ahoyne9Now that I have arrived in Sarandë, I have fallen in love with Albania and can see why this country is truly underappreciated for tourism. My plan is to see two attractions, the Blue Eye and Butrint national park.
Sightseeing in Sarandë 07.22.2021
First up is driving out of the city and heading to Butrint which is located in Ksmail. The drive is about 30 minutes. Once out of the city center it is the drive is easy.
Butrint National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its archaeological and natural significance. The entrance fee to the park is around 1,000 lekë (approximately 10 USD), which grants access to its ancient ruins, including the Greek theater, Roman forum, Byzantine basilica, and Venetian castle.
The park offers ample parking facilities for visitors. One of the highlights is the well-preserved amphitheater, which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Additionally, the park’s scenic surroundings, including its marshes, lakes, and diverse flora and fauna.
After touring the park in the morning I stopped in Ksamil for lunch drinks and a bit of sun. A lot of these bars and restaurants have beach access so you can swim while also enjoying a meal and drink. Planning to head over to the Blue Eye in the early evening in hopes it won’t be so busy.
A quick funny story: I decided to take a nap on the beach and set a timer on my phone to wake me up. Little did I know, during my nap, my phone connected to a cell tower on the nearby island of Corfu in Greece, which is an hour ahead of Albania. This effectively caused my alarm to be skipped. When I eventually woke up, I panicked, thinking I had overslept. I rushed out of the restaurant and started driving frantically, eager to reach the Blue Eye for a swim before it closed and before sunset. About 20 minutes into my drive, my phone reconnected to an Albanian cell tower, and my original nap alarm went off. It turns out I had plenty of time after all!
On my way to The Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër) in Albania which is about 35 kilometers from Ksamil, roughly an hour drive time. Is a stunning natural spring and a popular tourist destination located near the town of Muzinë, The spring is named for its mesmerizing, deep blue color, which resembles an eye. The water emerges from a depth of over 50 meters, creating a beautiful, clear pool that bubbles up from beneath the ground.
The water is incredibly cold 10°C (50°F), but it wouldn’t be an adventure without jumping in the crystal-clear pool. There are also walking paths and viewing platforms that allow you to admire the Blue Eye from different angles.
The area around the Blue Eye has basic amenities, including a small restaurant where you can enjoy a meal while taking in the natural beauty. There is a modest entrance fee to access the site, typically around 200 lekë (approximately 2 USD).
The Blue Eye is not only a natural wonder but also a great spot for relaxation and enjoying the tranquility of the Albanian countryside. If you’re visiting southern Albania, it’s definitely worth adding the Blue Eye to your itinerary.
Heading back to Sarandë for the night and then driving back to Vlorë to catch the shuttle to Tirana for a few days.
I was planning to do a post about Tirana as I was going to be spending 3 days there, however I woke up the morning on the way back feeling ill. I took my Covid test to get into Germany as i am heading to Switzerland this coming week and I passed, I chose to spend almost my entire time in Tirana inside laying down and resting so nothing to report.
I went out for one hour to check out the square in the city center and that was it. For future notes, taking the shuttle from Vlorë to Tirana was well worth it and way cheaper than the private driver I had hired. Took an extra hour though.
Thanks for reading, I am delayed in getting everything back on to my blog. So much life changes in the last few years I completely forgot to write about it this. But don’t worry I have plenty of new locations to talk about and photos and videos to post!
Cheers!