Culture
Spinalonga Island
A Venetian sea fortress, a community that outlasted its exile, and Mirabello Bay.
- hours
- 9h
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Small group
- 2–8
- When we run it
- On request
- Pickup
- 08:00
This is a full-day tour from Rethymno to Spinalonga, the fortified island in Mirabello Bay that the Venetians built as a sea defence and that later became one of the last leprosy colonies in Europe, closing in the 1950s. You are collected from your hotel at 08:00, driven across the island to Elounda, and take a fifteen-minute boat across the bay to walk the fortifications, the old streets and the hospital ruins. Afterwards there is free time in the fishing village of Plaka, with a coffee break included. The day lasts eight to ten hours, runs on request, and takes a maximum of eight guests; boat tickets (€14-15 per person) and the €20 island entrance fee are paid separately.
- The Venetian fortifications of Spinalonga, built to hold the entrance to Mirabello Bay
- The island's main street, church and hospital ruins, and the story of the community that lived there
- A fifteen-minute boat crossing from Elounda over the clear water of the bay
- A break in Elounda harbour on the way out
- Free time and a coffee break in the fishing village of Plaka
- Storytelling throughout the day from your Way to Crete host
Spinalonga is a small island with a long and complicated history. It began as part of the Venetian defence system for the Gulf of Mirabello, a fortress built on the rock to hold the approach to Elounda, and it held out against the Ottomans long after the rest of Crete had fallen. In the early 20th century the Greek state turned it into a quarantine settlement for people with leprosy, and it operated as one of the last such colonies in Europe until the 1950s.
What survives is a whole small town: the Venetian walls and bastions, the narrow main street with its shops and houses, the church, and the ruins of the hospital. The people sent here built a functioning community out of an exile they had not chosen, with their own shops, cinema and civic life. Walking the streets, the story that comes through is less about isolation than about how much they made of it.
The day pairs that with the coast. The drive out follows the north shore through villages and headlands; the crossing from Elounda takes about fifteen minutes over very clear water; and the afternoon is spent in Plaka, the fishing village opposite the island, where you can eat at a taverna, swim, or just sit and look back at the fortress you have walked through.
How the day runs
The drive to Elounda
Pick-up from your hotel is at 08:00 and the drive east follows the coast, with views over villages and shoreline along the way. In Elounda there is a short break to walk the harbour before you board the boat. It is a working fishing town that turned into a resort, and the harbour is a good place to get your bearings on the bay you are about to cross.
Crossing to Spinalonga
A local boat takes about fifteen minutes to cross Mirabello Bay to the island. The fortress rises straight out of the water and the approach is the best view of it you will get, so it is worth staying on deck. You land at the gate the Venetians cut through the rock.
spinalongaWalking the island
On Spinalonga you walk the old streets, the Venetian walls and bastions, and the ruins of the hospital, and hear about the lives of the people who were quarantined here in the first half of the 20th century. It is a moving place, but the story told is one of resilience and community rather than pity. The walk is gentle, on stone paths and some steps, and takes the best part of the visit.
spinalongaPlaka and the afternoon
The boat returns you to Elounda and from there it is a short drive to Plaka, the village directly opposite the island. Here you have free time and an included coffee break: eat at a local taverna, swim in the clear water, or simply sit by the sea. The drive back to your hotel closes the day.
On us
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned mini van
- English-speaking driver
- Bottled water and light refreshments during the tour
- Coffee break in Plaka
- Public liability insurance
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
You cover
- Boat tickets to and from Spinalonga (€14-15 per person)
- Entrance fee to Spinalonga (€20 per adult)
- Professional licensed guide, available at extra charge
- Meals in Plaka
- Personal expenses, including souvenirs and any services not listed in the itinerary
- Gratuities and tips for guides (optional)
What to wear
- Comfortable walking shoes: the island is stone paths, steps and uneven ground
- A hat: there is little shade inside the walls
- Swimwear under your clothes if you want to swim at Plaka
What to bring
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Cash for the boat tickets and the island entrance fee
- A towel for the afternoon swim
Good to know
Is the history of the island too sad for a holiday?+
It is a moving story, but it's more about courage and hope than sadness. Our storytellers focus on how the community thrived and supported each other. It's an unforgettable, human experience.
How do we get to the island?+
After a scenic drive to the coast, we take a charming local boat for a short, fifteen-minute crossing of Mirabello Bay to reach the fortress.
Is there shade on the island?+
It can get quite sunny inside the stone walls. We recommend a hat and sunscreen, but our guides always find the coolest, shaded spots to stop and talk.
What extra costs should I budget for?+
Boat tickets to and from the island cost €14-15 per person and the Spinalonga entrance fee is €20 per adult. Both are paid on the day and are not included in the tour price.
How long is the day?+
Eight to ten hours, with hotel pick-up at 08:00. Spinalonga is on the far side of the island from Rethymno, so a good part of that is the drive there and back.
How do I book, and when does it run?+
This tour runs on request rather than on fixed days. Send us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability and quote for the day.
A longer write-up of this route, with maps and photo essays, is published by our sister brand Way to Crete. Read the full story — Way to Crete
