Spinalonga is a former Venetian fortress and leper colony (1903 to 1957) in the Gulf of Elounda, reached by boat from Plaka in about 10 minutes. Entrance costs around 20 euros per adult in 2026, plus the boat fare.
Spinalonga is a small fortified island in the Gulf of Elounda in eastern Crete, first a Venetian sea fortress and later, from 1903 to 1957, a leper colony. You reach it by boat, most quickly from Plaka in around 10 minutes, or from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Allow about an hour on the island, and in 2026 expect to pay an entrance fee of around 20 euros per adult on top of the boat fare; check current prices before you go.
Quick facts
- Location: Gulf of Elounda, Lasithi, opposite the village of Plaka.
- Entrance: around 20 euros per adult in 2026 (10 euros reduced), paid separately from the boat.
- Opening hours: roughly 08:30 to 18:00 from April to October in 2026; winter hours are shorter and boats run rarely.
- Getting there: boats from Plaka (about 10 minutes), Elounda (about 20 to 30 minutes) and Agios Nikolaos (longer).
- Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours on the island.
- Good for: history, readers of Victoria Hislop’s novel, families with older children.
A short history of Spinalonga
Ancient and Venetian fortress
The island once guarded the harbour of ancient Olous, a city whose remains now lie partly underwater near Elounda. In 1579 the Venetians, who ruled Crete, built a powerful fortress here to protect the gulf against Ottoman and pirate attacks. The design followed the latest bastion style, with thick walls and gun positions angled to cover the sea approaches.
When the Ottomans conquered Crete in 1669 after the long siege of Candia (today’s Heraklion), Spinalonga remained in Venetian hands. It held out until 1715, when it was finally surrendered under a treaty. Ottoman Muslim families then settled inside the walls, and a small trading village grew up on the island.
The leper colony, 1903 to 1957
After Crete gained autonomy from the Ottoman Empire, the Cretan State chose Spinalonga in 1903 as an isolation colony for people with leprosy (Hansen’s disease). The remaining Muslim residents left, and patients from across Crete, and later from the rest of Greece, were sent there, often against their will and sometimes for life.
Living conditions were harsh at first: little medical care, poor housing and social stigma that cut patients off from their families. Over time the residents organised themselves, led for many years by the law student and patient Epaminondas Remoundakis. They won better care, electricity, a clinic and pensions, and built a community with shops, a café, a barber, weddings and christenings. When an effective cure became available, the colony closed in 1957. The last resident, a priest, is said to have left a few years later.
Spinalonga in books and on screen
The island became internationally known through Victoria Hislop’s 2005 novel The Island, which follows a family split between Plaka and the colony. A popular Greek television series based on the book, filmed on location, followed in 2010. Many visitors arrive having read it, and you will see copies on sale in every harbour.
What to see on the island
A single path loops around the island and can be walked in about an hour. Information panels in Greek and English explain the buildings along the way.
Dante’s Gate
Patients arrived through a dark tunnel in the walls, nicknamed Dante’s Gate after the gate of Hell in the Divine Comedy. Today most visitors enter the same way, which makes the arrival quietly moving.
The main street
Inside the gate, the restored main street is lined with two-storey houses and former shops. Some have been rebuilt and host small exhibitions with photographs, documents and personal objects from the colony years.
The church of Agios Panteleimon
The church, dedicated to the healing saint Panteleimon, was the spiritual centre of the community. It still stands near the main street.
The hospital, the disinfection building and the cemetery
Further along the path you pass the ruins of the hospital and the building where items leaving the island were disinfected. On the far side is the cemetery, with simple concrete tombs.
The Venetian walls and bastions
Climb to the upper path for views over the walls, the Gulf of Elounda and the Kolokytha peninsula opposite. The views back towards Plaka, a stone’s throw away and yet a world apart for the patients, are the strongest memory of most visits.
How to get to Spinalonga
From Plaka
The shortest crossing. Small boats shuttle back and forth through the day in season, taking about 10 minutes, and you choose when to return. Plaka has tavernas along the water, which makes it easy to combine lunch and the island. Parking in the village fills up in summer, so arrive early.
From Elounda
Elounda’s harbour has frequent departures in season, with a crossing of around 20 to 30 minutes. Some boats include a swim stop on the Kolokytha peninsula. Expect a slightly higher fare than from Plaka.
From Agios Nikolaos
Cruises from Agios Nikolaos take longer and usually combine Spinalonga with a swim stop and sometimes a meal on board. They suit visitors staying in the town without a car. Our Lasithi travel guide has more on bases around the gulf.
On an organised day trip
Coach tours from Heraklion and the north coast resorts combine Spinalonga with Agios Nikolaos or the Lasithi Plateau. They save driving but leave little free time on the island. Compare carefully what is included, since the entrance fee is often extra.
Is Spinalonga worth visiting?
Yes, for most visitors, but go with the right expectations. This is not a beach outing or a pretty ruin to tick off; it is a place of memory, and the visit is short, hot and mostly about walls, empty houses and information boards. Its power comes from the story and the setting: a fortress built to keep enemies out, later used to keep the sick in, within sight of a lively fishing village. If you have read the novel or are interested in social history, it will stay with you. If you are travelling with young children who need shade and water to play in, keep the visit short and plan a swim afterwards.
Plaka and the Elounda shore
Plaka itself deserves an hour. The old houses opposite the island were once the supply base for the colony, and fishing boats still tie up below the tavernas. South along the coast, Elounda has a long promenade and a causeway leading to the Kolokytha peninsula, where you can see the outlines of submerged walls belonging to ancient Olous in the shallow water and swim from quiet pebble coves.
Best time to visit
Boats run mainly from April to October. In July and August the island is busy from mid morning to mid afternoon and the sun is fierce, with almost no shade. Arrive with an early boat or come late in the afternoon, when the light on the stone is softer. May, June, September and early October are the most comfortable months.
Practical tips
- Two tickets. You pay the boat fare at the harbour and the entrance fee at the island’s ticket office, or online on the official e-ticket platform.
- Bring water and a hat. There is a small kiosk near the entrance, but prices are high and queues long in summer.
- Wear walking shoes. Paths are uneven, with steps and loose stones on the upper level.
- Read up first. The island’s story means much more if you know it before you land. Hislop’s novel is fiction, but it captures the feelings of isolation well.
- Respect the place. Remember that people suffered and died here; the cemetery is not a photo backdrop.
- Combine it well. Pair the island with a swim at Plaka or Elounda, or a walk around the sunken city of Olous by the Elounda causeway.
Spinalonga fits into the eastern days of our one week Crete itinerary. If you plan to spend several nights in the area, see where to stay in Crete, and for another boat day in the same region, consider a trip to Chrissi island. More ideas are in our list of things to do in Crete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Spinalonga?
In 2026 the entrance fee is around 20 euros per adult (10 euros reduced), paid separately from the boat. The crossing from Plaka is the cheapest, with Elounda and Agios Nikolaos costing more. Check current prices before travelling.
Which is the best place to take the boat to Spinalonga?
Plaka is the closest, with crossings of about 10 minutes and flexible returns. Elounda has more departures and boats that sometimes add a swim stop. Agios Nikolaos suits visitors staying there without a car.
How long do you need on Spinalonga?
About 1 to 1.5 hours is enough to walk the loop path, see the main street, church, cemetery and walls, and enjoy the views.
When did the leper colony on Spinalonga close?
The colony operated from 1903 and closed in 1957, once an effective cure for leprosy was available. The remaining patients were moved to Athens for treatment.
Is Spinalonga open in winter?
The site has shorter winter hours, but very few boats run outside April to October, so a visit in winter is difficult to arrange. Check hours and boat availability locally.
