The Blue Eye, Albania: The Legend and How to Get There

The Blue Eye, Albania

In south eastern Europe lies a mysterious and intriguing body of water shrouded in local legend. The Blue Eye, Albania, or Syri i Kalter, is a natural water spring of unknown depth and chilling temperatures. The centre of the spring is a deep, dark blue whilst the surrounding water is a fresh green fading out to the white of the pebbly shore.

In this post we look at the legend of the Blue Eye, how to get there from Saranda and loads of other practical tips for visiting The blue eye, Albania.

The Legend of The Blue Eye, Albania

The local legend claims that a giant, child eating snake used to roam the Delvina area of Albania. However, the snake met his demise one day when he came across a wily old man and a doomed donkey. The snake prepared to eat the donkey, but moments before he did, the old man set the donkey and the surrounding straw on fire. The burning donkey sat inside the belly of the snake who cried out in pain. The snake’s crying eye fell down the mountain to make the Blue Eye which continues to cry today.

Other versions of this story replace the snake with a dragon, or a hybrid of the two. Symbols of dragons and snakes are visible around southern Albania and play a large part in the country’s mythology.

The Evil Eye Symbol

Coincidentally, the Evil Eye is also a popular legend in Albania and many other countries. These eye-like symbols are used to repel evil and are often worn as charms or on jewellery to protect the wearer. There is a distinct similarity between the Blue Eye and the Evil Eye with regard to colours and shapes. Perhaps this is more than coincidence.

We Visit the Blue Eye from Saranda

On our most recent trip to Albania, we had to check out the legend of the Blue Eye for ourselves. After a short stay on the Island of Corfu, we took the ferry to Saranda where we stayed for 3 days. Saranda is a coastal town in the south of the country popular in the summer with Albanian tourists. Here’s how we travelled to the Blue Eye, Albania.

The Bus from Saranda to Syri i Kaltër

After a bit of research we discovered that there is a minibus, or “Furgon”, that will take you close to the Blue Eye. The bus departs from a stop next to the Synagogue remains on Rruga Flamurit. See it on the map HERE. You can buy the tickets on the bus. Tell the driver you are going to Syri i Kalter, this is a popular stop and they will know what you mean. The trip will cost 300Lek (about €2) for a one-way journey. Buses can get busy so don’t be shocked if the driver whips out some spare plastic stools to place down the aisle for standing passengers to take a seat.

Other ways of getting to the Blue Eye from Saranda include a taxi, which would cost around €25 – €30, or by hitch-hiking. The latter is actually very common in Albania and supposedly very safe. However, this theory remains untested by us. The bus from Saranda continues to Gjirokaster so if you are coming from that direction you can catch the bus from Gjirokaster to Saranda and get off at the Blue Eye.

We Arrive at the Blue Eye, Albania

The bus drops you off on the main road where there is a small entry fee of 50Lek (€0.40) for pedestrians and 200Lek (€1.60) for cars. Then there is a walk to the Blue Eye spring of roughly 2km along a dirt track towards the river where you can take time to admire the ancient oak and sycamore trees. Click HERE to see where the bus drops you and how to walk from there. There is little to no shade on the road in the summer. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C (104°F) so bring a hat, sun cream and some water! Cars also use this road so take care as it can get busy during peak season.

Practical Tip for The Blue Eye, Albania

The area around the spring can also get very busy in the summer so we recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid any crowds.

On arrival at the Blue Eye spring itself, the water was breath-taking. Both the colour and the temperature! Being hardy Scots used to freezing water, we dived right in, then right back out again! We managed just long enough to take a sub-par selfie. Swimming in the Blue Eye would be a bit chilly!

The water of the Blue Eye in Albania is a dark blue at the deepest point. It is not known how deep the spring is as the water pressure is too strong for divers to reach the bottom. The deepest recorded dive is 50m but the unknown depth only adds to the mystery of the spring. In the summer months it does get busy and several people were diving from the ledge straight into the depths, but we weren’t that brave!

Restaurant at the Blue Eye, Albania

After a few more attempts at swimming and taking some pictures, we needed a break from the intense summer heat. There is a small café nearby, only a 2 or 3 minute walk away from the spring, and it has plenty of tables and benches to sit and relax in the shade. They serve food, drinks, coffees, snacks, there is a toilet here and it is located by the river. There is also a drinking fountain with icy cold water from the spring, which is so refreshing. We ordered a couple of iced coffees in an attempt to cool down before the walk back to the bus.

Our walk back to the main road was even hotter than before. The August sun and the dusty track made the 2km walk seemed like a trek through the desert. We finally made it back to the main road where we waited for the bus to Gjirokaster, where we planned to spend the rest of the day. If you are heading back to Saranda, the bus will stop just over the road from where you alighted earlier and there will be one roughly every hour or so.

How long to spend at the Blue Eye, Albania

One or two hours is probably enough time to spend by the Blue Eye, Albania, to appreciate the unusual, natural beauty. Rather disappointingly, no giant serpents or dragons were seen on this trip. However, it is easy to see how older generations could use these tales to keep kids out of the water. The serene blue and green of the water certainly holds a mystical charm and is well worth a visit, and a swim if you’re brave enough.

The Albanian Language

Many Albanians in the cities speak a little English but it is useful to learn a few phrases in Albanian. Like all Balkan languages, it is certainly not an easy language for English speakers. However, any attempt is greatly appreciated by the locals. Here are a few words to try out:

Hello Tungjatjeta (toon-jah-TYEH-tah)

Please Ju lutem (yoo LOO-tehm)

Thank you Faleminderit (fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet)

Yes Po (poh)No Jo (yoh)

Goodbye Mirupafshim (meer-oo-PAHF-sheem)

The Albanian Currency

The local currency is Albanian Lek and 100Lek equates to around €1.00. Not many currency exchange centres will hold Albanian Lek so you may have to order it in advance. Most larger shops and restaurants in the cities will accept cards and there are ATMs around. However, it is still mainly a cash based society and you will certainly need cash while hiking in Albania if you stop for food or overnight.

Where to go next?

Do you have more time in Southern Albania? Then you MUST visit Butrint National Park. With ruins of Roman, Greek and other ancient civilizations dating back 3000 years and a diverse variety of animals and plants, Butrint is not to be missed.

More Info for The Blue Eye, Albania

• Albanian tourist info
• Saranda tourist info

Final note: Things change in Albania all the time and there is not much information online. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited the Blue Eye, Albania? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!

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