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Everything you need to know for planning a trip to Albania’s Blue Eye near Saranda (Syri I Kalter), one of the most popular attractions in the whole of the country.
I feel slightly silly saying this now, but on our first few visits to Albania and Saranda, we didn’t bother making the trip to see the famous Blue Eye.
Of course this unimaginably deep and mysterious visual spectacle resembling a giant blue eye piqued our interest, and we did contemplate it.
But if I’m honest, we’d heard it was busy, like extremely busy, and we just had a feeling that any natural beauty would be tainted from over-tourism and an insane crowd all trying to catch a glimpse of it.
But on our third time in the country we decided that we can’t keep coming to Albania and not check out this natural phenomenon for ourselves!
And boy are we glad we did!
I didn’t expect to say this, but visiting the Blue Eye far surpassed our tourist trap expectations!
There are various reasons for this so I’ve compiled a complete guide on exactly how to visit Albania’s Blue Eye near Saranda. I’ve included all you need to know including how to get there, what to expect, when to visit to have the best experience, and more.
Note: There are actually two famous Blue Eyes in Albania, one in the north and one in the south. To be clear, this guide is all about the Blue Eye near Saranda in the south.
What Actually Is The Blue Eye?
The Blue Eye, known as Syri I Kalter in Albanian, has long been high on the list of not just things to do in Saranda, but it’s been touted as one of the top attractions in the whole of Albania.
So, this begs the question: what actually is it?
Well simply put, the Blue Eye is an oval-shaped natural spring with insanely clear water displaying shades of aqua and dark blue – which resembles a giant blue eye when you look at it from above.
It’s also the source of the Bistrica River which flows out to the Ionian Sea to the south of Saranda.
But what makes this the most famous and impressive of the more than 100 karst springs in Albania is its incredible depth and force of water surging upwards to the surface.
Divers have descended as deep as 50 metres but were stopped by the spring’s upward force, which pumps water to the surface at an astounding rate of 18,400 litres per second!
So while we know it’s at least 50 metres deep, incredibly the actual depth of the Blue Eye remains unknown.
The water is also a lot colder than we expected as it stays close to a consistent 10 degrees all year round.
Is The Blue Eye Worth Visiting? Our Honest Opinion
Ok, so the Blue Eye might be a unique natural phenomenon that many claim you can’t miss when in Albania. But, I mentioned that we were initially sceptical, so what’s our verdict on the overall experience?
Well, I have to say that after visiting for ourselves, we definitely recommend making the trip here!
It really is a unique attraction and, despite the crowds, it’s a sight that we’re so glad we finally saw with our own eyes!
But it’s not just the natural spring that makes the trip worthwhile.
We thought the surrounding lush nature park and mountains created such a beautiful setting which, along with the nature trail, the clear river that was flowing like liquid glass and the Blue Eye itself, contributed to an overall fantastic experience!
It may have been a different story if it were somewhere that you simply parked up, walked a few meters to a viewpoint and job done.
Another thing that makes the Blue Eye still worth it is the fact that swimming is completely banned. This keeps (most) people out of the water which, vitally, means the Blue Eye remains actually visible. If everyone poured into the small spring, there’d be nothing to see!
So as well as making time for the beaches in Saranda and Ksamil, visiting Butrint National Park, and heading over to Corfu, the Blue Eye should definitely be on your southern Albania itinerary!
Where Is The Blue Eye?
Google Maps Pin: The Blue Eye
The Blue Eye sits between the popular touristic towns of Saranda and Gjirokaster, at the end of a 2.2km trail within a protected nature park close to the small village of Muzina.
As it’s only 30 minute drive east of Saranda (on the other side of the Mali I Gjera mountain range) and 45 minutes south of Gjirokaster, the scenic spot is a popular day trip from both of these towns.
However, if you’re on a road trip through Albania, it also serves as a convenient stop en route to the southern beach towns if you’re travelling from Tirana to Saranda via Gjirokaster.
Related Post: Saranda Travel Guide: Things To Do, Day Trips, And More
How To Get To The Blue Eye – From Saranda, Ksamil, And Gjirokaster
We visited the Blue Eye as a half day tip from Saranda, but it’s also a popular day trip from Gjirokaster and Ksamil too.
While we got there and back on the Saranda to Gjirokaster public bus, you can also get there by taking the KMG shuttle bus, joining a tour, or renting a car.
From Tirana: Honestly, visiting for the day from Tirana isn’t ideal simply because it’s four hours away. However, if it’s your only choice, I’d recommend booking this highly rated tour, which is a mammoth trip to Ksamil, Saranda, and the Blue Eye that returns to Tirana on the same day.
By Public Bus (Our Choice)
The cheapest way is to catch one of the local buses heading from Saranda towards Gjirokaster (or vice versa if visiting from Gjirokaster).
This is what we did and although we found it easy enough, the old buses are uncomfortable, tight for space, and often without air conditioning. But it was fine for the 45-minute journey.
Some buses take a more direct route between Saranda and Gjirokaster now, so we double-checked with the driver when we got on that he was definitely making a stop at the Blue Eye.
Just in case!
Sure enough, he let us off at the entrance to the Blue Eye car park.
The only downside was that when our return bus (coming from Gjirokaster) pulled up at the Blue Eye car park, we saw it was already packed and ended up having to stand for the journey back to Saranda.
And let’s just say it’s not a bus designed for standing passengers!
We bought Saranda to Blue Eye return tickets in the main bus station office in Saranda, which cost 400 ALL per person each way. Payment is cash only and I’d recommend buying tickets in advance in the summer season if you can.
There are two daily departures from Saranda at 10am and 2:15pm, returning from the Blue Eye twice at 2:25pm and 5:40pm – but double check this in the station office as timetables can change. Make sure to be back at the entrance early as with only a couple of return times you don’t want to risk missing your bus!
We took the 2:15pm bus and returned at 5:40pm and found this to be a perfect amount of time to walk to the Blue Eye, have a coffee, and loop back on a different trail.
Note: There’s no direct bus from Ksamil so you would first have to take a bus to Saranda and then change to a Gjirokaster bus from here.
KMG Shuttle Bus (From Saranda)
A convenient option that guarantees a seat and air conditioning is the KMG Blue Eye shuttle service. They run direct minibus transfers between Saranda and the Blue Eye every 30 minutes throughout the day.
Departing from here (outside Hotel Mallara), the price for this shuttle is more expensive at 1600 ALL (16 euros) return. However, there are many more departures compared to the public bus and they also start earlier at 8am if you want to beat the crowds. It is also a more comfortable journey with air conditioning – which is nice in the summer!
I’d recommend reserving a place in advance, especially during July and August, but you can also just turn up. More details can be found on their Facebook page.
Honestly, 1600 ALL is pretty reasonable considering the convenience and the fact that we found taxis to be quoting as much as 50 euros for a return trip.
on A Group Tour
Personally, we prefer to travel independently when we can, and during our month stay in Saranda, time was on our side.
However, time is a luxury I know not everyone has, and booking onto a group tour bound for the Blue Eye is a fantastic way to maximise your limited time in Albania. This is because it allows you to visit other top attractions on the same day.
There are a few tours out there, but booking online is definitely the easiest way to organise one.
We always recommend Get Your Guide after our positive experiences, and if it were us, we’d go for this popular tour, which also stops at Butrint National Park, Ksamil, and Lekursi Castle. All of which are unmissable in our opinion!
However, the only drawback of tours is the strict schedule and time limitation at each attraction, which sometimes isn’t enough.
But our rule of thumb is, if we have to skip places to have the time to explore independently, then we’ll book onto a time-saving tour instead.
Driving
The most flexible option to get to the Blue Eye is to drive if you have a rental car. It’s an easy enough drive on paved and winding mountain roads from Saranda, Ksamil, or Gjirokaster.
You can get there in around 30 minutes from Saranda or 45 minutes from Ksamil or Gjirokaster, making it an easy day trip.
However, expect it to take a bit longer if you hit some peak summer traffic.
From Saranda, the roads are mostly smooth and flat with epic views of the mountains until the last section, which is a steeper ascent.
There is a large car park at the entrance to the nature reserve, but even on our visit in September, it was not far off being full, so I can only imagine the difficulty getting a space in the peak summer months!
This is just another reason to get there early.
Current parking prices, which you can pay at the small cabin, are as follows:
- 0-3 hours: 300 ALL
- 3-4 hours: 400 ALL
- 5-8 hours: 600 ALL
- 9-24 hours: 1200 ALL
For campers, there is a flat fee of 800 ALL to park for any time up to 24 hours.
Want to experience some stunning coastal drives along the Albanian Riviera?
Book your car rental online with Discover Cars and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a reputable company!
Blue Eye Entrance Fee And Opening Times
The Blue Eye is open from 7am until 7pm all year and the entrance fee is 50 ALL per person, which, like most of the attractions we visited in Albania, is cash only.
This is much cheaper than we were expecting for such a popular tourist attraction, as all too often we see natural sights become extortionate to visit once they gain popularity.
We paid our 50 ALL at the official ticket office, which we reached in about five minutes from the car park.
Don’t Miss A Kroreza Beach Boat Tour In Saranda!
What To Expect When Visiting The Blue Eye
The Trail
The first thing to note, which some people don’t realise, is that the Blue Eye itself is located about 2.2km from the car park. So just bear this in mind, especially if you’re visiting in the hottest months as there is minimal shade on the main trail.
We set off from the car park and passed a few stalls selling food, drinks, and souvenirs before the uphill walk took us to the ticket office and entrance to the nature park.
After buying our tickets, we crossed a large bridge with a wonderful lake and mountain view, before commencing our walk along the main trail to the Blue Eye.
The well-paved trail is made up of a wider road for scooters and E-bikes as well as a curbed pavement split in two for two-way pedestrian traffic.
It took us about 25 minutes, and even though it’s not a strenuous hike, we were thankful for the overcast weather as it’s very open with next to no shade!
But if you don’t fancy walking or if the scorching summer heat is too much, you can take the new shuttle (in the shape of a small train) for 300 ALL per person or hire an electric scooter for 5 EUR per hour.
Eventually we reached a built-up shaded area with a restaurant and public toilets overlooking the mesmerisingly clear river.
From the restaurant, it’s a very short walk to the Blue Eye.
You can keep following the main trail before crossing a small bridge, but we headed over the small bridge to the left of the restaurant and followed the dirt track along to the Blue Eye.
And we’d recommend you take the second choice too as there are a couple of openings with more views of the crystal clear river! It was at this point that we really became mesmerised, and we hadn’t even reached the Blue Eye yet!
We were taken aback by how incredible the river looks – it could be the clearest water I’ve ever seen!
The lush green forest surroundings also made it such a pleasant experience for us. We hadn’t thought much past the spring itself, but the wider nature reserve is such a beautiful setting!
Observing the Blue Eye
Once at the Blue Eye you can wander around and admire the natural spring.
There are a couple of spots where you can see the water pulsing out of the dark blue abyss and begin to flow down the river, but our favourite spot to view it was on the observation deck above.
Here, we looked down and had an awesome view of the deep, oval-shaped spring and the different shades of blue, aqua, and green that make it such an epic and unique sight!
We saw exactly why it’s been named the Blue Eye!
No Swimming!
I can 100% confirm that swimming is not permitted anywhere in the nature park, but especially around the Blue Eye spring.
We saw many signs stating this, so while it may have been allowed in the past, it definitely isn’t now.
You may see some people ignoring this rule and having a dip in the cool water anyway, and we did see one person do this when we visited. However, I encourage you not to swim for a couple of reasons.
First, the rule is in place to protect the nature reserve as the Blue Eye plays a big part in supporting the biodiversity of the area.
Second, the fact that there was nobody swimming in the natural spring meant that we could all clearly observe the Blue Eye, its stunning colours, and the surging effect of the water rushing up to the surface. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be if you couldn’t get a good view due to people crowding in the water.
So to reiterate, there’s no swimming at the Blue Eye!
Facilities
As I mentioned, there’s a public toilet block just before you reach the Blue Eye, and a restaurant serving drinks all year and food in the summer.
Before visiting, we read online that you are permitted to swim at the restaurant, but there were many signs around saying not to enter the water. So, even if the icy water is inviting you in on a hot summer day, swimming is a hard no I’m afraid.
There’s also a hotel next to the Blue Eye with an attached restaurant, for anyone who would like to stay overnight here – although I personally wouldn’t feel the need.
As much as I was impressed that the nature park hasn’t been completely ruined by commercialisation, you can of course find a small souvenir shop directly next to the Blue Eye spring. So this is where you can pick up all the usual things but with a Blue Eye theme.
There are also a few interesting information signs about the area and biodiversity to read around here too.
Crowds
I know it’s hypocritical to complain about crowds at tourist attractions when we too are visitors and contributing to this. But let’s be real, overcrowding can completely ruin an experience, especially at nature spots.
So it’s important for managing your own expectations to be aware that, while you can take steps to visit at quieter times, the Blue Eye is one of the most famous attractions in Albania and you can always expect to have to share it with others. And at peak times, this will be a whole lot of others!
However, I will say I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t feel overcrowded at all during our visit in September. Yes, it was fairly busy, but people weren’t lingering for too long and there was a steady flow of tourists with even some quiet moments mixed in too.
I have heard from others that it can get jam-packed in July and August, especially around midday, so it’s important to expect this if visiting during this time.
Things To Do At The Blue Eye
While the main attraction is of course the natural spring, there are a couple of things you can do to make the most of your visit to the nature park.
Admire The Blue Eye From The Observation Deck (Obviously!)
If there’s only one thing you manage to do here, let it be observing the phenomenon from the viewing platform and snapping a few photos and videos while you’re there!
It’s a unique sight that I can’t compare to anywhere else I’ve been, especially from above!
Have Coffee Or Lunch Overlooking The River
Whether you’re feeling peckish or need a caffeine boost for the walk back, I’d recommend taking some time to sit back in the riverside restaurant.
We enjoyed a quiet late afternoon coffee here in what I can only describe as a beautifully scenic spot!
Hike The Nature Trail
From the Blue Eye viewing platform, we realised that the dirt trail keeps going into the trees.
And after a quick check on the map, we realised that it loops back to the main car park on the opposite side of the river to the main path.
So, we decided to follow this route on the way back.
It’s a woodland trail rather than the paved one we’d hiked in on, but we’d recommend it if you’re up for a bit of an adventure, as it’s more interesting than just retracing your steps while also offering some different views of the river.
Despite being slightly more challenging, as it’s an uneven dirt track, it was covered by trees and much more shaded than the main path.
We were almost completely alone and only encountered one other couple so it was a peaceful walk listening to the flow of the river without any tourist chatter or electric scooters whizzing by.
Travel Tip: Download the trail on Maps. me before your visit as the internet signal in the park was quite poor when we visited.
How Long Do You Need To Visit
The round-trip trail to the Blue Eye from the car park is nearly 5km and takes around 40-60 minutes to complete. So if you’re here to simply hike to the Blue Eye, admire it and snap some photos before heading back, then you’ll need no more than 90 minutes.
However, we enjoyed taking our time, relaxing with a coffee at the restaurant, and following the other trail back. This took us around 2.5 hours in total, and we found it to be a perfect amount of time. This also worked perfectly for us to catch the last public bus back to Saranda at 5:40pm.
Best Time To Visit The Blue Eye
The best time of year to visit the Blue Eye is in May to June or September to October. In these months you’ll still have great weather with clear, warm, and sunny days but the crowds won’t be as large as in July and August.
It would also be a very sweaty walk from the car park in the peak summer as there is very little shade on the main trail.
You also want to try and visit on a clear sunny day as this is when you’ll be able to see the best shades of aqua and dark blue. On our visit, a few clouds came over at one point and the vibrant blues noticeably faded away until the sun came back out.
In terms of the time of day, the colours of the Blue Eye are best around midday when it’s bright and sunny, but this is also the busiest time too. So I’d actually recommend going either early morning or late afternoon for the best overall experience.
To Finish
The Blue Eye may be one of the most touristy places in Albania, but it’s for good reason.
While it draws some crazy crowds in the peak of summer, we still think it’s worth checking out while you’re in the south of Albania!
Pin It For Later!
Our Other Albania Travel Guides
Check out our other Albania guides!
- Saranda Travel Guide: Things To Do, Day Trips, And More
- Ultimate Guide to Mirror Beach (Plazhi I Pasqyrave)
- A Complete Guide To The Best Beaches In Saranda
- Getting From Saranda To Ksamil – All You Need To Know
- Corfu To Saranda By Ferry – Essential Guide
- Best Beaches In Ksamil
- Himare, Albania: A Guide To The Riviera’s Best Beach Town
- Best Himare Beaches To Visit
