How to Get to Spinalonga: Boats from Plaka, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos
Table of Contents
Introduction
There is only one answer on how to get to Spinalonga: by boat. Three departure points on the northeast coast of Crete serve the island, Plaka, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos, and the crossing takes from about 10 minutes to more than an hour, depending on where you start.
The island sits in the Gulf of Elounda, in Mirabello Bay, directly opposite the small village of Plaka. It lies about 800 metres offshore, with no bridge and no road. Boats run daily only in the open season, from April to October, and the boat fare is always separate from the island’s entrance ticket.
Spinalonga has no permanent residents and no road link, so the boats are its only connection to the mainland. In July and August the harbours grow busy by mid-morning, and taking one of the first crossings means fewer people on the narrow lanes of the site.
How to Get to Spinalonga From Plaka: the shortest crossing
Plaka, the village directly across the water, offers the shortest route to the island. The boat ride takes about 10 minutes, and boats leave roughly every half hour from mid-morning. A return ticket costs around 10 to 12 euros, according to the Greek tourism portal Discover Greece. From Plaka you can usually return on any boat, so you set your own pace on the island rather than following a fixed schedule.
From Elounda: frequent departures and easier parking
Elounda, a larger resort town about 5 kilometres south of Plaka, is the busiest starting point. The crossing takes about 20 minutes, with departures roughly every 30 minutes through the day, and a return fare runs around 14 euros. Parking is generally easier in Elounda than in Plaka, and some boats add a loop around the Kolokytha peninsula on the way.
From Agios Nikolaos: the half-day excursion
Agios Nikolaos, the regional capital about 15 kilometres away, is the base for longer trips. These last from four to six hours or more, and many include a swim stop and a barbecue lunch along the Kolokytha coast. Fares start higher, from around 16 euros, because the day covers far more than the crossing to the island itself.
Driving to the harbours
Most visitors reach the coast by rental car. From Heraklion and its airport, the drive east to Elounda covers about 65 kilometres and takes around an hour and a quarter on the national road, passing through Agios Nikolaos. From there Plaka lies a further 10 minutes north. Drivers park in Elounda or Plaka and continue on foot to the boat.
Reaching Spinalonga by bus
Public transport needs a change of bus. KTEL buses run from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos several times a day, taking about 90 minutes for roughly 8 to 10 euros. From the Agios Nikolaos waterfront, a local bus continues to Elounda in about 30 minutes and on to Plaka in about 45. These local services are less frequent than the Heraklion line, so check the return times before you set out.
One trip, two tickets
A common surprise is that the boat and the island are paid separately. The boat operator sells the crossing at the harbour, and the archaeological site sells entry at a booth on the island. Neither ticket covers the other, so budget for both, and note that reduced categories pay less on each.
Timing your boat
In the open season, the first boats from Plaka leave around 9:00, and from Elounda between 9:30 and 10:00. The last returns are usually between 17:00 and 18:00. These times shift with the season and the weather, so confirm the day’s schedule at the harbour before you commit to make sure how to get to Spinalonga.
How to Get to Spinalonga: Taxis and private transfers
A taxi is the fastest door-to-door option. From Elounda to Plaka the ride is short, usually around 7 to 10 euros, while a pre-booked transfer from Heraklion airport to the Elounda area runs closer to 90 euros for the full distance. Taxis wait at the Agios Nikolaos rank and outside the larger Elounda hotels.
Which departure point suits you
For the quickest visit, start from Plaka and return on any boat you like. For frequent departures and easier parking, choose Elounda. For a full day on the water with a swim and lunch, take a trip from Agios Nikolaos. All three routes land at the same jetty on the island.
Arriving early has one more reward at Elounda. Just south of the harbour lie the remains of ancient Olous, a Greco-Roman city now partly under the shallow water of the lagoon and visible on a calm day. On foot, Plaka is about an hour north along the coast from Elounda, pleasant in spring but exposed in high summer.
Whichever harbour you choose, buy your boat ticket and your island entrance ticket as two separate payments, and plan to spend one to two hours ashore. Sailings can be cancelled in strong northerly winds, which are common in the afternoon, so a morning crossing is the safer bet.