Getting from Himara (Greek: Χειμάρρα, Albanian: Himarë) to Blue Eye without a car is doable, but there is no direct bus. The route is roughly 80-90 km via Saranda, and every car-free option involves at least one transfer or booking a tour. The fastest no-car method is a private taxi from Himara for 100-150 EUR round trip. The cheapest is combining a bus to Saranda with a local taxi to Blue Eye. Either way, plan for a full-day commitment — you are not making this a quick afternoon detour.
This guide covers every realistic way to travel Himara to Blue Eye without your own wheels, with current prices, timing advice, and honest assessments of what works.
Quick Comparison
| Option | Duration (round trip) | Cost per Person | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus to Saranda + taxi to Blue Eye | 5-7 hours total | 15-30 EUR | Budget travelers, flexible schedules |
| Organized day tour | 8-12 hours | 40-70 EUR | Convenience, combined stops |
| Private taxi/driver from Himara | 5-6 hours total | 50-75 EUR (splitting 100-150 EUR) | Small groups, families, schedule control |
Route Overview: Why There Is No Direct Connection
Blue Eye sits inland, about 22 km east of Saranda on the road toward Gjirokaster. There is no public transport running directly from Himara to Blue Eye. The practical route is always Himara south to Saranda, then Saranda east to Blue Eye.
The total distance is approximately 80-90 km depending on your exact pickup and dropoff points. The Himara-to-Saranda leg is about 55 km along the coastal SH8 highway, and the Saranda-to-Blue Eye leg is about 22 km inland. Neither leg is difficult by road — the challenge is simply that no single bus covers both.
This means every car-free traveler faces the same structural problem: you need to chain two separate transport segments, or pay someone to handle the full route.
Option 1: Bus to Saranda + Taxi to Blue Eye
This is the cheapest way to do it, and it works well if you are comfortable with a bit of improvisation.
Himara to Saranda by Bus
Buses and furgons (minibuses) run between Himara and Saranda regularly during summer, less frequently in shoulder season. For the full breakdown of this leg, see the Himara to Saranda transport guide.
Key numbers:
- Fare: 800-1,200 ALL (roughly 7-10 EUR)
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours
- Payment: Cash preferred, ALL or EUR accepted
- Schedule: Multiple departures per day in summer, fewer October-April
Confirm departure times locally the day before. Schedules shift by season and are not reliably posted online. Your hotel reception is the best source.
Saranda to Blue Eye by Taxi
Once in Saranda, you need a taxi for the 22 km ride to Blue Eye. This is the standard move — local taxi drivers know the route well and many offer round-trip deals including a wait at the site.
- Round-trip taxi: 2,000-3,000 ALL (roughly 20-30 EUR per car)
- Duration: 25-35 minutes each way
- Wait time included: Most drivers will wait 30-60 minutes; confirm before departing
- Where to find taxis: Saranda port area, main boulevard, or ask your bus driver
Negotiate the round-trip fare before you get in. Confirm whether the wait time at Blue Eye is included. A fair price for the full round trip with a 45-minute wait is 2,500 ALL (about 25 EUR). Some drivers ask for more in peak July-August — 3,000 ALL is still reasonable.
Total Cost: Bus + Taxi Combo
| Leg | Cost |
|---|---|
| Himara to Saranda bus | 800-1,200 ALL (7-10 EUR) |
| Saranda to Blue Eye taxi (round trip) | 2,000-3,000 ALL (20-30 EUR) |
| Total per person (solo) | ~27-40 EUR |
| Total per person (2 sharing taxi) | ~17-25 EUR |
For two people sharing the taxi, this combo drops below 25 EUR each — hard to beat.
The downside: you are tied to bus schedules for the Himara-Saranda leg, and you need to coordinate timing with your Saranda taxi driver for the return. Build in buffer time. Missing the last bus back to Himara means a 50-70 EUR taxi for the full return.
Option 2: Organized Day Tour from Himara
Several operators in Himara run day tours that include Blue Eye, often packaged with Saranda, Butrint, or Ksamil. This is the easiest option if you prefer someone else handling logistics.
Typical tour details:
- Price: 40-70 EUR per person
- Duration: 8-12 hours (full day)
- Usually includes: Transport, guide, Blue Eye entrance, one or two additional stops
- Common combos: Blue Eye + Butrint, Blue Eye + Ksamil beach time, Blue Eye + Saranda free time
How to book:
- Walk-in at tour agencies along the Himara promenade
- Ask your hotel reception — most have partnerships with local operators
- Book the evening before; same-day availability varies
What to watch for:
- Group size. Smaller groups (under 10) move faster and spend less time waiting.
- Itinerary pacing. A tour hitting Blue Eye, Butrint, Ksamil, and Saranda in one day means rushed stops everywhere. Two stops is ideal; three is the maximum before quality drops.
- Departure time. Earlier is better. Tours leaving after 9:00 arrive at Blue Eye in the midday heat and peak crowds.
Tours make the most sense for solo travelers who would otherwise pay full taxi rates, or for anyone who wants to combine Blue Eye with Butrint in a single day without the planning overhead.
For more on Blue Eye logistics specifically, see the Blue Eye day trip from Himara guide.
Option 3: Private Taxi or Driver from Himara
If you want door-to-door service with full schedule control, hire a private driver for the round trip.
- Round-trip fare: 100-150 EUR for the car (not per person)
- Duration: 2-2.5 hours each way, plus your time at Blue Eye
- Total day commitment: 5-6 hours minimum
- Where to book: Hotel reception, local taxi stands, or ask around the promenade
This is expensive for one person but the math changes fast with a group. Four people splitting 120 EUR pay 30 EUR each for a completely flexible day with no bus schedules to worry about.
Why this works well:
- Leave when you want (early morning is best)
- Stop for photos along the coastal road
- Add a detour to Saranda or Ksamil on the return without renegotiating
- Your driver waits at Blue Eye — no scrambling for return transport
Negotiation tips:
- Agree on the total round-trip price before departure
- Confirm whether additional stops (Saranda, Ksamil) are included or extra
- Ask if entrance fees are included (usually not)
- Pay at the end, not upfront
For more context on taxis and local transport: Getting around Himara.
What to Expect at Blue Eye
Blue Eye is a natural spring where water surges from a deep underwater cave, creating an intensely blue pool. The "eye" effect comes from the dark center (the cave opening) surrounded by bright turquoise water. It is genuinely striking and photographs well, but it is also a relatively compact site — most people spend 30-60 minutes here.
Practical details:
- Entrance fee: 50 ALL (~0.50 EUR) as of recent seasons
- Water temperature: Around 10 degrees C year-round — cold enough that most people wade rather than swim
- Walking path: A short (10-15 minute) walk from the parking area through shaded forest to the spring
- Food and drinks: Small stalls and a restaurant near the entrance and parking area
- Swimming: Technically possible in the pool area downstream, but the water is bracingly cold. Most visitors dip their feet and take photos.
- Facilities: Basic toilets near the entrance. No changing rooms.
The site is small. If you are traveling 80+ km to get here, set your expectations accordingly — it is beautiful but not a full-day activity on its own. This is exactly why combining Blue Eye with other stops makes sense.
Combining Blue Eye with Other Stops
The trip from Himara to Blue Eye is long enough that doing it as a pure there-and-back feels like a lot of driving for a 45-minute visit. Smart travelers combine it with at least one other destination.
Blue Eye + Saranda
You pass through Saranda anyway. Add 2-3 hours for lunch on the waterfront, a walk along the promenade, or a swim. Saranda has good restaurants and a pleasant city beach. This works naturally with the bus+taxi combo — spend the morning at Blue Eye, the afternoon in Saranda, bus back to Himara in the evening.
Blue Eye + Butrint
Butrint National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 20 km south of Saranda. Combining Blue Eye and Butrint in one day is ambitious but possible with an early start. Most organized tours offer this combo. If you are doing it independently, you will need a full-day taxi arrangement. See the Butrint day trip guide for details.
Blue Eye + Ksamil
Ksamil's small beaches and islands are about 15 km south of Saranda. If your itinerary already passes through Saranda, a Ksamil stop adds maybe an hour of travel plus beach time. This combo works best with a private driver who can handle the routing flexibly.
The Multi-Stop Warning
Do not try to hit Blue Eye, Butrint, Ksamil, and Saranda in one car-free day. Even with perfect bus connections (which do not exist), you would spend more time in transit than at any destination. Pick two stops maximum and give each one real time.
For the full picture on day trips: Day trips from Himara.
Timing and Seasonal Advice
Best Months
May through October is the practical window. Blue Eye is open year-round, but transport options from Himara thin out dramatically in winter, and the spring itself — while still flowing — loses some visual intensity in grey weather.
| Period | Conditions |
|---|---|
| May-June | Warm, moderate crowds, good bus frequency |
| July-August | Hot, peak crowds at Blue Eye, most transport options available |
| September | Best overall — warm water for coast stops, thinning crowds |
| October | Still feasible, reduced bus schedules, cooler |
| November-April | Blue Eye open but transport very limited, check locally |
Time of Day
Arrive at Blue Eye before 11:00 if possible. The site gets crowded in summer from late morning through mid-afternoon. Tour buses start arriving around 10:30, and by noon the viewing area and path can feel congested.
For the bus+taxi route, this means catching an early morning bus from Himara (7:00-8:00 if available) and arranging your Saranda taxi promptly. For a private driver, depart Himara by 7:30 to arrive at Blue Eye around 9:30-10:00.
Weather Consideration
Blue Eye's forest canopy provides shade, but the walk from parking to the spring is exposed in sections. Bring water and sun protection in summer. The cold spring water is a welcome contrast to the heat.
Practical Checklist
Before you go, sort these:
- Cash: Bring ALL in small denominations. Taxi drivers, bus operators, and the Blue Eye entrance all prefer cash. ATMs are available in Saranda but not at Blue Eye.
- Water and snacks: Bring your own. The food stalls at Blue Eye are basic and overpriced.
- Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes. The path to the spring is packed earth and some rock — not flip-flop terrain.
- Return plan: Know your last bus time from Saranda to Himara, or have your taxi driver's number saved.
- Phone charge: Keep your phone charged for navigation and driver contact. Bring a power bank.
For more general travel logistics: Practical info.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct bus from Himara to Blue Eye?
No. There is no direct public transport between Himara and Blue Eye. The standard route goes through Saranda, where you transfer to a taxi for the final 22 km inland. This is unlikely to change soon — the road to Blue Eye is a secondary route with no scheduled bus service.
How much does a taxi from Saranda to Blue Eye cost?
A round-trip taxi from Saranda to Blue Eye costs 2,000-3,000 ALL (roughly 20-30 EUR) per car, not per person. This typically includes a 30-60 minute wait at the site. Negotiate the price and wait time before departing. In peak season, prices tend toward the higher end.
Is Blue Eye worth visiting from Himara?
Yes, but only if you treat it as a full-day trip and combine it with at least one other stop. Blue Eye itself is a 30-60 minute visit. The 80-90 km journey each way is significant, so pairing it with Saranda, Butrint, or Ksamil makes the day feel worthwhile. For a detailed planning approach, read the Blue Eye day trip guide.
Can you swim at Blue Eye?
Technically yes, but the water is around 10 degrees C year-round. Most visitors wade or dip their feet rather than fully swim. The main pool near the spring source is very cold and the current is noticeable. Downstream areas are slightly warmer but still bracing. Bring a towel if you want to try.
What is the cheapest way to get from Himara to Blue Eye?
The bus to Saranda (800-1,200 ALL) plus a shared taxi to Blue Eye is the cheapest route. Two people sharing the taxi round trip pay roughly 17-25 EUR each for the full journey. Solo travelers on the tightest budget can try hitchhiking the Saranda-to-Blue Eye segment — it is a common tourist route and rides are sometimes offered — but this is not reliable enough to plan around.
For more on this route and related trips, see the Blue Eye day trip guide, Himara to Saranda transport, and day trips from Himara. General transport advice is in our getting around Himara guide.
