Getting there by boat
The fortress islet is reachable only by boat. Three jetties, three prices, three durations — and an entry fee people often forget. Here's how to choose, and the best departure.
In short
Two tickets, never one: the boat, then the site entry (€20, reduced €10) paid on the island — it is not sold on board. The best departure is Plaka (10-15 min, ~€10-12 return, every 30 min); Elounda if you're staying there; Agios Nikolaos as a mini-cruise (1h+, €25-40). Entry rose from €8 to €20 on 1 April 2025 — +150%, the steepest Cretan rise of the reform: guides and blogs still showing €8 predate it. Closed Tuesdays in winter.
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| From | Crossing | Boat return | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaka★ Best choice | 10-15 min · ~every 30 min | ~€10-12 | Shortest and cheapest. The right default, even if you stay elsewhere: 10 min drive from Elounda. |
| Elounda | 20-25 min · ~every 30 min | ~€12-15 | If you're staying in Elounda and don't want to get back in the car. Pleasant harbour, a bit busier. |
| Agios Nikolaos | 1h+ · 1-2 departures/day | €25-40 (mini-cruise) | Without a car, or if you want the Gulf of Mirabello cruise. It's a half-day excursion, not a simple transfer. |
Boat fares noted at the port in August 2026. Site entry (€20, reduced €10) is added in every case and paid on the island — it is never included in the boat ticket.
Choose your jetty: Plaka for the shortest, cheapest crossing, Elounda if you stay there, Agios Nikolaos for a mini-cruise.
Buy the boat ticket at the port (return). From Plaka, a boat leaves about every 30 minutes.
On the island, pay the archaeological site entry (€20). Allow 1h30-2h for the visit.
Before boarding, check the last return time — that's the classic mistake.
⚠️ The traps to know
There's no plan B to the boat: Spinalonga is an island. The real choice is the jetty. Plaka stays the cheapest and quickest. From Agios Nikolaos, the mini-cruise costs more but often includes a cruise around the Gulf of Mirabello.
Tiqets partner link — same price for you. This is the mini-cruise option (from €25, ~4h30, site entry €20 paid on the island). From Plaka or Elounda, the boat ticket is bought at the port and costs less.
🕑 Today's official timetable
Timetables often change mid-season. Check the day before on the official source:
The boat from Plaka: the shortest crossing (10-15 min), departures every 30 min, ~€10-12 return. Add the site entry (€20) paid on the island.
No: the boat ticket and the site entry (€20) are separate. The entry is paid on the island. Factor it into your budget.
Allow 1h30 to 2h on the island to walk around the Venetian fortress and the former leper colony. The boat season runs roughly April to October.
No, for neither the boat nor the entry: from Plaka or Elounda everything is bought at the port and on the island, without booking. Booking online only makes sense for the mini-cruise from Agios Nikolaos, where places are limited and departures rare. Beware a common confusion: a “Spinalonga” ticket sold online is nearly always the boat or the excursion — the site entry (€20) is still paid on site.
In peak season the site is open through the day and the boats schedule around it — it's the last return, not the closing time, that constrains your visit. In winter the site closes on Tuesdays and hours are reduced. The managing body (ΟΔΑΠ, hh.gr) publishes the current grid: it's the only source to check the day before, as hours shift mid-season.
Checked in August 2026. Indicative times and fares, liable to change mid-season — check the official source or operator before you go.
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