When planning a trip to Albania, there are a few images you’re bound to come across again and again… and one of them is the sparkling, mysterious, clear blue-green waters of the Blue Eye of Saranda.
Plunging to a depth of over 50 meters (no one has ever reached the bottom), this famous karst spring is not stunning, but it provides a large portion of the region’s drinking water!
Beyond being ridiculously beautiful and photogenic, though, is the Blue Eye (in Albanian, Syri i Kaltër) actually worth a visit for travelers?
Despite how much we love beautiful water, we weren’t sure before our May 2026 visit that the Blue Eye would live up to the hype. Since you can’t swim in the spring, and it’s heavily touristed (it’s a regular feature on popular organized day trips like this, for example), we wondered whether it was, in fact, more than a photo op these days.
We’ll go into our thoughts in much more detail below, but here’s the bottom line: it kind of is just a photo op, and it really is one of the most spectacular views we saw in Albania.
Was it worth it? To us, yes. In general? I’d say it depends on your itinerary and priorities.
Here’s everything you need to know before visiting the Blue Eye of Saranda!
Table of Contents
Where Exactly is the Blue Eye in Albania?
Before finalizing your travel route, it’s important to note that there are actually two famous Blue Eye springs in Albania that are popular with visitors, both of which are referred to as Syri i Kaltër in Albanian.
The “other” Blue Eye is located near the village of Theth in northern Albania, in the Albanian Alps (AKA the Accursed Mountains).
Meanwhile this Blue Eye is located near Saranda, in far southern Albania.
It’s many hours of travel between the two, as they’re basically at opposite ends of the country. It’s easy to tell them apart once you look at a map, but make sure you scroll through a few photos of each to know what to expect! (The beautiful waterfall is in Theth.)
What’s it Like to Visit the Blue Eye of Saranda?
We loved getting to see the Blue Eye of Saranda in person: the view of the “eye” from above really is one of the most mesmerizing that we saw in Albania!
However, the reality of visiting the Blue Eye today is that getting to and from that viewpoint is a much larger part of your visit than actually experiencing it.
We’ll cover more about how to get to the Blue Eye below, but for now, know that you’ll need to plan about 30 minutes to get from the parking lot and/or bus stop to the actual spring itself (and then another 30 minutes back out).
Beyond admiring the view, there are a few trails in the area (though they’re not necessarily well-maintained), as well as a nearby restaurant, cafe, and even a set of cabins where you can spend the night.
Our visit to the Blue Eye, which followed a pretty standard itinerary, looked like parking our car, taking the tourist train to the Blue Eye, enjoying the view and small information center, wandering along the river’s edge, and then grabbing some cold drinks at the cafe before taking the train back to the parking lot.
All in all, we spent a bit over 2 hours at the Blue Eye.
How to Get to Saranda’s Blue Eye
The first thing you need to know about visiting the Blue Eye of Saranda is that it’s not, in fact, in Saranda.
You’ll need to travel about 30 minutes by bus, car (which is how we visited), shuttle, or tour from Saranda in order to visit, all of which have their pros and cons.
Here’s how to choose the right option for you:
Bus or Shuttle
Traveling by bus in Albania is an adventure unto itself: timetables are iffy, information posted online should generally be verified in person, and routes can change without warning.
However, traveling to the Blue Eye by public bus, via the Saranda – Gjiorkastra (Gjirokastër) bus, is said to be fairly reliable and affordable.
There is a new, more direct road between the two cities than there once was, but stopping at the Blue Eye is still said to be possible, though I recommend confirming in person before leaving.
Be sure to tell the driver you want to stop at the Blue Eye when you board, and to confirm with them, to the best of their ability, when the next buses are!
Alternatively, the KGM Tourist Shuttle offers a midway option between negotiating a public bus and booking an organized day trip.
Car
We opted to visit the Blue Eye by car, as we were taking a road trip through Albania, and found it to be very easy.
The parking lot is enormous (though it is said to still fill up during the middle of the day during peak season), and extremely easy to find via GPS.
Parking ranges from 200-400 lek, and from there, it’s a short walk past a collection of stalls selling everything from coffee to snacks to souvenirs over to the official entrance to the park.
If you’re thinking about renting a car, we recommend comparing prices and inclusions via Discover Cars, which is an aggregate that will quickly compare multiple companies on your behalf.
In our case, we ended up going through Sicily By Car for this trip and had an unremarkable experience. As always, we purchased additional collision insurance for peace of mind.
Organized Day Trip
Of course, the simplest way to visit the Blue Eye is to sign up for a day trip that includes a stop there!
Many multi-stop day trips from Saranda or Gjiorkastra, including this popular one, include a stop at the Blue Eye.
If you’re hoping to see several popular spots on and near the Albanian Riviera in one day, a day trip is a fantastic option.
Many of the best things to see near Saranda are fairly spread out, and tours are much more efficient than buses if you want to see multiple places in one day without driving.
9 Things to Know Before Visiting the Blue Eye
The Blue Eye is open 365 days per year, but hours vary.
As of summer 2026, the Blue Eye is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.
During the winter, it is said to close around 4:00 PM, though I recommend confirming winter hours locally if you’re visiting in the off-season.
It’s fairly quick to see the Blue Eye, and the view is best from above.
Right above the Blue Eye, a viewing platform has been built. Unsurprisingly, this is the best place to admire the spring from!
From the edge of the platform, you can get the full effect of the “eye”, which does indeed look quite a bit like an eye when viewed right from above.
Once you’ve enjoyed this view, you really have seen the Blue Eye: while you can extend your time in the area in a few different ways, this platform is the main event.
You’ll need to walk 20-30 minutes or take the tourist train from the parking lot.
It’s about 2 kilometers, or 1.25 miles, from the entrance to the park to the actual Blue Eye.
You can opt to walk, rent an electric scooter, or ride the tourist train for 300 lek per person, per way.
The walk is fairly dull and hot, as it takes place along the paved and mostly unshaded road, but it’s perfectly doable!
Had we been visiting by ourselves, we probably would have walked at least one way. Since we were traveling with our train-obsessed 2-year-old though, the “toddler train” was a must (and us parents enjoyed the break, too).
The area around the Blue Eye is very built up (and expanding).
While the Blue Eye is located in a rural area, near the village of Muzinë, the attraction itself is very built up.
Visiting feels less like a retreat into nature than a stop at a highly-touristed and streamlined attraction, which is what the Blue Eye is these days.
The good news is that this means there are plenty of services available, from tours to snacks to on-site rental cabins.
However, unless you spend the night or perhaps visit in the winter, admiring the Blue Eye isn’t really a peaceful or remote experience.
The view varies with the weather.
Like so many water-color based attractions, the Blue Eye is much more magical in full sun than it is when cloaked in clouds.
We experienced the Blue Eye on a day of shifting weather, so saw it in several lights.
It’s gorgeous no matter what, of course, but when designing your Albania itinerary, try to schedule your visit on a sunny day if you can!
There are toilets, but they were extremely dirty when we visited.
There are free public toilets located near where the tourist train drops off, however, they were so dirty that I opted to wait. Based on other reviews, this isn’t an uncommon issue!
The restaurant, cafe, and even some of the coffee/snack stands near the parking lot also have toilets, so there are other options!
I ended up using the restroom at a fruit/smoothie stand near the parking lot, and it was a much better experience than the official toilets.
You can’t swim in the Blue Eye (but you’ll see people doing it anyway).
The Blue Eye famously doesn’t allow swimming, but the rule is often disregarded.
During our visit, the only people we saw swimming were people who appeared to be Albanian locals (mostly teenagers who seemed to be celebrating graduation or the end of the school year).
We’ve heard that swimming is allowed in other places along the river, though we didn’t see any signs saying so or see anyone partaking.
Considering the water is a very crisp 10°C/50°F, perhaps that’s not too surprising!
There is a cafe and restaurant right by the Blue Eye.
The restaurant gets extremely mixed reviews, but its location right on the river is hard to beat.
We opted to enjoy a few drinks at the cafe, and enjoyed the setting and chance to relax and cool off before starting back.
… and even a hotel!
Want to enjoy the Blue Eye without the crowds? Your best bet is simply to spend the night!
The highly-rated Blue Eye Saranda Hotel is located just steps away from from the spring, and I have no doubt that checking in for the night is the most peaceful way to experience the Blue Eye.
Check rates & book your stay at the Blue Eye Saranda Hotel today!
Final Verdict: Is Visiting the Blue Eye of Saranda Worth It?
At the end of the day, visiting the Blue Eye was definitely worth it for us.
Even though it’s a quick stop, we couldn’t stand being so tantalizingly close to one of Albania’s most incredible views and not seeing it for ourselves!
The view is stunning, and we truly enjoyed our visit.
If your Albania itinerary is taking you between Gjiorkastra and Saranda/Ksamil at any point, I’d say that a short detour to stop at the Blue Eye is definitely worth it.
If you’re just visiting the Saranda/Ksamil area and don’t plan to go to Gjiorkastra (though you should, if you have time!), I’d say that the Blue Eye is a great option to include as part of a broader day trip, but I wouldn’t feel pressured to see it if you’re short on time and other places, like beaches and boat tours and Butrint, interest you more.
About Kate Storm
Kate is the founder and primary author of Our Escape Clause. Since 2016, she has been following her curiosity across the globe and turning her experiences into detailed trip planning advice for you. Her travels have taken her to 50+ countries, most regions of Italy, and most US states. After 4+ years of full-time travel, she enjoyed chapters calling Lisbon, New York City, and Texas home before deciding to base herself in North Carolina (between trips). She lives with her husband and business partner, Jeremy, their son, and their fluffy sidekick, Ranger.