10 Top Things to do in Elounda Crete

Elounda is famous for its stunning location in eastern Crete, with the mountains either side of the crystal-clear waters of Mirabello Bay.

Elounda is home to some of the best luxury hotels in Crete. These are mainly outside the village and some have private beaches for guests only.

It’s a pretty seaside village with an outstanding sandy beach, and plenty of cafes and tavernas where you can enjoy the local food.

Elounda is also close to one of the most popular places to visit in Crete, the island of Spinalonga, and boat trips there run from Elounda and nearby Plaka.

Elounda is also the departure point for boat trips around the nearby coastline. As well as Spinalonga, these include swimming trips around the Kalydon Peninsula and beach barbecues at Kolokitha Beach.

The main Elounda beach is superb for families. It’s wide and sandy, there are plenty of facilities, and the views of the mountains, peninsula and Spinalonga are fantastic.

The water at this beach is also usually very calm. It’s at the southern end of the Gulf of Elounda, which has similar conditions to a lagoon. The entrance to the Gulf is narrow (guarded by Spinalonga), and the body of water is shielded by the ‘mainland‘ on one side and the Kalydon or Kolokitha peninsula on the other.

As with most beaches in Greece, it’s ‘organised’ – that is, you pay to use the sunbeds and umbrellas. It usually costs €8 for a two bed, one parasol package – you can stay there all day if you wish. A wonderful beach.

There are several windmills in and around Elounda, a legacy from the area’s days producing salt. The one pictured is halfway along Schisma Elounda Beach, at the entrance to the jetty there.

You’ll find more windmills if you head south from the village towards the road to the Kolokitha (or Kalydon) Peninsula. The road passes three windmills next to the salt pans, where salt used to be harvested. Basically, seawater collects there and evaporates, leaving just the salt at the bottom.

Elounda port is so picturesque, full of fishing and cruise boats, The village behind looks lovely, with its domed Orthodox church and tower, and the dramatic mountain backdrop.

Take a walk around the marina towards the superb beach (see above). And I’ve photographed a few of the shops for you so you know what to expect when you get there.

Elounda has many great places to eat and drink. We stopped by for breakfast at the excellent Elounda’s Bakery, on the main street near the bus stop and taxi rank, and later in the day stopped at Alyggos Bar a few doors away for a cooling drink.

We also noticed several very appealing tavernas around the harbour, including Magali Cretan Cooking and Taverna Leonidas.

Sadly there’s not much to see of the ancient city of Olous, the distant ancestor of Elounda. It has long since disappeared beneath the waves either side of the causeway to the Kolokitha or Kalydon peninsula. As you walk along the causeway you can just make out some of the foundations of the buildings.

You can see these ancient ruins up close by snorkeling down to them.

The village of Plaka is very different in feel from Elounda.  It’s a lot smaller, more remote and much less developed than its more famous neighbour.

Plaka is an old fishing village that also acted as a transport point to Spinalonga when it was used as a leper colony.

It’s one of three departure points for boats to Spinalonga, the journey taking around ten minutes to the island.

The two main things to do in Plaka are relaxing on the pebble beaches and eating at one of the fish restaurants. We didn’t have time to eat in Plaka, but our guides strongly recommended Ostria and Taverna Spinalonga for their seafood.

The tourist blue train (€18 per person) also runs this route during the summer season.

Visiting Spinalonga Island is one of the most popular things to do in Crete.  The island – at the entrance to the Golf of Elounda – is best known as the site of the last leper colony in Greece.

Spinalonga was made famous by Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island, which tells the story of a woman who learns a family secret. Her grandmother and great-grandmother had been banished to Spinalonga because they suffered from leprosy.

The island of Spinalonga was also one of the most important fortresses on the coast of Crete. The fortifications were built by the Venetians in the late 16^th century, and the island remained unconquered for over 40 years after the Ottoman Turks captured the rest of Crete in 1669.

Boat trips run from the port in Elounda every half an hour in season (April to October). The price for a return trip to Spinalonga from Elounda in 2024 is €15.  Tickets for entrance to the island are €8 for adults, and €4 for seniors and children.

There are many options for boat trips from Elounda, including Spinalonga, swimming cruises and sunset cruises.

We opted for a swimming cruise from Elounda, which took us to several locations along the Kalydon or Kolokitha peninsula.

After passing Spinalonga island, we stopped at a few beautiful spots along the coast, where everyone (except me!) got out for a swim in the gorgeous turquoise waters of Mirabello Bay. Snacks and lunch were also included in the package, which was €70 for the three of us.

Most of the boats stop at Kolokitha Bay, a magnificent spot where some also set up beach barbecues. We were also taken to some other bays along the peninsula coast, including a stunning bay on the northeast side of the island.

The Lassithi Plateau is an amazing landscape encircled by mountains high above the coast of Crete. The vivid green landscape is famous for its produce, and there’s a strong chance you’ll have sampled some of its delights during your stay in Crete. You’ll see several windmills around the Plateau – these are used to irrigate the land during the hot, dry summers.

Some tours take you to the Lassithi Plateau, stopping at a restaurant at Seli Ambelou for lunch on the way. They also stop nearby at the Cave of Zeus, a 15-minute uphill walk above the village of Psychro.  

Agios Nikolaos is by far the largest town in the area. It’s the fourth largest city in Crete, built on hills overlooking Mirabello Bay and the mountains beyond. It’s a breathtaking location, and the main gateway to eastern Crete.

The main sight in Agios Nikolaos is beautiful Lake Voulismeni, a gorgeous spot a short distance inland from the shore. If you’re spending a day in the town, check out my guide to the best Agios Nikolaos Beaches. Ammos Beach and Kitroplatia are the best beaches in the town, and Almiros Beach, to the south, is our pick of the best.

There is also an Archaeological Museum with many amazing artefacts from eastern Crete, including the nearby ancient city of Lato.

Agios Nikolaos is the main transport hub of the region, and there are onward buses to Sitia, Ierapetra and Heraklion.

Chiona Beach is a small but beautiful beach that has formed below the causeway connecting Elounda to the Kalydon Peninsula. It’s a sand and pebble beach with fantastic views up the coast, and it’s next to the old windmills and salt pans.

The road behind the beach continues onto the Kalydon Peninsula. It soon becomes a dirt track, which passes the secluded Dianiskari beach and cove on the right, before continuing across the peninsula.

It eventually reaches Kolokytha Beach, a popular destination on many Elounda boat cruises. The beach itself is a small sandy strip, lapped by gorgeous clear turquoise waters. The excursion boats moor close top the shore, and you can swim in the beautiful water and enjoy a beach barbecue. If you want it to yourself, come early in the morning!

There are also more beautiful coves where you can swim further up the peninsula coast.

There are also a few small beaches along the seashore between Elounda and Plaka, including Tsifliki Beach.

Elounda is a tour destination as much as a base for exploring this part of Crete. Tours run from the the Elounda area to the Lassithi Plateau – and some also include a trip to Knossos, the fascinating Minoan Place complex on the outskirts of capital Heraklion. It’s well worth trying to spend one day in Heraklion while you’re on the island, with its superb Archaeological Museum and a few treasures to seek out down its narrow backstreets.

 And in the opposite direction, I highly recommend this tour to Toplou Monastery and the famous palm forest at Vai Beach. This gorgeous palm beach is unique in Crete, and one of the best beaches in Crete.

The easiest way to reach Elounda is by car.  If you’re arriving by air, the car rental offices are all just outside the main entrance to Heraklion Airport. Check discovercars.com for the best deals. If you’re driving directly from the Airport, the journey to Elounda should take you around 1 hour 15 minutes.

If you’re new to Crete, it’s probably best to take the main E90 road from Heraklion (via Hersonissos and Malia) to Elounda. You can then follow the coast road up and over the mountain to Elounda.

It’s also easy to reach Elounda by bus. Regular buses run from Agios Nikolaos bus station to Elounda, stopping in the main square next to the port and beach. Some buses also continue to Plaka. Bear in mind that if you see a bus to Plaka at Agios Nikolaos bus station, it will also stop in Elounda.

Bear in mind that if you’re travelling by bus, there is no direct bus between Heraklion and Elounda. You need to catch a bus from Heraklion (which stops at the Airport) to Agios Nikolaos, and get another bus from the station there.