Our Favorite Hotels in Elounda
• Luxury Hotel: Elounda Beach
• For Families: Porto Elounda
• For romantic getaways: Cayo Exclusive in Elounda, Greece is highly recommended 
Best Places to Stay in Elounda
- Home to Crete`s most lavish beachfront resorts, Elounda attracts Greek celebrities, foreign royalty, and other moneyed global travelers. Many resorts are all-inclusive and secluded on private beaches.
- The Elounda region actually comprises a string of smaller villages running approximately five km along the coast from Plaka in the north to just past the main village, Schisma Eloundas (Elounda village), in the south. Most of the area’s luxury resorts are north and south of the main village, not in the village itself.
- The natural beaches outside of the resorts tend to be pebbly or outright rocky. The best public beach is Paralia Schisma Eloundas in the main village. Dianiskari Beach is a difficult-to-access but rewarding spot for snorkeling. The gorgeous, manicured beaches inside the resorts are largely manmade and open solely to hotel guests.
- Spinalonga Island and Spinalonga Peninsula run parallel along the coastline to form the serene Gulf of Korfos. Hotels between Plaka and Elounda village sit on this stretch of sea renowned for its tranquility. Accommodations south of the main village overlook Mirabello Bay, which is nearly as calm.
- A trip to the island of Spinalonga is highly recommended. Its 16th century Venetian fortress later served as a leper colony until 1959, welcoming tours several times daily via short boat rides from the towns of Plaka and Elounda.
The 8 Best Hotels in Elounda
1. Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas
Hotel Phone: +30 28410 63000
Luxurious, five-star resort spreading across two white sand shorelines with a private marina, helipad, and saltwater pool. A second, indoor-outdoor, hydrotherapy pool is in the spa. With five eateries and four bars, it offers assorted eating choices going from Greek to Nikkei, accessible by the sea, poolside, or on the shoreline, plus admittance to Elounda Bay Palace dining. The resort gives an assortment of current lodging, including rooms, suites, cottages, and villas, mostly with sea sees and private balconies or terraces. Ninety percent highlight hydromassage baths, and numerous have private outer hot tubs or warmed pools. A kids’ club and adolescent movement program keep junior guests engaged, while full-moon gatherings, nightly live music, an open-air cinema, watersports focus, b-ball court, and more are on offer for all
2. Elounda Mare Hotel
Hotel Phone: +30 28410 68200
The first Relais & Chateaux resort in Greece, located solely in Crete, is Elounda Mare. Situated on a sandy beach with private access and scenic sea views, this five-star resort offers a heated outdoor pool accommodating all ages as well as a comprehensive wellness center containing a thalasso pool circuit. Gourmet cuisine is exceptionally prepared at the three acclaimed al fresco restaurants and one lounge found on site, while guests can also partake of the dining and bars at the affiliated properties Porto Elounda and Elounda Peninsula. All rooms and suites boast magnificent scenery over Mirabello Bay from private balconies and terraces, in addition to lavish bathrooms and daily housekeeping services twice daily. Bungalows, villas, and the Minoan Palace expand on gardens and private swimming pools capable of being heated upon request
3. Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort
Hotel Phone: +30 28410 68000
This family-friendly, luxurious resort situated on a sandy cove has a beachfront pool area and a nine-hole golf course. Considered the top Crete destination for families, Porto Elounda is home to an extensive children`s club adjoining an aquatic amusement park, two pools (one for toddlers and another for older kids), waterslides, soccer programs, dance lessons, and additional supervised activities. Teens enjoy access to waterskiing, soccer, scuba diving classes, sailing, golf, and tennis lessons, along with a dedicated space for tabletop gaming. Rooms and one to two-bedroom suites offer sea views and furnished balconies with the option to add a shared or private pool. Villas all incorporate a private pool, garden, and two bedrooms. Two flavorful Mediterranean restaurants, a beach bar, and poolside bar are available, along with 24-hour room service. Guests here may access all dining at adjacent Elounda Mare and Elounda Peninsula.
4. Elounda Peninsula All Suites Hotel
Hotel Phone: +30 28410 68250
This luxurious resort boasts an exceptionally scenic location on a secluded white sandy beach with a pool directly facing the ocean, a private yacht, and an open-air cinema. Ideal for large families, groups of friends, or wedding parties, the property features spacious accommodations ranging from junior suites measuring 48 square meters to expansive 7-bedroom villas accommodating up to fourteen guests. All include private terraces, lavishly appointed bathrooms with separate showers and soak tubs, along with a complimentary bottle of wine or champagne. Apart from a few junior suites and one villa (the Koufonisi) situated directly on the shore with direct beach access, the rest have privately owned heated swimming pools. The culinary offerings feature a new outpost of a renowned Tuscan eatery from Il Borro, an Asian-fusion restaurant, a la carte Greek breakfast, a breezy lounge, and a wine cellar providing tastings. Guests may also utilize the dining and children`s facilities at Elounda Mare and Porto Elounda.
5. Elounda Gulf Villas
Hotel Phone: +30 28102 27721
This sophisticated hillside resort in Crete offers a luxurious escape with wellness and family activities. Guests can relax beside two sparkling pools or indulge in holistic treatments at the on-site spa. Young children will enjoy guided programs at the kids` club while parents dine at the casual beachfront restaurant or gourmet dining room highlighting local seafood and produce. Suites and villas contain lavish bathrooms, separate lounges, and room service until midnight. High-end accommodations add exclusive amenities like private heated pools, outdoor whirlpools, massage rooms and saunas.
6. Domes of Elounda
Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
Situated on a pristine stretch of natural sandy Driros Beach offering scenic vistas of the island Spinalonga, this five-star luxury resort encompasses four gastronomic establishments and four bars innovatively fusing Cretan, Greek and street cuisine with local wines, artisanal cocktails and fresh juices. State-of-the-art amenities include a serene spa complex featuring multiple outdoor and indoor heated pools, as well as separate adults-only and family pool areas and kid/teen clubs. Spacious one to four-bedroom accommodations ranging from 58 to 450 square meters open onto furnished outdoor areas outfitted with private whirlpools or pools, while villas additionally boast climatized examples. Conveniently locating within a 15-minute stroll or brief drive of the marine gateway at Plaka Marina for ferry transport to Spinalonga, the tranquil Gulf of Korfos setting promotes relaxation.
7. Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa
Hotel Phone: +30 28410 44700
This chic boutique property perched atop coastal cliffs showcases breathtaking vistas towards the historic isle of Spinalonga. On the prominent sea-view terraces, two free-flowing pools wind through three Mediterranean eateries and two lounges. Accommodations climb the hillside accessible through glass-walled lifts gifting awe-inspiring prospects during the ascent. All rooms, suites and villas include furnished private terraces for al fresco dining; most feature private, heated outdoor pools for relaxation. Music, wine tastings and a full-service spa enhance the experience within the principal building. Downhill, the hotel`s beach club and restaurant front a pebbled cove in Plaka, reached by complimentary transport. A brief walk from the club reveals the quaint Plaka Marina organizing tours to the renowned isle.
8. Elounda Bay Palace
Hotel Phone: +30 28410 67000
This five-star seaside resort, positioned in a garden setting, highlights an outside saltwater pool area, a separate children`s pool zone, and fronts two white sandy beaches. It provides a wide variety of lodging options, like standard rooms, suites, bungalows, and villas, all with private balconies or terraces and marble bathrooms. Views vary from mountainous, garden, to ocean over Mirabello Bay. Enhanced rooms have shared or personal heated pools, and the most spacious villas boast fully equipped kitchens and up to three bedrooms accommodating six guests. Dining selections include four restaurants and three bars, offering Cretan and Greek cuisine by the sea and poolside. Visitors here have access to all eateries, the spa, and the kids’ club at their neighboring property, Elounda Beach Hotel.
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