Beach Days and Activities in Ksamil

October 31, 2026

At a glance

Where: a beach village on Albania’s southern coast, facing four small islets, about 4 km north of the Butrint ruins.
Money: lek (ALL) first, though many beach bars and boat skippers also name euro prices. Keep cash for sunbeds, buses, the Butrint kiosk and the Blue Eye gate.
Season: summer is the working season. Most shops, bars and hire stands shut from roughly October to April.
Advice: Albania is a normal destination, and it is sensible to read the latest UK and US travel advice before you go.

Morning: islets, calm water and a boat

The sea is flattest early. The closest islet is roughly 70 to 100 m offshore, and in places you can stand in the shallows partway. Further islets are 200 to 400 m out, which is boat territory.

Safety comes first on this crossing. Nobody lifeguards the channel, pedalos and motorboats crowd it in July and August, and rocks are sharp, so water shoes are worth packing. Children should not go alone. Boards and pedalos rent for about 1,000 ALL an hour, and only in season.

If you would rather ride, a water taxi runs from about 09:00 in high season for about EUR 5 to 7 return. Take cash, water and shade, since the islets offer none, and only the nearest pair may have a basic bar.

Midday: a lounger or a free patch of sand

By law the beaches are public. In July and August paid sunbeds cover most of the main bay, so be ready to rent. A pair of loungers with an umbrella is about 1,500 to 3,000 ALL at peak, less in June, September and May. Front-row clubs charge 5,000 to 10,000 ALL for packages, and some places call a bed free if you spend a minimum on food and drink.

Free options exist. Part of Paradise Beach is open, a small pebble beach with a deck sits at the village entrance, and the waterline is open sand. Lori Beach, about 700 m west, has calm, shallow water, but it is a paid beach.

Afternoon: Butrint or a mussel boat

Two outings fill an afternoon. Butrint National Park is about 4 km south, 10 minutes by bus or taxi, and an adult ticket is 1,000 ALL. A mussel trip on Lake Butrint lasts 2 to 3 hours and is listed at about 3,900 to 4,500 ALL a head, with fresh mussels included. It is seasonal, so book ahead on Viator .

Evening: fish and mussels

Lake mussels and grilled fish are the dishes to order. Guvat and Abiori are two beach-front tavernas that have long served visitors, but hours vary and many places close for winter, so call ahead.

Where to read more

The himara.net page on Ksamil’s beaches lists distances to each beach and whether it is free or paid. The himara.net sunbed guide explains the price structure.