How to get from Ksamil to Butrint? Bus, car, taxi, walk, boat, prices

If you are looking for the best way to get from Ksamil to Butrint, this blog post is for you. I will describe how you can get from Ksamil to Butrint by bus, by taxi, by car or by foot.

How to get from Ksamil to Butrint? You can get from Ksamil to Butrint by bus, by taxi, by car or by foot. A bus ticket costs 100 LEK (0.95 EUR), buses depart every 30-60 min from 6:30 AM-19:00 PM. A taxi costs 1000-1500 LEK (10-15 EUR). A rental car costs at least 20-25 EUR per day. Walking takes under 1 hour, it is 4 KM.

In this blog post, I will share all the information you need to travel from Ksamil to Butrint. I will share bus timetables, bus stop locations, bus ticket pricing and how to pay for your bus ticket. I will share a comparison of taxi prices from Ksamil to Butrint. I will share car rental rates in case you plan on driving from Saranda/Ksamil to Butrint. I will also discuss walking from Ksamil to Butrint, boat trips and train availability in Albania. 

Getting from Ksamil to Butrint by bus, by taxi, by car, by foot, by boat or by train

Let me start off, by giving you an overview of how you can get from Ksamil to Butrint by bus, by taxi, by car, by foot, by boat or by train. In the next paragraph, I will give you more details about each manner of transportation of getting from Ksamil to Butrint. 

Ksamil to Butrint by bus (summary)

  • A bus ticket from Ksamil to Butrint costs 100 Leke (0.95 Euros) per person.
  • Buses depart from Saranda and drive via Ksamil to Butrint every 30-60 minutes between  6:30 AM and 19:00 PM. 
  • You can find the details of the bus timetable from Ksamil to Butrint below. 
  • There are 4 bus stops in Ksamil, where the bus departs from Ksamil to Butrint, I have included the Google Maps links below.

Ksamil to Butrint by taxi (summary)

  • You can get from Ksamil to Butrint by taxi for between 1000-1500 Leke (10-15 euros). 
  • Some taxi drivers offer to bring you and wait 1-2 hours outside the gate and bring you back for around 50 euros. 

Ksamil to Butrint by car (summary)

  • A rental car in Ksamil or Saranda will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day. 
  • However, in July and August, it is the tourist high season, so car rental rates can be a lot higher. 
  • Always reach out to car rental companies via email or WhatsApp before you travel, to get a good deal. 
  • The drive from Ksamil to Saranda only takes 10 minutes, the road is newly asphalted and road signages are clear.

Ksamil to Butrint by foot (summary)

  • You can walk from Ksamil to Butrint, the distance is only about 4 kilometers, so it will take you just under 1 hour to walk there. 
  • Bear in mind that upon arrival, you will walk another 1-2 hours to explore Butrint National Park. 
  • In the summer months, the heat of the day will make walking for an hour uncomfortable, so it is best to leave in the early morning to avoid the afternoon heat. 

Ksamil to Butrint by boat (summary)

  • There is no ferry boat from Ksamil to Butrint, so your transportation options are taking a bus, hiring a taxi, renting a car or walking to Butrint. 
  • There are boat tours from Ksamil to Lake Butrint, but these are Mussel Tours where you harvest mussels, prepare, cook and eat the mussels. Very enjoyable!

Ksamil to Butrint by train (summary)

  • There are no trains from Ksamil to Butrint. Ksamil does not have a train station and Butrint does not have a train station. So train travel is not an option.


How to get from Ksamil to Butrint by bus?

You can get from Ksamil to Butrint by bus. Basically, there is a bus that drives from Saranda via Ksamil to Butrint every 30-60 minutes. You can board this bus in Ksamil to get to the Butrint National Park.

A bus ticket from Ksamil to Butrint costs 100 Leke (0.95 Euros) per person. You are expected to pay for your bus ticket in cash. So it is best to bring some small Albanian Leke notes or coins with you before you board the bus. Once you are on the bus, an employee from the bus company will pass through to collect your cash payment for the bus ticket.

The bus departs from Saranda every 30-60 minutes between 6:30 AM and 19:00 PM. There is a bus departure from Saranda at 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 17:30 PM, 18:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:00 PM and 21:30 PM. 

Approximately 15-20 minutes later the bus from Saranda will make stops in Ksamil and drive onwards to Butrint. 

You can get on the bus from Ksamil to Butrint at one of the 4 x bus stops along the main road. To make it easier for you, I have included the locations of the bus stops in Ksamil below.

Ksamil to Butrint National Park bus

The bus from Ksamil to Butrint will drop you off right in front of the Butrint National Park entrance. You can see the location of the bus stop near Butrint on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fs42EtGKcBG3mifn7 

How to get from Ksamil to Butrint by taxi?

You can get from Ksamil to Butrint by taxi for between 1000-1500 Leke (10-15 euros). Some taxi drivers offer to bring you and wait 1-2 hours outside the gate and bring you back for around 50 euros. 

  • Taxi Saranda 251 charges 1000 Leke (9.40 euros) for a taxi from Ksamil to Butrint.
  • Taxi Rayan Saranda charges 1500 Leke (14.10 euros) for a taxi from Ksamil to Butrint. 
  • Saranda Taxi Aldo 24 H offers to bring you from Ksamil to Butrint, then wait 1-2 hours for you to visit the site, and bring you back for 50 euros. 

How to get from Ksamil to Butrint by car?

You can rent a car and drive from Ksamil to Butrint. Renting a car in Saranda and the surrounding areas will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day. 

I have reached out to some of the independent car rental companies in Saranda to request their car rental prices. These are the prices they charge for their cheapest rental car. 

  • Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarande charges 20 euros per day for a Citroen C1 or 25 euros per day for a Suzuki Swift.
  • Saranda Holiday Rent a Car charges 200 euros per week, so approximately 28.50 euros per day, for a Fiat Panda or a Toyota Yaris.
  • Moto Adventure Cars and Motercycles Rental charges 140 euros per week, so 20 euros per day, for a Toyota Yaris.
  • Centrum Rent a Car Saranda charges 25 euros per day for a Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Spark or Volkswagen Polo. 
  • Brilant Car Rental Sarande charges 20 euros per day for a Toyota Yaris.
  • Saranda Center Scooter and Car Rental charges 200 euros per week, so approximately 28.50 euros per day, for a Toyota Yarris 1.4 Diesel.
  • Iri’s Car Rental charges 20 euros per day for a Nisan Note.

If you are travelling to Saranda or Ksamil and you plan on renting a car, I highly recommend you book a car before you travel. Booking or reserving a rental car may be as easy as reaching out to several car rentals before you travel via WhatsApp or email. 

Car rental rates tend to be higher in July and August as this is the tourist season. And car rental companies may not have a cheaper or more basic rental car available anymore. And would therefore only offer a much more expensive rental car. So do your research before you travel!

With regards to driving in Albania, I recommend that you only drive if you are an experienced and alert driver. Albanian drivers have a chaotic and aggressive style of driving, so you will be challenged. If you have any doubts about driving, please take a bus or hire a taxi instead, safety comes first!

Can you walk from Ksamil to Butrint?

You can walk from Ksamil to Butrint. Ksamil is only around 4 kilometres to the South of Ksamil. So you can walk from Ksamil to Butrint in less than 1 hour. 

However, in the summer months, like June, July, August and September, it is very hot in the South of Albania. So walking from Ksamil to Butrint would only be enjoyable in the very early morning. 

The most straightforward route from Ksamil to Butrint is following the road. You can walk alongside the road. There is no special footpath to walk from Ksamil to Butrint. Of course, there are some beautiful beaches along the coastline, so deviating from the road is well worth it!

Also bear in mind that once you enter Butrint Park, you will walk for another 1 hour to get through the park. So you must have enough energy left to explore the archaeological park itself! And you must have enough energy left to walk back to Ksamil after your visit to Butrint.

In the summer months, it is always best to get to Butrint in the early morning. So that you can avoid larger tourist groups and you can avoid the heat of the afternoon sun!

How to get from Ksamil to Butrint by boat?

There is no ferry boat from Ksamil to Butrint. So if you want to travel from Ksamil to Butrint, you can hire a taxi, rent a car, take a bus or walk from Ksamil to Butrint. 

If you do want to go on a boat trip from Ksamil, you can have a look at booking a Mussel Tour. Some local operators offer a boat trip with a traditional boat to Butrint Lake, where you harvest, prepare, cook and eat the mussels. 

Another option is renting a little boat to visit the Ksamil islands in front of the coastline from Ksamil beach. 

Can you get from Ksamil to Butrint by train?

You cannot get from Ksamil to Butrint by train. Ksamil does not have a railway station or any railway connections. Butrint does not have a railway station or any railway connections. 

When you travel through Albania, you might see some of the old railway tracks that connect Shkoder, Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Pogradec and Vlore. However, many of these railway tracks are currently not in use. 

The main reason is that since the fall of communism in 1992, there has been little interest and little investment in the railway network. Therefore, currently, there are only 2 x trains per week in operation between Durres and Elbasan and 1 x train per week between Shkoder and Lac. The remainder of the railway tracks are not in use. 

How far is Ksamil from Butrint?

Ksamil is only 4 kilometres to the north of Butrint. You can travel from Ksamil to Butrint in 10 minutes by car, by bus or by taxi. If you walk from Ksamil to Butrint, it will take you just under 1 hour. 

How long does it take to visit Butrint?

It does take 1-2 hours to visit Butrint. Butrint is an archaeological park and UNESCO site in the South of Albania. 

When you arrive a the ticket office of Butrint, you will be given a map which shows a circular walking route through Butrint Park. The circular walking route takes you by all the archaeological ruins and through the beautiful nature growing at the site. This walking route will take you between 1-2 hours. 

There are some coffee houses and cafes on site as well, so you could take a 20-30 minute break during or after your walk through Butrint. 

If you are visiting Butrint in the summer months, it can be very hot in the area. So I always recommend you visit first thing in the morning. Because you want to avoid the heat of the afternoon. 

Is Butrint National Park worth it?

Butrint National Park is absolutely worth a visit. Butrint is a UNESCO site and archaeological park. 

At Butrint National Park, you can see ruins from the Greek period, Roman city and the bishopric that followed. There are also ruins from the Byzantine period and the Venetian occupation. 

But above all, Butrint is a beautiful place to explore. When you enter the park, you will be given a map which shows a circular walking route of the island. Butrint is a peninsula or almost an island, so you will spend 1-2 hours walking around the island exploring the ruins. 

The island is overgrown and surrounded by beautiful nature. You will see the sparkling water of Lake Butrint and the Vivari Channel. And surrounding the ruins, you will see lush and wild nature, that have overtaken the site since it was abandoned in the Middle Ages. 

Even if archaeological sites and history are not your main interest in Albania, then Butrint National Park is still worth a visit. It is impressive, stunning, beautiful, peaceful and breath-taking. 

Butrint ticket price

A bus ticket from Ksamil to Butrint costs 100 Leke (0.95 Euros) per person. You are expected to pay for your bus ticket in cash onboard the bus.

An entrance ticket from the Butrint National Park costs 1000 Leke (9.40 euros) per person. That makes Butrint one of the most expensive tourist attractions in the country when it comes to entrance ticket pricing. However, Butrint is a highlight. If you are in the area visiting Butrint UNESCO Park is absolutely worth it!

Related Questions

Saranda to Butrint bus – There is a bus from Saranda to Butrint every 30-60 minutes between 6:30 AM and 19:00 PM. The bus timetable from Saranda to Butrint is below. A bus ticket from Saranda to Butrint costs 200 Leke (1.90 euros) per person. The bus from Saranda to Butrint makes stops at the Port of Saranda, in the city centre of Saranda and at Hotel Butrinti in Saranda. 

Saranda to Butrint bus timetable – The Saranda to Butrint bus timetable is 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 17:30 PM, 18:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:00 PM and 21:30 PM. 

Ksamil to Saranda bus timetable – The bus drives from Butrint via Ksamil to Saranda. The bus departs from Butrint at 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:00 PM, 17:30 PM, 18:00 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:00 PM, 19:30 PM and 20:00 PM. And this bus will make stops in Ksamil approximately 10 minutes later and drive onwards to Saranda.

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I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania. I arrange your transportation and I am your English speaking guide. So that, you get to experience the most beautiful places in Albania!
Kind regards, Manon

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I am a Tour Guide in Albania

I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania.

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