Best Things To Do in Ksamil, Albania with Kids
- minna
- 10 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you want crystal clear turquoise water and beautiful sandy bays for your family without paying premium Greek island prices, you need to look at Ksamil. Located on the southern tip of the Albanian coast, just a 45 minute ferry ride from Corfu, Ksamil offers the exact same stunning Ionian Sea experience at roughly a third of the cost.
We visited in early October with our two year old daughter, and the water was still perfectly warm, the beaches were quiet, and we ate incredible fresh seafood right on the beach for less than the price of a standard pub lunch back home. Here is exactly how to navigate Ksamil with a toddler, which beaches have the safest shallow water, and exactly where to stay to avoid the busy summer nightlife.
Getting to Ksamil
Ksamil sits right at the end of the main road heading south from Sarandë. The drive takes about 20 to 25 minutes. If you are driving from inland Gjirokastër, it takes around 50 minutes and takes you right past the famous Blue Eye spring. We did this exact combination on day four of our road trip, visiting the Blue Eye in the morning before hitting Ksamil beach in the afternoon!
A hire car is absolutely the most practical way to get here. Sarandë does have taxis and minibuses that run down to Ksamil, but when you are carrying a toddler, a heavy car seat, and endless beach gear, having your own car is significantly easier. We used Rentout for our Albanian car hire, which operates like Airbnb for cars and came in at about a third less than the conventional companies. If you are flying into Tirana, just pick up the car at the airport and drive it the whole trip.
Parking tip: Ksamil gets incredibly busy in the peak summer months of July and August, and finding parking near the beaches can be difficult by mid morning. Arriving before 10am makes a massive difference. If you visit in September or October like we did, parking is incredibly easy and mostly completely free.
Navigating Ksamil Beaches with a Toddler
The Main Town Beaches
There are four gorgeous main beaches located within very easy walking distance of the town centre, usually just referred to as Ksamil Beach 1 through 9. The central beaches are the absolute most popular for families because they feature fine sand and pebbles, extremely calm water, and are perfectly sheltered by the small islands sitting just offshore. The water is beautifully shallow close to the sand, making it brilliant for toddlers to safely splash around.
One crucial thing to know: most Ksamil beaches have quite a sudden drop off roughly a metre from the shoreline. It varies from beach to beach, but it is highly worth knowing if you have a confident toddler who likes to paddle out alone. For our two year old, simply holding her hand in the shallows was completely fine. The water is so incredibly calm that there are absolutely zero wave concerns.
During July and August, you can hire sunbeds across most beaches, but they can sell out very fast on the most popular sections. In September and October, we had absolutely no difficulty finding space and the beach felt genuinely relaxing.
Mirror Beach and Pulebardha
These two spectacular beaches are located slightly further from the main town and are accessible by boat or a short drive. Mirror Beach in particular is widely considered one of the most beautiful spots in the entire area. It is a completely sheltered cove with exceptionally clear water, backed by beautiful pine trees that keep it much cooler than the exposed town beaches. If you have slightly older children who can manage a short hike down or a quick water taxi ride, both of these beaches are absolutely worth prioritising over the central town options.
The Ksamil Islands
There are four tiny uninhabited islands sitting directly offshore from Ksamil. You can easily reach them by hiring a small boat from the beach, paddling over on a board, or renting a family kayak. The islands feature their own tiny, pristine beaches which are generally much quieter than the mainland ones. Taking a small boat crossing is also a fun little adventure for kids.
Beyond the Beach: Things to Do Near Ksamil
For families travelling with toddlers, the beautiful beaches are more than enough to fill two or three days. However, if you want to escape the sand for a few hours, there are some brilliant local options.
Explore Butrint National Park
Located just 3km south of Ksamil, Butrint is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring ancient Greek and Roman ruins built directly on a stunning peninsula in the middle of a lagoon. You reach the main area via a short boat crossing. The exciting combination of ancient ruins, water, and ferry makes it highly engaging even for young children who might normally hate historical sites. The paths are largely flat and highly accessible with a pram.
Take a Boat Trip
Numerous local tour companies operate directly from Ksamil beach, offering boat trips to nearby hidden bays that are completely inaccessible by car. We walked past several of these operators and they look absolutely perfect for families who want a few hours out on the Ionian Sea without committing to an exhausting full day tour.
Visit Sarandë
Sarandë is just 20 minutes north and makes a brilliant morning out. It is a much larger town featuring a proper paved beach esplanade, a busy harbour, and fantastic seafood restaurants. It is significantly hillier than Ksamil and carries a lively nightlife reputation during the summer. We actually based ourselves in Sarandë for two nights and drove down to Ksamil during the day, which gave us the best of both worlds!
Quick Survival Tips for Ksamil
Bring beach shoes: The pebble sections of some beaches can be sharp, and the sudden drop off near the water edge makes the ground quite uneven for kids
Always carry cash: Even in the more touristy restaurants in Ksamil, cash is useful and sometimes the absolutely only accepted payment method. Euros are widely accepted, but the local Albanian lek is the main currency. ATMs are readily available in Sarandë, but the cash machines in Ksamil can be patchy, so always come prepared!
Avoid the summer noise: Ksamil has a very lively summer nightlife scene, and the main beach clubs play loud music late into the night during July and August. Choosing accommodation slightly set back from the main beach strip makes a massive difference.
Stray animals: You will see stray dogs and cats all over Albania, including Ksamil. They are generally passive and harmless, but it is worth knowing in advance if your child is particularly nervous around animals.
The Best Family Accommodation in Ksamil
Ksamil offers a brilliant range of accommodation, mostly consisting of small, welcoming, independently run boutique hotels and guesthouses. These three options completely cover the best choices for families across different budgets.
1. Hotel de Ksamil (from around £50/night)
Best for: Families looking for incredible value just a one minute walk from the sand, featuring a brilliant breakfast and the most welcoming hosts in town.
Run by Nico and his lovely wife, Hotel de Ksamil receives flawless reviews for the sheer warmth and incredible helpfulness of the hosts. The location is an absolute dream for families. You are just a one minute walk from the beach, but perfectly set back enough to completely avoid the loud summer beach club noise. The brilliant breakfast buffet features fresh local pastries and Albanian specialties alongside a great continental spread. The hosts also run a highly useful tour desk to help you book local boat trips. Please note that cots are not available at this hotel.
2. EMAR Beachfront Hotel (from around £90/night)
Best for: Families who want a gorgeous family run hotel featuring sea view balconies and a beautiful beachfront breakfast.
This is has excellent family rooms and a spectacular views. The absolute highlight is the breakfast, which is served directly at a stunning beachfront cafe just minutes from your room, meaning your very first meal of the day comes with a perfect sea view. They have a lovely private garden and terrace which is the perfect place for parents to relax with a drink once the toddler is finally asleep! The family who runs the hotel are exceptionally attentive and genuinely care about making your stay perfect. A cot is readily available on request at this hotel.
3. Hotel Luxury (from around £100/night)
Best for: Families who want massive amounts of space, huge private terraces, and a beautifully quiet location close to Lori Beach.
Despite the grand name, this is not a sterile corporate luxury resort, and the very sensible price tag reflects that! What it does offer is brilliant value for families needing space. They offer excellent convertible family rooms featuring massive private terraces and spotless interiors. The location is wonderfully quiet, sitting well away from the noisy main beach strip but remaining incredibly close to Lori Beach, which is a fantastic, slightly less crowded option for families. Please note that cots are not available at this hotel.
Why Ksamil is Worth the Trip
Ksamil is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beach destinations in all of Albania. Beyond the incredibly clear water and the amazing fresh seafood, the fact that it is significantly cheaper than equivalent spots in Greece or Croatia means you get the same experience with few tourists and for much cheaper.
If you can, visit in September or October. The water is perfectly warm, the beaches are peacefully quiet, the fresh langoustines are in season, and you will get to see the Ionian Sea in a shade of turquoise that genuinely needs to be seen to be believed.
For our full Albanian driving route including every single stop, read our Seven Day Ultimate Albania Family Road Trip with a Toddler. For the best places to base your family across the entire coast, read our Best Places to Stay on the Albanian Riviera with Kids. And to read about the incredible natural spring we visited on the way, read our Blue Eye Albania with Kids guide!
