Ksamil
2,000–4,000 ALL per pair + umbrella
Peak August on the islands is the most expensive stretch of coast in Albania.
Know before you pay
Fair prices in Albania
Albania is cheap, but prices are rarely on display and most of it is still cash. Here is what locals pay, so you know when a quote is fair and when to walk away.
Taxis & transfers
| Route | Fair fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tirana Airport (TIA) → Tirana centre / Skanderbeg SquareFixed-rate official airport taxi rank. 25–35 min. Don't pay more than 2,500 ALL. | 2,000–2,500 ALL≈ €20–25 | Fixed-rate official airport taxi rank. 25–35 min. Don't pay more than 2,500 ALL. |
| Tirana Airport → Durrës45 min. The airport express bus to Tirana centre is 400 ALL if you're not in a hurry. | 3,500–4,500 ALL≈ €35–45 | 45 min. The airport express bus to Tirana centre is 400 ALL if you're not in a hurry. |
| Tirana centre → Tirana AirportCheaper booked through a dispatch app than hailed on the street. | 1,800–2,500 ALL≈ €18–25 | Cheaper booked through a dispatch app than hailed on the street. |
| Tirana → Shkodër (private transfer)A furgon does the same run for 400–500 ALL. | 8,000–11,000 ALL≈ €80–110 | A furgon does the same run for 400–500 ALL. |
| Sarandë port → KsamilShared minibus is 100–150 ALL. Agree the fare before you leave the port. | 1,500–2,000 ALL≈ €15–20 | Shared minibus is 100–150 ALL. Agree the fare before you leave the port. |
| Tirana → Theth (4x4 transfer)Per car, not per person. Shared seats in a Theth van run €20–30. | 12,000–18,000 ALL≈ €120–180 | Per car, not per person. Shared seats in a Theth van run €20–30. |
Dispatch apps that don't overcharge
Speed Taxi
Largest fleet in Tirana, metered, call 0800 1616 or use the app.
Merr Taxi
App-based, upfront price shown before you accept.
Green Taxi
Tirana only, metered, reliable for airport runs.
Lux Taxi
Call-out service, useful late at night.
Bolt also operates in Tirana and shows the price before you accept. Uber does not run in Albania.
Beach sunbeds
Sarandë town beach
1,000–2,000 ALL per pair
Cheaper the further you walk from the promenade.
Himarë & Livadh
1,500–2,500 ALL per pair
Many bars waive the fee if you order food and drinks.
Dhërmi & Drymades
2,000–3,500 ALL per pair
Beach clubs charge a minimum spend rather than a bed fee.
Gjipe
800–1,500 ALL per pair
One small camp only; bring cash, there is nothing else there.
Durrës
500–1,500 ALL per pair
The cheapest organised beach in the country.
Your rights & the usual traps
Always ask for the fiscal receipt
Every bar, restaurant and beach club in Albania is legally required to give you a printed fiscal coupon (kupon tatimor). No receipt means the price is negotiable — and the tax office wants to hear about it.
Part of every beach must stay free
Albanian law reserves a share of each public beach for free access. If a club tells you the whole bay is private, walk a little further and put your towel down.
Agree taxi fares before you get in
Unmetered drivers outside airports, ports and bus stations will quote two to three times the normal price. Ask for the meter, or use a dispatch app.
Pay in lek, not euros
Paying in euros usually means a rate of 100 ALL to the euro instead of the real ~97. Withdraw lek at a no-fee bank ATM and pay cash.
Count your change
Old lek is still quoted in conversation: '1,000 lek' sometimes means 100 new lek. Confirm the figure when a price sounds ten times too high.
Rental car damage
Photograph every scratch, the windscreen and the tyres before driving off, and film a slow walk-around. Keep it until the deposit is returned.
If you are overcharged
Typical 2026-season ranges gathered from operators and travellers. Prices move with the season — agree a fare before you set off and always ask for the fiscal receipt.