How to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil? Taxi, Bus, Airport, Prices

In this blog post, I will give you an overview of the best ways to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by taxi, bus or car.

How to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil? You can get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by taxi, by bus or by car. A taxi costs 150-180 EUR. A rental car is at least 20-30 EUR p. day. There is no direct bus. Take a taxi to the bus terminal (23-28 EUR), a bus from Tirana to Saranda (15.50 EUR) and a bus to Ksamil (1.30 EUR). 

In this blog post, I will give you all the information you need to travel confidently from Tirana airport to Ksamil. I will compare the taxi prices of different taxi companies for a ride from Tirana airport to Ksamil. I will discuss how you can get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by taking a taxi to the bus terminal, a bus from Tirana to Saranda and transferring onto a bus to Ksamil. And I will discuss car rental options at Tirana Airport. 

IMPORTANT! Have you considered flying to Corfu airport on Corfu island and taking a ferry to Saranda and then a taxi to Ksamil. More information below!

Getting from Tirana airport to Ksamil

You can get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by taxi, by bus or by car. Below, I will give you a quick summary of the best ways to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil. Further down below in the blog post, I have more detailed information. 

Tirana airport to Ksamil by taxi (summary)

  • A taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil costs between 150-180 euros depending on which taxi company you book. 
  • The official Tirana airport taxi service charges 207 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Below, you will find a price comparison of what different taxi companies charge for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.

Tirana airport to Ksamil by bus (summary)

  • There is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Ksamil. Therefore you must transfer buses.
  • Step 1: Taxi from Tirana Airport to Bus Terminal near Tirana (23-28 euros)
  • Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda (15.50 euros per person)
  • Step 3: Bus/Taxi from Saranda to Ksamil (bus: 1.30 euros, taxi: 13-25 euros)

Tirana airport to Ksamil by car (summary)

  • A rental car at Tirana airport costs at least 20-30 euros per day. 
  • In July and August, it is the high season and car rentals tend to be pricy. So do your research before you travel. 
  • Consider that driving in Albania can be a challenge as a foreigner. 
  • Two route options: 1) Quicker inland road or 2) pretty coastal road along the Albanian Riviera.

Tirana airport to Ksamil by train (summary)

  • You cannot travel from Tirana airport to Ksamil by train. 
  • Tirana airport, Tirana city and Ksamil village all do not have train stations. 
  • In the communist period, there were some railways built. But these railways never went further south than Vlore. Currently, many of these old railways are not in use and awaiting investment/maintenance.

How much is a taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

A taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil costs between 150-180 euros depending on which taxi company you book. Below you will find a price comparison of what popular taxi companies in Tirana charge for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.

Taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil

  • City Taxi Tirana charges 175 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Smart Taxi Tirana charges 17000 Leke (167 euros) for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Green Taxi Tirana charges 16000 Leke (157 euros) for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Tirana Taxi Company charges 150 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Speed Taxi Tirana charges 170 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Merr Taxi Tirana charges 180 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Ciao Taxi Tirana charges 170 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.
  • Tirana airport taxi service charges 207 euros for a taxi from Tirana airport to Ksamil.

The Tirana Airport Taxi Service is the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service. These are essentially the yellow taxis with the airport logo parked in front of the Airport Terminal Building. Of course, there is an advantage, it is convenient and legit. However, the Tirana airport taxi service tends to be pricy in comparison to other taxi services in Tirana.


How to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by bus?

To get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by bus, you must transfer buses 2 x times. Because there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Ksamil.

So basically, there are direct buses from Tirana airport to Tirana, Durres, Fier and Vlore. But there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Ksamil. So you will always need to transfer buses. 

To travel to Ksamil, you must first get to Saranda. Saranda is a big coastal town just above Ksamil. So once you get to Saranda, you can take a short 15-minute bus ride or taxi ride to Ksamil.

Tirana airport to Ksamil by bus:

  • Step 1: Taxi from Tirana Airport to Bus Terminal near Tirana (23-28 euros)
  • Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda (15.50 euros per person)
  • Step 3: Bus/Taxi from Saranda to Ksamil (bus: 1.30 euros, taxi: 13-25 euros)

Step 1: Taxi from Tirana Airport to Bus Terminal near Tirana

Because there is no direct bus from Tirana airport to Ksamil or nearby Saranda, you must first travel to the bus terminal near Tirana. Because the buses from Tirana to Saranda depart from the bus terminal.

From Tirana airport, you must take a taxi to the bus terminal near Tirana. A taxi from Tirana airport to the bus terminal will cost you 23-28 euros. This is the price that the official Tirana airport taxi service charges. Other taxi companies will charge about the same though. 

The bus terminal you need to get to is called the “South and North Albania Bus Terminal”. In the Albanian Language: “Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut”. This bus terminal is located alongside the SH2 highway between Tirana airport and Tirana’s city centre. You can see the location of the bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/V4CUoNLEKfznakqD6 

Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda

Once you arrive at the bus terminal near Tirana, you transfer onto a bus from Tirana to Saranda.

A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 15.50 euros per person for a one-way journey. The bus from Tirana to Saranda departs between 7:00 AM and 22:00 PM. 

The bus timetable from Tirana to Saranda is as follows. There is a bus from Tirana to Saranda at 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 

The bus from Tirana to Saranda departs from the “South and North Albania Bus Terminal”, located in the outskirts of Tirana alongside the highway connecting Durres beach, Tirana Airport and Tirana’s city centre. You can see the location of the bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/V4CUoNLEKfznakqD6 

And the bus from Tirana to Saranda will drop you off at the bus station in the centre of Saranda. The bus stop is located alongside the Rruga Flamurit (Flamurit Street) between Friendship Park and the archaeological ruins of the Synagogue-Basilica. You can see the location of the bus stop in the centre of Saranda on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RbzFhyz9A2ju7J4t7 


Step 3: Bus/Taxi from Saranda to Ksamil

When the bus from Tirana to Saranda drops you off in Saranda, you are almost there! You will only need to take a short 15-minute bus ride or taxi from Saranda to Ksamil.

The bus from Tirana to Saranda will drop you off in Rruga Flamurit between Friendship Park and the archaeological ruins of the Synagogue-Basilica. From this bus stop, walk towards the coastline. At the end of the street, you will find the location of the bus stop to get to Ksamil. 

The bus from Saranda via Ksamil towards Butrint departs in front of SOS Bar. You can see the location of the bus stop on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8GwcrwJkdZhJ4nca6 

The bus from Saranda to Ksamil departs 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. 

A bus ticket from Saranda to Ksamil costs 150 Leke (1.30 euros) per person for a one-way journey. You are expected to pay in cash. An employee of the bus will walk through the bus to collect cash payment, so it is best to bring exactly 150 Leke with you in cash. Especially since this bus can get crowded and fills up quickly in the summer months.

The bus from Saranda to Ksamil will make 4 x stops in Ksamil. All the bus stops are alongside the main road from Saranda via Ksamil to Butrint. 

Alternatively, you can take a short taxi ride from Saranda to Ksamil. A taxi from Saranda to Ksamil costs 13-25 euros. The usual rate is around 13 euros. But in the summer, taxi drivers can charge more around 23-25 euros. Especially for tourists, the prices tend to be higher.

How to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by car?

You can get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by rental car. A rental car at Tirana airport will cost you at least 20-30 euros per day for a basic rental car. Rental car rates are high in July and August, due to the tourist high season, so do your research or book in advance!

Below, I have a price comparison of what car rental agencies at Tirana Airport charge for a rental car. Bear in mind, that I did ask for the most basic and the cheapest car rental options. 

  • Albania Airport Rent a Car charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia with manual gear from 2019.
  • ARA Auto Rental Albania at Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Fiat Punto from 2018. 
  • Avis Rent a Car Tirana Airport charges 25 euros per day for an Opel Corsa manual gear from 2022.
  • G Rentals Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for an Opel Corsa from 2021. 
  • Green Motion Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia.
  • Hertz Tirana airport charges 22 euros per day for a Suzuki Ignis from 2019. 
  • Eurocar Rentals Tirana charges 25 euros per day for a Kia Rio from 2021.
  • Easy Rent Tirana charges 30 euros per day for a Fiat Panda.
  • Eagle Rent Car Renting Albania charges 20 euros per day for a manual Volkswagen Up.

It is important to consider when you are travelling. Car rental rates can be very high in July and August, sinc it is the tourist high season. As a result, basic or cheap car rentals may not be available anymore. 

There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. Reach out to several car rental agencies before you travel to get an indication of rates and to get a good deal. 

Before you drive in Albania there are some important considerations. Firstly, driving in Albania can be challenging due to the chaotic and aggressive driving style of  Albanian drivers. So you must be a confident and experienced driver. And secondly, do not drive in Albania at night, as street lighting is limited. Safety comes first.

There are two routes that you can choose from when driving from Tirana airport to Ksamil. The quickest route is from Tirana airport via Durres, Lushnje, Fier, Tepelene, Kardhiq Castle and Saranda to Ksamil. This is the inland road, that taxi drivers and bus drivers take. 

But as a tourist, you may want to take the coastal road, which is longer but incredibly pretty. You will drive along the Albanian Riviera coastal road with many sightseeing spots and viewpoints alongside the road. This is from Tirana airport via Durres, Lushnje, Fier, Vlore, Himare and Saranda to Ksamil.

How to get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by train?

You cannot get from Tirana airport to Ksamil by train. Because these destinations do not have train stations and are not connected by railways.

  • Tirana airport does not have a train station. So there are no trains from Tirana airport at all.
  • Tirana city does not have a train station. The former train station was demolished in 2013. It is currently 2023, and no new train station has been built. 
  • Ksamil does not have a train station. And also the nearby cities, like Saranda, do not have a train station. 

When you travel through Albania, you may see some of the old railway tracks in the landscape. There used to be railways connecting Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Shkoder, Lac, Vlore and Pogradec during the communist period in Albania (Second World War until 1992). However, since the fall of communism in 1992, many of these railways are no longer in use. 

At this moment in time, you may be able to take 1-2 trains a week between Elbasan and Durres. And 1 train a week between Shkoder and Lac. The remaining railways are currently not in use and awaiting maintenance and investment.

What is the closest airport to Ksamil?

The closest airport to Ksamil is Corfu airport. Corfu is a Greek island, but it is located in front of the Albanian coastline. Corfu airport is closer to Ksamil than Tirana airport. 

If you were to fly to Corfu airport and it is your goal to get to Ksamil. You must take a ferry from Corfu island to Albania. 

Corfu airport to Ksamil

  • Step 1: Fly to Corfu airport
  • Step 2: Take a bus or taxi from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu (20 min)
  • Step 3: Ferry from the Port of Corfu to the Port of Saranda (30-65 min, fast or slow ferry)
  • Step 4: Take a bus or taxi from the Port of Saranda to Ksamil

So basically, you would fly to Corfu airport from your country. Corfu airport is connected to a lot of European airports. But many of the flights are seasonal and operate in the summer months only. 

Then from Corfu airport, you would take a short bus ride or taxi ride to get to the Port of Corfu. A taxi from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu costs 22-25 euros. A bus ticket from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu costs between 1.20 euros and 1.70 euros depending on whether you buy your ticket before you board the bus or once you are onboard the bus. From Corfu airport, you can take bus line number 15 to the Port of Corfu.

Then from the Port of Corfu, you can take a ferry to Saranda in Albania. The Corfu-Saranda ferry costs between 19-25 euros per person, depending on the season you travel. A high-speed ferry takes only 30 minutes to get you to Saranda. A slower car ferry takes 65 minutes to get you to Saranda.

When your ferry arrives at the Port of Saranda, you can take a bus or a taxi from Saranda to Ksamil. A bus ticket from Saranda to Ksamil costs 150 Leke (1.30 euros). A taxi from Saranda to Ksamil costs 13-25 euros (some taxi drivers charge more for tourists in high season). 

Is Ksamil Albania worth visiting?

Ksamil in Albania is worth visiting, but it is important to take the month you travel into consideration. 

Ksamil Beach and the Ksamil Islands have the prettiest beaches in Albania. That is why Ksamil is known as the “pearl of the Albanian Riviera”, it is the highlight! If you look at any picture online and you will see the perfect white sand, little islands, turquoise water. Ksamil is like paradise in real life and nearby in the South of Europe!

That being said, it is important to take the month you travel into consideration. In July and August, it is the tourist high season and Ksamil gets crowded! Ksamil is a small beach village so when lots of people are in Ksamil, it feels busy and crowded immediately. And the streets to the beach are packed. 

That is why I always say that the best period to visit Ksamil is at the end of May, in June or in September. In essence, just before the high season or just after the high season. You will enjoy Ksamil much more when it is quiet and tranquil. 

About me

About me

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

Welcome to Albania!

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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