Is there accommodation at the Blue Eye?

No. It is a protected spring and park with no hotels. Visitors stay in Sarandë or Ksamil and come for a half-day.

How far is the Blue Eye from Sarandë?

A short drive inland — close enough to combine with Butrint in a single day out from the coast.

Can you swim in the Blue Eye?

Swimming is restricted and the water is only a few degrees above freezing year-round. Treat it as somewhere to look at rather than swim in.

How long do you need at the Blue Eye?

An hour or two including the walk in from the car park, which is why it pairs with something else rather than filling a day.

Can you stay at the Blue Eye?

No — the Blue Eye is a spring in a wooded park, not a village, and there is no accommodation at it. Visit as a half-day trip and stay in Sarandë or Ksamil, both a short drive away. It takes an hour or two to see properly, which is why almost nobody builds a night around it.

What it actually is

Syri i Kaltër is a karst spring where water rises from a deep vent, so intensely blue at the centre that the colour looks artificial. It feeds a river that runs out through the surrounding woodland, and the site is a protected park with a short walk in from the car park.

It is impressive and it is busy. Going early or late in the day is the difference between a quiet pool and a queue for the viewing platform.

Where to base yourself

Sarandë is the usual choice: it is close, it has by far the widest choice of rooms in the area, and the Blue Eye slots into a day alongside Butrint without difficulty.

Ksamil works equally well if beaches are the priority — it is a little further but on the same side of the map. Either way you are booking a room on the coast and driving inland for the morning.

When to go

The spring runs year-round and the colour does not depend on the season, which makes it one of the few southern attractions that is as good in April or October as in August.

Summer is when it is most crowded, and also when the cold water is most appealing. Note that swimming is restricted — the water is only a few degrees above freezing and the site is protected.

Common questions

Is there accommodation at the Blue Eye?: No. It is a protected spring and park with no hotels. Visitors stay in Sarandë or Ksamil and come for a half-day.
How far is the Blue Eye from Sarandë?: A short drive inland — close enough to combine with Butrint in a single day out from the coast.
Can you swim in the Blue Eye?: Swimming is restricted and the water is only a few degrees above freezing year-round. Treat it as somewhere to look at rather than swim in.
How long do you need at the Blue Eye?: An hour or two including the walk in from the car park, which is why it pairs with something else rather than filling a day.

Can you stay at the Blue Eye?

What it actually is

Where to base yourself

When to go

Common questions

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