Balos Lagoon

Μπάλος

Pale pink-white sand and a shallow turquoise lagoon in Crete's northwest corner; the three-tone sea seen from the hilltop is the island's most famous aerial shot, reached by boat or unpaved road.

Balos lies on the Gramvousa Peninsula in Crete's northwest corner. A shallow lagoon is enclosed by the rocks of Cape Kapri and Gramvousa Island. The water is no deeper than 1 meter at its deepest point, with colours layering from white through turquoise to deep blue. The sand is slightly pink from shell fragments, making it Crete's most photographed landscape. It is also a Natura 2000 protected area, home to sea turtles and Mediterranean monk seals. There are two ways to get there. The first is by boat from Kissamos port (40 kilometers west of Chania). Excursion boats depart around 10:20 daily from May to October. The round trip costs about 30–35 euros and includes 1.5 hours on Gramvousa Island, where you can climb to the 137-meter Venetian fortress for a view of the whole island, followed by 3 hours at Balos. The boat is crowded but effortless. The second is driving: from Kaliviani village, follow the 8-kilometer dirt road to the car park. Most rental contracts do not cover this stretch, and the road is rough, so drive slowly. From the car park, walk 20–30 minutes down a mountain path to the beach. The viewpoints along the way are the postcard angle. Arrive before 9 a.m. and you'll find almost no one. The beach has only one snack stall and paid parasols, so bring your own water and food. The afternoon wind is strong, and the uphill return in the blazing sun is quite tiring. Nearby Falasarna is another long sandy beach, famous for its sunsets, and can be combined with Balos in the same day. Kissamos is about 1 hour from Chania by KTEL bus, and there are also one-day bus-and-boat tours from Chania.

Balos Lagoon

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby