Balos Lagoon
Crete, Greece
Balos Lagoon is a breathtaking shallow lagoon where the Gramvousa Peninsula meets the sea, creating an otherworldly landscape of pink-tinged sand and impossibly turquoise water.
Crete, Greece
Balos Lagoon is a breathtaking shallow lagoon where the Gramvousa Peninsula meets the sea, creating an otherworldly landscape of pink-tinged sand and impossibly turquoise water.
Location
Northwest Crete
Sand Type
Pink-White
Water Clarity
Crystal Clear
Facilities
Seasonal Canteen, No Toilets, Natural Setting
Best Season
May – October
Nearest Airport
Chania International (CHQ)
Balos Lagoon is a breathtaking shallow lagoon where the Gramvousa Peninsula meets the sea, creating an otherworldly landscape of pink-tinged sand and impossibly turquoise water. The lagoon is so shallow you can wade hundreds of metres across it, with the water never reaching your waist. It's often called Greece's most exotic beach.
The drive involves a rough dirt road followed by a 20-minute downhill walk (steep return), or you can arrive by boat from Kissamos. From the clifftop viewpoint, the panorama of lagoon colours from white to every shade of blue and green is genuinely one of the most spectacular sights in the Mediterranean.
Steep 20-minute walk down (and back up) from the car park, or boat access from Kissamos. Not wheelchair accessible.
From Chania, drive to Kissamos (40 min) then take the boat, or continue on the dirt road to the car park (30 min more). Total 1.5 hours from Chania.
🏰 Gramvousa Fortress
Venetian fortress on the peninsula tip
🌊 Lagoon Crossing
Wade across the shallow turquoise lagoon
🐢 Loggerhead Turtles
Sea turtles visit these waters
📸 Clifftop Viewpoint
Iconic panoramic photo spot