Nestled in the southern part of the Albanian Riviera, the beaches in Ksamil are a treat for all summertime lovers.
This coastal region is a truly beautiful part of Albania. The Greek island of Corfu can be seen from just about everywhere, the people are super friendly, and the sun always seems to be shining.
The best part of all, though, is the sheer number of beaches to explore.
There are hidden beaches you can only reach by hiking, and small patches of sand on the shores of islands you can swim to. Seaside cafes with sun umbrellas lined up in perfect rows and white sand beaches riddled with kayaks, paddle boats, and water taxis.
Well, I think you get where I’m going with this!
There’s a place for just about everyone. Except maybe surfers, but hey, it’s the Mediterranean, not the Pacific Ocean.
Anyway, here is a short guide to Ksamil beaches, including some tips on which Ksamil beaches to visit depending on your preference.
GETTING TO KSAMIL
Unless you are crossing the Greek border by land, all routes to Ksamil lead through Saranda. There is just one road heading from Saranda to Ksamil, so if you are driving, just follow the signs that point you towards Butrint National Park.
If you are on foot, just head to the bus stop along the road closest to the water. There is only one bus. It leaves every hour in the direction of Ksamil/Butrint, and it costs 100 Lek each way.
ALBANIA TRANSPORT
For a more in-depth look at transport around Albania and the coastline near Ksamil, you can check out my ‘Detailed Guide to Albania Buses | Timetable, Routes, and More‘ article.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KSAMIL
You can go to Ksamil year-round. However, the beaches are best to explore from late Spring to early Fall.
This is when the water will be warm enough for swimming. It’s also a beach town through and through. One that relies heavily on tourism, so most restaurants and bars will be closed in the off-season.
Heading here at the very beginning and end of the season will be your best bet for quiet beaches with all the benefits of high-season.
For those looking for a traditional European beach getaway, July through September will be ideal. This means hot days, warm nights, and plenty of chances to socialize.
On to the main attraction…
The beaches of Ksamil.
Ksamil's Main Beaches
These are the spots in the busiest area of Ksamil. Summer crowds are guaranteed, and activities will be going on throughout the day.
If you were to follow the people with swimsuits and beach umbrellas, there is a good chance it’s to one of these beaches.
Ksamil Beach
Ksamil Beach is the main beach in town and the place most likely to be full of Instagrammers and tourists. If you have ever seen a picture of Ksamil, it’s probably from here. I can’t blame anyone for trying to snap a photo, as it’s a stunning area.
There are wooden docks shooting out from the main patch of sand. Paddle boats and kayaks are all readily available for hire, and water taxis pull up to the shores waiting to take you to the surrounding beaches.
There are also cafes and restaurants along the whole stretch of beach. So, if you just want to have a coffee and people-watch, this is the place. The view of the four islands is also directly in front of you.
The water is shallow here and tends to have that deep turquoise color seen around famous Mediterranean beach destinations.
The Four Islands
Speaking of the four islands, they happen to be right off the shore of Ksamil Beach and are just a quick swim or boat ride away.
The closest two are easy to explore by kayak, paddle boat, or swimming. However, they don’t have much more than a few patches of sand and a small forest.
The third and fourth are off in the distance, but water taxis shuttle people to them quite often. From the land, they look like they are one single island, but looks can be deceiving. They are actually separate, connected only by a long, narrow stretch of sand. They are perfect for sunbathing, reading a book, and escaping the chaos of Ksamil Beach.
The Four Islands are also where most of the tours revolve around. I’d opt for a self-guided one by renting a kayak or just taking a boat taxi. But, for something a little more unique, you can look into joining a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) tour or tagging along for a sunset sail in the evening.
PODA Beach
PODA beach, also known as King Beach on MAPS.ME is just a short walk away from the main beach. (If you don’t know what MAPS.ME is, it’s an app for your mobile device that allows you to use offline maps. It has been both a blessing and a curse at times. But, that’s a story for another time.)
The sand here is a radiant white, and a jet ski platform floats in the tiny bay. It’s also directly next to a line of bars and restaurants.
Sun-beds take up most of the beach starting in the early summer here and go for around 1000 Lek early in the season and rise to about 2000 Lek during the peak months. I’ve heard of prices getting higher than that. However, at that point, I’d just opt for somewhere else.
Also, don’t expect service to be anything but mediocre.
Coco and Stela Beach
I can’t be 100% sure that the real names of these beaches are Coco and Stela, but that’s what MAPS.ME says. I do know that there are restaurants with those exact names overlooking the beach here.
I’ll warn you now, in the low seasons, there is a good chance the restaurants are shut down.
You can still use the beach here, though. The water is extremely clear along the shoreline; however, there is more rock than sand in the water. It’s also best to wear some kind of water shoe, or at least be wary of sea urchins.
Sunbeds start at 1000 Lek during the summer and go up based on whether you want an umbrella or a nicer spot.
Beaches South Of Ksamil Beach
A short walk away from the main beaches in Ksamil, there are some really beautiful areas.
Most of these have spots for camper vans, although in recent years that’s been changing. They also have some natural shade to catch a break from the sun.
Bora Bora Beach
Bora Bora Beach is a nice white sand beach, not far from Ksamil Beach. It’s a busy area and has a direct view of two of the islands.
There’s a dedicated lifeguard tower, rentals for water-based activities, and sun chairs, which go for the typical price of 1000 Lek.
Castle Beach
Directly below the Castle Hotel, Castle Beach was one of my favorites. It has soft sand, and there is a nice little bar/cafe above it. It’s a perfect place to relax, have a drink, and watch the sunset.
You’ll know you’re in the right spot for Castle Beach when you see the iconic Hand of Ksamil. This has made it more of a photo spot in recent years, but the water here is still that magnificent blue.
Like everywhere else in this area of Ksamil, the beach fills up with sunbeds and umbrellas the moment the weather turns hot.
Paradise Beach
I’ll start by saying, this is where it becomes easy to park a camper van. There is a plot of land behind Paradise Beach and the next few places on this list. (As of 2025, this doesn’t seem to be a thing anymore, at least during the peak season.)
It’s mostly a normal sand beach here; however, there is a pathway leading to a wooden dock. The dock is a few feet above the water and is a perfect place to jump into the sea.
There seem to be a lot of families that come to Paradise Beach, so I would consider it one of the more family-friendly places around Ksamil.
With that being said, later in the season, it can lack cleaning up, meaning trash and cigarette butts are thrown around.
This is a public beach, but the restaurant nearby seems to commandeer part of the beach when summer hits, so you’ll still find sunbeds at high prices and loud music on occasion.
Lori Beach
Right around the corner from Paradise Beach is the smaller Lori Beach. In fact, you can swim between the two if you want a little change (or adventure). Like most of the beaches in Ksamil, there is a little beach bar here. But also like those others, it’s shut down in the slower seasons.
The water isn’t as pretty here, but there are sunbeds, decent food at the nearby Lori Restaurant, and a quieter atmosphere than some of the closer beaches to Ksamil.
These make it one of the more underrated beaches to visit in Ksamil.
Ksamil Beaches A Little Further South
The southern beaches are highlighted by tiny bays with restaurants and sun beds.
They offer a bit more of a calmer feel in the summer and are a great place to relax in the off-season, with plenty of nearby parking spots and opportunities for camper vans.
Puerto Rico Beach
Puerto Rico Beach is a beautiful white sand beach that often has boats floating around it. The Ohana Beach Bar is connected to it, and there are lounging chairs and umbrellas available for rent.
The sunbeds tend to keep their 1000 Lek price throughout the season, and there are unique options like renting a gazebo for the day.
I really enjoyed this area around sunset in the off-season. The water comes off a tad greener, and the small bay it sits in reminded me of parts of Colombia for some odd reason.
Cubana Beach and The Last Bay
Just up the street from Puerto Rico Beach is a rocky seafront known on the maps as Cubana Beach. There is a bar with the same name and a large area where campervans can park. I was here in May, and there were numerous groups of people lounging in hammocks and resting alongside their vans and mobile homes.
I put the Last Bay together with Puerto Rico Beach because it is just around a bend. If the name didn’t give it away, it’s the last patch of white sand in the immediate vicinity.
The Last Bay has a couple of beaches labelled on maps called Pablo Beach and Augustus Beach. They are on each side of a tiny peninsula that juts out into the water and have sunbeds for rent.
Far South Beaches
Towards Ksamil you’ll find a few options to stop at. These are less visited than some of the others, so can offer a more private feel.
Pema e Thate and Diaporit Beach
I combined the two beaches here because they are actually a few miles away from Ksamil. They both, however, are just a stone’s throw away from Corfu. At both, you can admire the view of the Corfu Strait and the Greek island just across it.
I was tempted beyond belief to just swim over to Greece.
While Pema e Thate is built up a bit, Diaporit Beach is much less visited. It’s essentially a sand spit that leads into the marshes near Butrint. It’s also a bit of a hike to get here, and the trail isn’t marked very clearly. Unfortunately, it’s a bit dirty at times, but still nice for an adventure on a cooler day.
It also lies beyond a military zone. I didn’t have a problem getting there, but just a fair warning that it could be closed when you try to enter.
In the end, don’t be surprised if you get to see some cows when you finish the walk.
To the North
As you head towards Saranda, you’ll find a series of hidden coves and rocky beaches. In the spring and late summer, you’ll have a chance to have some of these all to yourself!
Sunset Beach
Just at the end of the northern part of town is the spectacular Sunset Beach. It’s known for exactly what you’d think – the sunset.
There is a restaurant and bar set on the edge of fine white sand, which has umbrellas readily available. A path leads here from PODA Beach that is perfect for sunset walks. I definitely recommend taking a stroll along it.
It also goes by Artur Beach, which is what one of the hotels is called.
Manastir/ Monastery Beach
Here we get to the beaches that are between Ksamil and Saranda.
Monastery Beach is the furthest north of the bunch. It’s a beach full of sand and palm-sized rocks. If you are a fan of skipping rocks, on a calm day, this is the place to be. I want to be very clear, don’t skip rocks if others are in the water. The rocks here are large enough to really hurt someone.
Getting There | You can get here by taking the bus that goes between Ksamil and Saranda. It is 100 Lek each way. Just ask the driver to stop at Monastery Beach.
When you arrive at the beach, you can head straight down or take a path heading up a hill on your left. This path leads you to an old Monastery that is little used, if at all.
It has amazing views of the Mediterranean and, in my opinion, is one of the best beaches in Ksamil.
Coastal walk beaches
On to the last set of beaches, and the most hidden. I grouped all these together because they are the most difficult to get to.
Some can be reached by dirt roads, and others only on foot.
If you love hiking, I highly recommend walking along the coast to explore them. The same path that leads you to the monastery above Manastir Beach will take you to the majority of these. Download a map before the hike, though. The paths aren’t marked at all, and they sometimes connect with small streets.
The walk has so much to offer. Quiet rocky beaches, that if you’re lucky, you’ll have to yourself. Stunning views of the clear blue sea. Abandoned bunkers that double as homes for cows, and even a few places with quiet beach bars.
As you can see, there is a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Some beaches aren’t technically part of Ksamil, but they are all within a ten-minute drive or so. While I can’t claim to be an expert in the area, I can say that I’ve seen all these beaches.
Here is a little overview of each one:
Map Bay (Gjiri i Hartës)
A small, private beach with neatly laid out sun umbrellas in calm, crystal-clear waters.
The sunbeds go for about 1500 Lek in the height of summer, sometimes less in the shoulder season, and drinks start at around 250 Lek. There is an on-site restaurant serving fresh seafood, and it’s one of the more laidback beaches you can go to in Ksamil.
It’s the closest beach on the coastal walk from Ksamil to Monastery Beach.
To the south of it is a fresh seafood market called Qendra Fish Ksamil, where you can buy some locally-sourced fish. From this point, you can walk through an olive orchard to get back into Ksamil.
Seagull Beach (Pulëbardha Beach)
A beautiful beach with a restaurant and sunbeds. It’s completely surrounded by cliffs that dive into clear blue waters.
You’ll find sun umbrellas here for around 1500 Lek, but they sometimes knock the price down to 1000 Lek if you eat at the restaurant.
There’s a parking lot that’s somewhat nearby, but I’d recommend only going as far down as you feel comfortable, as the road gets a little iffy.
Cave of Pigeons (Shpella e Pëllumbave)
Down a steep walkway from a narrow trail, you’ll find the funnily named Cave of Pigeons.
If you come here out of season, the beach will feel wild to say the least, but like other places around, the summer brings crowds, albeit smaller than the rest of Ksamil.
It’s a small public beach with paid sunbeds and a cave that gives it its name. If you want to see the Cave of Pigeons and the previously mentioned Seagull Beach, there’s a speedboat snorkeling tour you can do that leaves from Mango Beach near Sarandë.
Beach of Mirrors (Plazhi i Pasqyrave)
The Beach of Mirrors is a pebble beach, riddled with sunbeds and umbrellas during the summer months.
It’s absolutely stunning here, but it is quite difficult to reach. Although you can get there by car. You’ll have to pay a parking fee, and payment is required for using the sunbeds too.
Edon-Bina Beach
The formerly wild beach is one of my absolute favorites. I visited here in the Spring and had it all to myself.
However, it’s recently in the process of being privatized, which is a shame. It’s a mostly rocky beach that sits in a quiet cove with small waves.
It also goes by the name of Brilliant Bay.
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