Ksamil Beaches: The Honest Map

In Ksamil almost the entire coast is organised into beach clubs: an umbrella and two sunbeds cost €10-30 per day depending on area, month and row.

Free beaches exist but they are few and small — better to know before showing up with a towel and the wrong expectations.

Here are the beaches one by one, with prices and character.

The main beach (Lori, Puerto and surroundings)

The main strip in front of town: pale sand, shallow clear water, direct view of the islands. The most photographed and the most crowded.

• Beach clubs: umbrella + 2 sunbeds €15-30 in August, €10-20 in June/September; front row costs more.
• Free: a few narrow patches between clubs, snapped up by 9:00.

Ideal for families (shallow bottom) and anyone who wants bars and restaurants within barefoot distance.

The islands: the beach you paddle to

The islands facing the waterfront have sandy coves and flat rocks: reach them by swimming (the two closest) or by kayak and SUP (10-15 minutes, rentals on the waterfront).

The seaward sides are wilder and often empty even in August. Bring water and sunscreen: zero facilities. Alternatively the boat tour loops around them with swim stops and no effort.

Poda beach and the southern stretch

Just south of the centre, towards Butrint, the coast gets quieter. The Poda area has small beach clubs that are less scenographic but cheaper: €10-15 for umbrella and sunbeds even in high season.

Water just as clear, the bottom drops away a bit faster. This is the right zone if the centre feels like an anthill.

Pasqyrat (the 'mirror' beach)

North of Ksamil, towards Saranda, Pasqyrat is a more open bay with mixed pebbles and sand and a couple of simple set-ups.

• Prices: €10-15, among the lowest in the area.
• Character: less showy, more local; the sea here is often the clearest of all.
• Getting there: car, scooter or a 25-30 minute walk from the centre.

Paid beach clubs vs free beaches: the truth

Let's be clear: a comfortable free beach barely exists in Ksamil. The free patches in the centre are a few metres of shoreline; the real free coves are on the islands or along the coast towards Saranda, reachable by kayak or boat.

• Minimum budget: free patch in the centre early in the morning, or the islands by kayak.
• Medium budget: beach club at Poda or Pasqyrat (€10-15).
• Full comfort: front-row in the centre (€25-30 in August).

For a day with no sunbed logistics at all, the Riviera Grand Tour takes you to beaches that simply can't be reached by land.

Frequently asked questions