How to Visit Blue Eye Albania: Complete Guide (2024)
The Blue Eye is a must-see in Albania, so you can’t miss it on your Albania Itinerary.
Wondering how to visit the Blue Eye? Saranda is the best base for visiting the Syri i Kalter natural spring. But you can also take a day trip from Ksamil, Gjirokastra, or Tirana.
This ultimate guide to the Blue Eye includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect, and tips for visiting.
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- How to Visit Blue Eye Albania: Complete Guide (2024)
- Where is the Blue Eye located in Albania?
- Best Time to Visit the Blue Eye Albania
- How to Get to the Blue Eye Albania & Parking
- Blue Eye from Saranda by Bus, Taxi
- Car Rental in Albania
- How to Visit the Blue Eye Albania
- Blue Eye Albania Opening Hours & Entrance Fee
- Can you Swim in the Blue Eye Albania?
- Where to Stay near Blue Eye
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Where is the Blue Eye located in Albania?
It is located near the village of Muzinë, about a 35-minute drive from Saranda, 50 minutes from Ksamil and Gjirokastra, and 4 hours from Tirana.
Best Time to Visit the Blue Eye Albania
Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The best time to visit Albania is from May to October. The hottest months are July and August. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 33°C.
The summer months are the peak season in Albania when hotel prices are higher and attractions are busier. We visited the Blue Eye at the end of May and had fantastic weather.
TIP
In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!
How to Get to the Blue Eye Albania & Parking
You can get to the Blue Eye by car, bus, or taxi. Alternatively, you can join an organized tour from Saranda, Ksamil, or Gjirokastra, which includes transport. If you arrive by car, there is a large parking lot where you can leave your car, the parking fee is 300 LEK (3 EUR).
The parking fees are as follows:
- 0-3 hours: 300 LEK (3 EUR)
- 3-4 hours: 400 LEK (4 EUR)
- 5-8 hours: 600 LEK (6 EUR)
- 9-24 hours: 1200 LEK (12 EUR)
Parking with a campervan costs 800 LEK (8 EUR) for 0-24 hours.
Blue Eye from Saranda by Bus, Taxi
One of the easiest and fastest ways to get to the Blue Eye is by taxi. Uber is currently not available in Albania. A taxi from Saranda to the Blue Eye costs around 35.000-40.000 LEK (35-40 EUR) round trip. This price usually includes a 2-hour wait.
Be sure you negotiate the price with the driver before you get in the taxi. Taxi drivers do not accept card payments, so you should bring local money (LEK) or EUR.
The only direct bus service to the Blue Eye leaves Saranda at 10 AM and Gjirokastra at 5 PM.
The journey from Saranda takes approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic. The bus ticket to the Blue Eye costs 450 LEK (4.5 EUR) per person. Check the current bus timetable HERE.
By tour
Discover the natural and historic wonders of the Saranda region on a full-day tour. Visit the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Butrint, the Blue Eye, Lekursi Castle, and the Ksamil Islands.
Alternatively, you can book a day trip, which includes a visit to Lekursi Castle, the Blue Eye Spring, and Gjirokastra.
Car Rental in Albania
The best way to get around Albania is by car, as you can easily reach the best places and hidden gems. We did our Albania Itinerary by rental car and enjoyed exploring the sights at our own pace. Once you arrive at Tirana International Airport (airport code TIA), you can easily rent a car at the airport or pick up your pre-booked car. Another option is to rent a car in Saranda.
The car rental costs will be different when you travel to Albania in high season (June to September) or low season and rent a car in advance or at the last minute. You will spend around 30-50 EUR daily for a standard car with full coverage.
Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.
The drive time between Tirana and Blue Eye is usually 4 hours, depending on traffic. Always wear your seat belt and obey the speed limit!
Book your rental car with Discover Cars here.
How to Visit the Blue Eye Albania
We drove from Ksamil to the Blue Eye. The SH99 road to the Blue Eye Spring was not paved everywhere, and the travel time was about 1 hour. Since we arrived early in the morning, we parked right in front of the Blue Eye entrance for free.
You can get from the parking lot to the Blue Eye by walking, a little train, or an electric scooter. The train costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) one-way or 600 LEK (6 EUR) round trip. The train runs approximately every 30 minutes until 5 PM. The electric scooter costs 2000 LEK (2 EUR) for 1 hour.
TIP
As this is an incredibly popular place in Albania, we recommend avoiding weekends and arriving as early as possible!
We decided to walk. We first crossed a bridge overlooking the lake and the surrounding mountains, then followed the road.
The walk to the Blue Eye takes about 20-30 minutes with some ascents. It is an easy walk that is accessible to all ages. The paved road is easy to follow, passing by the forest, but the view is boring.
As there is no shade on the road and the heat makes the walk unbearable, we do not recommend walking at midday. Wear a hat and comfortable shoes, bring plenty of water, and use sunscreen.
Syri I Kalter
The Blue Eye, known as Syri i Kaltër, is a natural freshwater spring famous for its crystal clear turquoise water. From above, this natural wonder looks like a human eye.
The natural pool is surrounded by a wooden fence and lush green vegetation. After arriving at the Blue Eye, enjoy the stunning view from the viewing platform and take some fantastic photos. The nearby small bridges also offer great photo opportunities, and you can admire the beautiful blue dragonflies.
Did you know that the depth of the source is still unknown? The scuba divers could only go down to 50 meters. The Blue Eye is fed by an underground water source, and due to the enormous water pressure, no diver has so far been able to reach the bottom of the source. The discharge rate of the water from the Blue Eye is 18,400 liters per second.
We were lucky as we were there at the end of May and there were few tourists.
Facilities at the Blue Eye include public toilets, an information point, a small gift shop, and restaurants. After your visit, relax in one of the nearby restaurants and enjoy the lake view. Then, you can walk back the way you came or take the longer hiking trail.
TIP
Plan to spend at least 1.5 hours at the Blue Eye Albania.
Blue Eye Albania Opening Hours & Entrance Fee
The Blue Eye National Park is open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM from May to October and from 8 AM to 4 PM from November to April.
The entrance fee to the Blue Eye is only 50 LEK (0.50 EUR) per person.
TIP
You cannot pay for tickets and parking by card, so bring enough cash (EUR or LEK).
Can you Swim in the Blue Eye Albania?
To preserve the natural state of the spring and to ensure the safety of visitors, swimming in the Blue Eye Spring is not allowed. We saw a few people swimming in the water during our visit, so we think you can take a dip at your own risk!
However, the water is freezing cold, and the temperature in Blue Eye Albania is around 10°C all year round. Therefore, it’s incredibly crowded in summer as locals come here to cool off.
Although swimming is not allowed, many locals jump off the platform into the water. When you jump, the Blue Eye immediately pushes you to the surface.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.
Did you know that there are two Blue Eyes in Albania? One is near Saranda, and the other is in Theth.
Where to Stay near Blue Eye
You can easily take a day trip from Saranda, Ksamil, or Gjirokastra. We recommend you stay in the coastal towns and explore the beautiful beaches of the Albanian Riviera. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Saranda
- Luxury: Yacht Premium Hotel
- Mid-Range: Demi Hotel or Rozafa Palace Hotel
- Budget: Keos Hotel
Best hotels in Ksamil
- Mid-Range: Colosseum Hotel or Hotel Denoel
- Budget: Hotel ABA
Recommended post → Best Ksamil Beach Hotels
We hope you found our guide to Blue Eye Albania useful and will inspire you to visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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