Balos Lagoon

About

Turquoise shallow lagoon at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula, framed by pink-tinted sand.

Balos sits at the far north-western tip of Crete, tucked between the Gramvousa peninsula and the little cape of Tigani. The water here is so shallow and so clear that it shifts from white to turquoise to deep blue within a few metres, and on a sunny day it really does look edited. The sand has pinkish patches from crushed shells, and the whole area is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network, so there are no buildings, sunbeds are limited and the dunes are fenced off for the sea lilies and nesting birds.

There are two ways to get here. Most people come by boat from Kissamos harbour, usually combined with a stop at Imeri Gramvousa islet and its Venetian castle. The other way is the bumpy 8 km dirt road along the peninsula, followed by a 20 to 30 minute walk down a stony path, which feels a lot longer on the way back up in the midday heat.

Balos is popular, and in July and August the boats bring big crowds around midday. If you can, drive in early in the morning or stay until the last boat has left in the late afternoon. That is when the lagoon is quiet and the light is at its most beautiful.

Getting there

By car: dirt road from Kalyviani (toll at the entrance), then ~20 minutes downhill on foot. By sea: day cruises from Kissamos port that also stop at Gramvousa island.

On the map

35.58316, 23.58782 · See on map