Saranda vs. Ksamil: Which Is Better for You?

September 5, 2026
No Comments

Sarande and Ksamil are a short distance from another, and yet both provide a completely different holiday experience. This is the guide for you if you’re planning your Albanian beach getaway and aren’t sure which of the two to base yourself in.

I’ve visited Saranda (also Sarandë) and Ksamil a few times now and love both for their own unique charm, but the more I visit, the more I realise just how different of an experience they each offer.

I think which one you’ll prefer really depends on what you’d like out of your holiday, so I’ll go through all the details like transport, hotels, vibes, food, etc in this guide but also add my own experience. Leave a comment which you think you’d prefer at the end 🙂

This blog may contain affiliate links to support the running of the blog. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

Saranda vs. Ksamil

Saranda or Ksamil? My Experience

If you want the short answer on my preference, I honestly have to say Saranda. It feels more authentic, it’s more affordable and it’s less crowded than Ksamil.

However, the beaches in Ksamil are pretty unbeatable. There you’ll find sandy stretches of crystal-clear water and sunsets that look almost unreal. I think it has changed a lot since Albania gained attention as a tourist destination, with Ksamil now being slightly overrun by huge beach resorts and endless sunbeds.

In the end, it depends on what you want from a holiday. If you like me want a more local experience, you’ll likely prefer Saranda. If you want the Instagram-perfect holiday and endless beach days, Ksamil is the right choice.

Where	Transport	Hotels	Prices	Vibes
Saranda	Ferry from Corfu /drive from Tirana	Lots of options Great Value	For all budgets	Urban yet beachy
Ksamil	Bus or Taxi from Saranda	Nice options, mostly hotels and guest houses	A little higher	Beach Club and Chill

Getting to Saranda vs Ksamil

Ksamil is about 15km South of Saranda and you will pretty much always pass through Saranda on your way to Ksamil.

How to get to Saranda:

The closest airport is actually on the Greek Island of Corfu (CFU). From Corfu, you can take a direct ferry to Saranda which takes about 30mins to 1 hour.

There are two main companies that do the journey, Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines. One essential thing to keep in mind with all of your bookings is that Corfu is one hour ahead of Saranda!

Alternatively, Albania has an airport in the capital Tirana. There are public buses from there, but I’d only recommend it if you’re hiring a car and wanting to see more of Albania (which is SO worth it btw).

Check out my full guide on both options here.

How to get to Ksamil:

From the ferry terminal or Saranda city centre, there’s a public bus that goes to Ksamil in about 40 minutes. It costs 200LEK (about 2€ as of June ’26) and can get pretty busy during peak times.

Alternatively, there are countless taxis around the ferry terminal, most will charge you about 20€ for the trip. If they overcharge in person, you can Whatsapp a few providers like Taxi Eri Saranda or Taxi Saranda Orest, that’s how I got the best price.

Hotels in Saranda vs Ksamil

I actually think both Saranda and Ksamil have nice hotels at decent prices. Saranda has a little more variation in hotels and also hostels, whereas Ksamil is a lot of resort-style hotels and for more affordable stays, guest houses.

Price-wise, you can usually find a nice stay in Saranda for 2 people for under 100€ per night. In Ksamil this is possible too, but you’ll likely pay a bit more to be near the beach.

Accommodation in Saranda:
$ Saranda Boutique Hostel
$$ Hotel Magllara
$$$ Alyacht Premium Hotel

Accommodation in Ksamil:
$ Guesthouse Dema
$$ Hotel Meta
$$$ Dine Hotel

Check out my Saranda accommodation guide here.

The Vibe Check: Bustling City vs. Tourist Beach Club

The vibes in Saranda vs Ksamil are actually quite different, simply because of how they are set up.

Saranda is a city. There’s a big public beach, some private beach-front clubs, supermarkets, lots of restaurants, souvenir shops etc. There’s a lot of bars and beachside clubs open till late. In Saranda, you are around locals whose home this is.

Ksamil is a tourist destination and it’s clear from the moment you step out your taxi/bus. It’s basically only made of hotels and beach-front clubs. They pump music and vibes during the day, but it tends to quiet down at night. There are of course restaurants and a few small market shops, but it is really built around the hotels and beach areas.

Where is the Beaches and Swimming Better?

It’s pretty hard to beat the beaches and water in Ksamil. They have the picture-perfect sandy beaches and turquoise water that is beautifully clear.

The only thing I didn’t love about the beaches in Ksamil was that every inch of sand is covered in beach chairs and beach clubs. There are a few (very busy) public beaches, but you almost always have to pay for a sun lounger (from 10€ up to 50€ during peak season). Most of them were also pumping loud music all day, which can be great if that’s your vibe, I personally found it a bit overwhelming.

Saranda also has some beach clubs, which are often a little more affordable for a chair (10-20€). In May, we even found one that let us sit for free if we got a drink. There is also a big public beach which is nice.

The water in Saranda isn’t quite as clear as Ksamil and there’s sometimes some rubbish floating around. Most of the time though you still get that perfectly turquoise water.

Which Town is Cheaper?

Saranda is overall a little cheaper than Ksamil, mostly as there is more variety and local spots for food.

Beach clubs are definitely cheaper in Saranda (I’d say about half in peak seasom) and there are quite a few free beaches.

Ksamil also has free areas, but they get extremely busy. Sun loungers can go up to 50€ in July/August.

Restaurants are also a bit more affordable in Saranda as there are more local spots and just more places in general, so competition keeps prices a little lower.

Hotels are also slightly cheaper overall in Saranda, but there are similar-priced options in Ksamil too.

Where is better for restaurants/drinks?

Both areas have amazing food options (make sure to have some seafood) that are often still well-priced for a holiday destination.

Saranda has some of my personal favourite restaurants and more options in terms of budget and experience. It ranges from beachside bars with lovely cocktails to incredible rooftop restaurants to local places with very affordable but great food.

Ksamil is more of a place for restaurants along the beach that are a little more elevated and pricier, though you can find some gems too. Beach bars are lively during the day but it calms down after sunset, where it’s more of a cocktail with a view destination.

Some of my favourite restaurants in Saranda are Traditional Restaurant Argjiro and Haxhi.

Day Trip Convenience: Butrint, Blue Eye, and Gjirokastër

Saranda has some incredible day trip options, and usually is the better base for them. This is as it has more options for car or motorbike rentals as well as tour operators. When I was there, me and some other travellers rented motorbikes for super cheap and headed out on day trips.

That being said, many tours will also pick you up in Ksamil. Some of my favourite tours are listed in this blog post, such as The Blue Eye and Gjirokastra.

The only one that’s easier to get to from Ksamil is Butrint National Park, a UNSECO World Heritage Site with an unique mix of historic, archeological sites, monuments and nature.

In all honesty, for most people, I’d recommend doing Ksamil as a day trip from Saranda, rather than using it as a base.