The best guide to Balos beach in Crete
Known the world over for its captivating natural beauty and dreamlike appearance, the lagoon known as Balos beach lies northwest of Chania, on the island of Crete.
Formed between Cape Gramvousa and Cape Tigani, beneath the Platiskos mountain range, Balos lagoon is fascinating. And it is far more remote and peaceful than Elafonisi.
The beach captures your heart twice: first with the view looking out over the lagoon, then as a magical place to swim. Since this spot is a must-see during your stay in Crete, I thought I would share everything you need to know before your visit – from transport information and tips on reaching the beach, to recommendations for hotels nearby. Doable in one day or several, it is absolutely somewhere you could spend your holiday.
Planning your trip? Find all the essentials in our complete guide to Crete and check when to visit Crete with our month-by-month weather guide.
BALOS, the remote DREAM lagoon in CRETE – THE VIDEO
What will you find at Balos beach?
Balos beach is a small sandy isthmus linking Crete to the island of Tigani. To the south of the beach lies the shallow lagoon with its turquoise waters; on the northern side there is a beautiful bay with blue waters. It is also an ideal spot for children, as the water is quite shallow and calm.
The beach has sun loungers and parasols, with plenty of them still available at 10:30am. After that the beach gets a little crowded, so I would suggest bringing your own parasol.
There are toilets just 100 m from the main beach. You will also find a shower and changing rooms. There is a beach bar on the beach too, but you should bring food and water for the day, as the bar only sells a few sandwiches which are usually sold out between 1:30pm and 2pm.
If you decide to come by car, there is a car park above the beach.
The 5 most beautiful under-the-radar beaches in Greece
Although Balos is not one of them, given its international fame, you can discover the most incredible beaches in Greece here.
How to get to Balos beach
Getting to Balos beach is, admittedly, a bit of an adventure, but believe me: the turquoise waters and the view are truly worth it! Do remember to bring hiking shoes (or at least trainers) if you take the path down from the car park.
There are three options for reaching the beach.
Getting to Balos beach by boat from the port of Kissamos
The easiest, safest and most fun way to get to Balos beach is by boat.
The biggest difference between travelling by boat and going to the beach on your own by car is that you are not in control of your time. And the ferries only allow you a 3-hour stop at Balos beach. Which, between us, is plenty.
The cruises depart early in the morning from the port of Kissamos, located about 3 km from the town of Kissamos. Food and drinks are also provided on board. Depending on your availability, pick-up is easy and suitable for everyone.
The ferries make a stop of roughly two hours on the island of Gramvousa. In 2026, the Kissamos – Balos – Gramvousa cruise costs €40 per adult (€45 from 15 July to 15 September, €24–27 for ages 3–12), plus a €1 municipal fee. If you drive, budget €3 for parking and €1 per person for the protected-area access fee. You will leave the port of Kissamos and arrive on the island of Gramvousa, where you will stay for 2 hours. On Gramvousa you can swim as well as walk.
Then the boat heads to Balos beach, where you can relax on the pink sand, swim in the warm water and admire the magnificent scenery (ferries generally stay around 3 hours in Balos lagoon).
If you get seasick easily, choose a windless day if you are planning to go.
As Kissamos is very well known for its lagoon, you can combine a day trip there with Balos beach.
Getting to Balos beach by car
You can reach the Balos beach car park in about 40 minutes from Kissamos. However, it is not an easy route, as the last 8 kilometres are on a rough road, mostly unpaved with lots of rocks and running along the cliffside.
If you have a rental car, I suggest checking your contract first, as most car rental companies do not allow you to drive to Balos – so you would essentially be on your own without any insurance. A good option is to rent a car with 4×4 or a quad bike (as in Santorini).
Essential travel insurance
Personally, I did it with nothing more than my Chapka insurance (which I strongly recommend) and an old car… how shall I put it… pretty battered, and it worked out with no problem.
If you are travelling with children, the car is a false good idea, as a steep descent awaits you to reach the beach. And then the climb back up once the day is over.
The car park sits just above Balos beach, about a 25-minute walk away. Because the beach is so popular, the car park is almost always full, especially in summer during the high season. You can try arriving early to get a space. Otherwise you will have to resign yourself, like plenty of others, to double-parking along the cliffside. You will also come across lots of free-roaming goats!
Weather at Balos beach
Most of the summer in Greece is sunny and hot. As far as I can recall, in three months there we did not have a single rainy day, and we only saw clouds on rare occasions. So it is very likely the weather will be fine and warm during your visit to Balos. It is rare to see waves on the beach and impossible in the lagoon.
There is also a good chance the weather will be windy, but not excessively so. Personally, I recommend checking a website 2 to 3 days before your trip so you can enjoy the best possible conditions.
If the wind exceeds 30–40 km/h, or if there are gusts of 50–60 km/h, it is better to postpone the trip to another day. There is generally no cancellation fee for the ferries up to 24 hours before the booked date.
Gramvousa, the islands not to be missed
Gramvousa is a beautiful natural area that is not part of the European Natura 2000 programme. It lies about twenty kilometres northwest of Kissamos. Right opposite the magnificent and unique Balos lagoon.
Gramvousa is actually two small islands, Gramvousa Imeri and Gramvousa Agraia. Both have a rocky, extremely wild landscape. You will find plenty of wild thyme and oregano plants that add an intense fragrance. It is also a refuge for many bird species. The Mediterranean monk seal often nests in the local caves, while the Caretta Caretta turtle feeds in the area. There are beaches of soft white sand and stones, swimming in an intensely turquoise sea with tamarisk trees where you can take shelter on sunny days. A true postcard setting!
On Gramvousa Imeri, the historic Venetian fortress stands about 140 metres above the coast. And, between two large bays, you will find a famous shipwreck.
It is obviously a place you absolutely must visit while discovering Balos, and happily, most ferry tours stop there as well.
My best tips for discovering Balos
Bring your own food
As on many beaches in Greece, there is a bar/snack stand right on the beach, but the quality is truly dreadful. So I would advise bringing your own food with you.
You can stock up directly in Kissamos, where you will find mini-markets and takeaway restaurants.
Take the first boat of the day
If you decide to come by boat, I really recommend grabbing the first boat leaving the port of Kissamos (usually around 10am). You will get more space, fewer hassles, fewer tourists, and sun loungers.
Bring cash
It is always good to have cash on you in Greece, and Balos is no exception. The bar/snack stand and the sun loungers only take cash. You can also rent pedalos and inflatables on site, but cash only. To withdraw money, I encourage you to use Wise to avoid bank fees!
Where to stay near Balos beach
A trip to Balos beach is a must, but if you are not keen on a 4- to 5-hour journey from Heraklion, for example, you can book a night in Kissamos so that you can easily catch the boat from the bay to Balos.
Search for a hotel for Balos Beach in Crete and you will get plenty of results. But be careful with the reviews, as there are a great many tourist traps. Once again, I would rather recommend staying inland on the island.
FAQ about Balos beach in Crete
Balos beach is located in the western part of Crete. It lies 52 km northwest of the town of Chania and 15 km from the town of Kissamos.
You can get to Balos beach by car or by boat. The boat leaves from the port of Kissamos. Alternatively, if you choose to drive to Balos beach, be careful, as the road is in poor condition. Insurance is strongly recommended.
Âme Bohème exists thanks to you
Some links in this article are affiliate links. This means that if you book or purchase a product through these links, we receive a small commission — at no extra cost to you. It's thanks to this support that we can continue creating free, quality content.
You can also buy us a coffee, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
