How do I get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye? Bus, Taxi, Car, Prices

If you are looking for the best way to get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring, this blog post will give you all the information you need. I will discuss getting from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye by bus, by taxi and by car. 

How do I get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye? You can get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye by car, by bus or by taxi. A car rental costs at least 20-25 EUR per day, it takes 35 min, car park costs 200 LEK (1.90 EUR). A bus ticket costs 500 LEK (4.75 EUR), buses depart at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 17:00 PM. A taxi costs 30-50 EUR.

In this blog post, I will describe how you can drive from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye, what you can expect upon arrival and what you need to prepare (2km of walking in the sunshine!). I will also discuss where you can get on the bus from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye, what it costs and bus timetables. And I will compare taxi prices of individual taxi drivers in Gjirokaster for a ride to the Blue Eye (and return trip!).

How do I get to the Blue Eye in Albania from Gjirokaster?

You can get to the Blue Eye spring in Albania from Gjirokaster by car, by bus or by taxi. Below I will give you a quick summary of the ways you can travel from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye. More detailed information can be found in the paragraphs below.

Gjirokaster to Blue Eye car (summary)

• It takes approximately 35 minutes to drive from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye.
• A basic rental car in Albania costs at least 20-25 euros per day, which can be more in July and August due to the high season.
• From the car park at the Blue Eye, you must walk 2 kilometres to reach the Blue Eye spring. 
• The car park at the Blue Eye spring costs 200 Leke (1.90 euros) and an entrance ticket is 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person. You are expected to pay cash money.

Gjirokaster to Blue Eye bus (summary)

• You can take a bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye to Saranda. Attention not all buses from Gjirokaster to Saranda drive via the Blue Eye, so ask before you board!
• The bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye to Saranda departs at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 17:00 PM. 
• A bus ticket costs 500 Leke (4.75 euros) per person from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye.
• The bus from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye departs from the Gjirokaster bus terminal.
• More detailed bus information from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye below.

Gjirokaster to Blue Eye taxi (summary)

• A taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye costs between 30-50 euros depending on which taxi driver you book. 
• Below you will find a price comparison of taxi drivers in Gjirokaster for a ride to the Blue Eye spring.
• It is best to ask the taxi driver to wait for you whilst you visit the Blue Eye spring, since a visit will only take you 1-2 hours and you will need transportation back to Gjirokaster or onwards to Saranda afterwards.

How do I get from Gjirokaster to Blue Eye by car?

You can get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring by car in approximately 35 minutes. A rental car in Albania will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day for a basic car rental. Car rental rates can be higher in July and August due to the tourist high season. 

From Gjirokaster, you must take the SH4 highway that leads from Gjirokaster to the South towards the Kakavia border with Greece. However, you must get off this road at Jergucati. Take the SH78 road that leads over the mountains. And then at Muzine, take the SH99 road towards Saranda that leads by the Blue Eye Spring. 

Alongside the SH99 road, you will see the Blue Eye Parking Place on your right-hand side. You can see the location of the Blue Eye Parking Place on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4XBonsEVNoncNuqF6 

You must park your car at the parking place. You will pay 200 Leke (1.90 euros) for parking your car for 3 hours, which is plenty of time to visit the Blue Eye. And you will pay an additional 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person to enter the Blue Eye Nature Monument Park. 

• Parking at the Blue Eye costs 200 Leke (1.90 euros) per car 
• Entrance ticket for the Blue Eye Nature Manument Park costs 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person. 

It is important to note here that from the parking place and ticket office, you need to walk 2 kilometres to get to the Blue Eye Spring. There is a nice new boulevard to walk. However, it can get very hot and sunny in the summer months, especially in July and August. So bring a sun hat, sunglasses, sunblock and some comfortable walking shoes!

You can also choose to rent an electric scooter at the ticket office so that you avoid having to walk the 2 kilometres to the Blue Eye Spring. A scooter costs 5 euros for a 1-hour rental. 

How do I get from Gjirokaster to Blue Eye by bus?

You can get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye by bus. Basically, you will need to take a bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye to Saranda. Not all buses drive via the Blue Eye, because it is the old road that leads by the Blue Eye. The newer road from Gjirokaster via Kardhiq to Saranda does not lead by the Blue Eye. 

• Axhensi Udhetaresh Gjirokaster operates a bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye to Saranda. 
• A bus ticket costs 500 Leke (4.75 euros) per person from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye.
• The bus departs from Gjirokaster at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 17:00 PM. 
• You can always check the latest bus timetable from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye via WhatsApp on +355 69 638 8669.
• The bus from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye departs from the Gjirokaster bus terminal. You can see the location of the Gjirokaster bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jpVPNGhQqYVCHyrp7 

What is the price for a taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye?

A taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring costs 30-50 euros. To give you a good insight into the taxi prices, I reached out to several taxi drivers in Gjirokaster. Below you see a price comparison of what individual taxi drivers charge for a ride from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye.

Gjirokaster to Blue Eye taxi prices:

• Taksi Gjirokaster Elmas charges 30 euros or 3000 Leke for a taxi from Gjriokaster to the Blue Eye spring
• Taxi Service Dashamir Seferi charges 30 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring.
• Taxi Imer Babaramo charges 50 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring. 
• Taxi Krenari Gjirokaster charges 35 euros for a taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring.
• Taxi Alket Gjirokaster charges 5000 Leke (47 euros) for a taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring and back to Gjirokaster. The taxi driver will wait for you at the Blue Eye spring and drive you back to Gjirokaster afterwards.
• Taxi & Minibus Gjirokaster charges 5000 Leke (47 euros) for a taxi from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring and back to Gjirokaster. The taxi driver will wait for you at the Blue Eye spring and drive you back to Gjirokaster afterwards.

It is best to ask the taxi driver to wait for you whilst you visit the Blue Eye spring. Because it takes only 1-2 hours to visit the Blue Eye spring. And then you will need a taxi back to Gjirokaster or onwards to Saranda. The Blue Eye is a natural park away from the city centres, so you will need transportation after your visit too.

How long does it take to get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye?

It takes approximately 35 minutes to drive from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring. Upon arrival, you must park the car and walk 2 kilometres to the Blue Eye spring. You will need only 1-2 hours for your visit to the Blue Eye spring. 

What you need to know before travelling from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye

Here are some of the things you need to know before travelling from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring. So that you can make the most of your visit to the Blue Eye spring.

• Visit the Blue Eye spring in the early morning, to avoid crowds
  The Blue Eye Spring is a very popular tourist attraction. Especially in the summer months, like July and August, this attraction gets busy. Moreover, the Blue Eye spring is a small blue pool, so if more than 20 people visit this place, it can already feel quite crowded. Therefore, I recommend you wake up early and travel to the Blue Eye spring first thing in the morning. You will have a nicer experience if you go early!
• Bring cash money to pay the entrance fee
  The entrance fee and the parking fee at the Blue Eye can only be paid by cash. So bring 200 Leke (1.90 euros) for the car park + 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person with you in cash money. Plus some additional money for a cup of coffee at one of the cafes next to the river.
• Wear your swimsuit under your clothing, before you go the Blue Eye Spring
  As you will see, it is actually not allowed to jump into the Blue Eye spring. There is a signage next to the spring, which indicates it is not allowed. However, as you will see many people will jump into the Blue Eye spring regardless of the signage. If you think you may want to have a go at swimming, then wear your swimsuit underneath your clothing as there are no changing facilities on site. Note, the Blue Eye spring is ice cold, like 10-12 degrees all year round.
• Bring a sun hat, sunblock and comfortable walking shoes
  Upon arrival at the Blue Eye spring, you will park your car and walk to the ticket office. From the car park, you need to walk approximately 2 kilometres to get to the Blue Eye Spring. You will walk in the sun, and this can get very hot, especially in July and August. So bring a sun hat, sunblock and some comfortable walking shoes.

Is Blue Eye Albania worth visiting?

The Blue Eye spring in Albania is definitely worth visiting. It is one of the tourist highlights and truly unique. 

Essentially, the Blue Eye is an underwater spring. The water comes from a cave more than 50 meters deep under the surface. And the water is pumped upwards to the surface of the river with an enormous pressure. The water pressure is so force, that no diver has ever been able to reach the bottom of the spring. Diving down into the spring up against the water pressure of the spring is very dangerous. So it is at least 50 meters deep, but nobody knows how much deeper. 

The Blue Eye has an intense bright blue and turquoise colour. You can climb on a wooden terrace above the spring and look into the spring from above. It resembles a human eye. The dark black cave is the “pupil of a human eye” and the blue water is the “iris of a human eye”. 

The water is very clear and you can see beautiful underwater plants waving in the waves of the water. 

The Blue Eye spring is surrounded by lush green nature, a bit like a jungle. There are rushing streams of water and blue dragonflies on the surface. 

Alongside the river, there is a coffee house with a wooden terrace above the water. It is a very refreshing location even in the summer, due to the breeze over the ice cold water of the spring. 

I personally find the Blue Eye spring a highlight to visit in Albania. It is especially worth visiting if you will be visiting the nearby cities like Gjirokaster or Saranda. As the spring is only a 35-45 minute drive from those cities. 

That being said, it is important to visit the Blue Eye Spring in the early morning to avoid any crowds. The Blue Eye spring does get busy and the spring is not that large, so it gets crowded easily. By visiting in the early morning, you will have a much better experience!

Related Questions

How much does it cost to go to the Blue Eye Albania? It costs 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person for an entrance ticket to go to the Blue Eye in Albania. If you park the car this costs 200 Leke (1.90 euros) per car. 

How much is the entrance to Blue Eye? The entrance ticket to the Blue Eye Spring costs 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person cash payment only. And for the car park at the Blue Eye spring, you pay 200 Leke (1.90 euros) per car. Because the walk from the car park to the Blue Eye is 2 kilometres, you can optionally rent an electric scooter for 5 euros for 1 hour. 

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I am an Albania Tour Guide, who organizes 1-day, 2-day or multiple day private tours in Albania.