🇦🇱 Don’t Doubt It: Saranda’s Blue Eye and Gjirokastër Are Totally Wo

1️⃣ The Blue Eye 🧿 Ticket: 50 LEK/person (≈ ¥5 RMB) 2️⃣ Gjirokastër Castle 🏰 Ticket: 400 LEK/person (≈ ¥20 RMB) 📒 My Itinerary: 1️⃣ Landed at Tirana Airport → 15 mins to exit → Saw the nun statue near KFC → Walked 5 mins to bus stop → Headed 300m behind the statue → Turned left to find airport shuttle shouting "Tirana!" → Confirmed price: 400 LEK → Bus sometimes leaves on time, sometimes 15 mins early → 30 mins to downtown (if no traffic). 2️⃣ Bought a wrap at the bus drop-off → Took a taxi to the bus station → Driver quoted €5 but meter showed €10 (argued and settled at €6 🤝) → Took the 10 PM bus to Saranda (4-hour ride, 20-min stop at midnight) → Arrived at Saranda bus station at 2 AM → Host arranged pickup → Asked about car rental: €90 for 2 people to visit Blue Eye + Castle (2 hours per spot). Hotel to Blue Eye: 30 mins Blue Eye to Castle: 40 mins Return to hotel: 1 hour Legs were exhausted but SO worth it!!! 3️⃣ Experience: 🕹️ The Blue Eye 🧿 30-min walk from entrance → Spent 1 hour taking photos & admiring the view. The natural blue water is like a glittering gem—stunningly clear and beautiful! 🤩 Wish I could’ve sat there with coffee and just zoned out… Facilities: Paved path to café area, toilets, ATM (no restaurants). Core area is raw nature—gravel/dirt paths (may be tricky if rainy). 🕹️ Gjirokastër Castle 🏰 30-min walk from parking → Passed through a quiet town market (low season, few tourists). Met a Canadian couple marveling at the peace. Bought souvenirs (haggling failed—staff was rude 😅). Many restaurants in town—picked a cheap & delicious one (under 500 LEK/person!). Staff were super friendly (even said in Chinese!). The castle views and history blew my mind—built during Albania’s wars with Rome/Greece. The ruins tell stories of centuries-old battles—grand, broken, and awe-inspiring. #Albania #BlueEye #Saranda #Gjirokaster #Tirana #TravelTips