Just south of Ksamil, on a wooded peninsula between a lagoon and the sea, lies Butrint — one of the Mediterranean's most atmospheric archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

People have lived here since at least the 8th century BC. Walk among a Greek theatre, Roman baths, an early-Christian baptistery with mosaics, Byzantine walls and a Venetian tower — layer upon layer of history wrapped in birdsong and shade.


Good to know: allow two to three hours, bring water and mosquito repellent, and combine it with a beach afternoon in Ksamil.