Spinalonga
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The island of Spinalonga (Σπιναλόγκα, officially Kalydon) was used by the Venetians in the 16th century to build a mighty fortress before the Ottoman Empire completely conquered Crete. Later, a leper colony was established on the island, which was in operation until 1957. On a guided tour of the island, you will learn more about the rich history of Spinalonga and see the well-preserved fortifications in the picturesque landscape. 
By Jessica Donev
By Jessica DonevSelect a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:
Day Tours and Excursions
Book guided day tours to Spinalonga including boat trip in advance.
PRIVATE TOUR-Knossos Palace Winery-Olive Oil Factory-Old Villages
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Mirabello Luxuries with Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos from Iraklion
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Mirabello Luxuries with Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos from Elounda
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Knossos-Zeus’s Birthplace-Traditional Villages-Olive Oil-Factory
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8 tips for visiting the Spinalonga
Boat at the pier of Agios Nikolaos | Unsplash: Egor Myznik
1
Plan in advanceSince Spinalonga is one of the most visited places of Crete, the trip to the small island should be well planned. You should book a guided tour with boat transfer in advance. Note that the entrance fee to the island is usually not included so tickets must be purchased on site. You should take the boat to the island early if you want to get the most out of your trip. Inform yourself about the departure times!
Drone view over bay of Elounda | Unsplash: Evangelos Mpikakis
2
Choose the place of departureDepending on the place of departure, trip times may vary. The longest distance is covered by ferry from Agios Nikolaos and takes about an hour. From Elounda and Plaka you can reach the island only with wooden fishing boats. The trip from Elounda takes about 20 minutes and from Plaka only 10 minutes.
3
Stay flexibleAlthough the trip by ferry probably offers the highest comfort, it is usually limited to 4.5 hours. The round trip of two hours is already included, which means that there are only two and a half hours left to explore the island. Small fishing boats from Elounda or Plaka are more flexible in terms of departure time, which will give you more time to explore the island.
4
Combine the highlightsOrganized day trips often include several highlights of Eastern Crete: Next to Spinalonga, there is the picturesque village of Agios Nikolaos and the Gulf of Elounda. Tours usually start from Rethymno, Iraklio, Plaka or Agios Nikolaos and are carried out by competent guides. Due to the high number of visitors, booking in advance is essential.
5
Food and DrinksOnly small snacks are available on the island at expensive prices, so we recommend bringing your own food and drinks to Spinalonga or eating on the main island, e.g. in one of the countless tavernas. Also remember to pack enough water!
6
The highlights of the islandThere are three important highlights on Spinalonga: The fortifications, the leper colony and the viewpoints. The Venetian fortifications once served as a defense against pirates and Ottoman attacks. The remains of the leper colony offer a deep insight into the living conditions of the inhabitants at the time. From various vantage points, you have breathtaking views of the coast and the sea.
7
Comfortable clothesThe island has many uneven paths and steps. It is best to wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. We do not recommend flip-flops!
8
Watch the sunThe island is a popular destination for a vacation on Crete, especially in summer. However, the island offers little shade, so a sun hat, sun cream with a high sun protection factor and plenty of water are essential.
Our ticket offer in detail
Our ticket offer is very extensive. Here you will get an explanation of the various options that we offer.
Spinalonga | Unsplash: Martijn Vonk
General information
Our ticket offers are always tours that include a visit to the island of Spinalonga as well as other destinations. From Elounda, you can be on the island within 20 minutes by boat. A crossing from Plaka takes 10 minutes and the larger, organized tours from Agios Nikolaos will take you to the island by ferry, 10km (6.2 miles) away, in 45 minutes. You can book a guided tour or explore the island yourself (with the help of audio guides). There is also the option of snorkeling in the clear waters near the island. Prices vary depending on the departure point and the services included. As a rule, the cost is between 30 and 70 euros per person. It is therefore worth checking different providers and tours and booking in advance, especially in high season!
The port of Agios Nikolaos | Unsplash: Martijn Vonk
Ticket with audio guide
On the tour from Agios Nikolaos with a stop on the island of Spinalonga, you will explore some of the most beautiful highlights of Crete within 4.5 hours. You will take the boat to Mirabello Bay, take time to sunbathe and swim in the turquoise waters of Kolokitha Bay. You will see the cave of the legendary pirate Barbarossa and the sunken city of Olous. You will also get to know the island much better. Incidentally, the Cretan Kri-Kri goats live there. Enjoy a fully guided tour on board a boat with bar, restaurant and lounge. NOTE: Tickets for entry to the island of Spinalonga are not included.
From Heraklion: Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos cruise with BBQ lunch
Take a bus and boat tour from Heraklion, experience a guided tour of Spinalonga, relax on the beach at Kolokytha Bay and enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch. Then spend some free time in Agios Nikolaos before returning to your accommodation at the end of the tour. NOTE: The tickets for the entrance to the island of Spinalonga are not included.
Agios Nikolaos, Plaka and Spinalonga - island tour with tasting
Before heading to Spinalonga, you will visit an olive oil park, where you can experience the production and standardization of extra virgin olive oil, table olives and olive paste and sample some of the products. Afterwards, you will explore the capital of Lasithi>, the easternmost of the four regional districts of Crete, namely Agios Nikolaos, before continuing to the fishing village of Plaka, from where you can take an optional boat trip to Spinalonga. During a guided tour of Spinalonga, you can learn about the island's turbulent history, which served as a refuge, fortress and leper colony. After your return to Plaka, you will have time to relax before heading back to your accommodation. NOTE: The ticket for the boat to Spinalonga and the entrance to the island as well as the guided tour are not included in the price - however, this can be booked as an option.
For adrenaline junkies: adventure tour and private speedboat to the island of Spinalonga - excursion in a 4x4 Land Rover
Venture into the mountains of Crete and explore the island of Spinalonga on this guided tour, which also includes an exciting speedboat ride. You'll drive through valleys and villages in a 4x4 off-road vehicle, visit an olive oil factory and enjoy the view of the Gulf of Mirabello. In Plaka, you will hop on a speedboat to the island of Spinalonga, where you will take a short tour before heading back to Crete.
For luxury vacationers: Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos, sandy bays and olive oil
Experience Mirabello, Crete's popular excursion destination, with tailor-made service and luxury vehicle transportation through the Gulf of Mirabello. Enjoy a boat tour to Spinalonga, relax at secluded sandy coves and taste fresh seafood in Plaka. Admire panoramic views of Elounda and explore the chic atmosphere of Agios Nikolaos before discovering the art of olive oil production.
Streets of Spinalonga | Unsplash: op23
The last leper colony in Europe
Spinalonga became an island without mirrors - with inhabitants who did not want to see their faces. As an uninhabited island, it provided refuge for up to 400 leprosy-infected people since 1904. Today, only the exhibition rooms on Spinalonga filled with photographs and everyday objects from the past remind us of the suffering. The disinfection room has also been preserved.The forgotten ones
Since there was no cure for the disease at that time, it was believed that the segregated would die after a very short time. Not only because of this assumption, there was no well-functioning care on Spinalonga on the part of the government. Infected persons were considered “civilly dead” - property and money were confiscated and most were also erased from official registers. Patients received only a small monthly allowance that did not cover the cost of medicines nor food. Since they were not allowed to leave the island, they were cut off from the rest of the world and had to rely on their relatives to provide them with food and other goods. The situation on Spinalonga improved only after some initiatives in the 1930s.
Life on Spinalonga
Little by little, life returned to the island and the infected learned to live with their disease. New residents were assigned apartments or houses, most of which were in poor condition, and had to live together in cramped quarters. Many of the patients were eventually able to practice their professions, marry and start families. On the island there was a school, hospital, cinema and theater, as well as taverns and some small stores. Later, relatives were allowed to visit the sick on Spinalonga. When leaving the island they had to go through the disinfection room, where they were disinfected with acid. Nevertheless, the disease remained present: more islanders died on Spinalonga than were able to be buried in the cemetery, as a consequence many graves remained nameless.
Containment of the disease
At that time, the fear of transmission was high worldwide resulting in the avoidance of those suffering from leprosy. Symptomatic persons were segregated directly, regardless of age. Children were even torn away from their parents and families were broken up. Epidemic hospitals, called Lazarus (lazaretto), were established outside the cities to be able to isolate leper. Leprosy became curable with the discovery of penicillin in 1928, but the leper colony on Spinalonga was not closed until 1957, making it the last leper colony in Europe. In 1962 the last inhabitant, a priest, left the island.
The disease
Leprosy is an infectious disease with conspicuous skin lesions and a long incubation period of up to 20 years. With this disease nerves gradually die off causing the loss of sensation (cold, warmth and pain). Affected people contract wounds more easily because of this, which can ultimately lead to amputation. Today, leprosy is still present in developing countries as it is associated with poor hygiene, malnutrition and a weak immune system.
Spinalonga | Unsplash: Nadine Marfurt
How we visit Spinalonga - Action Day in Crete
Like many other Greek islands, Crete is a vacation destination that offers you both: Experiences and relaxation. Need a little more action after a day at the beach? Then make your way to one of Crete's most important sights - the island of Spinalonga.On a moped through Crete | Unsplash: getty images
Long breakfast and a bumpy ride
As the nights in Greece are often a little longer than at home, why not treat yourself to a quiet start of the day? Whether it's a homemade breakfast at an Airbnb, a breakfast buffet at the hotel or a visit to the bakery and a greek frappé to go - find the perfect refreshment for an exciting day. You can also enjoy the first rays of sunshine straight away. We opted for a moped as our means of transportation, which took us over hilly paths with incredible viewpoints to our destination in Plaka. Of course, we always wear a helmet and a shell necklace.
Boat ride to Spinalonga | Unsplash: getty images
The passage from Plaka
Once you arrive in Plaka, you will be greeted by cab boat operators who will sell you a return ticket to Spinalonga. The small town also has typical Greek tavernas and clear water if you want to jump into the cool water before the crossing. The boat trip across the turquoise waters to Spinalonga doesn't take long and the wind in your hair makes you feel like you're on vacation. Here, you also have time to put on some sun cream. Once you arrive on the island, you pay for the entrance ticket to the island - you can find more information about this further down on our page in the general information. From here you have a wonderful view of Crete, can see the fortress directly and are surrounded by my favorite cacti: the ear cactus, as I affectionately call it.
Houses on Spinalonga | Unsplash: Martijn Vonk
Spinalong - a leper colony
On Spinalonga, you can visit various rooms that were used by the leper colony. In one room, for example, you can see a picture of Spinalonga from 1901, 2 years before the decision to turn Spinalonga into a leper colony. Here, you can find out why the island became a leper colony, why the sick were sent here from all over Greece and what life was like on the island. From 1948, medicine was brought to the island, which achieved a high recovery rate for the residents. People who had recovered returned to their homes and Spinalonga was declared leprosy-free in 1957. Today you can still see many of the sick people's houses, some of which have collapsed, and learn what life must have been like on the island back then.
Spinalonga | Unsplash: Joshua Kettle
Spinalonga - a paradise to explore freely
The abandoned houses of the old leper colony offer exciting insights, while the island itself provides you with breathtaking views time and again. Through the windows of the old fortress, you can look out over the island of Crete and the turquoise-blue water. Sit down and enjoy the moment while you watch the boats taking visitors to and from the island. You can read more about the history of the island and fortress in the next editorial. You can explore the island on your own, as I did, or with a guide. If you are interested in the exciting history of the island, I definitely recommend a visit with a tour guide. You can of course find various tickets and tours including boat transfers here on TicketLens.
View on Spinalonga | Unsplash: Nadine Marfurt
The end of your excursion
On the boat trip back to Plaka, you can see the abandoned houses and the fortress from the sea. If you like, you can enjoy a late lunch in one of Plaka's tavernas or simply sit down on the stone beach. Don't underestimate the time you need on Spinalonga. Of course, there is a lot to see on Crete and you could start more exploration tours from here, but don't forget that you are on vacation and can also plan some time to chill out. I made myself comfortable on the rocks, enjoyed the sea and then rode back on my moped. On the way back, it's worth stopping every now and then to enjoy the view or explore the small villages. The light in the evening is beautiful, so don't forget to take pictures. Please note that you should keep refueling, as there are not many petrol stations along the way!
The island Spinalonga | Unsplash: op23
A small island with turbulent history
Spinalonga is one of Crete's key sights with historical importance. It is the second most visited archaeological site in Crete after the Minoan palace of Knossos - during high season 5,000 visitors arrive to the island daily. The island received its name from the Venetian rulers, but since 1954 it is officially called Kalydon again, nevertheless Spinalonga remains more common.The fortress of Spinalonga | Unsplash: Juli Kosolapova
Emergence of the fortress
Archaeological discoveries from ancient times show that the island served as a protection of the port of Olous until the Arab domination from the 9th century. In the 16th century, from 1579 to 1586, the powerful Venetians expanded the existing foundation walls into a fortress. A double line of walls and towers was built, equipped with 35 cannons to secure the evacuation of valuable salt (saltworks of Elounda) from the Ottomans.
The ruins of the fortress Spinalonga | Unsplash: Egor Myznik
Take-over of Ottomans
Finally, in 1715, the fortress fell into the hands of the Ottoman Empire. In the 19th century, the port of Spinalonga received a license for export trade and therefore got rearmed. Until the end of the 19th century, Muslim soldiers and families lived here. In 1881, the island had 1,112 inhabitants.
Spinalonga from above | Unsplash: op23
Leper Colony Spinalonga
As the island got detached from the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, it got turned into a leprosy colony that led to a migration of the last Muslim inhabitants in 1903. After the Cretan state decided to relocate all leprosy diseased from Crete, the first 251 people who contracted it arrived on Spinalonga in October 1904. After the unification of Crete with Greece in 1913, all Greeks suffering from leprosy were brought here.
Renovated streets on Spinalonga | Unsplash: Nabih El Boustani
Future UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Greek government began restoring the former sick island in 1970. They restored houses, the fortress wall and the streets. The aim was to turn Spinalonga into a tourist destination. During the restoration work, large parts of the island were left untouched, giving visitors the feeling of being transported back in time. In 2019, the Greek government submitted the unique island as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Approval is still pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the island accessible barrier-free?
The loop road on Spinalonga is wheelchair accessible. Read more.
Are there any dining options on the island?
On Spinalonga there is a café and a snack bar that also sells souvenirs. However, small snacks and drinks are offered at expensive prices, therefore it is recommended to pack enough snacks on the mainland beforehand . Read more.
Is it allowed to swim on Spinalonga?
On Spinalonga, swimming is only possible near the mooring. The coast near the fortress is very rocky, all other coastal areas are inaccessible due to the remains of the defensive wall Read more.
Can I get to Spinalonga by car?
No cars are allowed on the island. Spinalonga is only 20 acre in size, so you can easily explore the entire island by foot. Read more.
Do I need to consider anything when choosing my clothes?
Since the paths to the fortress can be slippery, it is recommended to wear sturdy shoes. Read more.
Is it allowed to take photos and videos on Spinalonga?
You can take photos and videos on the island without any restrictions. Read more.
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Written byJessica DonevJessica is the definition of Jack of all trades. When she wants to do something, she just does it. That's why Jessica is an event manager, professional dancer, trainer, content creator, speaker / presenter in training and much more. Having traveled the world a lot, she knows what's important when traveling and shares it with you here on TicketLens.
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