The pretty little known Greek island with no cars, hotels or nightlife
Celebs are known to visit this Greek island to escape the busy crowds of more popular islands nearby.
This beautiful Greek island welcomes A-Listers every year thanks to its crystal clear water and incredible views across other nearby islands.
Spinalonga island is only accessible via boat due to its secluded location, home to a 16th century Venetian fortress and rich history.
The teardrop-shaped island is just off the southern coast of Crete’s Lassithi region but has recently become more popular with holidaymakers.
For those staying in the beautiful town of Elounda in Crete, Spinalonga is easily accessible with daily boat trips. Tourists first visited the island in the 1980s when boats started making the short crossing there.
It was also made famous thanks to its feature in Victoria Hislop’s best-selling novel, The Island, in 2005, which went on to become a popular local TV dramatisation.
Upon arriving the island, the fortress is immediately visible, built to protect the Bay of Mirabella. You can follow a short 1.5km path around the entire perimeter of the island.
You will also pass through Dante's Gate - the tunnel that was the entrance to the notorious leper colony. A few of the houses have been renovated into museums with historical information, perfect for learning more about the island while visiting.
Those who once occupied the island did create a school, shops and tavernas which you can still see today.
There is also the small, Venetian-built church of St George, with the last resident of Spinalonga being a priest who left in 1962.
There is also an old hospital where one doctor would visit from Crete, though no treatment for leprosy that ravaged the island was available. Patients were allowed visitors, but they had to go into a disinfection room where they were washed down with an acid before leaving the island.
For those wanting to visit the historical island, there are plenty of boat trips throughout the day. Boats leave regularly from Plaka, just opposite Spinalonga, and every 30 minutes from Elounda, from around 9:00-10:00 until 17:00-18:00. Some boat trips include excursions around the Kolokytha Peninsula.
Day trips also leave from Agios Nikolaos, with some including lunch and a swim off the beaches along Kolokytha.
