Visiting Spinalonga Island (Crete) – Photos + Tips

Why visit Spinalonga Island in Crete - video

Spinalonga is one of the most visited places in Crete because:

• the island is very close to the coast, so the crossing is not long and does not induce sea sickness
• it is covered with fortifications from the Venetians and Ottoman
• it is actually an islet, so you can explore it entirely in a short time
• it has a long tumultuous history under Venetian and Ottoman ruling. And it became a leper colony in the 20th century.

• Well, it is  one of the most visited places in Crete... so there are groups of tourists everywhere. It suffers from overtourism.
• There are other nice fortifications to visit in Crete that are not so crowded

Virtual tour - video

Now, to help you make a decision, have a look at my short video showing what it is like to visit the island:

Why is Spinalonga so famous? Is "The island" by Victoria Hislop a true story?

Planning - How to get to Spinalonga Island - Map, Boat & Tours

• The official name of the islet is actually Kalydon (as it used to be attached to it, but the Venetians transformed it into an islet)
• It is located on the North shore, along the Spinalonga peninsula 
• North of the main town of Agios Nikolaos
• Below is a map to help you get oriented:

This highlight (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) is included in my Travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip around Crete:

Opening hours of Spinalonga island - first departure?

People often wonder how early can you go to Spinalonga island? When it is first departure of the day?
Well, the information is not easy to get. I talked to a lot of people there, and nobody had a straight answer...
But what I can tell you is that:

• Once you are on the island, the doors of the archaeological sites are opened at least 9am to 5:45pm (what the signed on the door said) but it can be from 8am in Summer (according to the ministry's official website) / It is closed in Winter (November to March), according to the official website. However it may open on weekends if the weather is good.
• The first boats to arrive are from Plaka as they take the workers in.
• The first boat from Elounda normally leaves at 9:30 although it may wait for the boat to be fuller and might only leave at 10am...

You can also find day trips from several of the main towns in Crete (Rethymno, Heraklion, Malia...). They include the bus and the boat, and often a tour guide on the island.
Check out the options on GetYourguide and book

or Check out the options on Viator and book (different departure cities)

Need to rent a car in Crete?
My tips:

• My option 1 - Check out the local company Rental Center Crete - excellent ratings and a zero-excess insurance policy included
• My option 2 - Compare prices on Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites! 
• Choose the car and company you prefer (with enough power for comfort on mountain roads)
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See my 36 tips about renting a car in Crete

Arriving at Spinalonga by boat

The island is in view from Elounda. So you know where you are going.
It gets bigger and bigger as you approach. But it really is a small island.
Because the island is located in a well protected bay, the boat trips from Plaka and Elounda are very smooth on quiet waters.
From Agios Nikolaos it can be less calm because it sails on the other side of the island.

As you arrive, you can see many boats docked there.
To your right is a café and toilets. I did not see any inside the fortifications, so I recommend making good use of them

And the, big surprise for many people, you still have to pay to enter the archeological site.
The boat companies are independent of this national site. So you have to pay for the boat crossing + the entrance.

Adult entrance fee for Spinalonga is 8 euros. 
The whole island is fortified, so there is nowhere to go to if you don't pay to get inside.

Touring the fortifications of Spinalonga

Spinalonga Map

Everywhere you go around, you will see a map that indicates where you are standing, the name and the date of the construction.
Most of the tour group I saw started at the museum and toured the island counterclockwise. So I recommend doing the opposite if you are by yourselves 🙂

Tunnel

You first go through a tunnel which puts you in the state of mind right away. You are entering another world with a long history.

Bastions and fortification walls

Then you walk all around.
The path is generally even and quite flat. It takes 20min if you just walk around not exploring every platform and wall. Longer otherwise 🙂

From one side, you can enjoy views of Kalydon island (to which Spinalonga used to be attached before the Venetian separated it).

And on the other side, you can see mainland not far ways, with the peninsula of Spinalonga. 
North of Plaka, it remains quite wild with only a track heading north.

Climb to the tower

If you feel fit, you can also climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the views.
I did not.
But in the picture below you can see some stairs heading in the right direction. 
For the tour of the fortifications, all shoes would do. But if you want to climb, I recommend sports or hiking shoes.

Museum and history of Spinalonga (Venetians, Ottomans and Leper colony)

The museum of Spinalonga

History under Venetian and Ottoman rules

Actually the history date back to even earlier, as traces from Minoan and Hellenistic times have been found.

The building of fortifications on Spinalonga started in 1574. Venetians wanted to protect themselves from the Turks who invaded Cyprus and were looking to expand. when the Turks invaded Cyprus. It would also protect the salterns of Elounda. This version of the fort remains as such with only alteration until the Cretan war (1645 - 1669).
After the loss  in 1669, Spinalonga still remained under the control of Venice who was hoping to be able to get Crete back.
But in 1715, the Turks took over the island. At the beginning, they used it as an exile location.
But later, a settlement established on the island, and in the 19th century it became a port. It is believed that the number of families grew from 80 in  the 1830s to over 200 in the 1880s (you will see remains of 2-storey houses and shops from that period).

At the end of the 19th century, major political changes and the revolution happened and French military forces took over the island for a year.

The island was then abandoned...

The leper colony of Spinalonga

... but not for long!

In 1903, the Cretan State gathered all lepers who lived near major cities and brought them to Spinalonga.
It became a leper colony (with people even brought from the rest of Greece).

At the beginning conditions on the island were horrible. They had no medications, no care and it became a large cemetery.

But later came doctors, nurses, priest... The lepers lived in the houses from the Turkish settlement and other built more recently. The village of Plaka developed just across on the mainland so as to serve the colony.

The colony eneded up playing a significant roles during the 2nd World war as it was occupied by the Italian and Germans. They did not dare enter the island and were forced to take care of them, so that they stayed on the island. This way, they were left alone and were able to operate illegal radio.

 in 1957, with the discovery of antibiotics and after all lepers were cured, the leper colony closed and the island was deserted. 

The Games of Spinalonga

Abandoned Village on the island of Spinalonga

Map of Spinalonga settlement

In the settlement, you can find a big map listing all 47 buildings and things to see on the islet.

Spinalonga Beach

Where to stay in Crete?
My tips:

• For a charming town with lots of activities -  See best rated accommodations in Chania
• For a sandy beach and some nightlife - See best rated options in Malia or in Bali
• For a mix of history, beach and central location - See best rated options in Rethymno
• For the main city - See best rated options in Heraklion
• For stunning scenery, away from the large crowds - See best rated options in Palaiochora
• For a very quiet area - see best rated options in Mochlos

More tips on my article about where to stay in Crete

Churches of Spinalonga

According to the map, there are 3 churches on the island but I spotted only 2...
On the opposite side of the settlement is the small church of Saint George nearby the Ottoman cemetery.

In the middle of the settlement, you can find the church of Saint Panteleimon.
This is where the priest lived amongst the leper (although he was not one).
Every year, people to the island for the holy pilgrimage to Saint Panteleimon in order to commemorate their relatives who died on the island. 

The village of Plaka, Crete

As I said earlier, just across the island, the village of Plaka developed to serve the leper colony.
(Note: Plaka is a very common name for villages in Greece)

It has a perfect view of the settlement on the island, which change colors as the sun sets down.

You can find a few accommodations there, including a 5 star hotel. Check out accommodation options in Plaka

The seafront is full of restaurants with exquisite views and good seafood.

It is a very small village with one main street and its 2-storey houses.

It also has a small beach:

Want to see more of the best Crete has to offer?

• 40 best landscapes in Crete (in pictures) - read article
• 20 best things to do in Crete - read article
• The 27 best beaches in Crete - read article
• The most beautiful archaeological sites - read article
• The most beautiful churches and monasteries in Crete - read article
• The best destinations in Crete, where to stay - read article
• Advice for planning your road trip in Crete and your itinerary - read article
• Tips for driving around Crete - read article
• The most beautiful boat trips around Crete - read article
• Chania or Heraklion or Rethymno - where to go? - read article

Planning a trip to Crete?

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