The short answer
Ksamil sits about 20 minutes beyond Sarandë at the very southern tip of the Riviera, so it's roughly 250–290 km and about 4.5 to 5 hours by car from Tirana Airport. The route is the same as for Sarandë, then a short hop further south. As with Sarandë, there's no direct airport bus — you'll take a transfer, a rental car, or a bus with a change.
Private transfer — the simplest
A door-to-door transfer drops you at your Ksamil hotel in about 5 hours with no changes — the easiest choice for a beach holiday with luggage. Book ahead, especially in July and August when Ksamil is Albania's busiest beach destination, and agree the price up front.
Rental car — best for day trips
A rental car makes sense if you'll be exploring from Ksamil — Butrint's ancient ruins, the Blue Eye spring and Sarandë are all short drives away. Pick up at the airport and drive south; the last stretch is well signed once you pass Sarandë.
Bus — the budget route
Take the airport bus to Tirana, then a bus to Sarandë, then a short local bus or taxi for the final 20 minutes to Ksamil. It's the cheapest option but the slowest, with two changes. Summer has the most frequent connections.
The Corfu ferry shortcut
Because Ksamil is so far south, many travellers fly into Corfu (Greece), take the 30-minute ferry to Sarandë, then a 20-minute taxi to Ksamil — often faster and sometimes cheaper than driving down from Tirana. Worth pricing both before you book flights.
From the road
Practical tips
- → Book transfers and rental cars ahead for July–August — Ksamil fills up fast.
- → Consider flying into Corfu and taking the Sarandë ferry to cut the journey.
- → Base in Ksamil and day-trip to Butrint, the Blue Eye and Sarandë.
- → Bring cash for the final leg — small local taxis rarely take cards.
