Holidays to Elounda
Elounda holidays are a luxurious, beautiful and charming affair. This small town in Crete is home to five-star resorts, gorgeous beaches, hiking trails, lively tavernas and ancient ruins, but the vibe remains wonderfully down-to-earth.
A beautiful bay for every day
Elounda’s beaches have a few things in common: beautiful backdrops, welcoming warm waters and plenty of space to soak up some sun! You can lie out on the town’s main drag of sand, head over to Skisma’s long line of loungers or fling your flip-flops further afield to the pine shade of Driros.
If you like your sunbathing with a side of action, take your pick of boards and run for the waves. Elounda’s got the lot – wake, surf and paddle – as well as jet-skis for some extra thrust.
Live it up like a local
If there’s one thing us tourists love, it’s not looking like a tourist – and Elounda is the perfect place to live your localite dream.
Start your day with a strong coffee near the harbour, watching the fishermen unload their daily catch. Then, take a stroll down the promenade to a quiet café for rusks and graviera cheese, just like yiayia used to make, and pick up some linens at the Friday market to truly blend in. You best grab a bag of dictamo too. No Greek spice rack is complete without it!
A historic island hop
When you plan a Greek island hop, you’re probably not expecting to arrive in a former leper colony. But that’s exactly what Spinalonga, just off the coast of Elounda, has in store. And it’s only one part of this tiny island’s insanely interesting history – it’s had more landlords than a Monopoly board.
Once a refuge for Christians, a stronghold for Venetians and an outpost for Ottomans, it became the ‘island of the living dead’ in the early 1900s. Your time there will be much less fraught. Take in hundreds of years of history before a half-hour boat back to Elounda.
Sneak Peek
Best for... A beach break brimming with Cretan charm 🏖️
Go... To Spinalonga for some historic island hopping🏺
You have to... Eat fresh fish by the harbour – just like a local! 🎣
Elounda holiday deals
Elounda Waterpark Residence Hotel
4.2
Very Good
- 30 Apr 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Elounda Sunrise Apartments
4.6
Excellent
- 30 Apr 2026
- 7 nights
- Self-catering
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection
- 30 Apr 2026
- 7 nights
- Full board
- From Manchester
Prices from
Elounda Bay Palace
4.5
Excellent
- 14 Jun 2026
- 7 nights
- Half board
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Details
Currency
Euro
Language
Greek
Time difference
GMT +2
Cost of a beer
Around €3
3-course meal
€20-35
Flight time
3 hrs
Fun in the sun? Shore thing!
To butcher Shakespeare, would Elounda Beach by any other name be so beautiful? Well, the locals call it Skisma, so we’re saying yes! Head here for a dusk ‘til dawn beach day. There are plenty of parasols, cafes and bars, as well as a shallow, brightly hued bay just waiting for you to wade in.
If you prefer a little more solitude, try Pláž Chiona. Tucked a little tighter into the bay, it’s sensationally serene.
It’s all Greek to me-ze!
We’d wager good money that whoever said “Greek cuisine is more than food, it’s a way of life” had spent a good chunk of time in Elounda. Forget three square meals, this is the land of breakfasts that become lunches that become dinners that become midnight feasts.
Eat your way through authentic Cretan meze at Rakomelo, from gemista to calamari via a saganaki (fried cheese - yes please!) or two. Book a table at Lotus Eater to see what Poseidon’s serving up. Spoiler alert – it’s bass, bream and octopus straight from the Med!
Go ga-ga when the sun goes down
Don’t let Elounda’s quaint daytime demeanour fool you, as it’s seen the likes of Lady Gaga and Leo DiCaprio living it up after dark. To sip cocktails like you’re on the silver screen, sidle up to Isalos Elounda for traditional tipples and signature mixes.
Take your night to new heights at Sky Bar, where you get complimentary Aegean views with every drink. Or, if you like your music live, get on down to Rady's Bar and shake it like a Polaroid picture until the early morning.
When to go to Elounda
To top up your tan under the brightest rays, get here between June and September. The Cretan summer is as long as Zeus is legendary, so you can expect temps in and around the 30s.
Cheap Elounda holidays are available in the off-season between November and April, though you’ll want to stick to either end if you’re looking for temperatures anywhere near the 20s.
For a bargain break on the beach, look to the shoulder seasons of May or October. It might not be sweltering but it’ll be a whole lot hotter than Blighty!
