How to get from Tirana to Ksamil? Taxi, Bus, Bus Timetable, Ferry, Airport, Distance, Car, Train

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

How to get from Tirana to Ksamil? You can get from Tirana to Ksamil by bus, by taxi or by car. A taxi costs around 210 EUR. No direct bus. Step 1: Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Saranda, between 5:30AM-22PM, 15 EUR per person, 5 hours. Step 2: Bus from Saranda to Ksamil, between 6:30 AM – 18:30 PM, 1.50 EUR per person. A rental car is at least 20-25 EUR a day.

In this blog post, I will explain all the best ways to get from Tirana to Ksamil. I will explain what you can expect to pay for a taxi and how to book a taxi. I will detail how to get to the bus terminal, which bus to take, bus journey times, bus timetables, bus ticket prices and paying/booking the bus. And I will include information about renting a car, ferries, flying to Corfu Airport vs Tirana Airport and much more. Let’s dive in!

How do I get from Tirana to Ksamil?

You can get from Tirana to Ksamil by bus, by taxi or by car. There is no railway or train to Ksamil. Ferries depart from Corfu island to Saranda near Ksamil, so that only applies if you are flying to Corfu Airport, not Tirana Airport. Let me give you a quick overview of the best ways to get from Tirana to Ksamil.

Tirana to Ksamil by taxi

• A taxi from Tirana to Ksamil costs 210 EUR per taxi.
• This price is based on the price list of the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service. 
• Of course, individual taxi drivers in Tirana set their own prices. 
• A taxi from Tirana to Ksamil may take around 5.5 hours one-way.
• Due to the distance and time required to drive to Ksamil, any price around 200-210 EUR is reasonable.
• UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. Usually messaging taxi companies via WhatsApp will get you price quotes quickly.

Tirana to Ksamil by bus

• There is no direct bus from Tirana to Ksamil, you must transfer buses in Saranda.
• Step 1: Tirana city centre to Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania
• Step 2: Bus from Tirana bus terminal to Saranda
• Step 3: Bus from Saranda to Ksamil.
• Bus ticket price: 1500 LEK (15 EUR) from Tirana to Saranda. Plus 150 LEK (1.50 EUR) from Saranda to Ksamil.
• Attention: Buses from Saranda to Ksamil can be very busy in the summer months.

Tirana to Ksamil bus timetable

• There is no direct bus from Tirana to Ksamil, you will need to transfer buses in Saranda. So let me give you the bus timetables from Tirana to Saranda and from Saranda to Ksamil.
• 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. 
• There are quick buses via the inland highway taking 4H20 min – 5 hours. And slower buses via the Albanian Riviera coastline taking 6 hours or more. 
• 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.

Tirana to Ksamil ferry

• There is no ferry from Tirana to Ksamil.
• Tirana is close to the Port of Durres at a 45 minute drive, but there are no ferries from Durres to Ksamil or nearby Saranda. 
• If you fly to Corfu Airport on the Greek Corfu island, you could take a ferry from Corfu to Saranda and then a taxi or bus to Ksamil.
• However, this would only be relevant if you did not book your flight to Tirana Airport yet. And you could still choose to book a flight to Corfu Airport instead of Tirana Airport.

Tirana to Ksamil distance

• The distance from Tirana to Ksamil is 278 kilometers.
• Google Maps says it takes 4 hours to drive from Tirana to Ksamil, however, that is not realistic.
• It actually takes around 5.5 hours to drive from Tirana to Ksamil via the inland highway from Tirana via Durres, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Lushnje, Fier, Tepelene, Kardhiq Castle and Saranda to Ksamil.
• Driving along the Albanian Riviera coastline road takes 6-8 hours as the road turns and twists along the coastline. But it is worth it for the beautiful views.

Airport to get to Ksamil

• Currently, the only airport in Albania is Tirana Airport. 
• It takes at least a 5.5 hour drive from Tirana Airport to Ksamil, so it is not very close.
• New airports are under construction in Vlore and in Saranda, which are closer to Ksamil, but these airports are not operating yet. 
• Right now, the closest airport to Ksamil is Corfu Airport on the Greek Corfu island. If you fly to Corfu Airport, you can take a bus or taxi to the Port of Corfu. Then a ferry from Corfu to Saranda (35 min on the speed ferry). And finally, a taxi or bus from Saranda to Ksamil, 15 minutes but much longer if the traffic is heavy.

Tirana to Ksamil by car

• 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 to Ksamil by train

• You cannot take a train from Tirana to Ksamil.
• There are no railways leading to Ksamil or nearby Saranda. 
• So it is not possible to travel to Ksamil by train at all from anywhere.
• To get from Tirana to Ksamil, you can take a bus, a taxi or a car.

How much is a taxi from Tirana to Ksamil?

A taxi from Tirana to Ksamil cost approximately 210 EUR. This is the price the official Tirana Airport Taxi Service charges for a taxi from Tirana to Ksamil. This taxi service has a price list on their website, which is a good indication of what you can expect to pay for a taxi service in Tirana.

• Tirana to Ksamil taxi cost = approximately 210 EUR 

UBER Taxi does not exist in Albania. And although some taxi companies have created their own taxi apps, those apps do not offer reduced rates like UBER does in other countries.

If you do want to compare taxi prices and contact multiple drivers, I recommend you send a message via WhatsApp. You can find taxi phone numbers on Google Maps or search for well known taxi brands like Speed Taxi, Merr Taxi, Green Taxi, City Taxi or Lux Taxi. Usually, WhatsApp messages get answered quickly by taxi drivers. 

How to get from Tirana to Ksamil by bus?

There is no direct bus from Tirana to Ksamil, so you need to take a bus from Tirana to Saranda and then another bus from Saranda to Ksamil. Saranda is close to Ksamil, and there are very regular buses to Ksamil.

• Step 1: Bus from Tirana to Saranda
• Step 2: Bus from Saranda to Ksamil

Step 1: Tirana to Saranda bus

To get from Tirana to Ksamil, you first need to take a bus from Tirana to Saranda. Once you are in Saranda, you can transfer onto a bus from Saranda to Ksamil.

Buses from Tirana to Saranda depart from the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This bus terminal is located outside the city centre of Tirana and not within a walking distance of the city centre. 

If you are staying in a hotel in the city centre of Tirana, you must take a city bus or short taxi ride to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania, where you can then get on a bus to Saranda. 

• You can see the location of the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qdGb6MEF1yjaY6K4A 
• In the Albanian language, this bus terminal is called: Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut

Taxi drivers usually switch on the taxi meter if you want to get to the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. It is only a 15-20 minute drive from the city centre, but traffic can slow the journey down quite a bit. 

If you want to take the city bus, walk to the central Skanderbeg Square, then walk to the back of the National History Museum to the Rruga Ded Gjo Luli (Ded Gjo Luli Street) and locate the bus stop. You must take a bus to “Instituti”, this bus will make a stop at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

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. 

• Tirana to Saranda Bus Timetable: 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 Travel & Tours. 
• Buses operated by Tisa Travel drive via the quickest route, which is the inland highway. Therefore these only take 4H20min or 5 hours. 
• Buses operated by Olgeno Travel & Tours drive via the scenic Albanian Riviera route, which takes 6 hours plus. 

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.

Although you may be used to booking your bus tickets online in your country, I highly recommend you pay for your bus tickets in cash euros. In Albania, the locals pay for 99% of their expenses by cash money, so I suggest you do as the locals do. 

I recommend you carry some cash euros, which are widely accepted and exchange a small amount for Albanian Leke once you are in the city centre. The bus driver will expect you to pay cash for your bus ticket upon boarding the bus. 

Online bus tickets are not the norm in Albania, paying by cash is the expectation. And on many national routes there are no booking websites and no online tickets available. 

The bus driver will drop you off in the city centre of Saranda near Friendship Park. Upon arrival in Saranda, you can transfer onto a taxi or bus from Saranda to Ksamil.

Step 2: Saranda to Ksamil bus

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. There may be additional buses in the summer months, you will find a printed A4 Bus Timetable on the bus stop. 

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. 

INSIDER TIP: There are multiple bus stops in Saranda, where you can get on the bus from Saranda to Ksamil. If you are travelling in the middle of the summer season, you may want to go to the Port of Saranda, where the bus first departs, since you have a bigger chance of getting a seat on the bus, before the bus gets filled up. 

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.

Can I take a ferry from Tirana to Ksamil?

You cannot take a ferry from Tirana to Ksamil. There are no ferries from Tirana to Ksamil, so that is not possible.

Tirana is located inland in the centre of Albania. There is a nearby port in Durres. However, there are no ferries from the Port of Durres to Ksamil. Ferries departing from Durres are international ferries to destinations like Ancona or Bari in Italy. 

If you want to travel from Tirana to Ksamil, you can only do so by road. You can hire a taxi driver, rent a car or take a bus to Saranda and transfer onto a bus to Ksamil.

If you have not booked your flight to Tirana Airport yet, it is worth checking if you can find a flight to Corfu island. Corfu island is a Greek island located in front of the Albanian coastline. If you fly to Corfu Airport, you can take a short bus or taxi ride to the Port of Corfu. And then take a ferry from Corfu to Saranda which only takes 35 minutes if you take the speed ferry called “Flying Dolphin”.

What is the distance from Tirana to Ksamil?

The distance from Tirana to Ksamil is 278 kilometers, if you drive via the shorter inland highway from Tirana to Ksamil.

Basically, there are two routes to drive from Tirana to Ksamil. The faster route is taking the inland highway. You drive from Tirana via Durres, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Lushnje, Fier, Tepelene, Kardhiq Castle and Saranda to Ksamil. This route takes around 5.5 hours from Tirana to Ksamil.

However, as a tourist on holiday, you may want to drive along the beautiful Albanian Riviera route. This route is longer, but offers very scenic views along the coastline. You would start from Tirana and drive to Vlore, where you can get on the coastline road to Saranda and Ksamil in the South of Albania. For your information, the Albanian Riviera starts in Vlore and ends in Ksamil. 

If you drive the Albanian Riviera route, you can make stops at sightseeing spots along the way like Zvernec island, the Llogara Pass, Dhermi Beach, Jale Beach, Himare Beach, the Castle of Ali Pasha in the Bay of Porto Palermo, Borsh Beach and Saranda before getting to Ksamil.

Planning a road trip from Tirana via the Albanian Riviera to Ksamil takes a full day. You could start at 8:30 AM and you would be in Ksamil around 19:00 or 20:00 PM. 

Google Maps says it takes 4 hours to drive from Tirana to Ksamil, however, that is not realistic. Driving in Albania always takes longer than estimated by Google Maps. Some roads are old national roads, navigating to the correct road takes time, you will face traffic and the coastline road is a turning and twisting road that cannot be driven fast.

Which airport do you fly to for Ksamil?

Currently, the nearest airport to Ksamil is Corfu Airport on the Greek Corfu island. If you fly to Corfu island, you can travel to the Port of Corfu to get on a ferry to Saranda in Albania.

At the moment of writing this blog post, Albania has only 1 x operational airport in Tirana. Tirana Airport is not very close to Ksamil, it is at least a 5.5 hour drive via the inland highway. By bus, you must transfer buses, so it will take you longer.

That being said, new airports are under construction in Vlore and in Saranda in Albania. These airports are closer to Ksamil, but have not started operating yet. So in the future, this will be an improvement for tourists aiming to visit Ksamil or the Albanian Riviera.

At the moment, flying to Corfu island is a good option if you can find a direct flight from your country. From Corfu Airport, you can take a bus or taxi for about 15-20 minutes to the Port of Corfu. Then, you can take a ferry from the Port of Corfu to Saranda. Speed ferries take 35 minutes. Car ferries take 1H15min. Then from Saranda, you can take a bus or taxi to Ksamil. Ksamil is only a 15 minute drive from Saranda, but of course, heavy traffic in the summer months will slow your journey down quite a bit.

How to get from Tirana to Ksamil by car?

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. If you are looking for a cheap car rental, you can also try searching Google Maps for “makina me qera tirane” which is “rental car tirana” to find local car rental companies.

The quickest way to drive to Ksamil is from Tirana Airport via Durres, Fier, Tepelene, Kardhiq Castle and Saranda to Ksamil. Time required: approximately 5.5 hours.

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.

Can I take a train from Tirana to Ksamil?

You cannot take a train from Tirana to Ksamil, because there are no railways leading to Ksamil or nearby Saranda. Since there are no railways and no train stations in the south of Albania, it is not possible to travel to the south by train.

Train travel within Albania is very limited. There may be as little as 2-3 trains in operation in the entire country per week. 

Whilst you travel through Albania, you may see some of the old railway tracks in the landscape. Those railways were constructed during the communist period in Albania which ended in 1992 and since the fall of communism the railways and trains have fallen into despair due to a lack of interest, lack of investment and maintenance. 

There is good news though, right now a new railway is under construction between Durres-Tirana Airport-Tirana. This new railway is possibly opening in 2026. 

Whilst we wait for the new railway to open, your choices as a tourist visiting Albania are either to rent a car, hire a taxi or take a local bus.

How to get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil?

You can get from Tirana Airport to Ksamil by rental car or taxi. If you want to travel by bus, you must transfer buses 2 x at the Tirana Bus Terminal and in Saranda.

A taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil will cost you around 210 euros. The official Tirana Airport Taxi Service charges 210 euros for a taxi from Tirana Airport to Ksamil. 

A rental car at Tirana Airport will cost you at least 20-25 EUR a day, more in the summer months due to the tourist high season. You can find a helpful list of car rental companies, including phone numbers and email addresses, on the website of Tirana Airport. I recommend messaging some car rental agencies via WhatsApp to get quick price quotes.

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.

How to get from Ksamil to Tirana?

You can get from Ksamil to Tirana by taxi, by car or by bus. A taxi from Ksamil to Tirana may end up costing you around 210 EUR. Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own prices. 

There is no direct bus from Ksamil to Tirana, so you first need to take a bus from Ksamil to Saranda and then transfer onto a bus from Saranda to Tirana.

• Step 1: Ksamil to Saranda by bus
• Step 2: Saranda to Tirana by bus

Ksamil to Saranda by bus

There is a bus that drives from Butrint UNESCO park via Ksamil to Saranda. This bus makes a few stops in Ksamil before driving onwards to Saranda.

To get on this bus, you must go to one of the bus stops in Ksamil. You can find one of the bus stops in Ksamil on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NS3BxGxuGJLVhqZq7 

Buses depart from Butrint and about 10-15 minutes later, these buses stop en route in Ksamil. The bus departs from Butrint at 7:05 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 and 19:00 PM. 

A bus ticket from Ksamil to Saranda costs 150 LEK (1.50 EUR). An employee will walk through the bus and collect cash payments in Albanian Leke. So it is best to have exactly 150 LEK or 200 LEK with you in a small note or coin. 

You must get off the bus in Saranda at SOS Bar, which is near Friendship Park in the city centre of Saranda. 

Saranda to Tirana by bus

Once you are in Saranda you must go to the Trans Butrinti or the Trans Dea bus agencies. These bus agencies are near Friendship Park in the city centre of Saranda.

You can find the location of the Trans Butrinti bus agency on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5MLpPQV7gFzTHEti7 

You can find the location of the Trans Dea bus agency on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ken2e2djEGkkrMDX9 

Buses from Saranda to Tirana depart between 5:00 AM and 22:00 PM. Saranda to Tirana bus timetable: 

• Buses from Saranda to Tirana operated by Trans Butrinti: 5:00 AM, 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, 14:00 PM, 17:00 PM and 22:00 PM.
• Buses from Saranda to Tirana departing near the Trans Dea bus agency: 5:30 AM and 21:00 PM.
• Buses from Saranda to Tirana via the Albanian Riviera operated by Olgeno Travel and Tours: 6:00 AM, 13:00 PM and 18:00 PM.

A bus ticket from Saranda to Tirana costs 1500 LEK (15 EUR) per person. You are usually expected to pay in cash on the spot. So I always recommend you carry some cash euros and cash Albanian Leke with you whilst travelling by bus through Albania.

The bus journey from Saranda to Tirana takes about 5 hours. Upon arrival the bus driver will drop you off at the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. This bus terminal is outside the city centre of Tirana, so you must take a city bus to the city centre or take a short taxi ride to your hotel.

To take the city bus to the city centre, you must exit the Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania. Then cross the street and look for “Terminal Hotel” with a petrol station in front of the hotel. There you will find a bus stop, where you can get on a bus to “Qender” which means “city centre” in the Albanian Language.

How to get from Ksamil to Tirana Airport?

To get from Ksamil to Tirana airport, you can take a taxi, a car or a bus. A taxi from Ksamil to Tirana Airport may end up costing you around 210 EUR, but of course, independent taxi drivers set their own prices.

There is no direct bus from Ksamil to Tirana Airport, so you would need to transfer buses 2 x times.

• Step 1: Bus from Ksamil to Saranda
• Step 2: Bus from Saranda to Tirana
• Step 3: Bus from Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport

In the paragraph above, I have already explained how you can take a bus from Ksamil to Saranda and then a bus from Saranda to Tirana. So let me just add here, how you can get from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport.

There are direct shuttle buses from the Tirana Bus Terminal to Tirana Airport. The bus journey from the bus terminal to Tirana Airport only lasts 20 minutes. A bus ticket costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. You must pay cash with the bus driver upon boarding. Buses are operated by Luna Travel.

Bus timetable from the “Tirana Bus Terminal North and South Albania” to Tirana Airport: 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:00 PM, 15:00 PM, 16:00 PM, 17:00 PM, 18:00 PM, 19:00 PM, 20:00 PM, 21:00 PM and 22:00 PM. 

Related Questions

How do I get to the Ksamil islands? You can get to the Ksamil islands by swimming or taking a canoe or boat from Ksamil beach. The Ksamil islands are very close to the beach and you can swim to the nearest island. Usually, people rent a canoe or ask a boat rental place at the beach to bring them to the twin islands.

Is Ksamil close to Tirana? Ksamil is not that close to Tirana. It takes at least 5.5 hours to drive from Tirana to Ksamil by car or by taxi. The bus journey will take you longer as you would need to take a taxi/bus to the bus terminal in Tirana, then a bus from Tirana to Saranda and another bus from Saranda to Ksamil. Tirana is in the center of Albania and Ksamil is all the way in the south of Albania.

Is Ksamil or Sarande better? Ksamil is a beach village and considered the “pearl of the Albanian Riviera” so very pretty. Of course, Ksamil can get crowded in the summer months. Saranda is very close to Ksamil, but a much bigger coastline city with many apartments and hotels built up along the harbour and bay of Saranda. 

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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.