One Day in Sarandë and Ksamil: Butrint, Beaches and Sunset
Updated 2026-11-14 · 6 min read · Prices and schedules change — check locally.
One day in Sarandë and Ksamil
08:00
Bus to Butrint
From the port stop on Rruga Jonianet; pay the driver in cash (200–250 lek).
09:00
Butrint National Park
Greek, Roman and Venetian ruins in a lagoon forest. Allow two to three hours.
12:30
Lunch in Ksamil
Hop off the bus on the way back for seafood by the water.
14:00
Swim at Ksamil
Clear water facing the small islands; boats and kayaks run in summer.
Sunset
Lëkurësi Castle
The hilltop castle above Sarandë, with the whole bay and Corfu below.
20:00
Dinner on the promenade
Sarandë's seafront fills up in the evening.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Make this plan from where you arePlan my day picks what's open near you, with walking times.How do I get between Sarandë, Ksamil and Butrint?
One municipal bus does all three: Sarandë → Ksamil → Butrint, roughly every hour, paid in cash on board.
Buses leave from the port stop on Rruga Jonianet, roughly hourly from about 06:30 to 18:30, and the last bus back from Butrint is around 19:30. Times change with the season, so ask the driver for the return.
| Ride | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Sarandë → Ksamil | On the way to Butrint | About 200 lek |
| Sarandë → Butrint | About 45 min | 200–250 lek |
| Ksamil → Butrint | About 10 min (4 km) | Same bus |
What does Butrint cost and when is it open?
1,000 lek for adults. April to October it opens 08:30 (last entry 18:00); November to March 09:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 15:00.
Children aged 12–18 pay 500 lek and under-12s go free. Bring cash in lek: card payment at the kiosk is unreliable. The museum on the acropolis keeps shorter hours than the park.
| Season | Open | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April – 31 October | 08:30–20:00 | 18:00 |
| 1 November – 31 March | 09:00–17:30 | 15:00 |
Is Ksamil worth it outside summer?
For lunch and a walk, yes; for swimming, only from late spring to early autumn. Many beach bars and island boats only run in season.
In winter, swap the beach for a longer lunch in Ksamil and an earlier sunset at Lëkurësi.
Can I add the Blue Eye?
Only with a car or taxi: the Blue Eye spring is inland, off the road to Gjirokastër, and not on the Ksamil bus route.
If you have a car, do the Blue Eye in the morning and Butrint in the afternoon, and check Butrint's last entry first.
Sources
Keep reading
- One Day in Tirana: A Realistic Itinerary, Hour by Hour
- Things to Do in Ksamil: Islands, Beaches, and Butrint
- Best Viewpoints and Sunset Spots in Albania
- Things to Do in Saranda: Top Attractions and Day Trips
- How to Get from Tirana to Sarandë and Ksamil: Bus, Car and Flights
- Sarandë or Ksamil: Where Should You Stay?