How to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil? Taxi, Bus, Prices, Timetable, Transfers, Train, Ferry, Flight

If you are looking for the best way to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, I wrote this blog for you. In this blog, I will describe how you can 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 bus, by taxi or by car. No train. A taxi costs 210 EUR. No direct bus. Step 1: Bus to Tirana Bus Terminal (20min, 3 EUR). Step 2: Tirana to Saranda bus (5H, 15EUR). Step 3: Saranda to Ksamil bus (15min+, 1.50EUR). Car rental at least 20-25 EUR a day.

In this blog, I will give you all the information you need to plan your journey from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. I will give you the price of a taxi vs. the price of a bus. Since there is no direct bus, I will outline bus transfers, what route to take, ticket prices and bus timetables. I will also discuss renting a car, driving independently, train travel in Albania and flying to Corfu airport and taking a ferry to Saranda in order to get to Ksamil. Let’s dive in.

How do I go from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

You can get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil by bus (2 transfers), by taxi or by car. There is no train, no ferry and no flight between Tirana Airport to Ksamil. Let me give you a short overview of the best ways to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil by bus

• There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil,  you must transfer buses 2 x times.
• Step 1: Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania (20 min, 300 LEK or 3 EUR)
• Step 2: Tirana to Saranda bus (5 hours, 1500 LEK or 15 EUR)
• Step 3: Saranda to Ksamil bus (15-30 min, heavy traffic summer, 150 LEK or 1.50 EUR)
• The bus journey from Tirana to Ksamil is long and tiring, you may want to spend your first night in Tirana and travel onwards the next day.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil by taxi

• A taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil costs 210 EUR. 
• This is the price from the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service.
• The Tirana Airport taxi service has a price list on their website.
• If you want to compare prices and see if you can get a better deal, I recommend you message taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Lux Taxi, Green Taxi or City Taxi via WhatsApp.
• There is no UBER Taxi in Albania.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil ferry

• You cannot take a ferry from Tirana Airport to Ksamil.
• There are no ferries that go along the Albanian coastline at all. So going from Durres to Ksamil by ferry would be impossible.
• There are ferries to Albania, however, these are all international ferries.
• The most popular routes are Corfu island (Greek) to Saranda in Albania. And Bari (Italy) to Durres in Albania.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil train

• You cannot take a train from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. 
• There are no trains to Ksamil or nearby Saranda at all.
• There are no railways in that part of the country.
• In the past, there used to be trains to Vlore, which is the starting point of the Albanian Riviera. However, these trains are not in operation now.
• Train travel within Albania is very limited. That being said, a new railway is under construction between Tirana Airport, Durres and Tirana.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil distance

• The distance from Tirana Airport to Ksamil by road is about 272 kilometers. 
• Google Maps underestimates the time it takes to drive through Albania.
• By bus, it will need to travel from Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal (20 min by bus), Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda (5 hours by bus), then Saranda to Ksamil (15-30 min, more in the summer).
• By car, it might take you 4.5 -5.5 hours to drive from Tirana Airport to Ksamil depending on traffic.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil car rental

• A rental car at Tirana Airport costs at least 20-25 EUR a day. 
• However, rental car prices tend to be much higher in the Summer holidays or Christmas holidays as these are the peak seasons.
• There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. You can message the companies via WhatsApp to get quotes quickly.
• Inland route: The quickest way to drive to Ksamil is from Tirana Airport via Durres, Fier, Tepelene, Kardhiq Castle and Saranda to Ksamil. Time required: approximately 5 hours.
• Coastline route: The most beautiful and scenic route leads along the Albanian Riviera coastline road. Drive from Tirana Airport via Durres, Fier, Vlore, Himare and Saranda to Ksamil. Time required: A full day from 8:30 AM until 19:00 PM with stops en route for pictures, foods, drinks and sightseeing.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil tour

• You can book a tour from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. 
• You will need to stay overnight in Ksamil for at least 1 night or more, because the driving distance is at least 5 hours one-way and 1 day alone will not give you enough time to see Ksamil and relax.
• Whilst staying in Ksamil, you can visit nearby sights like Butrint UNESCO Park, Lekuresi Castle in Saranda, the Blue Eye Spring and Gjirokaster UNESCO city. 
• It is also worth driving from Tirana Airport via the Albanian Riviera coastline to Ksamil since this is a very scenic route.

How much is a taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

A taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil costs 210 EUR. That is the price of the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service. These taxis have airport logos on both sides of the taxi and are always parked right in front of the Arrivals Hall. The advantage of taking the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service is that they have a clear price list published on their website, so you know what to expect.

• Tirana Airport to Ksamil taxi price = 210 EUR
• Tirana to Ksamil taxi cost = 210 EUR
• Based on the price list of the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service

There is no UBER Taxi in Albania. Although there are some taxi apps that you could download, those taxi apps do not offer reduced rates like UBER does. 

What I recommend if you want to compare taxi prices to get the best rate possible, is reaching out to several taxi companies via WhatsApp. Message taxi companies like Speed Taxi, Lux Taxi, Merr Taxi, City Taxi and Green Taxi via WhatsApp to get price quotes quickly.

How to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil by bus?

There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, so you would need to transfer buses twice. First, you would need to take a bus from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Then from the bus terminal, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Saranda. And finally, you can take a bus from Saranda to Ksamil. 

• Step 1: Bus from Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania (20 min)
• Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda (4H 20 min – 5 hours)
• Step 3: Bus from Saranda to Ksamil (15 min or more depending on traffic)

Step 1: Bus from Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania

There are no direct buses from Tirana airport to Ksamil or nearby Saranda, therefore you would need to take a bus to the Tirana Bus Terminal first. And then once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal, you can get on a bus to Saranda, which is very close to Ksamil.

From Tirana Airport, there is a bus that drives to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. The bus journey from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal only takes 20 minutes. 

Buses from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania depart at 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:30 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:30 PM, 20:30 PM, 21:30 PM and 22:30 PM. 

A bus ticket from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. You are expected to pay cash money to the bus driver upon boarding the bus. You can pay cash euros or Albanian Leke, euros are widely accepted in Albania. The bus from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal is operated by Luna Travel. 

The bus will drop you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal and then you can transfer onto a bus to Saranda.

Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda

Since there is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil (or nearby Saranda), you must get to the Tirana Bus Terminal first with the airport shuttle bus. Once you are at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Saranda.

From the Tirana Bus Terminal, you can get on a bus from Tirana to Saranda. Buses from Tirana to Saranda depart at 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 

Buses from Tirana to Saranda are operated by Tisa Travel and Olgeno.

Tisa Travel bus from Tirana to Saranda

•  Tisa Travel offers a quicker bus that drives from Tirana to Saranda via the inland route. This route is from Tirana via Durres, Fier, Tepelene and Kardhiq Castle to Saranda. This inland route takes between 4 hours and 20 min and 5 hours. 
• The buses from Tirana to Saranda via the inland route operated by Tisa Travel depart at  5:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 12:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 1500 LEK (15 EUR).
• The bus driver will expect you to pay in cash in person at the ticket office or with the bus driver upon boarding the bus at the Tirana Bus Terminal.

Olgeno Travel & Tours bus from Tirana to Saranda

• Olgeno operates a bus that drives from Tirana via the Albanian Riviera coastline to Saranda. This route is from Tirana via Durres, Fier, Vlore and Himare to Saranda. This route is longer and may take 6 hours or more. But it is worth taking this bus for the beautiful views of the coastline!
• The bus from Tirana to Saranda via the Albanian Riviera coastline operated by Olgeno departs at 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 15:30 PM. 
• A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 1500 LEK (15 EUR).
• The bus driver will expect you to pay in cash in person at the ticket office or with the bus driver upon boarding the bus at the Tirana Bus Terminal.

Upon arrival in Saranda, the bus driver will drop you off in the city center near Friendship Park and the archaeological ruins of the Synagogue-Basilica. And you can transfer onto a bus or taxi from Saranda to Ksamil, to get to your final destination.

Step 3: Bus from Saranda to Ksamil

Once you are in Saranda, you can take a bus from Saranda to Ksamil. The bus driver from Tirana to Saranda will have dropped you off near Friendship Park in the city center of Saranda. From Friendship Park, you must walk to SOS Bar where you can get on a bus to Ksamil.

You can see the location of the bus stop from Saranda to Ksamil on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/o6TpsqGec5Xz6gTR6 

Buses from Saranda to Ksamil depart 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:30 PM and 18:30 PM. 

A bus ticket from Saranda to Ksamil costs 150 LEK (1.50 EUR) per person. It is best to have exactly 150 LEK or 200 LEK per person in cash with you. Because an employee will pass through the bus during the bus journey collecting cash from each passenger. 

ATTENTION: In the summer months, the bus from Saranda to Ksamil can be extremely crowded. Of course, Ksamil is a very popular beach destination, which means the bus to Ksamil is often packed with passengers. And the road from Saranda to Ksamil is heavy on traffic, so that slows the bus down. 

Normally, the bus journey from Saranda to Ksamil might take 15-20 minutes, but heavy traffic on the road may make the bus take so much longer. 

The bus from Saranda to Ksamil, makes 4 stops in Ksamil village along the SH81 road before driving onwards to Butrint UNESCO park.

Tirana Airport to Ksamil bus timetable

There is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, so you would need to transfer buses 2 x times. First, you would need to take a bus from Tirana Airport to the Bus Terminal. Then, you can take a bus from Tirana to Saranda at the bus terminal. And finally, a bus from Saranda to Ksamil. 

• Bus timetable from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal: 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:30 PM, 18:30 PM, 19:30 PM, 20:30 PM, 21:30 PM and 22:30 PM. The bus journey takes 20 minutes. 
• Bus timetable from Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda: 5:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM. The bus journey takes 4H20min – 5 Hours, if you take the faster inland bus operated by Tisa Travel.
• Bus timetable from Saranda to Ksamil: 6:30 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 13:30 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM, 16:30 PM, 17:30 PM and 18:30 PM. The bus journey takes only 15-20 min, but can take much longer in the summer months due to heavy traffic on the road.

How much is a bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

The bus journey from Tirana Airport to Ksamil costs 3 EUR + 15 EUR + 1.50 EUR = 19.50 EUR per person. Since there is no direct bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, you would first need to take a bus from Tirana Airport to the bus terminal, then a bus from Tirana to Saranda and finally a bus from Saranda to Ksamil. 

• Step 1: Tirana Airport to the Bus Terminal. A bus ticket from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. 
• Step 2: Tirana to Saranda bus. A bus ticket from Tirana to Saranda costs 1500 LEK (15 EUR).
• Step 3: Saranda to Ksamil bus. A bus ticket from Saranda to Ksamil costs 150 LEK (1.50 EUR) per person.

In Albania, it is expected that you pay cash money for your bus tickets to the bus driver upon boarding the bus. So I always recommend you carry some euros cash, since euros are widely accepted within Albania. Then exchange a small amount of euros for Albanian Leke once you are in Albania. 

Although, it might be common practice abroad to buy bus tickets online and pay by card online, this is not the standard in Albania. And often bus drivers do not have a website or online reservation system. So I suggest you pay in cash just like the locals in Albania do as well.

How long is the bus from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

The bus journey from Tirana Airport to Ksamil takes at least 20 min + 5 hours + 20-30 min = roughly 6 hours. However, you would need to transfer buses 2 x times to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, so you will spend additional time waiting at the bus station/bus stop.

• Step 1: Bus from Tirana Airport to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania (20 min)
• Step 2: Bus from Tirana to Saranda (4H 20 min – 5 hours)
• Step 3: Bus from Saranda to Ksamil (15 min or more depending on traffic)

Is there a ferry from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

There is no ferry from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. Although there is a Port in Durres near Tirana Airport, there are no national ferries that go along the coastline to Ksamil. 

Ferry boats coming to Albania and departing from Albania are international ferries. The most popular ferry routes are from Durres in Albania to Bari in Italy. From Durres in Albania to Ancona in Italy. And from Saranda in Albania to the Greek Corfu island.

If you have not booked your airplane ticket to Tirana Airport yet, you could look into flying to Corfu airport. Corfu is a Greek island right in front of the Albanian coastline. From Corfu island, you can take a 30 min ferry boat trip to Saranda. And once you are in Saranda, you can take a taxi or bus to nearby Ksamil. 

Can you get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil by train?

You cannot take a train from Tirana airport to Ksamil. There is no railway that leads from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, so it is not possible to take a train to Ksamil.

Train travel is very limited within Albania’s borders. At the moment, as little as 2-3 trains operated within the entire country. You can check the latest train timetable on the website of HSH Hekurudha Shqiptare here: https://hekurudha.al/

A new railway is under construction between Tirana city, Tirana Airport and Durres. Perhaps this new railway will start operating in 2026. I will keep you posted in the blog.

How far is Tirana Airport from Ksamil?

The distance from Tirana Airport to Ksamil is 272 kilometers, if you drive the quickest inland route from Tirana Airport via Durres, Fier, Tepelene, Kardhiq Castle and Saranda to Ksamil. This route will take you around 5 hours of driving time.

The alternative is taking the longer, scenic and very pretty coastline route from Tirana Airport, via Durres, Fier, Vlore, Himare and Saranda to Ksamil. This route will take you a full day from 8:30 AM until 19:00 PM with stops en route for sightseeing and taking pictures.

What airport to fly into for Ksamil, Albania?

You can either fly to Corfu airport or to Tirana Airport to get to Ksamil in Albania. If you fly to the Greek Corfu island, you can take a ferry boat to Saranda and then a taxi/bus to Ksamil. If you fly to Tirana Airport, you can take a bus/taxi/car to Ksamil. 

Option 1: Fly to Corfu airport to get to Ksamil

• Step 1: Fly to Corfu airport
• Step 2: Bus/Taxi from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu (20 min)
• Step 3: Ferry to Saranda (30 min – 1H15min depending on boat)
• Step 4: Bus/Taxi from Saranda to Ksamil (15 min or more depending on traffic)

If you fly to Corfu airport on the Greek Corfu island, you could take a taxi or bus to the Port of Corfu. From the Port of Corfu, there are ferries to the Port of Sarande in Albania. There are speed ferries that only take 30 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda. Once you are in Sarande, you could take a short taxi ride or bus ride to Ksamil.

Option 2: Fly to Tirana Airport to get to Ksamil

• Flight: Fly to Tirana Airport
• By bus: Bus to Tirana Bus Terminal. Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda. Bus from Saranda to Ksamil. (3 transfers, 19.50 EUR, minimum 6 hours or more)
• By taxi: Taxi price 210 EUR, journey time: 5,5 hours.

Can you fly from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

You cannot fly from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. Ksamil does not have an airport. And although a new airport is under construction in nearby Sarande, this airport is not open yet. 

Therefore, until the new Saranda Airport opens, you can either fly to Corfu airport or Tirana Airport. 

How do I get to Ksamil?

You can either fly to Tirana Airport or to Corfu Airport to get to Ksamil in Albania. Here are the steps of how to get to Ksamil.

Option 1: Fly to Tirana Airport to get to Ksamil

• Flight: Fly to Tirana Airport
• By bus: Bus to Tirana Bus Terminal. Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda. Bus from Saranda to Ksamil. (3 transfers, 19.50 EUR, minimum 6 hours or more)
• By taxi: Taxi price 210 EUR, journey time: 5,5 hours.

Albania’s main airport is Tirana Airport. Although new airports have been announced in Vlore and Sarande, these airports are not operational/still under construction. Therefore, if you choose to fly to Albania, you will end up flying to Tirana Airport.

That being said, Ksamil beach is not close to Tirana Airport. It will take you at least 5.5 hours to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. The easiest option would be to take a taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, which costs 210 EUR. 

The cheaper alternative would be to travel by bus to Ksamil. But as there is no direct bus, you would need to transfer 2 times. First, take a bus from Tirana Airport to the Tirana Bus Terminal. Then, transfer onto a bus from Tirana to Saranda. And finally, a bus or taxi from Saranda to Ksamil. 

Option 2: Fly to Corfu airport to get to Ksamil

• Step 1: Fly to Corfu airport
• Step 2: Bus/Taxi from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu (20 min)
• Step 3: Ferry to Saranda (30 min – 1H15min depending on boat)
• Step 4: Bus/Taxi from Saranda to Ksamil (15 min or more depending on traffic)

The alternative would be to fly to the Greek Corfu island, which is closer to Ksamil. But you would need to travel from Corfu airport to the Port of Corfu to take a ferry to Saranda. 

If you fly to Corfu airport on the Greek Corfu island, you could take a taxi or bus to the Port of Corfu. From the Port of Corfu, there are ferries to the Port of Sarande in Albania. There are speed ferries that only take 30 minutes to get from Corfu to Saranda. Once you are in Sarande, you could take a short taxi ride or bus ride to Ksamil.

Related Questions

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Ksamil? A taxi from Tirana to Ksamil will cost you around 210 EUR. The official Tirana Airport taxi service charges 210 EUR for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. Since the drive takes around 5.5 hours that is a reasonable price considering the distance, as it will take the driver all day to drive there and back.

How much is a bus from Tirana to Ksamil? There is no direct bus from Tirana to Ksamil, but you could take a bus from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda, which is very close to Ksamil. A bus from Tirana to Saranda costs 15 EUR. Then from Saranda, you can take another bus to Ksamil costing 1.50 EUR. 

How long is the bus from Tirana to Ksamil? It will take you at least 5.5 hours to travel from Tirana to Ksamil by bus. There is no direct bus from Tirana to Ksamil, so you would first take a bus from Tirana to Saranda (15 EUR, 5 hours). And then another bus from Saranda to Ksamil (1.50 EUR, 15 min or more depending on traffic).

How much is a taxi from Ksamil to Tirana? A taxi from Ksamil to Tirana may cost you around 200-210 EUR. Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own rates.

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.