Blue Eye Albania Was More Than a Quick Stop

Blue Eye was one of the stops we made while driving through southern Albania. We expected to be in and out fairly quickly, but we were surprised to find that the spring wasn’t just a short walk from the parking area. Instead, visitors follow a paved sidewalk through a beautiful wooded nature reserve to reach the spring. We walked in, explored the Blue Eye, and decided to take the small tourist train back. It ended up being a fun way to end our visit.

Known locally as Syri i Kaltër, meaning “The Blue Eye,” the spring gets its name from its appearance. The deep blue center resembles the pupil of an eye, while the brilliant turquoise water surrounding it looks remarkably like an iris. The water is so clear that you can watch it continuously bubbling up from deep below the surface.

One of the most fascinating things about the Blue Eye is that its true depth remains unknown. Divers have explored more than 164 feet (50 meters) into the spring, but no one has reached the bottom. That mystery, combined with the vivid blue water, makes it one of Albania’s most unforgettable natural attractions.