Best of Ksamil

Ksamil's Essential Treasures

Ksamil is defined by the UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Butrint and the turquoise shallows of the Islets of Ksamil just offshore. Highlights include the 3rd-century BC Greek theatre and 6th-century basilica within the Butrint archaeological park, the 15th-century Venetian watchtower guarding its entrance, the secluded beaches of Pema e Thatë and Diaporit, and the Vivari Channel itself, which opens onto the Ionian Sea facing Corfu.

inoue-hiro / CC BY-SA 3.0

Butrint

An ancient Greek polis and later Roman city and seat of an early Christian bishopric in Epirus. Its ruins form Albania's most significant UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Islets of Ksamil

Four small, forested islets just offshore, ringed by shallow turquoise water — the namesake sight that gives Ksamil its identity as one of the Albanian Riviera's most photographed spots.

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

Theatre

Built in the 3rd century BC and later remodeled by the Romans, this stone theatre originally seated approximately 2,500 people. It remains one of the most well-preserved structures within the Butrint archaeological site.

Piotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

Great Basilica

A 6th-century Paleo-Christian church featuring a three-aisled nave and a large apse. The ruins showcase Byzantine architectural influence and were once decorated with intricate floor mosaics.