The island of Imeri Gramvousa is located 20 kilometers northwest of Kissamos, opposite Cape Gramvousa and only 3 kilometers from Balos Bay. Gramvousa is famous for its historic Venetian fortress, which rises 137 meters above the beach. The fortress was also used by pirates. According to legend, a huge number of pirate treasures are buried on the island.
On the south side are two small bays where thousands of tourists come before heading to the magnificent Balos beach (Crete, Greece). Guests can walk around the surroundings, visit the old fortress, swim in the clear waters. The seabed is ideal for snorkeling. You can enjoy refreshments or refreshments only in the bar of the excursion ferry. There are no other amenities in this area, as it is protected by the Natura 2000 program and is not allowed to stay overnight.
A place where three seas merge
The famous lagoon of Balos is located approximately 56 kilometers northwest of Chania and 17 kilometers northwest of Kissamos. Balos is the most popular beach in Crete, which is incredibly popular with photographers and is a favorite destination for all tourist guides. It is no coincidence that Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Balos on a private yacht.
Balos Bay (Crete) is famous for its turquoise waters, wildlife and beautiful exotic landscapes. Thousands of tourists visit Balos during the summer. Those who don’t like crowds should avoid visiting the bay in July and August. It is best to arrive in Balos early in the morning before a crowd of holidaymakers arrives from Kissamos.
Balos beach in Crete is sandy, with a shallow entry into the sea, which is very popular with young children.
In the lagoon on the beach, white sand is combined with bright blue and turquoise waves. The sea is very shallow, ideal for young children. In some places, sand is pinkish due to millions of crushed shells. Beyond the cliffs at the edge of the lagoon, the water gets colder and deeper. This place is perfect for snorkeling. Cormorants and falcons nest in rocky caves. In addition, this area is a refuge for the monk seal and sea turtles.
Some of the disadvantages of the lagoon are that the seabed is dirty, which contributes to the growth of microorganisms, which sometimes cause an unpleasant odor. Locals claim that garbage in Balos brings the sea current.
Excursions to Balos
The best and most convenient way to visit Balos Bay is to buy a group tour. Especially if the hotel is located in the eastern part of Crete (Malia, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos). In this case, the tourist group will be delivered to the port of Kissamos by a comfortable bus, the ferry ticket will be only 18 euros per person instead of 27 euros if you go traveling by yourself.
How to get to Balos
There are three ways to get to Balos. The first and easiest is to take a morning ferry ticket from Kissamos (25-30 euros). Traveling by ferry, you can see the wild shores of Gramvousa. With luck, dolphins can accompany the ferry.
By car, you can drive along a dirt road to Kaliviani, where you need to pay a small amount, which goes to protect the reserve and repair the road. After 10 kilometers there will be a wide parking lot with a panoramic view of Balos and the island of Imeri Gramvousa. From there, you need to walk down a long path leading to the beach.
The most extreme way to get to the bay is on foot. Such travelers are advised to take a lot of water with them and be sure to have a hat that protects them from the sun.
What to see in Balos
In Balos, you can visit the small chapel of St. George, located in Tigani. There is also an unusual cave in Tigani where a brutal massacre occurred during the Turkish attack in 1825. To the north of Balos, at Cape Korikon, the remains of the Roman city of Agnion and the Temple of Apollo are preserved. In Balos, Crete, the photos are especially amazing, not without reason photographers from all over the world consider this place one of the best for shooting.
Attractions nearby
St. John's Monastery - 2.4 kilometers from the bay, in one of the most remote corners of Crete there is a temple dedicated to John the Baptist. The monastery has preserved monastic cells built of stone.
The small monastery Ipapanti is located in a picturesque place 6 kilometers from the lagoon of Balos in Crete. In our time, the remains of cells and the chapel of the Transfiguration of Christ, which can only be reached on foot, are still preserved.
The ancient city of Falasarna is located in the western part of Gramvuzi. It used to be one of the main cities of Crete and was famous for the large port and the only harbor on the island. It is believed that Falasarna was the base for the pirates. This made the Romans destroy the city forever.
Castel Kissamo is a small picturesque town built between the Gramvousa and Spatha peninsulas. The name of the city comes from the name of the Venetian fortress, the remains of which have survived to our times. The first fortress in the city was built by the pirate Henry Pescatore. When the Venetians drove out the pirates, the fortress became their possession and the defensive center of the region. The fort was destroyed many times, it was rebuilt again. Today, the remains of the famous fortress remind of its great past.
Kissamos Archaeological Museum was founded in 2005. Its exhibits show the entire history of the region. The exhibition is divided into several parts and is located on the ground floor of the building. Here you can admire the mosaic floors, household items and finds from the tombs.
Popular beaches
St. Paul's Beach - 11 kilometers from the bay, is a beautiful secluded place located in a picturesque bay. The beach got its name in honor of the very old monastery of St. Paul.
The beaches of Falasarma - 10 kilometers from the bay. At the northern end of the beach are the ruins of the ancient city of Falasarma. These beaches are considered famous in Greece and have been awarded as the best beaches of Crete. The sand in Falasarna is white, which makes the water off the coast turquoise. The main beach of Falassarna is called Pacia Ammos. This is a beautiful beach with a length of 1 kilometer and a width of 150 meters. Many tourists relax here. But because of the great length, the beach does not seem crowded. Umbrellas are sold on the beach, there are several eateries and cafes.
Nearby is another beach 800 meters long. It is more quiet, but there are no amenities. Further north is a small bay with a pebble beach and rocky bottom. To the south of Pachio Ammos, Livadia has a beach with a sandy beach, ideal for snorkeling enthusiasts. The nature around Falasarna is magnificent. It is believed that it is here that the best sunsets in Crete.
Mavros Beach is the main beach in Kissamos. This is a great place for vacationers with small children. There are many restaurants, bars and hotels near the beach. Parasols and sun loungers are provided, there are showers, changing cabins, lifeguards work.
Secluded beaches
Mary Pigadi Beach is located in the eastern part of Gramvuzi, 6 kilometers from the bay. The beach is surrounded by three small bays, with small pebbles and crystal clear deep water. There are no amenities on the beach. This place is ideal for those who love a wild vacation, away from noise and civilization.
Livadia beach - 12 kilometers from Balos, starts next to the stadium and ends next to Korfalonas beach. The beach is sandy with a shallow beach. It has very few amenities, there are several small bars. It is very good here on calm days.
Wigglia beach does not provide a wide range of tourist services, but there are several hotels nearby and some basic amenities. Despite this, the beach is popular with tourists due to the clean sea and a calm area.
Kaliviani Beach (7 kilometers from Balos) is a great quiet place for swimming. It is not recommended to bring children to the beach, because the bottom on the shore is rocky. On windy days, large waves make swimming risky. Despite the fact that the beach is not far from the villages of Kissamos and Kaliviani (where there are hotels, cafes and taverns), there are no tourist attractions except beautiful nature. The beach itself is not very clean due to the garbage that brings in waves.
Traveler Reviews
Tourists who visited the bay, admire the beauty of this place. One has only to look at the photo of the bay of Balos (Crete), as soon as you want to return to Greece. Stunning views from the observation deck and the sea of different colors, pink sand and architectural monuments - all this can be found here. Of the shortcomings, tourists note that in the season a lot of people. If you go by car, then only on an SUV, a trip by car to the bay is prohibited due to the fact that the road is unpaved.