A world away from Crete's bustling capital, laid-back Elounda features fishing villages, uninhabited islands, and tranquil bays. There's plenty to explore in this sprawling town settlement—from luxury resorts and nature preserves to a fortress and former leprosy colony.
Restaurants in Elounda
4.5 based on 2248 reviews
My family of 9 have just stayed at The Domes and had a wonderful time, staff are very friendly and helpful in particular Nikos and Giorgio on the beach. Suites are very spacious and comfortable. We will definitely go back.
4.5 based on 2243 reviews
Escape to the wild beauty and unrivalled island style of a bohemian luxe resort with emblematic sea views, crystal clear waters, sparkling infinity pools, world class cuisine and bespoke services. All this combined with the resort's beach experience create a unique setting , where time seems to stand still. Blue Palace, a setting of wild grandeur.
Wonderful return trip to excellent resort. The grounds and views are breathtaking. Although the hotel is old, the rooms and grounds are well taken care of. It is actually environmentally conscious to only fix what is needed. I hope the renovations which are planned will maintain the understated luxury character of the hotel. The staff will go out of their way to make you comfortable and recognize and value you as a return guest.. From the bell staff on arrival, to the front desk, to the waiters at breakfast to the beach attendants. Special mention to Kostas from the concierge desk who really wants all his guests to have the best experience and Dora who works tirelessly to make sure all her guests have the room of their choice. Good very comfortable luxury collection bed and bedding, nice and plentiful bathroom amenities including hygiene wipes! Very generous with towels (even at the beach they never run out!) but will respect of you want to reuse. Two options for breakfast. We always used the buffet restaurant with endless options from meats to fish to cheeses and spreads, fresh fruits and vegetables and eggs made to order. Great selection of restaurants.. The only draw back is the good size gym, which has while functional but very old and somewhat limited equipment. Can't wait for our return trip.
4.5 based on 2615 reviews
The Tui Blue Elounda Village by AQUILA is an exclusive couples and adults only Hotel, for those who seek privacy as long as luxury, set amongst beautiful gardens and magnificent view of the Mirabello bay. A heavenly paradise overlooking the pristine Mirabello bay, the Elounda Village resort, offers romantic getaways and superb accommodation suitable for couples in a genuinely stone built style. Elegant bungalows, suites and maisonettes mostly facing the glistening blue waters of the bay provide a complete seclusion and exclusivity. The resort is located on the eastern coastline of the island, 3km from the fishing village of Elounda, 7km from the cosmopolitan town of Agios Nikolaos and 65km from Heraklion city.
We have just got back from 2 weeks at this hotel and came back truly relaxed and rested. This is a lovely hotel and the staff really do all they can to make your holiday special particularly under the circumstances. I say this as they are obviously understaffed which is not their fault but you can see how hard working they all are, particularly in the main restaurant where a special mention goes to Christina and all her team that are just so lovely and friendly. My husband and I like to keep a bit active on holiday too and there are regular 30 minute classes you can attend through the day to keep you fit if you like, or relax with a bit of yoga maybe. I cannot praise Lisa enough! She is brilliant, her classes are fun and we were all great friends by the end of the 2 weeks. The TUI team, particularly Lisa and Sophie, are always happy and upbeat which can't be easy at times in their jobs but they are always ready with a smile and the banter at Aquafit was hilarious, that class is a must if you want a laugh in the morning. As far as the rooms were concerned, our first room was not great, very dated and overlooking the bar outdoor area but we spoke to a very helpful gentleman on reception (sorry, I can't remember your name!) and he was also excellent and acted quickly to move us to another room that had recently been renovated and was just lovely so a big thank you for that. We the also went into Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Plaka and Spinalonga - all a must for your trip, and all people we encountered were just so friendly and helpful. Everyone seems to be locally born and bred and we learnt they haven't had a police station in Elounda for 27 years as there is never any crime! All the towns are so beautiful so it is good to venture out if you can. Like the other reviews say, it is 15 euros to Agios Nikolaos or 9 euros to Elounda so very reasonable. You can walk to Elounda from the hotel but the road is a bit hairy in some places. The rep's do a walk too so you can do that to get your bearings. Our first week was quite quiet at the hotel but then a lot busier in the second week but we were always able to get a sunbed so this wasn't a problem. You can change your beach towels as much as you like too at the beach bar. The Greek night was such fun and we attended this on both the Thursdays we were there, a lovely outdoor buffet and the gyros was lovely! The dancing is fun too if you don't mind getting up! The food generally is very good in the buffet and the 2 other restaurants, all very fresh and so much choice in the buffet, it really is good for all inclusive. I really can't recommend this hotel enough, the staff do make it though, we thoroughly enjoyed our 2 weeks and didn't want to leave!
4.5 based on 613 reviews
One of the Leading Hotels of the World awarded by World Travel Awards Greeces Leading Hotel and Europes Leading Resort Villas. The ultimate in 5 star luxury with tailor made hospitality.
Short trip (4 nights) to this resort with just one of the kids. It’s a huge resort and it’s been around a while - a combination which isn’t my preferred set up. But this was different. For a start it seemed remarkably quiet (it is the beginning of the season and clearly some restricted travel still) but even when there were more people at the end of the week, it’s so spacious and well set out that you never ever feel crowded anywhere which is very relaxing. We spent a lot of time on the beach - but also by the main pool in the late pm - and loved the fact that they reserved your lounger for you so you got the same one for the whole stay. Not sure if this is a Covid thing or not but it’s a great initiative as again relaxes a lot. Restaurant wise we tried all 4 - Italian, Japanese/Peruvian, Mediterranean and Greek. Personal favourite was the Mediterranean one. The others were very good though and on HB, good value (albeit 19 euros for a G&T was a bit steep!). Our room was fine - perfectly adequate and well maintained. Some of the villas around the site looked amazing - would love to check them out next time. Played tennis three times on three different courts, only one of which (the first clay one) wasn’t very well maintained. We didn’t see a single other person play tennis all week so maybe that was why (which meant getting space to play was a breeze!) but for management, maybe upgrade or close the first clay one of it isn’t maintained. At the beach we had a lot of fun learning to waterski with Dimitris - great teacher and a lot of fun. Good value and highly recommend. Finally, and this is always important to us, you could walk to Elounda easily and we did twice for lunch and a day trip. Food half the price of the hotel (at least!) which meant even a walk in the sun was worthwhile but it’s also always nice to be able to get out and about. It looked like a nice town, not tacky at all. For a big hotel that has been around so long, they really do know how to do it well. Would like to come back with the rest of the family for sure.
4.5 based on 799 reviews
Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travelers visiting Elounda, Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its romantic environment and proximity to great restaurants, Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel makes it easy to enjoy the best of Elounda. Rooms at Elounda Marmin Bay offer a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a refrigerator providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi. A concierge and room service are some of the conveniences offered at this hotel. A pool and free breakfast will also help to make your stay even more special. If you are driving to Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel, free parking is available. While staying at Elounda Marmin Bay, visitors can check out Sunken City of Olous (1.8 mi), which is a popular Elounda attraction. While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the sushi restaurants, including Samurai Sushi Bar & Restaurant and Vritomartes Restaurant, all of which are a short distance from Elounda Marmin Bay. Looking to explore? Then look no further than Spinalonga (Kalydon), which is a popular Elounda historic site – and it is conveniently located a short distance from the hotel. Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure or both, Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel is sure to make your visit to Elounda one worth remembering.
Wow. The hotel was everything we wanted and more. The location is superb, wonderful sea views and just a short stroll into Elounda for dinner. The rooms are lovely and very comfortable. But what really makes this place is the staff. Nothing is too much trouble, they are always ready with a friendly smile and a chat. Special mention to Renato the Pool Boy - so helpful and friendly and the manager Vasilis, very kind and welcoming. It really has it all!
4.5 based on 609 reviews
Famed for its gracious and attentive service, this hotel is the embodiment of all-time-classic style and cultured luxury, where antique art and traditional architectural themes adorn all of its private-pool bungalows - each with its own terrace overlooking the Aegean Sea. Three fine dining venues reflect the Relais & Chateaux tradition of excellence, their culinary delights ranging from enticing lunchtime snacks to five-course dinners, with flambe and fish specialties.
Without a doubt one of the best luxury hotels in the whole of Greece and in my humble opinion the very best in Crete. What makes this hotel shine isn’t its fabulous amenities, world class restaurants, outstanding views, water sports, sister hotel and Spa ( all of which you can use with the free shuttle service) but its people. How they have maintained and dare I say even improved their talented team post Covid is a minor miracle. Great hotels attract great talent and great talent make for outstanding hotels.
4 based on 944 reviews
Finding an ideal romantic hotel in Elounda does not have to be difficult. Welcome to Elounda Bay Palace, a nice option for travelers like you. As your “home away from home,” the hotel rooms offer a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a minibar, and getting online is easy, with free wifi available. Guests have access to a concierge and room service while staying at Elounda Bay Palace. In addition, Elounda Bay Palace offers a pool and free breakfast, which will help make your Elounda trip additionally gratifying. And, as an added convenience, there is free parking available to guests. When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Salonikios, which is a barbeque restaurant that is popular with locals and out-of-towners alike. Looking to explore? Then look no further than Sunken City of Olous (0.5 mi), which is a popular Elounda attraction – and it is conveniently located within walking distance of the hotel. Elounda Bay Palace puts the best of Elounda at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.
The best hotel in the world, with the best beaches, gardens but mostly the best staff. I have never experienced this kind of luxury still warm and cozy service. What can I say….the roses in the rooms, the class of old values like best linen, well preserved wooden furniture, everything was real and true to the greek hospitality values. Essence in everything … and much much more …. I can write all the details for ever … even muggler soaps and body lotions. I never heard a no from the staff. Everyone wanted to make our time the best. Finally, the coordination of the little cars to take u from space to space in the hotel was just amazing … in max 2 minutes they always arrive. Thank u Anna Maria from the reception and Dimitris from the beach and all the lovely people that we interacted with and I don’t remember their name (sorry for that).
4.5 based on 746 reviews
The only golf-and-spa resort on Crete is a whole world on its own, with the "World's Best Spa" according to the Sunday Times' "Travel" magazine. Rooms and suites have panoramic views Mirabello Bay over the green expanse of the golf course's 9 holes. Children are particularly well catered for, with a dedicated facility offering indoor and outdoor play areas, a lawn-laid olive-grove, a water-park and a sports field.
We arrived in mid August in one evening after quite an exhausting trip. We settled in the room and immediately felt a sort of damp air that goes together with poor (non existent) ventilation. We opened the patio door to our “private” swimming pool, that we noticed we happen to share with four other rooms and let the breeze take out the unpleasant aroma. Three stars, maximum. The room was spaceous, but has not been renovated, I am guessing for at least twenty years (apart from the very nice bathhroom). No keycards, basic metal key and what was funny, to lock the patio sliding door, one had to push a metal pin on a chain throgh a hole drilled through the window frame from inside. Three stars, maybe even two. We arranged with the guest services manager to have dinner at the fish restaurant, where one has to take the hotel buggy transfer, it is a good 10-15 minutes walk otherwise. The fish was fresh, other than that the food was pretty much nondescript. We were told that the restaurant would be full, but it was far from that. This script actually repeated more than once later on. The service was below average, after our mains we waited for half an hour waiving hands and trying to make noises to get the desert list. We finally got it and after it the surprisingly not modest bill. Three stars. After returning to the hotel we fast fell asleep for me to wake up at midnight to the fire alarm. As we had our own patio, I woke up my wife and we started to throw our stuff out and then went ourselves there. Notably, no one else in the hotel reacted at all, and lo and behold, after half an hour of alarm, it went off. We threw our stuff back into the room and fell asleep again. At two the alarm went off again and as there was no smoke anywhere, I ran to the reception where a security guy just said “sorry, sorry, I will switch it off”. Very strange. In the morning we went to the customer service manager and asked wtf it was and is is a thing that happens often (as nobody reacts)? She said “no, no, no, I do not know and will ask the hotel manager and then tell you”. She never came back with an explanation. One star, really low point of the stay, see the last comment. The breakfast was wholesome but unimaginative, certainly nowhere near five stars. The personnel there I would rank the best in the hotel complex, apart from the very talkative young man at the omelette station who consistently overcooked everything, every day. Four stars, a stretch. I do not know why, but most of the waiting stuff in the hotel complex restaurants seemed like they are doing it for the first time, not knowing much of the basics of the trade, coming from all around the Europe, mostly eastern. The beach is small, but nice, suitable for kids. There are areas, where adults w/o kids are separated, nice touch. The service of the beach bar was good. Also, the beach restaurant with the open water inside was in my opinion the best in the complex and the only one where the sommelier had good idea about the wines they sell. Four stars. In the evening we dined at the Italian restaurant that was personally recommended by the guest services manager. The evening was a complete disappointment. There were now lots of service personnel, but most did not seem to have a clue about what to do. The head waiter/manager was running around the place, barking orders to the staff to a degree it made us uncomfortable. About the wines, local ones here as almost everywhere, the “sommelier” only was able to point finger at the wine list saying “this is popular”. Probably the anticlimax of the dinner was when my wife ordered ossobuco that proved to be completely tasteless and to save the meal asked the waitress if she could bring gremolata (a mix of parsley, lemon grind and horseradish), she came back and said that the chef said that kitchen is too busy to do it. Five stars is very far away from this, I’ll give it three, maximum. After this we decided to try dining outside the complex and were very positively surprised to discover that both in Elounda and also fairly close to the hotel there are very nice family restaurants with food better that in the hotel and prices roughly a third of the hotel price. Also, as the waiting staff was local, they had much better understanding about local wines than in the hotel. We never looked back and were very happy to go out every evening. The only problem with going outside the hotel is that one needs a taxi. Taxi takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to come, if it is called at all. Altogether three times our taxi booking was “forgotten”, twice when we called in advance from the room and once right at the reception. We were wondering why our taxi is not coming while people coming to the desk behind us got their taxis already, I went back after waiting for more than half an hour. And the answer was “oh, I forgot”. Two stars. At breakfast right before we were leaving for the airport, the fire alarm went off again. When I asked the waiter, he answered “oh, it happens often, do not worry”. This confirmed my one star from the first day. We left the hotel and decided to not ever come back.
4.5 based on 22 reviews
"Europe's top seafront luxury hotel", according to Conde Nast traveler, with 59 suites and villas. Private pools throughout and private sandy beach for hotel guests. Seafront presidential suites have exclusive access to the sea. Six Senses Spa, waterfront sushi restaurant over the waves, wine cellar with hundreds of labels and movie theatre for private screenings. 9-hole golf course within the resort.
This is the best hotel/resort we've ever stayed in! It is so distinctly different from anything else. You feel incredible privacy and yet you get excellent attention whenever you need. In every regard- from food to water - it ranks 5+. Breakfast is excellent. Waters are calm and warm. The scenery is breathtaking. Special compliment to the Six Sense Spa. The first time - in May 2021 - we experienced a special Easter program, with live dance and music and traditional food.
4 based on 1432 reviews
Elounda Water Park Residence Hotel 4 Stars is located at the most magical place on the island of Crete. It rises up on the hills of Elounda revealing at the guest the most imposing and breathtaking view of the Mirabello gulf and of the historical fortress island of Spinalonga. It appeals to families and couples seeking a peaceful & relaxing holiday in a private environment. The apartments and the villas, as well as the Main Restaurant, Main Bar, Reception area and all the common areas were recently renovated. Hotel Elounda Residence Water Park is proud to offer its guests a unique, in the area, Water Park which is a fun experience for the whole family. It includes a large swimming pool with jacuzzi, a swimming pool with a combination of four slides, a kids pool with a water playground, a kids club, an open theater, Bar – Restaurant Thalassa, an amazing playground, a Fun Park and a Snack Bar. Location: 800 meters from the Village of Elounda
Amazing views but incredibly hilly and hard work with a toddler as they struggled with the stairs and gradient. The rooms were clean but tired with paint marks on the wall and nothing like the one bed apartment on the photos. It was a living area with a sliding door which made it more awkward with a young family as we were confined to one area which wasn’t what we wanted or thought we had booked. Staff were friendly and food was as expected for Greece. Water park is a lovely addition and the smaller kids area was fun for my toddler. We enjoyed our stay but wouldn’t stay again due to the room and the location/hill. Taxi to town is €7 but shuttle bus is great if the times work for you. €14 to Plaka if you fancy a change.
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