Elounda holidays

Elounda holidays

Deals from £258 per person

Elounda is Crete's high-end resort teeming with five-star hotels and high-quality restaurants around a gleaming marina. There are stunning views from the honey-coloured beach out to historic Spinalonga Island (which is only a short sail away). If you’re looking to explore further afield, charming Aghios Nikolaos is just 15 minutes away, while little ones will love the superb Acqua Plus waterpark, which is around an hour from the resort.

Things to do

Holidays to Elounda will take you to some brilliant beaches; the nearest one is right in the heart of town. But there’s so much more to this resort than lazy days in the sunshine. If you want to explore, you can hop aboard a boat from the marina to visit the islet of Spinalonga, which is famous for its fascinating Venetian ruins and its past as a leper colony. When you return, you’ll be ready to sample the catch of the day at a waterfront restaurant; it’s a great place to watch the sun go down on the horizon. And if you’re looking for a family-friendly day out, you’ll find thrills galore at Acqua Plus; Crete’s best waterpark is less than an hour away by car, and it’s brimming with water slides, pools and rivers galore.

 

Relaxation and exploration

Elounda’s main beach proudly sports a Blue Flag, one of several on the island of Crete. It’s at the heart of Elounda, right next to the harbour, so it’s not hard to find. If you fancy shifting things up a gear or two, Acqua Plus is no more than an hour’s drive from Elounda and is one of Crete’s biggest waterparks.

The things you can do on your holiday in Elounda aren’t just restricted to what’s in Crete. Close by is the fortified islet of Spinalonga, which was most recently used as a leper colony. The beautiful island of Santorini, with its picturesque white and blue villages, is also in easy reach. You can see what other boat trips are available from Elounda’s marina.

Local culture

Go for a drive out of Elounda and you’ll find there are lots of other villages and towns to explore along this stretch of Crete’s coastline. Between them, they offer all the restaurants, beaches, nightlife and shopping you could want. Much of Crete still feels like you’re stepping into traditional Greece, with bustling local markets and atmospheric cobbled streets. The best way to soak up the culture, though, is to settle down for a while in a taverna or café bar, many of which in Elounda come with a view of the harbour.

More Travel Guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations, including Aghios Nikolaos | Athens | CorfuCreteHalkidiki | Heraklion | Hersonissos | KalamataKefaloniaKos | Lefkas | LesbosMalia | Mykonos | Olympius Riviera | PargaRethymnon | Rhodes | SantoriniSkiathos | Skopelos | Stalis | ThassosZante 

 

Map of Elounda

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11-25 ℃

Expect a mild climate all year around. 

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4 hours

Heraklion Airport (HER).

Elounda is best for...

Golfers: Stalis is 15 minutes’ drive from Crete’s only 18-hole golf course, with a superb clubhouse and a mountain-style course.

Families: Stalis is packed with activities to keep kids busy, from beaches to boat trips and the Acqua Plus water park a 15 minute bus ride away.

Beach lovers: The soft, golden sands of Stalis’ beach stretch for over five kilometres, featuring all mod cons including sun beds and water sports.

Fast facts for Elounda

Language: The language spoken in Stalis is Greek

Currency: The currency used in Stalis is the Euro (€)

Local time: Stalis is 3 hours ahead of GMT/UK time

Fly to: Heraklion Airport (HER)

Flight time from UK: Approximately 4 hours

Tourist Information: Further Stalis tourist information can be found at www.visitgreece.gr/en/destinations/prefecture_of_heraklion

Visa & Health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to Stalis

Getting around Elounda

By bus: Crete is well serviced by buses, which run very regularly in the high season and are an affordable and efficient way of getting around. A bus services Stalis’ town centre and connects nearby towns and cities like Heraklion, making them ideal for day trips.

By taxi: For shorter journeys or airport transfers, taxis are a good option. They are readily available in Stalis and at the airport.

By car: Car hire is ideal for visitors interested in exploring Crete in their own time. Rates at the international car hire companies are reasonable and the roads in Crete are easy to navigate.

Events in Elounda

Summer festival: Stalis is just 30 minutes’ drive from the town of Heraklion, which comes alive in July for its annual Summer Arts Festival. Taking place over several weeks, the festival features music concerts, dance and theatre in the beautiful Nikos Kazantzakis open-air theatre.

Beach festival: Down on Crete’s southern coast is the famous Matala Beach, former hotspot for musicians and young travellers in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the beach celebrates its past with an annual festival on the beach, with tributes playing the biggest hits from the era in the beautiful surroundings.

Elounda weather

Temperature: Average high of 28°C in summer.

Best time to visit: June and July for hot and sunny beach weather.

Crete enjoys typical Mediterranean summers, with resorts like Stalis known for their hot, dry summers and high average temperatures. The hottest months are July and August, and the summer weather generally lasts through September.

Best hotels in Elounda

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