How to Get Blue Eye Albania in 2026 | Tickets, Parking, Guide

How to Get Blue Eye Albania is one of the most important questions for travelers.

Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) is one of the country’s most famous natural attractions, known for its crystal-clear turquoise water, powerful underground spring, and beautiful riverside landscape.

Situated approximately 20 km from the centre of Saranda or Delvina.

I visited Blue Eye on June 8, 2026. This guide is based on my personal experience and includes current parking fees, entrance costs, tourist train prices, GPS navigation, and practical travel tips.

How to Get Blue Eye Albania

Road to Blue Eye Albania with a clear water canal running parallel to the road — A calm driving route toward Blue Eye Albania with a clear water canal running alongside the road

The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) is one of the most popular natural attractions in southern Albania. There are several ways to get there, depending on your budget, time, and comfort level.

Public transportation (bus + minibus)

This is the most cost-effective option, but it requires a bit more time and transfers.

First, take a bus or minibus from Saranda toward Gjirokastra, then get off at the stop near the turnoff for the Blue Eye. Then, walk or take “Train” to the entrance of the national park.

Important: Schedules and frequencies may vary depending on the season.

There are three daily flights from Saranda to Blue Eye and Gjirokastra.

👉 If you’re planning to use this option, be sure to check the current schedule in advance: Saranda Bus Schedule in 2026 — My Experience and Helpful Tips.

Pros:

Cheapest option
Suitable for independent travelers

Cons:

Requires transfers
Inconvenient timings
Depends on schedule

Car Rental (Most Convenient)

Car rental is the most comfortable and flexible way to get to the Blue Eye.

The drive from Saranda takes approximately 30-40 minutes, the route is simple, and runs along the main highway toward Gjirokastra.

Pros:

Complete route flexibility
Can be combined with Gjirokastra or other locations
Convenient for family or group trips
Time savings

🔎 To find the best car rental deals in Albania, it’s convenient to use DiscoverCars, a service that compares prices from different rental companies and helps you choose the best option.

👉 You can learn more about the benefits of renting a car in this article: DiscoverCars Albania 2026 — rent a car online without overpaying.

Blue Eye Tours

Panoramic view of Blue Eye Albania with viewing platform, stairs and visitors — A wide panoramic view of the Blue Eye natural spring showing the viewing platform, staircase, visitors, and surrounding forest

If you do not want to drive, organized tours are available from Sarandë, Ksamil and nearby resorts.

Tours usually include transportation and basic guidance.

Good options:

Half-day Blue Eye tours
Blue Eye + Gjirokastër tours
Blue Eye + Albanian Riviera tours

🔎 Viator: Browse the most popular Blue Eye tours.

1-Day Tour in Blue Eye, Monastery, Gjirokaster and Lekursi Castle.

🔎 GetYourGuide: Check available Blue Eye day trips and experiences.

Blue Eye Spring Tour — Pickup from Saranda & Ksamil.

You can choose other tours, payment in dollars/euros.

GPS Navigation and Parking

Parking area at Blue Eye Albania with cars, visitors and mountains in the background — Cars and visitors in the parking area near Blue Eye Albania with forested mountains and blue sky

👉 Navigate to Blue Eye Parking Location:

Open Blue Eye Albania Parking on Google Maps

This is the main parking area used by visitors.

Parking fee (June 2026):

300 Lek per vehicle (up to 3 hours)
Higher rates for longer stays

The parking area is very large but was already crowded during my visit. Expansion work was underway to increase capacity.

Entrance Fees and Tourist Train

Visitors queuing at ticket booth at Blue Eye Albania with train ticket prices displayed — Visitors stand in line at the Blue Eye Albania ticket booth where tickets for the tourist shuttle train are sold

After parking, visitors walk approximately 200 meters to the main entrance.

Entrance tax — 50 Lek per person

After entering the park, there are two options.

Walk to the Spring

Tourists walking and riding shuttle train to Blue Eye Albania along the access road — Visitors travel to Blue Eye Albania either on foot along the walkway or by tourist shuttle train.

Approximately 20–30 minutes
Scenic route through nature
No additional cost

Tourist Train

Red tourist shuttle train at Blue Eye Albania with passengers boarding wagons — Visitors board a red tourist shuttle train with mountains and blue sky in the background near Blue Eye Albania

The tourist train is actually a car decorated like a bright red steam locomotive.

The train pulls three open passenger cars with benches and can carry about 40-50 passengers.

Prices and Travel time:

300 Lek one way
600 Lek round trip
approximately 10 minutes
children under 3 years old are free

Most visitors use the train in at least one direction.

Quick Facts About Blue Eye

Official information sign at Blue Eye Albania showing water depth and temperature data — Official sign at Blue Eye Albania displaying scientific data about water temperature, pressure, and explored depth of the spring

The official information near the source is as follows:

Water temperature: approximately 10°C year-round
Water pressure in 2005: 7.5 m³/second
Swimming is prohibited, a fine of 500 euros and a ban on entry into the country for 6 months
Depth: unknown, only explored up to 50 meters
Area of the Natural Park: ~293.3 hectares

What You Will See at Blue Eye

Top view of Blue Eye Albania natural spring with clear turquoise water and visible bottom — Top-down view of the Blue Eye natural spring in Albania showing crystal-clear turquoise water and visible bottom edges

The main attraction is the spring itself.

Crystal-clear water emerges from underground with enormous force and forms a beautiful turquoise river.

Around the spring you will find:

Viewing platforms
Wooden bridges
Riverside walkways
Dense greenery
Ferns and aquatic plants
Restaurants and cafés
Souvenir stands
Turtle enclosure

Further downstream, the river widens significantly and remains remarkably transparent.

One of the most interesting features is a riverside dining area built partially above the water.

Is Blue Eye Worth Visiting?

Turquoise Blue Eye river in Albania flowing past restaurants and dense forest on the opposite bank — The powerful turquoise stream of Blue Eye Albania flows past restaurants and dense forest along the riverbank

Yes.

Blue Eye is one of the most impressive natural attractions in Albania and one of the easiest to visit independently.

The combination of:

Intense blue color
Powerful spring
Natural scenery
Visitor infrastructure
Easy road access

makes it a worthwhile stop for almost every traveler visiting southern Albania.

For travelers searching for how to Visit Blue Eye Albania, the combination of easy road access, affordable prices, and spectacular natural scenery makes this destination one of the best day trips in southern Albania.

Either way, knowing How to Get Blue Eye Albania will help you save time and enjoy one of the country’s most unique natural wonders.

Travel Insurance for Albania

Tourists walking along riverside path at Blue Eye Albania with no swimming warning sign — Tourists walk along a fenced path beside the Blue Eye river in Albania near a sign prohibiting swimming

Unexpected medical expenses can quickly turn an enjoyable trip into an expensive one. Travel insurance provides peace of mind and financial protection while exploring Albania.

If you have not arranged coverage yet, take a few minutes to compare plans before your departure.

🔎 Safety Wing: Check travel insurance options for Albania.

Typical Budget for Two People

Tourists dining at riverside restaurant near Blue Eye Albania with couples seating and water view — Couples sit at restaurant tables by the river near Blue Eye Albania with scenic water views and a gazebo in the distance

Example:

Parking: 300 Lek
Entrance tax: 100 Lek
Tourist train round trip: 1,200 Lek

Total basic visit cost — 1,600 Lek for two people.

Food, drinks and souvenirs are optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-prepared fruit drinks for tourists at Blue Eye Albania under shaded canopy — Prepared fruit drinks are served for visitors under a shaded area near Blue Eye Albania

Can you swim in Blue Eye Albania?

No. Swimming is currently prohibited.

How cold is the water?

Approximately 10°C throughout the year.

How much time should I plan?

Most visitors spend about 3 hours here.

Is the tourist train worth it?

Yes, especially during hot weather or when traveling with children.

Is Blue Eye suitable for families?

Yes. The paths, restaurants, bridges and facilities make it suitable for visitors of all ages.

Shorts: Blue eye and panorama of the place

Tourists cross a bridge over a clear stream near the Blue Eye in Albania — Tourists cross a bridge over a clear flowing stream surrounded by dense forest at Blue Eye Albania

Shot date: June 08, 2026.

This video shows the Blue Eye spring, the turquoise river, visitor infrastructure and real conditions during the summer tourist season.

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How to Get Blue Eye Albania in 2026: Parking, Tickets, Tourist Train and Travel Tips