Gjirokastra & Blue Eye Tour: Castle, Bazaar, Spring

Walk a hillside of grey stone houses, then descend to where clear water wells up from fifty metres below

A day tour from Saranda to Gjirokastra, the UNESCO-listed stone town built downhill from its 13th-century castle, and the Blue Eye natural spring. The tour includes a private vehicle, a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French, stops at Gjirokastra Castle (with its weapons museum and communist-era prison), the bazaar, and the Skenduli House mansion, plus the drive to the Blue Eye through changing landscapes from palm shore to dense forest. Children from age 3 are welcome. The full outing takes 5.5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Gjirokastra Bazaar1h
2. Gjirokastra Castle1h · entry included

Explore Gjirokastra and Blue Eye

• Visit Gjirokastra Bazaar
• Tour Gjirokastra Castle and museum
• Explore Skenduli House
• Travel to Blue Eye spring
• Visit Blue Eye natural spring

The experience

You leave Saranda in a private, air-conditioned vehicle and climb toward Gjirokastra, arriving at a town that has kept its shape since the 13th century. The houses (built of grey stone with whitewashed walls and slate roofs) cling to the hillside in a way that makes them almost indistinguishable from the mountain itself. The UNESCO designation came in 2005, and the Albanian government gave the old center legal protection as a museum-city, so the streets you walk through have not been remade for tourism.

The castle sits on the hill overlooking everything. Inside, the Museum of Weapons holds pieces from prehistoric times through World War II, and you can also see a small church and the prison cells from the communist regime. From the fortified courtyard, the view drops down the Drino River valley and across the stone houses below. After the castle, you visit the Skenduli House, a well-preserved 19th-century Ottoman mansion with original wood carvings and frescoes, where the guide walks you through the rooms and explains how the family lived. The bazaar comes next: a working market where local craftspeople sell handmade wood, stone and fabric goods.

The drive to the Blue Eye follows winding, steep roads uphill through shifting terrain: palm trees give way to dense, almost mountainous forest. The Blue Eye itself is a natural spring where clear water bubbles up from more than fifty metres below, fed by an underground river. The whole outing runs 5.5 hours. Your vehicle includes WiFi, bottled water and snacks. Pickup from your Saranda hotel is part of the booking.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• bottled water and snacks.
• pickup from your Saranda hotel.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• entry to Gjirokastra Castle and its Museum of Weapons.
• entry to the Skenduli House.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 70 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years): free · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Joel Travel

Is this one for you?At 5.5 hours, the tour fits inside an afternoon or morning block, leaving the rest of your day free in Saranda. The fixed schedule means all three main stops (the castle, bazaar and Skenduli House) fit before the drive to the Blue Eye, so you see the town and the spring in a single outing without backtracking.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (3 to 5 years): free. Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What is inside Gjirokastra Castle that I'll actually see?

Gjirokastra Castle holds the Museum of Weapons, displaying arms from prehistoric times through World War II, a small church, and the prison cells from Albania's communist era. From the fortified courtyard at the exit, you get views of the Drino River valley and the stone houses cascading down the hillside.

How far is the Blue Eye from Gjirokastra, and what is it like when you get there?

The Blue Eye lies beyond Gjirokastra, reached by steep, winding roads that climb through changing landscapes, from palm trees near the shore to dense forest higher up. The spring is a natural phenomenon where clear blue water wells up from a depth of more than fifty metres, fed by an underground river.

Can I buy souvenirs in Gjirokastra, or should I bring things from Saranda?

The Gjirokastra Bazaar is a working market where local craftspeople sell handmade travel mementos in wood, stone and fabric, all made by hand on-site. You'll have time to browse and buy during the tour.