{"id":52247,"date":"2025-09-11T09:44:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T07:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/?p=52247"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:06:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T11:06:49","slug":"spinalonga-crete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/spinalonga-crete\/","title":{"rendered":"Spinalonga Crete: Visiting the Leper Island with Tickets, Tours and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spinalonga<\/strong>, once a place of exile, today a tourist magnet. A mystical aura surrounds this small fortress island in northeastern Crete. Despite the suffering and the many human stories associated with the place, it seems to draw crowds of tourists all on its own. Today, Spinalonga is one of the most visited historical sites in Crete.<\/p>\n

Spinalonga, the Island of the Forgotten, has shaped the lives of many families in Crete across generations, and to this day, the small island continues to fascinate with its turbulent history.
\nTom & Ella<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Kreta
Welcome to Spinalonga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The history of this tiny island, just 440 meters long, is so eventful that a best-selling book brought this corner of Crete to international attention. A century ago, the island served as Crete\u2019s leper colony<\/strong>, which meant lifelong exile for many people\u2014but more on that later.<\/p>\n

Unlike back then, today every visitor is allowed\u2014or rather, required\u2014to leave the island of Spinalonga Kalydon at the end of the day. In this post, we\u2019ll provide you with plenty of background information and the most important tips for your trip to Spinalonga<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\"spinalonga<\/p>\n

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#1 Getting to Spinalonga<\/h2>\n

\ud83d\udccd Google Maps Location<\/a><\/p>\n

You can reach Spinalonga<\/strong> either by rental car or bus. The island of Spinalonga is located in the Gulf of Mirabello in northeastern Crete, just 20 minutes from the coastal town of Agios Nikolaos. Less than a kilometer separates the fortified island from the fishing village of Plaka across the bay, from where boats depart for Kalydon, as Spinalonga is actually called.<\/p>\n

\"Plaka
Left: Spinalonga Island, Right: Plaka Village<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coming from Heraklion on the A90 island highway, take the Neapoli or Agios Nikolaos exit. From there, it\u2019s another 15 km on country roads through the idyllic hinterland (Neapoli \u2013 Kastelli \u2013 Fourni) or along the coast of the Gulf of Mirabello<\/strong> (Ag. Nikolaos \u2013 Elounda). If making your own way there is too much of a hassle, you can book a tour right here: Spinalonga Tours<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ausflug
Boat trip to Spinalonga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Distances to Spinalonga<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u203a Chania \u2013 Spinalonga: 200 km (3 hrs)<\/p>\n

\u203a Rethymno \u2013 Spinalonga: 145 km (2 hrs)<\/p>\n

\u203a Heraklion \u2013 Spinalonga: 65 km (1 hr)<\/p>\n

\u203a Ierapetra \u2013 Spinalonga: 45 km (1 hr)<\/p>\n

\u203a Sitia \u2013 Spinalonga: 80 km (1.5 hours)<\/p>\n

Is renting a car worth it for Spinalonga?<\/h3>\n

Independent travelers arriving by rental car have the advantage of being able to tailor the trip to their preferences. During the season, visits to Spinalonga<\/strong> are possible as early as 8:30 a.m. The first boats depart from Plaka Harbor shortly before that, allowing you to explore the leper island well before the crowds arrive.<\/p>\n

The distance to Spinalonga on Crete should not be underestimated. If you\u2019re staying at a hotel in Chania<\/a>, the drive by rental car takes about three hours (200 km). From Heraklion, the one-hour trip is more worthwhile. You can book your rental car for the trip to Spinalonga<\/strong> in advance with our partner Discover Cars<\/em>*:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 View offers on Discover Cars*<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udca1 Rental cars in Crete:<\/strong> Crete is the largest island in Greece. Many of the approximately 500,000 residents rely on cars for their daily commutes. The A90 island highway connects the west with the east. Especially around Heraklion, there is heavy rush-hour traffic on weekday afternoons. You can find out what to keep in mind regarding traffic and car rentals in our separate article: Car Rentals in Greece<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Mietwagen
By Rental Car to Spinalonga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

What is the parking situation like there?<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re driving to Spinalonga in a rental car, you can park at the Plaka harbor <\/strong>\u2014 provided you arrive early enough, as parking spaces are limited. Plaka is a very small town that struggles with large numbers of visitors. In the summer, things get particularly hectic around noon, with many buses squeezing through the narrow main street.<\/p>\n

Additional parking spots are located at the entrance to Plaka, not far from the new playground (Mirabello Park), as well as slightly further up at the large Parking Plaka lot<\/strong>. Parking is free, but the yellow lines indicate no-parking zones, and parking violations are subject to hefty fines.<\/p>\n

\"Hafen
Plaka: Starting point for Spinalonga tours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Bus to Spinalonga<\/h3>\n

Another way to reach Spinalonga is by bus. Crete has a good bus network, and the cities in the north are particularly well-connected. From Heraklion<\/a>, buses operated by KTEL Heraklion Lasithi<\/strong> run several times a day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. via Chersonissos and Malia to Agios Nikolaos.<\/p>\n

The trip takes about 75 minutes and starts at the central bus station in Heraklion (Bus Station A), located between the ferry port and the GDM Megaron Hotel. From the Agios Nikolaos bus station, it\u2019s another 35-minute bus ride to Elounda or Plaka. Buses run only every two hours. We recommend traveling by bus to Spinalonga<\/strong> only to vacationers with experience using buses in Greece<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2192 Current connections from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos are available at: KTEL Herlas<\/a><\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can join a guided bus tour to Spinalonga<\/strong>, which departs from various locations in Crete (including Rethymno, Heraklion, Chersonissos, etc.). You can book bus tours with our partner GetYourGuide<\/em>*:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 View organized bus tours*<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Mit
By bus to Spinalonga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

#2 Spinalonga Fortress Opening Hours<\/h2>\n

Spinalonga is open daily<\/strong> from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1 to October 31. Outside of the season, Spinalonga Fortress is closed despite its historical significance to Crete. On the island itself, there is a ticket office, restrooms (fee required), and the overpriced Spinalonga Snack Bar<\/em> (beer approx. \u20ac8, orange juice approx. \u20ac7).<\/p>\n