Saranda to Blue Eye Spring – Bus, Taxi, Prices, Duration, How to get there

If you are staying in Saranda and looking for the best way to get to the Blue Eye Spring, this blog is for you. I will describe how to get from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring by bus, by taxi or by car.

How do I get to the Blue Eye from Saranda? You can get to the Blue Eye from Saranda by bus, taxi or car. No train. Buses to the Blue Eye at 10 AM and 14:15 PM, 400 LEK (4 EUR) p.p. Duration: 30-45 bus, 1-2 hour visit. Taxi 50-60 EUR. A rental car costs at least 20-25 a day, more in the high season.

Let me help you get from Saranda to the Blue Eye. I will share bus timetables, bus station location, bus ticket prices, how to pay or book bus tickets and journey times. I will also discuss renting a car and driving to the Blue Eye Spring. And what you can expect to pay for a taxi. Finally, I will discuss if the Blue Eye spring is worth visiting, time needed to visit and Blue Eye ticket prices.

How do I get from Saranda to the Blue Eye?

You can get from Saranda to the Blue Eye spring by bus, by taxi or by car. There is no railway or train from Saranda to the Blue Eye. And you cannot get from Saranda to the Blue Eye by ferry. 

Let me give you a quick overview of the best ways to get from Saranda to the Blue Eye spring. Then you will find more detailed information below.

Saranda to Blue Eye bus

• You can take a bus from the city centre of Saranda that drives to the Blue Eye and onwards to Gjirokaster. 
• Buses depart from Saranda to the Blue Eye at 10:00 AM and 14:15 PM. 
• A bus ticket costs 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person, you are expected to pay cash.
• The bus journey from Saranda to the Blue Eye takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
• Buses are operated by the Butrinti Travel and Tours Agency, located in the city centre of Saranda.

Saranda to Blue Eye taxi

• You can also hire a taxi driver to take you from Saranda to the Blue Eye.
• Taxi drivers in Saranda usually offer a round trip from Saranda to the Blue Eye spring and back to Saranda. 
• Which means that the taxi driver will wait for you at the Blue Eye parking area for 1-2 hours whilst you visit and then drive you back to Saranda (or onwards to Gjirokaster).
• You can expect to pay approximately 50-60 EUR for a taxi round trip from Saranda to the Blue Eye.
• Of course, individual taxi drivers set their own prices, so what you pay is what you agree upon with the individual driver you are talking with.

Saranda to Blue Eye by car

• You can drive from Saranda to the Blue Eye independently. 
• In Saranda, there is a lot of signage for the Blue Eye to drive out of the city in the right direction.
• Drive via the SH99 to the village of Muzine. The Blue Eye spring is nearby.
• Upon arrival, you pay 300 LEK (3 EUR) for parking, 50 LEK (0.50 EUR) for a ticket, and 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person for the road train from the parking area to the Blue Eye (optional). 
• A rental car in Albania will cost you at least 20-25 EUR per day, with higher prices in the summer months. 

Saranda to Blue Eye train

• You cannot get from Saranda to the Blue Eye by train. Because there is no railway between Saranda and the Blue  Eye.
• In fact, there are no operational railways in the South of Albania. 
• So you can get from Saranda to the Blue Eye by car, by bus or by taxi. 
• Once you arrive at the parking area for the Blue Eye, you can take a little “road train” from the parking area to the Blue Eye Spring, to avoid having to walk 20 minutes along the boulevard leading to the Blue Eye.

Saranda to Blue Eye ferry

• There are no ferries from Saranda to the Blue Eye. 
• It is not possible to take a ferry from Saranda to the Blue Eye.
• You can only get from Saranda to the Blue Eye by car, by bus or by taxi.
• Some tourists fly to Corfu Airport on the Greek Corfu island. From Corfu island, you can take a ferry from the Port of Corfu to the Port of Saranda. Ferry companies like Finikas Lines or Ionian Seaways can offer a sightseeing trip combining the ferry ticket and a visit to the Blue Eye Spring or Butrint. 

How to get from Saranda to Blue Eye by bus?

You can get from Saranda to the Blue Eye by bus. There are buses from Saranda that drive via the Blue Eye to Gjirokaster. To get on one of these buses, you must go to the bus agency in the city centre of Saranda.

The bus agency called “Butrinti Travel and Tours” in the city centre of Saranda offers direct buses from Saranda to the Blue Eye and back. 

You can find the Butrinti Travel and Tours bus agency in the city centre of Saranda. The bus agency is located near Friendship Park and the archaeological ruins of the Synagogue-Basilica. You can see the location bus the bus agency on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zh5ELzAT2vE17kkw9 

Buses from Saranda to the Blue Eye depart at 10:00 AM and 14:15 PM. A bus ticket costs 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person. The bus journey from Saranda to the Blue Eye takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

Of course, you will also need a bus back from the Blue Eye to Saranda or onwards to Gjirokaster. Buses depart from the Blue Eye to Saranda at 14:25 PM and 17:40 PM. Bus tickets cost 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person.

You can also decide to depart Saranda and travel via the Blue Eye spring to Gjirokaster. To do this, take the bus at 10:00 AM from Saranda to the Blue Eye. Then visit the Blue Eye spring for 1-2 hours and get on a bus from the Blue Eye to Gjirokaster. The buses from Saranda to the Blue Eye all drive onwards to Gjirokaster and spaces will open up in the bus as tourists get off at the Blue Eye.

How much is a taxi from Saranda to Blue Eye?

You can also choose to hire a taxi driver to bring you from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring. The advantage is that taxi drivers often offer a round trip from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring and back to Saranda.

• A taxi from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring and back may cost you around 50-60 EUR (individual taxi driver prices may vary).

A taxi driver may charge you approximately 50-60 EUR per taxi for a round trip from Saranda to the Blue Eye and back. In essence, the taxi driver will agree to wait for you at the Blue Eye parking area for about 1-2 hours whilst you visit the Blue Eye Spring. And then after your visit the taxi driver drives you back to Saranda (or onwards to Gjirokaster if you prefer). 

Bear in mind that taxi drivers in Saranda are independent drivers and they charge their own rates. Some taxi drivers may offer a cheaper deal and others may charge you more for a taxi to the Blue Eye Spring. Taxi rates have increased over the past few years, due to petrol prices rising and an increase in tourism.

How to get from Saranda to Blue Eye by car?

It is easy to drive from Saranda to the Blue Eye. In Saranda, you will see signage for going to the Blue Eye Spring, follow the signage to drive out of the city center of Saranda. 

Then take the SH99, which is an older national road that leads to the Blue Eye Spring. You can expect a drive of approximately 30-45 minutes. 

You will see signage indicating the Blue Eye spring along the road, and a parking area and ticket office for the Blue Eye Spring.

Renting a car in Albania costs at least 20-25 euros per day, but more in the summer months. I recommend checking for local car rental companies on Google Maps and messaging several companies via WhatsApp to get a good deal. 

Car rental prices can be very high in the summer months, so reaching out to car rental companies and comparing rates will be essential if you are trying to get an affordable rental car. International companies with online booking websites usually have higher commissions and rates. 

How long does it take to get from Saranda to Blue Eye?

It does take approximately 30-45 minutes to get from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring. Getting out of Saranda’s city centre may take a bit of time if traffic is heavy. The distance from Saranda to the Blue Eye is about 21 kilometers. But the road is an older national road that twists through the mountain landscape, so you cannot drive very fast.

• Saranda to the Blue Eye distance – 21 kilometers

How much does it cost to get from Saranda to Blue Eye?

It will cost you 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person for a one-way bus trip. So 800 LEK (8 euros) for a return bus trip to get from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring. 

A taxi will cost you around 50-60 euros for a return trip, where the taxi driver waits for you whilst you visit the Blue Eye Spring.

On top of the bus or taxi transfer, you will pay these expenses upon arrival at the Blue Eye Spring: 

• Blue Eye ticket: 50 LEK (0.50 EUR) per person
• Parking Area: 300 LEK (3 EUR) per car
• Road train: 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person one-way (OPTIONAL)

Is the Blue Eye free?

The Blue Eye spring near Saranda is not free. Once you arrive at the Blue Eye, you must pay 50 LEK (0.50 EUR) per person for a ticket to go to the Blue Eye. If you arrive by car, you must pay an additional 300 LEK (3 EUR) for parking. 

• Blue Eye ticket: 50 LEK (0.50 EUR) per person
• Parking Area: 300 LEK (3 EUR) per car
• Road train: 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person one-way (OPTIONAL)

From the Blue Eye parking area and ticket office to the Blue Eye Spring there is a 20 minute walk along a boulevard. To avoid having to walk there is a road train. A ticket for the road train costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person for a one-way transfer.

What is the ticket price for the Blue Eye near Saranda?

The ticket price for the Blue Eye near Saranda is 50 LEK (0.50 EUR) per person. If you come by car, you will pay an additional 300 LEK (3 EUR) for car parking. 

And there is an optional road train that brings you from the car parking area/ticket office to the Blue Eye spring, which costs 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person one-way. If you do not take the road train, you can walk along the boulevard for about 20 minutes to reach the Blue Eye Spring. In the summer months it can be very hot, so you may choose to pay for the road train.

How much time to spend at the Blue Eye?

To visit the Blue Eye Spring near Saranda, you will need approximately 1-2 hours. 

• Parking and buying tickets – 5 min
• Walking to the Blue Eye Spring along the boulevard – 20 min. Sometimes a road train is available – 5 min.
• Exploring the Blue Eye spring & taking pictures – 20-30 min.
• Coffee on site – 20 min
• Walking back to the car/parking area along the boulevard 20 min.

If you are hiring a taxi driver, you can ask the taxi driver to wait for you for 1-2 hours whilst you visit the Blue Eye Spring and then drive you back or onwards.

INSIDER TIP: If you are travelling from Saranda to the Blue Eye spring, you are basically travelling in the direction of Gjirokaster. So it makes sense to visit the Blue Eye spring in the early morning and then visit Gjirokaster for lunch and sightseeing, before going back to your hotel.

WAKE UP EARLY: I highly recommend going to the Blue Eye Spring in the early morning. The Blue Eye spring is beautiful but not very large. Therefore, it can quickly feel crowded. Moreover, the Blue Eye is a popular destination. And it can be very hot in the summer months. So get to the Blue Eye spring early to avoid crowds and the afternoon heat.

Is visiting the Blue Eye spring from Saranda worth it?

The Blue Eye spring near Saranda is definitely worth a visit. The Blue Eye spring is a beautiful underwater spring. The water gets pushed up to the surface from an underwater cave that is more than 50 meters underneath the surface level.

The spring is stunning. The bright blue water is mesmerizing. And it will take your breath away. 

The spring is called the Blue Eye, since it resembles a human eye. The underwater cave is the “pupil of the human eye”. And the bright blue water is the “iris of a human eye”. 

At the Blue Eye, there is a viewing plateau, so that you can look into the spring from above. The water coming from the spring rushes away and forms a river. There is a lovely coffee house at the river, where you can sit in a wooden hut above the water. The whole area is surrounded by lush and green nature. 

GET THERE EARLY: If you want to enjoy your visit to the Blue Eye spring. I highly recommend waking up early. The Blue Eye spring is a natural sight, and it is best in the peaceful and quiet morning. In the late morning and afternoon the Blue Eye gets crowded in the summer months and the summer heat can be very overwhelming.

Is there a train from Saranda to Blue Eye?

You cannot take a train from Saranda to the Blue Eye as there are no trains and there are no train rails between Saranda and the Blue Eye. In fact, there are no train rails or trains in the South of Albania. 

About trains in Albania

Train travel within Albania is very limited. The railway network constructed during the communist period is mostly not operational. 

Only a handful of trains operate within Albania every week. At the time of writing this there is 1 x train per day on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday between Durres Beach and Peqin. And there is 1 x train per week between Shkoder and Gjorme. The other old railway tracks are not in operation. So there are no trains to Vlore, no trains to Pogradec, no trains to Elbasan, no trains to Fier and no trains to Lushnje. And you cannot travel by train from Shkoder to Durres. 

You can always check the latest train timetables online on the website of HSH Hekurudha Shqiptare here: https://hekurudha.al/ 

Since train travel within Albania is very limited, the Albanian locals travel by bus or car to any destination. Train travel is not something that is considered a good means of public transport in Albania.

New railway under construction in Albania

A new railway is under construction between Durres, Tirana Airport and Tirana. However, this railway has not opened yet. And is predicted to open in 2026. This is very good news from Albania, since trains and railways needed an investment. 

The road train at the Blue Eye Spring

So you can get from Saranda to the Blue Eye Spring by bus, by taxi or by car. Once you get to the ticket office and parking area, you can choose to take a little road train along the boulevard to the Blue Eye Spring. The road train essentially brings you from the parking area to the Blue Eye Spring. If you take the road trip, you avoid having to walk approximately 20 minutes along the boulevard, which can be very hot in the summer months. A ticket for the road train will cost you 300 LEK (3 EUR) per person. 

Can I get from Saranda to Blue Eye by ferry?

You cannot take a ferry from Saranda to the Blue Eye as there is no ferry connection. You can only travel from Saranda to the Blue Eye by bus, by taxi or by car. 

If you are staying on Corfu island, you can book a ferry day trip to Saranda and visit the Blue Eye by bus, by taxi or by car. The ferry operators, Finikas Lines and Ionian Seaways, usually offer sightseeing packages to destinations like Butrint and the Blue Eye that can be visited once the ferry arrives in Saranda.

How to get from Gjirokaster to Blue Eye?

You can get from Gijrokaster to the Blue Eye by taxi, by bus or by car. To get from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye by bus, you can take a bus that drives from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye to Saranda. You can ask the bus driver to drop you off at the Blue Eye upon boarding the bus.

Buses from Gjirokaster via the Blue Eye to Saranda depart from Gjirokaster at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 13:45 PM and 17:00 PM. A bus ticket costs 400 LEK (4 EUR) per person. You cannot book this bus online. Instead you are expected to pay cash to the bus driver in person. The bus journey from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye may take around 30 minutes.

Buses from Gjirokaster to the Blue Eye Spring depart from the Gjirokaster Bus Terminal. You can see the location of the Gjirokaster Bus Terminal on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bt6hmNXzy6zjpNeg6 

Related Questions

How do I go from Saranda to Himare? You can take a bus, taxi or car from Saranda to Himare. There are buses from Saranda to Himare at 6:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 13:00 PM and 18:00 PM. Buses are operated by TransDea and Olgeno Travel and Tours. A bus ticket from Saranda to Himare costs 600 LEK (6 EUR) per person.

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