If you look at any picture of Crete, you may have been intrigued by this picture of the Balos lagoon. It is a must visit for anybody visiting the island of Crete. You just can’t miss it. It is truly a day-trip to Paradise.
Although, you might find it difficult to find information on how to visit Balos on the internet, it is fairly easy to explore with public transport. We visited Balos and Gramvousa on a day trip from Chania on our recent trip to Crete. It was absolutely the highlight of our entire trip. In this blog, I will walk you through our entire day-trip in the most simple steps.
Balos Lagoon is a bay in the western coast of Crete in Greece. It is characterised by turquoise blue waters, white shell and coral sand. There are patches of shallow warm water with different hues of blue and green. Moreover, the white sand and the unique vegetation against the backdrop of the water makes it a surreal place to visit.
Gramvousa is an island off the coast of Western Crete in Greece. It is a swimmer’s paradise and is often known as the Pirate Island. There is a Venetian Port on the island which offers an insane view of the island and its surroundings
Best time to visit
If you decide to visit Balos and Gramvousa by public transport, the boat cruise is available from the months of April to October. Due to the positioning of the lagoon, it is almost always windy. July and August are the busiest months and the weather is also extreme. I would therefore recommend you to visit in April to June or in September for the best possible experience.
Getting there
Crete has one of the most punctual and reliable transport systems unlike other Greek islands.
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Balos and Gramvousa is with a boat from Kissamos. You could also take a car until Balos, but the way is through a dirt road and could be quite tedious.
Steps to reach Balos and Gramvousa from Chania..
Chania to Kissamos by KTEL bus- 7 Euros one way
Kissamos to Balos and Gramvousa by boat- 27 Euros/ Adult
Of course, there are private cruises and boats to take you on this trip if you are ready to splurge.
Tip: You might not be able to find the tickets to Balos and Gramvousa online. But, it is very easy to just book the tickets from the port at Kissamos.
Tip: Do check the weather forecast before booking your trip. Bad weather may lead to cancellation of boats.
Tip: Many people get frustrated and buy organised trips from Getyourguide but it is a complete waste of time and money. Although I recommend Getyourguide for other trips, I really don’t think it is needed in Crete.
Our Story
Visiting Balos and Gramvousa was in my bucket list. It was our most exciting trip during our week long stay in Crete. We had bought our bus tickets to Kissamos 2 days in advance from the bus station in Chania.
We took the bus at 8:30 am. The route to Kissamos takes around 1.5 hrs and the whole route is full of picturesque villages and a wonderful coastline.
Tip: Carry enough water and some snacks for the day because you would not find any restaurants at Balos or Gramvousa.
Tip: There are seats facing each other in this bus. This bus route is through winding alleys so I would not recommend you to not sit opposite to the direction of the bus if you have motion sickness.
Tip: Sit on the right side of the bus to enjoy some dreamy views of the coastline.
Tip: The conductor of the bus will haul the name of each stop before reaching. Make sure to get down at Kissamos port and not Kissamos city.
KISSAMOS
After reaching Kissamos we saw a grand boat waiting for us at the port. We stood in queue for a while to get the tickets to the boat. It is very organised so do not worry about missing the boat.
There was a short security check before boarding the boat. Almost 1000 people can get on this boat but there is always space for everyone.
Tip: As soon as you board there will be someone to take a picture of you with your family or friends. Don’t be alarmed as this is just a way for the locals to earn some extra cash by making custom souvenirs for you at the end of the trip. If you don’t want to pay it is absolutely ok. We got ourselves a fridge magnet just to support the locals.
The boat journey is thrilling and beautiful. Sit on the outer decks to enjoy some fantastic views of the ocean. We grabbed some sandwiches for breakfast and enjoyed the views as we rode towards our first stop for the day.
Gramvousa
The boat started dot at 10:30 am and reached Gramvousa at around 11:30 am. Gramvousa is straight out of a fairy tale. We immediately noticed a pirate flag, the clear water and the castle at the top of a hill.
First, we decided to go for the castle. It was quite a climb and we were exhausted by the time we reached the top. But the views were to die for. The island looked beautiful against the turquoise water. Moreover, we even spotted a shipwreck at the edge off the coast which we visited later. Gramvousa has a unique vegetation in the island which makes the landscape look even more dramatic.
Next, we climbed down and changed into our swimming suits to take a dip in the ocean. It was absolutely refreshing and seemed to magically take away our tiredness from the climb.
After, we took a short hike to visit the Shipwreck. It was absolutely magical to stand in front of this forgotten history. I later found out the story behind it. After taking many photos, we rushed back to the boat for our next destination of the day at around 13:30 pm.
We grabbed some quick lunch as soon as we boarded the boat. It was absolutely delicious.
Balos Lagoon
In around 20 minutes, we started spotting the spectacular Balos Lagoon from a distance. It truly is a sight to behold. As soon as we approached, we saw a bunch of tourists just chilling on the pink and white sands.
Tip: In the peak summer months Balos is almost always crowded and it is difficult to find a place. But still there is place for everyone and it is a wonder to visit.
After reaching, we spotted a couple of shallow water bodies in different colours. Although, the water was tempting, we decided to climb the hill to get that picture perfect view of Balos that appears in calendars and posters.
The climb was not very hard. We spent a ton of time at the top because the views were simply extraordinary. Photographs don’t do enough justice to this place.
Tip: Wear sturdy shoes on this trip because there are a lot of climbs and walks involved. Carry a flip-flop to walk around in the beaches.
Tip: It is quite windy in Balos because of the location of the lagoon. There is sand flying everywhere. Therefore, I would recommend you to take proper precautions before coming with babies or children.
After getting our fill of the view, we got down and took a dip in the waters. It was another refreshing swim for the day. You could hire umbrellas for as little as 5 Euros for the day. We walked around the island and took many pictures of the place.
Tip: Make sure you have proper swimming gear before taking a swim. There are rocks and plants in the bottom that could really hurt your feet.
After relaxing at the pink sand beach for a while, we heard the ship honk. It was time to say goodbye to this amazing place.
We started from Balos around 16:30 pm. We enjoyed some cocktails on our way back as we talked about the adventures of the day.
Fun Fact: The bartender made us extra strong mojitos which were a treat. Maybe, this was because everyone ordered beer and did not want to try cocktails in a boat. But I would highly recommend you to try it.
We reached Kissamos at around 17:45 pm and took the same bus back to Chania.
Packing List for Balos and Gramvousa trip
- Hats
- Sunglasses
- Sturdy shoes
- Snacks
- Water
- Camera
- Towels
- Swim suits
- Flip-flops
- Scarf
What to eat
There are no restaurants in Balos or Gramvousa. However, the boat serves a delicious traditional Greek breakfast and lunch at a very reasonable price. There are also all kinds of snacks, drinks and ice creams to choose from.
Where to stay
Balos and Gramvousa do not have any accommodations. The best place to stay in to visit these gems is Chania. It is only a 1.5-hour bus ride to Kissamos followed by the boat.
Activities and Budget
Must Do
- Gramvousa: Take a hike up to the Venetian Castle.
- Balos: Take a hike up the hill to get a birds-eye view of the lagoon.
Unique Experience
- Gramvousa: Take a picture with the shipwreck at the coast.
- Balos: Take a dip in the shallow waters of the lagoon.
Budget
- Transportation- 41 Euros
- Food and drinks- 15-25 Euros
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