Why Visiting The Blue Eye in Albania Should Be On Every Traveller's List
Albania’s famous Blue Eye (Syri i kaltër) is a water spring and natural phenomenon that each visitor should witness. A popular tourist attraction, the beautiful light turquoise river stuns with its beauty.
Located near Muzinë in Albania’s Vlorë County, you’ll want to rent a car to get to the famous Blue Eye. After following the signs and crossing the bridge (where you’ll pay a small fee), you’ll come across a parking spot and a footpath that leads to the Blue Eye. You’ll first be enchanted by the surrounding dense forest and the beautiful light blue river that flows through this natural paradise. The Blue Eye is located beneath a small metal balcony that was built so you can get a closer look. Even though swimming has been prohibited via signs, it doesn’t really prevent people from jumping right into the ice-cold water.
The Blue Eye is a water spring with extremely light blue water bubbles in a more than 50-metre deep pool. You’ll be mesmerized by how clear the water is, to the point that you’ll be able to see straight to the bottom. Also, make sure you follow the sign that leads to Syri i kaltër, so you don’t miss out on the actual Blue Eye. Divers have attempted to descend into the Blue Eye to calculate its actual depth but it’s still unclear how far the mysterious hole really goes. The initial water source of the 25 km Bistricë River, the Blue Eye is just the starting point of a water path that goes all the way to the Ionian Sea. Of course, the area around the Blue Eye is also quite important since it’s a nature monument where oak and sycamore trees stand out with their beauty.
One of the easiest ways to reach the Blue Eye is from the summer town of Saranda. Renting a car is definitely a great idea so that you can also continue to see the rest of Albania’s beautiful south, including the UNESCO site of Butrint. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can also hire a taxi, which will cost you around US$30 for the drive there and back. There are also cafes and restaurants for tourists who want to spend a little bit more time in the area after they’ve marvelled at the Blue Eye. Of course, an important tip for those who’d rather avoid the crowds is to visit during the off-season, when you won’t run into those large tourist groups.
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