I have been to every beach in Ksamil: These are the best

Ksamil beaches overview

So the first thing to know about the beaches in Ksamil is that the names are confusing. The names on Google Maps differ from the names on signs in real life which sometimes differ from the names people use. So I wanted to put everything on a map to help you better understand the different areas and where to go.

The summary below describes the beaches in June, July, August and early September, out of season a lot of the bars and beaches close down.

❤️ The most popular areas including Poda Bay, Ksamil Beach 7 and Bora Bora Beach.

🧡 The orange areas are a mix of sand and pebbles on smaller beaches that are often calmer than the main bays. The northernmost area overlooks the main road so it is not ideal, but it is much less busy than the center of town.

💛 The yellow area is beach bars set on rocks where you have some sand or deck under the sunbeds and you have to swim from a ladder. This is the calmest part of Ksamil.

💚 My personal favorite area with white-sand beaches and beautiful calm, turquoise water. It does get busy here as well, but it doesn’t feel as crammed and it takes longer for the sunbeds to fill up.

💙 Area of great bars on pebble beaches, one of the calmest places in town. You’ll find some of my favorite beach bars here, including “Summer Gate” and Barbarossa Beach Bar.

💜 The beach that made Ksamil famous across social media with the rounded deck above the water and the Ksamil islets in the background.

Since I won’t be including these in my list over the best beaches in Ksamil, I wanted to show you what the rocky beach bars look like. This is where you should go if you prefer to get away from the crowds.

Here are a few examples of the beaches closest to the entrance of town. As mentioned above, here you get a mix between sand and pebbles, and the bars are geenrally calmer. Bar Restorant Piceri Arturi, attached to Hotel Artur, is a really nice spot for lunch. Just keep in mind that the main road runds close to it.

Best Ksamil beaches

Here we go, a quick look at my favorite beaches as well as some thoughts on the most popular ones.

Ksamil area is unique in that it is made up of smaller coves, very different from the rest of the Riviera which boasts milelong stretches of sand, such as Drymades Beach and Borsh/Qeparo.

Main Ksmail Beach (Plazhi Ksamil 7)

Let’s start with the obvious: Ksamil 7 Beach, the main beach right in the heart of the village, is the most beautiful and busiest of them all.

It’s the kind of place that looks like it belongs on a postcard — powdery white sand, ridiculously clear water that shifts between shades of blue and green, and views of the nearby islands. A wooden jetty runs into the water where taxi boats wait for people to take around the area.

During the summer months, it gets absolutely packed, with rows of sunbeds filling up by mid-morning and beach bars pumping out summer tunes.

I don’t have any photos of it from summer because it was so full I didn’t even see the sand. And when we got there after 11:00 am and asked for availability, the staff just laughed. So come early if you want a good spot.

However, during the off season, it is the only beach you need to visit. It has everything!

Ksamil Islands Beaches

Just off the coast of Ksamil you’ll see four small islets, with the two outermost islands uniquely connected by a narrow strip of sand. This natural sandbar, visible during low tide, forms a secluded beach area, the perfect place to get away from the corwds.

Accessible only by water, you can reach these islands by renting a kayak, pedal boat, or taking a taxi boat from the main beach. There’s even sunbeds for rent out here during the main summer season.

Explroing the islands was one of the highlights of Ksamil for me. It’s the perfect place to go snorkeling and you could even swim to the closest one.

Abiori Beach

Abiori Beach in Ksamil is renowned for its iconic rounded deck that extends over the turquoise ocean. This picturesque view, with the islands in the background, is what made Ksamil Instafamous a few years ago.

The beach itself boasts soft white sands and clear, inviting waters, making it an ideal location for a day of relaxation and swimming. Although it gets very crowded and feels toruisty, I do really enjoy it here. We paid €60 for one of the cabanas with a net you can chill in right above the water.

Abiori Restaurant Pizzeria which runs the beach is one of the best in town. Mostly because the service is really friendly, something that is not easy to come by in Ksamil during the summer months.

Lori Beach

Lori Beach is one of Ksamil’s quieter gems — a small, tucked-away cove that offers a more relaxed alternative to the main beach scene.

With its soft light sand, crystal-clear water, and fewer crowds (especially in the mornings), it’s perfect if you’re looking to unwind without the constant buzz of music and packed sunbeds. It does get crowded here as well in July and August, but later in the day.

The beach is well-kept, with sun loungers available for rent and a cozy bar nearby serving drinks and snacks. There’s also a raised wooden deck if you prefer not to be on the sand. We paid 2500 LEK for two sunbeds and an umbrella in the first row.

You see Puerto Rico Beach in the background, it is equally as beautiful they had a louder more beach club vibe. I also included Paradise Beach in the same area on the map, and I quite like that one as well. It is bigger than Lori Beach.

Ksamil (Castle) Beach

Although this beach isn’t the most beautiful, I really like the area. There’s also a nice wooden deck if you prefer.

I don’t know the right name, it shows up as Ksamil Beach on Google Maps, like most others do. But I call it Castle Beach because of the Castle Hotel and Restaurant. Bella Vista Beach Lounge is the other establishment renting out sunbeds.

🛏️ This is also the area where you find one of my favorite places to stay in Ksamil. It is called Melina’s Seaside Retreat and I love the location and value you get there. It is so close to the water, yet the price won’t break the bank.

Poda Beach

While Poda Beach is not my favorite during the summer season, I have to mention it because it is the biggest and most popular beach. When you get off the bus at “3rd Bus Stop Ksamil” (center of town), Poda is the first beach you get to.

Unfortunately, the beach bar itself has a reputation for bad and slow service, like so many other places in Ksamil.

Can you believe how crowded it is in August? I mean, you can barely see the sand. This was at 8:00 am, the only time it was calm enough to walk around. But when I got there in March/early April the story was very different.

Compared to most other beaches here, it is open year round. In 21°C degree weather I had the beach all to myself.

Bora Bora Beach

Out of season Bora Bora Beach lives up to its tropical name, but at the hight of summer, not so much. Which is why I debated weather to include it or not. Although it might feel small, it is one of the bigger coves in Ksamil, so I felt like I had to say a few words about it.

When I was there in March/April it was lovely, no people around. In August however, the service was terrible. It felt very aggressive. Like, I don’t need to be nice to you, because there is more than enough other people willing to pay.

There’s also a loat of boats and jetskis coming and going at all times, so expect it to be noisy.

As I’m writign this I’m wondering why. Haha. Beacause if you’re here out of season, there are no reason to visit any other beach than Ksamil 7. And during the main season I would steer clear of this place.

🏖 No public beaches: While there technically are public beaches in Ksamil, most are lined with private sunbeds run by beach bars or restaurants. In high season (July–August), you’ll need to pay anywhere from €15–€35 for two beds and an umbrella, depending on location and time of day. And €60+ for the fancier cabanas.

🕗 Come early — seriously: I know I’m repeating myself here, but by 10:00 am in summer, many beaches are already full. Locals and tourists alike reserve spots early, especially on the popular ones like Ksamil Beach and Bora Bora. If you want a prime spot near the water, arrive before 9:00 am or risk ending up in the back row (or with no space at all).

💵 Bring cash: Not all beach bars or umbrella vendors accept cards, so bring some cash (Albanian lek or euros). It’s handy for snacks, drinks, or tipping if you get service at your sunbed. I have even had to pay cash at some hotels.

👀 Read next >> I spent 5 weeks in Saranda Albania: Here’s the good and the bad

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