Half an hour south of Sarandë lies Butrint, the most complete ancient city in Albania — a layered ruin of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian remains, wrapped in a quiet lagoon-side national park. A private driver, waiting while you explore, and easily paired with Ksamil; the Blue Eye is inland in the other direction and needs a full day.
A private round-trip from Sarandë (or Ksamil) with your driver waiting while you explore — from €120 per vehicle. Fuel, tolls, and an English-speaking driver included; site entry and lunch are extra.
Your driver collects you in Sarandë or Ksamil and heads south to the tip of the country; the drive takes about 30 minutes, past Ksamil and along the lagoon. There's no reliable public transport worth the hassle, so a private car is the easy way to see Butrint in a relaxed half-day.
Butrint is a whole ancient city in a forest by the water — UNESCO-listed, and layered through Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian eras all on one easy walking loop. Among the ruins are a Greek theatre, the baptistery, whose mosaic floor is normally kept covered with sand for conservation and is uncovered only occasionally, an early Christian basilica, the city walls and gates, and a Venetian-era castle on the hill with a small museum and a view over the lagoon. Allow two to three hours.
Because it's private, the day is yours: take the loop slowly in the shade, and — since it's a short drive back — add Ksamil's beaches on the way. The Blue Eye spring lies in the other direction, about 22 km inland east of Sarandë at Muzinë on the Gjirokastër road, so adding it turns the half-day into a full day; vehicles no longer reach the spring itself — the driver parks at the entrance off the main road and the last stretch is on foot or by shuttle buggy, with a small entry fee paid in cash at the gate. Your driver waits throughout and brings you back door-to-door.
Greek theatre, baptistery, basilica and city walls
The hilltop fort and museum, with a view over the lagoon
Pair the ruins with the beaches or the spring on the way back
Driver waits; your pace, your stops, door-to-door
Per vehicle, round-trip with the driver waiting while you explore. Includes fuel, tolls and an English-speaking driver. Butrint site entry and lunch are paid on the day.
“From” prices are a guide. Your final price is confirmed on quote and may vary with the date, route, stops, vehicle and number of passengers. Prices are subject to change until your booking is confirmed.
About 30 minutes each way, and 4–5 hours for a relaxed half-day — Butrint itself takes 2 to 3 hours to walk. It's private, so you set the pace and can add Ksamil; the Blue Eye is inland in the other direction and needs a full day.
Easily — Ksamil is just 4 km north of Butrint, and the Blue Eye spring is not on the way back from Butrint — it lies about 22 km inland east of Sarandë at Muzinë, on the Gjirokastër road, so it turns the half-day into a full day. A common plan is Butrint in the cooler morning and Ksamil's beaches in the afternoon. Just tell your driver.
The private vehicle round-trip with the driver waiting, fuel, tolls and an English-speaking driver. The Butrint site entry and any lunch are paid separately on the day.
Yes — pickup is door-to-door from Sarandë or Ksamil, whichever you're staying in. Butrint is 4 km south of Ksamil, so it's an even shorter hop from there.
From €120 sedan, €144 minivan — round-trip with waiting, door-to-door. Your driver, your pace.