Elounda is a traditional but cosmopolitan village, a picturesque fishing village in the lovely Mirabello Bay. The inhabitants live from farming, fishing and tourism and every summer welcome thousands of visitors.
Elounda is a destination for people who want a seaside holiday in a place which is neither too busy nor too isolated, having a spectacular coastline, shaded beaches, crystal clear seas and archeological interest.
The ideal base to explore the beauty of East Crete!!
PLAKA / SPINALONGA
Plaka is a small village located 3 km from Elounda, where you will see picturesque taverns and beautiful, old houses that give the impression that time has stopped here 2-3 centuries ago.
Spinalonga is a small island opposite Plaka village, also known as the Leper Island, as that is where lepers from Crete and the rest of Greece were quarantined until 1957.
You can visit Spinalonga by boat for a tour of its ruined buildings.
AGIOS NIKOLAOS
Agios Nikolaos is an international cosmopolitan seaside resort that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Many myths surround the lake, the jewel of the city, dominating its center with its imposing beauty. Some myths suggest that it is bottomless or linked to the Santorini volcano through an underground passage.
NEAPOLIS
Neapoli, the historic seat of the Municipality is about 15 minutes away from the town of Agios Nikolaos. The metropolitan church of Megali Panagia, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, stands majestically at the northern end of the main square of Neapoli. The church was erected at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century, and its construction lasted for a very long time. Also 2 km from Neapoli you will find the monastery Kremaston. It is a convent, dedicated to Archangels Michael and Gabriel. There is also an iconography workshop in the convent.
KRITSA
Village Krista is located 18 km inland from Elounda. It is a traditional village with old houses and narrow streets on the Lassithi mountains.
Furthermore, one of the most famous Byzantine monuments of Crete is located 1km before the village of Kritsa. Panagia Kera church is well known mainly because it is an exhibition of Byzantine painting in 13th and 14th century Crete. The central aisle, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, contains the oldest paintings which reflect a mixture of styles.
The CretAquarium
One of the largest Aquariums in Europe just 50 klms away from Agios Nikolaos. The magic of the sea floor and the diving experience into such a familiar yet unknown world -the sea world of the Mediterranean - cannot be described in just a few words. Sixty tanks and more than 2,000 marine organisms are not something to be missed. Walk around, explore, stop at the jellyfish tank to watch the performance of the best ballet dancers and relax at the aquarium restaurant.
CHRISSI ISLAND - IERAPETRA
Chrissi island or Gaidouronisi is located 8 miles south of Ierapetra city, in the open Libyan Sea. Chrissi takes its name (golden in Greek) after the white sand that covers the entire island and comes mainly from shell debris.
It is a flat islet very famous for its tropical blue water that cover all possible palette hues of blue and green, the protected forest with large juniper trees and the thousands of broken shells that make the sand pinkish.