How do I get from Tirana to Blue Eye? Bus, Taxi, Train, Car rental prices

In this blog post, I will explain how you can get from Tirana to the Blue Eye Spring near Saranda. I will describe getting from Tirana to the Blue Eye by bus, by taxi, by train and by rental car and compare prices.

How do I get from Tirana to Blue Eye? You can get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by car, by bus or by taxi. No trains. A car rental costs at least 20-25 EUR per day. A taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye costs 142-180 EUR. Take a bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster (12 EUR), then a bus from Gjirokaster via Blue Eye to Saranda (4.75 EUR).

In this blog, I will describe exactly how to get from Tirana to the Blue Eye. Below you will find bus timetables, bus station information, where to switch buses, bus ticket prices and bus ticket buying information. You will also find a car rental price comparison, the best route to drive and what to expect when driving in Albania. And I have also included a price comparison of different taxi companies for a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye. I will describe train travel and availability and whether or not the Blue Eye is worth visiting.

How do I get to the Blue Eye from Tirana?

In this first paragraph, I will give you an overview of the best ways to get from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring. I will describe getting from Tirana to the Blue Eye by bus, by taxi or by car and compare prices. You can find much more detailed information in the next paragraphs.

Tirana to the Blue Eye by car (summary)

• A rental car in Tirana or at Tirana airport costs at least 20-25 euros per day for a basic rental car. 
• Prices can be significantly higher in July and August, due to the tourist high season.
• I recommend you reach out to several car rentals before you travel, there is a list on the website of Tirana airport. 
• Driving in Albania can be challenging as a foreigner and do not drive at night, due to limited street lighting.

Tirana to the Blue Eye by bus (summary)

• There is no direct bus from Tirana to the Blue Eye, so you must first take a bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster and then a bus from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring. 
• The bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster costs 12 euros per person. Buses depart from Tirana at 05:00 AM, 06:45 AM, 08:00 AM, 09:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM (Friday & Sunday only), 17:30 PM and 20:30 PM.
• The bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye spring to Saranda costs 500 Leke (4.75 euros) per person. Buses depart from the bus terminal in Gjirokaster at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 17:00 PM. 
• You can find more detailed bus information below.

Tirana to the Blue Eye by train (summary)

• You cannot travel from Tirana to the Blue Eye by train. 
• Because Tirana does not have a railway station and the Blue Eye spring does not have a railway station. 
• There are only 3 x trains per week in operation in Albania. 2 x trains between Durres and Elbasan and 1 x train between Shkoder and Lac. These trains are not close to the Blue Eye spring at all.

Tirana to the Blue Eye by taxi (summary)

• A taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring near Saranda costs between 142 euros – 180 euros. Most taxi drivers charge between 150-160 euros, so that is a reasonable rate to expect.
• It takes approximately 4.5 – 5 hours to get from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring by taxi or by car.

How do I get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by car?

You can get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by rental car. A rental car in Tirana or at Tirana airport will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day for a basic rental car. 

Below, I have a price comparison of what car rental agencies in Tirana charge for a rental car. Bear in mind, that I did ask for the most basic and the cheapest car rental options. 

• Albania Airport Rent a Car charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia with manual gear from 2019.
• ARA Auto Rental Albania at Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Fiat Punto from 2018. 
• Avis Rent a Car Tirana Airport charges 25 euros per day for an Opel Corsa manual gear from 2022.
• G Rentals Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for an Opel Corsa from 2021. 
• Green Motion Tirana airport charges 20 euros per day for a Skoda Fabia.
• Hertz Tirana airport charges 22 euros per day for a Suzuki Ignis from 2019. 
• Eurocar Rentals Tirana charges 25 euros per day for a Kia Rio from 2021.
• Easy Rent Tirana charges 30 euros per day for a Fiat Panda.
• Eagle Rent Car Renting Albania charges 20 euros per day for a manual Volkswagen Up.

It is important to consider when you are travelling. Car rental rates can be very high in July and August, as this is the tourist high season. As a result, basic or cheap car rentals may not be available anymore. 

There is a helpful list of car rental companies on the website of Tirana Airport. Reach out to several car rental agencies before you travel to get an indication of rates and to get a good deal. 

Before you drive in Albania there are some important considerations. Firstly, driving in Albania can be challenging due to the chaotic and aggressive driving style of Albanian drivers. So you must be a confident and experienced driver. 

Secondly, not all roads in Albania are asphalt roads. The best route from Tirana to the Blue Eye Spring is from Tirana via Durres, Lushnje, Fier, Tepelene and Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye. IMPORTANT: From Gjirokaster take the old road via the Blue Eye to Saranda! The new road via Kardhiq Castle is a quicker route to Saranda, but it does not pass by the Blue Eye spring.

These are all asphalted roads, some of them highways and others national roads. But there may be other destinations on your itinerary that can only be reached via dirt tracks, so it is important to do your research.

And thirdly, do not drive in Albania at night, as street lighting is limited. Safety comes first.

How do I get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by bus?

You can get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by bus via Gjirokaster. There is no direct bus, so you must switch buses in Gjirokaster. 

• Step 1: Take a bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster
• Step 2: Take a bus from Gjiroster to the Blue Eye

Step 1: Take a bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster (so that you can travel onwards to the Blue Eye)

You can take a bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster first, so that you can then travel onwards from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring with another bus.

A bus ticket from Tirana to Gjirokaster costs 12 euros per person for a one-way trip. In Albania, you are always expected to pay cash for your bus ticket. So bring some cash Euros or cash Albanian Leke with you to the bus station. Of course, you can withdraw from an ATM nearby as well. Most bus drivers do not have a card machine, so it is better to come prepared with cash.

The bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster departs at 05:00 AM, 06:45 AM, 08:00 AM, 09:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM, 14:30 PM, 15:30 PM (Friday & Sunday only), 17:30 PM and 20:30 PM.

You can get on the bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster at the Regional Bus Terminal North and South Albania. In the Albanian language, the name of the bus terminal is “Terminali i Autobusave të Jugut dhe Veriut”. You can see the location of the bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xvc1wLThatv13qyF8 

The bus terminal is located outside the city centre of Tirana. So you must take a taxi or city bus to get to the bus terminal. Taxi drivers do not offer set prices for a ride to the bus terminal, this is always done by taxi meter. Alternatively, you can take a city bus to “Instituti” which departs at the back of the National History Museum. This bus to “Instituti” makes a stop at the Bus Terminal North and South Albania. 

The bus from Tirana to Gijrokaster will drop you off at the Gjirokaster bus terminal. You can see the location of the bus terminal in Gjirokaster on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sFKjebMj4gs3ZjmS6 

From the bus terminal in Gjirokaster, you can then take either a bus or a taxi to the Blue Eye spring. 

Recommendation: You will enjoy your visit to the Blue Eye spring most if you go early in the morning. So you could check into a hotel or guest house in Gjirokaster and then go to the Blue Eye spring early the next morning by bus or taxi. The Blue Eye spring gets busy particularly in July and August at the top of the tourist high season. The spring is not that large, therefore, it can feel crowded quickly. Like I said, go early in the morning and enjoy the peace and quiet before the crowds arrive!

Step 2: Take a bus from Gjiroster to the Blue Eye

Once you have arrived in Gjirokaster, you can then take a bus from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring. 

The bus from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring departs from the Bus Terminal in Gjirokaster. This is the same bus terminal where the bus from Tirana to Gjirokaster drops you off, so you could travel onwards immediately. You can see the location of the Gjirokaster bus terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jpVPNGhQqYVCHyrp7 

To get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring, you must take a bus from Gjirokaster to Saranda that drives via the Blue Eye spring. Be sure to check with the bus driver before you get on the bus. Because there are two roads. The older road leads from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye spring to Saranda. However, the newer and faster road passed by Kardhiq Castle and does not go to the Blue Eye spring!

• Bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye spring to Saranda 
• Check with the bus driver if their bus drives from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye spring to Saranda! The bus via Kardhiq Castle does not pass the Blue Eye!

 A bus ticket from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring costs 500 Leke (4.75 euros) per person. The bus departs from Gjirokaster at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 17:00 PM. The bus from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye spring to Saranda is operated by Axhensi Udhetaresh Gjirokaster. 

When you arrive at the Blue Eye spring, you must pay 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person for an entrance ticket. From the ticket office, there is a 2-kilometer walk to the Blue Eye spring. This walk can feel very long in the heat in July or August, so bring some good shoes, sunblock and a sunhat.

How do I get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by train?

You cannot get from Tirana to the Blue Eye by train. Actually, Tirana does not have a train station, so you cannot take any trains from Tirana. And the Blue Eye Spring does not have a train station either. 

You might find it odd that Tirana does not have a train station, especially since Tirana is the capital city of Albania. In the past, Tirana did have a train station. But this train station was demolished in 2013. It is currently 2023 and the train station has not been rebuilt in Tirana. So there is currently no train station in Tirana. 

There are very few trains in operation within Albania’s borders. In any given week, there may be 2 x trains between Elbasan and Durres. And sometimes there is 1 x train per week between Lac and Shkoder. 

As you travel through Albania, you will see some of the old railway tracks in the landscape. These railway tracks were built in the period that Albania was a communist country, between the end of the Second World War and 1992. However, since the fall of communism in 1992, there has been little investment and little interest in the trains and railways. As a result, many of these old railway tracks are currently not being used.

How much does a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye cost?

A taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring near Saranda costs between 142 euros – 180 euros depending on which taxi company you book with. 

I have reached out to several taxi companies in Tirana and requested their taxi rates from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring. Below you will see a taxi price comparison.

Taxi prices from Tirana to the Blue Eye:

• Merr Taxi Tirana charges 180 euros for a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye near Saranda.
• Green Taxi Tirana charges 15000 Leke (142 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to Syri i Kalter (Blue Eye) near Saranda.
• City Taxi Tirana charges 17000 Leke (160 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye near Saranda.
• Smart Taxi Tirana charges 16000 Leke (151 euros) for a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring.
• Speed Taxi charges 16000 Leke or 160 euros for a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye near Saranda.

As you can see anywhere between 150-160 euros is a reasonable rate for a taxi from Tirana to the Blue Eye. It is quite a long drive, which will take approximately 4.5 – 5 hours depending on traffic. Just like anywhere in the world, petrol prices in Albania have increased and as a result taxi prices have increased as well.

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

It takes approximately 4.5 hours – 5 hours to get from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring. The most direct route to drive is from Tirana via Durres, Lushnje, Fier, Tepelene and Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye spring. This route offers a combination of highways and national roads, and it is the route taxi drivers and bus drivers take.

How many kilometres is it from Tirana to the Blue Eye?

It is approximately 265 kilometres from Tirana to the Blue Eye spring. This journey will take you between 4.5 and 5 hours to drive. 

I will mention here that Google Maps usually underestimates the time it takes to drive in Albania. Google Maps shows you a 3-hour and 56-minute drive from Tirana to the Blue Eye. I would say that is not feasible. Anywhere between 4.5 and 5 hours is more realistic. Especially the road from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye is a turning and twisting national road, that cannot be driven at a high speed.

Is the Blue Eye in Albania worth it?

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 powerful, that no diver has ever been able to reach the bottom of the spring. Diving down 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 all the 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!

How much does it cost to go to the Blue Eye Albania?

It does cost 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person to go to the Blue Eye in Albania. 

• The entrance ticket for the Blue Eye Albania is 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person.
• Car parking at the Blue Eye spring costs 200 Leke (1.90 euros) per person. 
• Optional: Rent an electric scooter for 5 euros for 1 hour. 

When you drive to the Blue Eye spring, you will pay 200 Leke (1.90 euros) per person for the car park. Then you will pay 50 Leke (0.50 euros) per person for an entrance ticket at the ticket office. 

From the ticket office, there is a 2-kilometer walk along a boulevard to reach the Blue Eye spring. This walk can feel very long when it is hot in the summer season. In months, like July and August, you will walk in the burning sun. So be sure to bring sunblock, sunglasses and a sunhat. You can also choose to rent an electric scooter for 5 euros for 1 hour so that you won’t have to walk the 2 kilometres to the Blue Eye spring. 

Related Questions

Are there 2 Blue Eyes in Albania? There are 2 Blue Eyes in Albania. One Blue Eye in the South of Albania between Saranda and Gjirokaster (as described above). And the other Blue Eye is the Blue Eye of Theth in the Theth Mountain village in the Albanian Alps in the North of Albania. 

How do I get from Tirana to Theth? You can get from Tirana to Theth by bus, by taxi or by car. First take a bus from Tirana to Shkoder (400 Leke, 3.75 euros) between 6:30 AM and 17:00 PM. Stay overnight. Next morning, take the bus from Shkoder to Theth at 7 AM, 10 euros per person. Take a regular taxi from Tirana to Shkoder 65-74 euros, then a 4-wheel drive taxi from Shkoder to Theth for 150 euros. A rental car costs at least 20-25 euros, however, a 4-wheel drive is better for driving in the mountains. 

How do I get from Tirana to the Blue Eye of Theth? You can get from Tirana to the Blue Eye of Theth in 3 x steps. Step 1: Take a bus/taxi from Tirana to Shkoder + stay overnight in Shkoder. Step 2: Take a bus/4 wheel drive from Shkoder to Theth at 7 AM the next morning. Step 3: Upon arrival at your guest house in Theth, hike for 3 hours to the trailhead and 1 hour on the trail to the Blue Eye of Theth.

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