Saranda or Ksamil: Which Town Is Better & Why?

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Saranda and Ksamil are two pretty beach towns right next to each other in South Albania. I spent about a month road-tripping the Albanian coastline on two different occasions, once with a girlfriend of mine and another time solo as a bird, so when choosing between the two, which beach town is better and where to stay, I recommend staying in Saranda because this is where most of the action happens.

👉 My Experience: I loved lodging in Saranda and taking little day trips to the famous Ksamil beaches whenever I wanted—especially since Sarande and Ksmil are only 20 minutes from each other by car

Perks of Saranda: Summer pop-up festivals on the beach, amazing East European vibey nightclubs, and a more varied bar and restaurant scene in my opinion. Also, many boat tours start and end in Saranda since it is the main port town (convenient!). It does not have the pretty prettiest of beaches.

Perks of Ksamil: Definitely has the better beaches and sunsets, which I like, but it was just too small. All the restaurants in town served similar food, and there was only one decent rooftop club open late. This is why Ksamil is great for day trips!

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Which Is Better: Saranda or Ksamil?

For the folks who don’t have the time to read a whole blog post, here is a quick guide and some raw field notes from my experiences in both Saranda and Ksamil.

➡️ My Experience in Saranda

• All the boat tours and fun Albanian experiences start in Saranda, which makes doing any excursions convenient if you stay here.
• The beach is not as pretty as Ksamil, but it’s still lovely, long, and pebbly, and it’s not all taken over by beach clubs with loud Balkan music like Ksamil.
• There are a lot more lodging options in Saranda because the town is bigger – what’s more, there are super nice hotels that won’t break the bank right in the heart of town!
• There is more variety in the restaurants in Saranda – I had some lovely sushi one night, Italian another night, and craft cocktails at Jericho Bar, which I later found out is where all the locals go pre-club drinking.
• The beachfront promenade in Saranda is livelier, and there are pop-up mini-festivals and DJ sets almost every weekend in the summer with craft beer vendors, live music, and fun activities for kids. I stumbled over a rave-type festival one weekend and ended up having a blast with the Albanians till 3 am!
• Saranda is a known party city, and it’s prettier than most other Albanian cities- I especially loved Orange Club Sarande because it was open late, and you really feel the nightlife vibes of Balkan life – plus it’s right on the water!

QUICK GUIDE: Where To Stay In Saranda
📍Luxury: Hotel Butrinti & SPA—best hotel and location in town, hands down!
📍Mid-Level: AMI MAR Hotel—further down the road, a bit quieter area
📍 Budget (& Still Cute): DAED Luxury Residences —where I stayed – highly recommend!

➡️ My Experience in Ksamil

• The beaches, water, and sunset views in Ksamil are much prettier than in Saranda, hands down! My favorite sunset point was at this Ksamil Viewpoint.
• Ksamil in shoulder season – May, June, and even September – is wonderful. This is when I recommend going. Fewer people the weather is warm enough to swim, and the Albanians aren’t gouging the tourists as they would in peak season.
• All the beaches in Ksamil are taken over by beach clubs – which means it’s always a Balkan lo-fi beat day party in Ksamil.
  • NOTE: You can’t just put a towel down, you have to rent chairs/umbrellas from the beach clubs, which are between €10-50 depending on time of the season. I went twice, once in May and another time in the high season of July. In May, I paid €10 for a chair & umbrella, and in July, I paid €40 for the same spot – I think this is annoying.
• The restaurants in Ksmail are all similar – almost all fish & risotto type places are really good, but there is not a lot of variety in the cuisine.

QUICK GUIDE: Where To Stay In Ksamil
📍Luxury: Manta Hotel – Best hotel location in all of Ksamil (2-day min stay)
📍Mid-Range Upscaled: Colosseum Hotel – Modern, clean, and new.
📍Budget (& Still Cute): Nobbu Hotel Ksamil – Looks even better in person.

Summertime is hyper-packed in both Ksamil and Saranda, so plan ahead by getting to any beach early in the day and booking lodging early.

How To Get To Saranda and Ksamil

Ksamil and Saranda are located super close to each other (like 20 min apart by car) in the very south of Albania, right across the Greek island of Corfu.

To get to either one, there are two airport options – you can either fly into Tirana Airport or Corfu Airport. There are public transportation options here, but I think renting a car to get around is best.

BEST: Fly into Corfu & Take A Ferry

I think the best way to get to Saranda and Ksmail is to fly into Corfu Airport (which is technically on a nearby Greek island) and take the €20 ferry over to the port of Saranda – it will take 1.5 hours. Here’s the info for ferry tickets.

When I looked at airline tickets, it seemed cheaper to fly in and out of Corfu than to Tirana.

➡️ IMPORTANT TIME-ZONE NOTE: While only a hop skip apart, Corfu and Albania are in different time zones (1 hour apart), so double-check your flight times and ferry times if you’re flying in and out of Corfu Airport.

From Saranda, the world is your oyster – you can post up in Saranda and walk everywhere, use the public transportation busses to get between Saranda and Ksamil, or rent a car for cheap in the port and make it a road trip adventure of the coastline.

➡️ I rented a car in Saranda Port and used DISCOVER CARS to check deals! ⬅️

I will say that the rental cars in Albania, in general, are a bit older and used up. But most have air conditioning and power locks and windows, and there are quite a few automatic transmission options.

You will want to get car insurance – it’s a bit crazy on the roads in Albania, some of which are unpaved.

ALSO OK: Fly to Tirana & Rent A Car

Flying into the main airport in Tirana, Albania, and then renting a car to get to Saranda and Ksamil is also a popular option. I recommend this if you’re doing a whole road trip of Albania or the flight to Tirana is way cheaper than to Corfu.

➡️ I usually rent cars with DISCOVER CARS because they have the best deals in Europe! ⬅️

I did this on a previous road trip, and while it was an amazing option for my giant Albania road trip, it was a bit of a hassle for a few reasons. The car rental place was disorganized, traffic out of Tirana was insane, my AC was not working properly, and the whole journey took 4 hours on tedious, run-down roads, where I happened to always be stuck behind a slow semi-truck.

SLOWEST: Fly to Tirana & Take A Bus

You can also fly into Tirana Airport and take the bus down to Saranda. The bus is nothing fancy; tickets cost about $15, and you can book them when you get there – no need to pre-book.

The bus pickup point and ticket booth are at this bus station. The whole ride will take 5 hours.

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Saranda or Ksamil: Better Beaches?

⭐️ My Opinion: Ksamil ⭐️

Ksamil has the better beaches, hands down – clear blue water, beautiful sand, and a view of the little islands around the coast. But there’s a catch – all the beachfront in Ksamil is reserved by beach clubs. This means you will have to pay for a bed, and in the summertime of July and August, ‘crowded’ is an understatement.

That said, I had an amazing time for a few days at Plazhi Ksamilit in May. I paid €15 for a beach umbrella and chair all day, the drinks were about €10 each, and the restaurant right there was amazing. I know it gets more expensive in high season, up to €50 for two beds and an umbrella.

PRO TIP: It was here that friendly Albanian waiters trying to flirt informed me of the coolest beach club in Ksamil—and that is Bianco (yay for the local-level recommendations!).

Saranda is a port town, so while it also has a nice, long, pebbly beach, it doesn’t have that same magical look as Ksamil.

Most of the beaches are public, so there are places where you can set your towel down for free. Of course, there are a ton of scattered beach clubs that blast Balkan techno for when the vibe is right.

Saranda or Ksamil: Better Nightlife?

⭐️ My Opinion: Saranda ⭐️

Saranda is known for being a clubby city in Albania, and that’s no joke. My favorite was Orange Club Saranda – Ferraris parked outside, the Blakan techno on point, and a fantastic view of the port. The club is beautiful and big, and the drinks are great – they even have hookah!

A NIGHT OUT IN SARANDA: My friends and I would grab dinner at the traditional Haxhi Albanian restaurant on the strand, get pre-drinks at Jericho Cocktail Bar after and people watch for a while, then at around 11pm, head over for an all-nighter at Orange Club Saranda. And that’s the epitome of a Balkan party night!

Ksamil is a smaller town, so there’s not much of a nightlife or club vibe. The only spot open past midnight, I think, is Bianco, which plays great music and has a killer view of the sunset, but after a couple of nights at the same spot, shit gets repetitive.

Saranda or Ksamil: Better Lodging?

⭐️ My Opinion: Saranda ⭐️

I made Saranda my home base because I like to stay where the action is. And because Ksamil was a quick 20-minute drive away, I popped over for day trips whenever I wanted – best of both worlds.

Where To Stay In Saranda

The best area to stay in Sarande is along the Rruga Butrinti road, where all the good restaurants and nightlife action are. The road also has a great view of the sea.

I also prefer and recommend staying a bit out of the main hustle so you don’t get caught up in the bullshit traffic that happens because Saranda has only one main road in and out of the town.

📍Luxury: Hotel Butrinti & SPA—You can’t miss this hotel, as it looks like you’re walking up to a 5-star embassy with Ferraris parked out front. It is probably the best location in town, with fantastic amenities and views of the sea—it’s the height of luxury in Saranda!
📍Mid-Level: AMI MAR Hotel—This is the best bang for your buck. It’s a bit quieter on this section of the road, but still within close walking distance of the main hubbub of the town.
📍 Budget (& Still Cute): DAED Luxury Residences —This is right next door to where I stayed, and I loved the area. I used their pool and swimming area often, and the staff and rooms are stellar – highly recommend!

Where To Stay In Ksamil

I think Ksamil is a little bitty beach town, but one with a ton of lodging options and more being built up every day. I like being able to see the Mediterranean, especially since Ksamil has some amazing sunsets

📍Luxury: Manta Hotel – Maybe the best hotel location in all of Ksamil – absolutely get a room with a sea view! While there’s a 2-day minimum stay, Ksamil and its beaches are absolutely worth it.
📍Mid-Range Upscaled: Colosseum Hotel – Modern, clean, and with a fantastic sea view, especially at sunset. Right in the town center and within walking distance to my favorite sunset terrace, Bianco.
📍Budget (& Still Cute): Nobbu Hotel Ksamil – It looks even better in person if you can believe it. Brand new, very nice, modern rooms, comfy beds, and in the heart of town. Air-conditioned rooms and underground parking as a perk!

Saranda or Ksamil: Better Restaurants?

⭐️ My Opinion: Saranda ⭐️

Saranda is packed with many different restaurants I loved – from traditional Albanian at Haxhi, to sushi at Madfish on the pier, to upscale Italian’ish at Manxurane, and even a decent little wine bar with a fantastic view of Saranda on the hill called Wine Bar Kristiano. To be fair, I’m not a big fan of the Albanian red wine, but I do enjoy a nice white Malvasia grape variety!

Ksamil has a bunch of good restaurants as well, but they are all a bit of the same thing – grilled fish with risotto or pizzas. To be fair, that’s the Albanian traditional food near the coast, very similar to Italian and Greek, but after a few days, it got repetitive for me. My fave spot in Ksamil was Abiori.

Saranda or Ksamil: Better Value?

⭐️ My Opinion: Saranda ⭐️

I think Saranda is better on a budget because there are a ton more lodging, food, drinks, and even free beach options. Here’s my comparison, having stayed in both places for what I paid in May.

Item	Price in Saranda	Price in Ksamil
Budget Lodging (per night)	$30-40	$50-60
Luxury Lodging (per night)	$100+	$150+
Restaurant Lunch for One	$15-20	$25-30
Beach Club Lounge Chair	Free or $10	$15+
Large Beer	$3	$5
Iced Coffee	$1	$3
Baked Goods (Pastry)	$1	$2

I think it would be 30% more expensive in July and August, as it’s high season.

Saranda or Ksamil: Better for Couples?

⭐️ My Opinion: Saranda ⭐️

There’s more to do for couples at night in Saranda (clubs, fun lounge bars, walking along the busy and very lit beachfront, the summer pop-up festivals), and a ton of boating activities during the day (beyond beach clubs) in Saranda to take advantage of.

While Ksmail has a bit more of a boogie, romantic vibe, with beautiful beach clubs for lounging by day and quiet dinners and sunsets at night, I’m going to pitch Saranda as the better option for couples because it has more going on!

Saranda or Ksamil: Better for Families?

⭐️ My Opinion: Ksamil ⭐️

I’m a bit undecided on this one, but I’m going to go with Ksamil because it’s a quieter, smaller town, and the beaches are calmer and smaller as well. I saw a lot of families in Ksamil as well, and I think it’s easier to navigate kids in a smaller town compared to the bigger, clubbier city vibes of Saranda.

That said, Saranda has a bunch of organized fairs and things for kids to do in the daytime, as well as a ton of kid parks. Because most of the beach is public, there’s also a lifeguard around for when the kids want to be on the beach. I never saw a lifeguard in Ksamil, but then again – there’s no need for one because the water is calm and shallow.

Tips For Visiting Albania

I didn’t know much about Albania before I visited, and I was a bit hesitant because my parents warned me it used to be a dangerous communist country – where cheating, stealing, and lying are common practices. While that may have been true in the past, it’s bullshit today. I experienced only nice, helpful people!

That said, there were a few quirks I wanted to make sure you’re aware of:

✅ Cash is king in Albania. The currency is the Albanian LEK. ATMs charge high fees (about $7-8 per transaction), so make it count.

✅ Some gas stations only take cash – maybe half of them I went by only took cash. I just kept driving to the next one until I found one that took a card when I wasn’t prepared with cash.

✅ The roads are pretty shit in Tirana and northern Albania (under construction or unpaved), but they get better from Vlorë to Saranda with a nice new highway system. There are no tolls.

✅ Most Albanians speak English. Surprisingly, they also speak Italian because King Zog mandated the language be taught in schools in the 1930s.

✅ I think North Albania and the mountains are more authentic to the country and less touristed, but also poorer. South Albania and the coastline is richer and newer, and where most tourism happens.

✅ I don’t think Tirana is worth more than a day’s stay. The beauty of Albania is in its nature, not in the towns and cities, which sometimes look communist and run down.

✅ Saranda is the prettiest city in Albania, with newer buildings, not marked by communism, pretty little parks, and a beachfront. 

➡️ Saranda: Best Things To Do

Other than hanging out on the beach and stuffing your face full of delicious food at the beachfront restaurants, here are a few other things I liked to do in Saranda.

✔️Grab a Boat Tour From the Pier

For boat tours to pretty beaches like Krorëza Beach and Kakoma Beach, we mostly just walked up to the kiosks in front of the pier – there were tons of options at reasonable prices. I booked several half-day boat tours for $25 a person.

Even late at night, you can see people reserving a spot for the next day at all the little kiosks.

✔️Club It Up Balkan Style

Get dressed up like you used to in college – a mini skirt, a busty top, and some good heels (or wedges) – and go out at night past your bedtime. I loved going to Orange Club Sarande around 11pm and dancing the night away along with all of Saranda.

For whatever cultural reason, people stay up late at night in Saranda. I’m pretty sure I spotted multiple teeny boppers in the club dancing along with me. C’est la Vie!

✔️Get on the Party Pirate Ship

You can’t miss it, and I recommend a night trip in the harbor on this party boat! Your ticket will usually include a couple of drink tickets. I went on a date with an Albanian guy, and we did this – I thought I would hate it because it’s so kitschy, but we ended up having a blast!

➡️ Ksamil: Best Things To Do

Again, beyond the usual beach-going, wining, and dining activities, here are some of the off-the-beaten-path things I liked in Ksamil.

✔️ Visit My Favorite Hidden Beach

You’ll definitely need a car to get down here, but it’s only about 10 minutes from Ksamil (and Saranda, technically). It’s called Pulëbardhës Beach, and a few locals recommended it. The road to get to it is a bit rough and unpaved, but there’s parking at the very bottom, and the views are beyond incredible.

✔️Paddleboard Around Ksamil Islands

The islands around Ksamil are super close together and the waters are calm enough where paddleboarding is actually possible. You can schedule and book tickets here.

✔️Sunset at This Viewpoint

I loved catching sunset right here – I would bring my own wine, put some jams on in the car, and wait for that big ball of yellow to go down past the horizon line.

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In Conclusion: Saranda or Ksamil?

As you can see, it really depends on your situation and what you’re looking to get out of the trip and spend your time.

What I did and recommend you do is lodge yourself in Saranda because it’s where the party, day trips, and everything is happening. Take day trips to the beautiful beach clubs in Ksamil whenever you want.

Remember, the two towns are only 20 minutes apart, so don’t sweat the decision too much.