From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa
This is the main ferry to Balos and Gramvousa, sailing from Kissamos port on Crete’s north-west coast. The boat spends about an hour crossing the bay, stops at Gramvousa island with its Venetian castle and shipwreck, then anchors at the Balos lagoon between the Gramvousa peninsula and Cape Tigani. CRETAN DAILY CRUISES runs it over 7 hours from €40, and it holds a 4.09 rating across 8,482 reviews, the second most-booked GetYourGuide experience in all of Greece.
What this boat cruise actually does
The ferry runs a loop from Kissamos and the order of the two stops varies by day. Three stages fill the 7 hours.
First is the crossing, roughly an hour along the bay past steep cliffs, secluded beaches and a large cave believed to have been an ancient shipyard. An audio guide runs in Greek, English, German, French and Polish. Second is Gramvousa, where the boat docks at the small port: a shipwreck sits on the beach, a Greek Orthodox chapel stands by the shore, and a steep 20-minute climb reaches the Venetian castle on the island’s high point. Third is Balos, the lagoon listed among the most photographed beaches in the world, where the water is shallow and emerald and you swim off the sand.
Depending on the itinerary, Balos may come first and Gramvousa second.
Places this tour visits
The route covers the two landmarks of the north-west corner of Crete.
- Gramvousa, the boat docks at Gramvousa islet, where the castle climb and the shipwreck are the two things everyone comes for.
- Balos, the second anchorage is Balos beach and lagoon, where the water stays shin-deep across a wide stretch of sand.
- Kissamos, departure is from the port at Kissamos, which you reach under your own steam.
What’s included and what isn’t
The ticket covers the boat and the audio guide, and it excludes the road transport at both ends.
Included:
- Round-trip boat cruise from Kissamos port
- Captain and crew
- Stop at Gramvousa island
- Stop at Balos lagoon
- Audio guide in Greek, English, German, French and Polish
- Food and drinks, on the option that includes lunch
Not included:
- Hotel transfer to and from Kissamos port
- Kissamos municipality administrative fee, €1 per passenger over 13, collected before boarding
Purchases on board are card only, no cash is accepted.
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend this ferry as the practical way to reach Balos, and the practical case is strong. The overland route to Balos is 12 kilometres of unsealed track ending in a 20-minute walk down a cliff path, and most hire car agreements exclude it. The boat removes all of that, and at €40 for a 7-hour day including both stops it is the cheapest way to see either.
The scenery does the selling. Reviewers describe Balos as breathtaking and the turquoise water as the best they have swum in, and an American guest recommended sneakers for the castle climb specifically because the view from the top is worth the effort.
The boat’s size is a genuine advantage in one way. A Spanish reviewer pointed out that a big ferry is exactly what you want when the sea gets rough on this exposed corner of the island, and reviewers from Italy and France both praised the organisation and punctuality.
Now the reasons this scores 4.09 rather than higher, because on 8,482 reviews the pattern is real.
Guiding is the weakest dimension at 3.5 out of 5, and it is the lowest guiding score of anything we list. A German reviewer described the staff on the ship as really unfriendly and the food as below average, though French and Italian reviewers rated the bar service and included meal well. Experiences clearly vary by crew and by day.
The boat is very large and very full. A Spanish reviewer noted it is tough to find a spot on the top deck, an Italian one that boarding and disembarking take a long time because of the boat’s size, and a Polish reviewer warned to expect crowds especially when getting off. This is mass transport, not a small cruise.
Time at the stops is the recurring complaint. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says travellers want more time at each stop and at Balos in particular, and a French reviewer who enjoyed the trip said the same.
If you want the same two stops on a small boat with a two-hour stop at each, the Limeniskos speedboat tour carries 17 people at roughly double the price. If you want this same ferry with a hotel transfer included, there is a packaged version from Chania and Rethymno.
CreteLocals insider tips
Bring a card rather than cash, wear shoes you can climb in, and get to the top deck early.
- Carry a credit or debit card, since on-board purchases are card only and cash is refused.
- Keep €1 per person in coins for the Kissamos municipality fee, collected before boarding from everyone over 13.
- Wear trainers for the castle climb, which reviewers describe as steep and rocky rather than a stroll.
- Claim a top-deck seat as you board, because reviewers consistently report it filling before departure.
- Watch your footing on the rocks at Gramvousa, which one Greek reviewer flagged as poorly signed and genuinely slippery.
- Skip the castle if Balos is your priority, as one German reviewer put it plainly, the lagoon is the better of the two.
What to know before you go
Departures run at 10:35 and 10:55 depending on the option, and the meeting point varies with it. You reach Kissamos port yourself, no transfer is included.
Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a credit card. The Kissamos municipality collects €1 from every passenger over 13 before boarding, and the trip is flagged as likely to sell out.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Balos and Gramvousa boat cruise?
The cruise runs 7 hours from Kissamos port, covering the crossing plus stops at both Gramvousa and Balos.
Is hotel transfer included?
No transfer is included. You make your own way to Kissamos port, or book the packaged version that includes pickup from Chania and Rethymno.
How hard is the climb to the Gramvousa castle?
The climb takes about 20 minutes up a steep rocky path, and reviewers recommend trainers rather than sandals.
Can you pay with cash on board?
No, purchases on board are card only. Bring €1 in coins separately for the municipality fee.
How big is the boat?
It is a large ferry. Reviewers note that helps in rough sea but makes boarding slow and top-deck seats hard to find.
What is the extra fee at the port?
The Kissamos municipality collects €1 from every passenger over 13 before boarding, as an administrative fee for visiting Balos and Gramvousa.
Check dates and prices for the Kissamos port boat cruise to Balos and Gramvousa.
Location
From Kissamos Port is located at Gramvousa. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
