Sightseeing Around Ksamil

October 31, 2026

Sightseeing near Ksamil is dominated by Butrint, one of Albania’s best-known archaeological sites, with a handful of castles, islets and viewpoints around it. Prices are in Albanian lek (ALL), and cash at the ticket kiosk is the safest option.

Butrint National Park

Butrint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1992, on a wooded peninsula between the Vivari channel and Lake Butrint. The ruins hold Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian layers. Look for the Greek theatre, the Roman baths, the baptistery, the Great Basilica, the Venetian tower and the museum in the acropolis. The baptistery mosaic is normally buried under sand and cloth, so it is usually not visible.

An adult ticket is 1,000 ALL, ages 12 to 18 pay 500 ALL and under-12s are free. Groups of 10 or more pay 800 ALL each. Foreigners pay the same as Albanians, and the ticket also covers the museum and the castle side. Hours are seasonal.

1 April to 31 October: opens 08:30, last entry 18:00, closes 20:00.
1 November to 31 March: opens 09:00, last entry 15:00, closes 17:30.
The museum keeps shorter hours, about 09:00 to 16:00, so check on the day.

The park is about 4 km south of Ksamil, roughly 10 minutes by bus or taxi. The official Butrint site has ticket details, and the himara.net Butrint guide summarises the hours.

The Triangular Castle at Vivari

A Venetian castle sits on the far side of the channel, which sources date to the 15th century. A short cable-ferry hop beside the Butrint entrance gets you across. The ferry is a private chain-hauled raft that carries cars, so check the fare at the slip.

Ali Pasha Castle

A small fort stands on an islet at the mouth of the Vivari. It is associated with Ali Pasha of Tepelena and can be reached only by boat from the Butrint entrance, at about EUR 10 per person.

The Ksamil islets

The four small limestone islets lie just off the main bay and are easy to see from the beach. The nearest is about 70 to 100 m out. They have no shade or shops, and the crossing has no lifeguards, so most visitors enjoy them as scenery from the shore.

Mirror Beach

Mirror Beach, known locally as Pasqyra, is about 4 km north of the village on the coast road. It is scenic, though most of it is now covered by paid sunbeds.

Lekuresi Castle viewpoint

Lekuresi Castle stands above Saranda, about 18 km north of Ksamil and about 10 minutes by road above the centre. The Ottomans built it in the 16th century, and it is traditionally dated to 1537. Two towers and a stretch of wall survive, and the grounds are free. A terrace restaurant in the walls looks over the bay and keeps its own hours.

Combining the sights

Butrint takes a half day on its own. Adding the cable ferry and the castle side fits comfortably into a morning, leaving the afternoon for the beach. Compare organised visits on GetYourGuide .