderful stay in Ksamil, Albania.
- Manta Hotel – This is 4-star located just 100 meters from Ksamil Beach 9 with an option to book a Junior Suite with a sea view. There is a terrace, restaurant, and a garden.
- Blue Eye Hotel – This is a 4-star hotel located within walking distance from Ksamil Beach. It features modern amenities, a private pool, and a hotel bar.
Ksamil Beaches Tips: Know Before you Go
- Stay at a hotel to get exclusive beach access – Some hotels provide free beach access, meaning you don’t have to pay for a sunbed if you stay at that hotel. For example, if you stay at Delight Hotel, you’ll get free sunbeds at Lori Beach.
- Avoid the high season – From late June to early September, Ksamil is extremely busy. Not only are things more expensive during this time, but the Ksamil beaches are especially busy. If you’re planning to visit during the summer, then try to get to the beach early in the morning to get a spot.
- You have to pay for sunbeds – Most of the beaches in Ksamil are private, which means you have to pay for a sunbed in order to get access to the beach.
During the busy months of June to August, two beach chairs can cost anywhere between 1,500 – 2,500 lek ($15-$25) for the day. In May and September, you should be able to get two beach chairs and an umbrella for around1,000 lek ($10) for the day.
- Food is pricey by beaches – Due to their convenient location, many of the beach bars and restaurants charge more for food. If you’re looking to save on food, then pick up some fresh fruit and snacks at the markets in town before heading to the beach for the day. There are also plenty of cheap options in town, like gyros and byrek (stuffed pie), that are great takeaway options.
- A lot of the beaches play music – A lot of the beaches in Ksamil blast music throughout the day, which can be a bit of an annoyance. We personally enjoy a more peaceful experience, but it’s just how it is in Ksamil. Take your own headphones if you want to tune out their choice of music or if you want to put on an audiobook or podcast.
- Have cash on hand – While some restaurants and markets do take card as a form of payment, many do not. Make sure to stop by an ATM in town to have cash to pay for the sunbeds and for some restaurants.
Ksamil Beaches Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ksamil have sandy beaches?
Yes, the beaches in Ksamil are sandy; however, they are not the softest sandy beaches you’ll ever experience. The sand is made up of a bunch of small pebbles, and it’s more comfortable to sit on a beach chair than directly on the sand for a long period of time.
Is Ksamil or Saranda better?
We briefly visited Saranda and quickly decided that Ksamil is better to stay in, especially if you’re visiting for the beaches.
Saranda is a much larger city with fewer beaches, and Ksamil feels like a beach resort town.
Can you swim to the Ksamil islands?
Yes, you can swim to two of the Ksamil islands. A couple of the islands are located less than 100 meters from the beaches, and we saw plenty of people swimming back and forth.
The third island is quite far away and may be quite difficult to swim to. It’s best to rent a paddleboat or kayak to get to this island.
Are Albanian beaches clean?
Yes, from our experience, the Albanian beaches are clean and well-maintained. The water is crystal clear and the sand is clean without much debris.
More information for your trip to Albania
Southern Albania
HIMARE: This beautiful town is just a short drive up the coast. Check out our guides on the Best Things to do in Himare and the Best Beaches in Himare.
CORFU: Planning to take a trip to Corfu from Albania? We have all of the information you need to know to help you plan, including the best things to do in Corfu Town, how to spend one day in Corfu Town, and how to get from Ksamil to Corfu.
GJIROKASTER: This historic city is well worth a visit and is a great day trip from Ksamil. Read our post on the best things to do in Gjirokaster to help plan your day in this town.
BLUE EYE: The incredible Blue Eye is a must-see in Southern Albania and is another fantastic day trip from Ksamil.
Northern Albania
BERAT: Check out our guide on the best things to do in Berat, one of our favorite cities in Albania.
KRUJA: This is one of the best places to shop for local Albanian goods at the old bazaar in Kruja. Read more about the best things to do in Kruja in our guide.
DURRES: Our post on the top things to do in Durres includes visiting ancient Roman monuments and beautiful beaches.
THETH: Heading to the mountains? Check out our posts on driving the Road to Theth, the Best Things to do in Theth, and visiting the Blue Eye in Theth.
Albania Travel Planning Guide
Albania Travel Insurance – Should you get travel insurance for Albania? YES! We always get travel insurance before all of our trips for peace of mind. Check out Travel Insurance Master to find the best plan for you.
Albania Rental Cars – Is it safe to rent a car in Albania? Yes! We rented a car in Albania for one month and it is the best way to see the country. We rented our car through Discover Cars (our go-to rental agency), which helps you find the best rates no matter where you are traveling.
Albania Phone Plans – If your phone plan does not offer free coverage in Albania, then we suggest getting an eSIM. We used Airalo during our trip to Albania, and we had fantastic coverage the entire time. We even had to rely on it for data to get some work done, and it worked great!
Albania Hotels – Wondering where to book your accommodations for Albania? We booked all of our hotels through Booking. All of the hotels were responsive through the messaging tool, and there are endless options to choose from. Note – some hotels in Albania require you to pay in cash. Make sure to message the hotel in advance to be prepared with the correct form of payment.
Drinking Water in Albania – Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Albania? We were advised to not drink the water by our hotels, so we ended up buying bottled water instead.
Hi, Im visiting Ksamil this August. I´m a bit concerned about the private beaches. Will I be able to just lay my towel in the sand? Or is it mandatory in all the beaches to rent sunbeds?
In case there are public beaches, could you tell me which they are?
Tks for your advice?
Hi Florencia,
I hope you have a wonderful time in Ksamil! Unfortunately, August is the high season, so you will have to rent a sun bed in order to stay at most beaches. They pack in the sun beds pretty tight, so there isn’t a lot of room to even lay down a towel. I have heard that Mirror Beach and Paradise beach allow you to use a towel in certain sections.
We were visiting in early May, during the shoulder season, and no one seemed to care if we used our towel because practically no one was there. However, high season is a completely different story. If you find some other beaches that allow you to use your towel, I’d love it if you could send us an update! It would be great to know if there are more that allow this.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Jenoa
Dear Jenoa,
Many thanks for a nice article.
Have you heard of anybody who would fly to Corfu and then rent a car (or take a cab/hotel airport shuttle) to Ksamil? If so, could you please share feedback how does it work/is it expensive? Or is it more straightforward to travel to Tirana and then rent a car?
Hi Gedzitka,
I hope you are doing well!
You can most definitely fly into Corfu and then visit Ksamil. We have an entire post dedicated to getting from Corfu to Ksamil and also a post on doing a Corfu to Ksamil day trip if you are looking into that option.
If you are planning to visit only the southern part of Albania from Corfu, then I’d recommend flying into Corfu, taking the ferry to Saranda, and either renting a car in Saranda and driving to Ksamil or taking a taxi. If you’re only visiting Ksamil, then you don’t necessarily need to rent a car. However, if you plan to explore the entire Albanian Riviera, then you should definitely rent a car in Saranda.
I’d only fly into Tirana if you plan to visit the northern and southern part of Albania. It’s a 3.5-4 hour drive to Ksamil from Tirana, so it’s much quicker to get to Ksamil from Corfu.
Hopefully this answers your question. I’m happy to help answer any other questions you may have!
Best,
Jenoa
Hi,
Thank you so much for this helpful article. I’m planning to spend 2 days around end of May in Ksamil and will have a rental car. Suppose I stay at Delight Hotel and I have a sunbed at Lori Beach. My questions are:
– If I want to move to other beaches after having spent an hour or so at Lori Beach, do I have to drive my car to the other beaches such as Sunset Beach?
– If I walk, how long does it take to walk all the way from Lori Beach to Sunset beach?
– Are there parking spaces at the beaches where I can safely park so that my rental car does not get ticketed? If yes, which beaches have parking?
– If the beaches are not too packed, is it allowed to place my own beach towel down on the sand?
Thank you so much,
Gina
Hi Gina,
We were in Ksamil in May and it wasn’t too crowded. This is a great time of year to visit.
To answer your questions:
Regarding parking, there is parking at some of the beaches and it’s usually paid. However, in May, you may not have to pay since it’s just outside of the busy season. It really depends on the beach. Alternatively, you could park up near the main street and just walk further to the beach, which is usually free.
Lori beach and Sunset beach are about a 30-minute walk from each other, so you could walk there or drive. It’s up to you. We mainly walked everywhere, but some of the beaches are a bit further out, and we just found parking where we could. Parking isn’t always clearly marked but it’s easy to find.
The beaches shouldn’t be too packed this time of year, and you can usually just take your towel. It really depends on the beach though! Some are more strict about renting a chair than others. I’d recommend taking your towel and taking some cash just in case they make you pay, but it’s worth a shot anyways.
Hopefully this helps!
Best,
Jenoa