Visa-free for Turks, with powder-white sand and Corfu just a boat ride away. But it isn't cheap: here's what to know before you go.
Ksamil is a little Balkan beach town we expect to get even more popular in the years ahead, not least because it’s visa-free for Turkish travellers. With its powder-white sand and turquoise water, it has fairly earned the nickname “the Maldives of the Balkans”.
Where is it, and how do you get there?
It sits very close to the Greek border, and from here you can hop over to Corfu in 20–25 minutes. Turkish citizens don’t need a visa.
The quickest way is to fly into Tirana and drive down from there. Alternatively, find a good fare to Skopje, Pristina or Podgorica and rent a car for the rest of the way.
What do you eat?
Probably because Italy and Greece are so close, the food feels very familiar. You’ll even find moussaka billed as “traditional food” on almost every menu.
Good to know
- It’s a much more expensive destination than the rest of the Balkans.
- Most visitors are British and German.
- Sadly, there’s a fair amount of unplanned concrete development.
- The sea in Ksamil really is lovely for swimming.
Where we woke up[HOTEL NAME]
[One honest sentence about where you stayed.]
- nights
- [3]
- Price level
- [€€]
- Would we stay again?
- [Yes]
- Best for
- Beach-focused families and couples who actually want to swim
- Not for
- Anyone looking for a budget Balkan holiday
- Price (per night)
- [€ / ₺ per night]
- How many days?
- 3–4 days
