Elounda
Elounda is a small seaside town on Crete's northern coast, known for luxury resorts and boat trips to Spinalonga.
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Elounda is a small town on the northern coast of Crete, part of the municipality of Agios Nikolaos. The name is also spelled Elounta or Elouda. Visitors come for its seaside luxury resorts, and it is the closest major town to Spinalonga, the former leper colony on the island of Kalydon, which is reached by boat. The town has seven villages, and Schisma, also called Elounda Centre, is the most populated.
Olous, an ancient Greek city, was the earliest recorded settlement at Elounda, and parts of its remains lie under the sea. Divers can see some of them in Elounda Bay. The road from Agios Nikolaos is about 12 km long, follows the shore and climbs a small mountain. On a clear day, the viewpoints along it look over Mirabello Bay and the eastern tip of Crete. Local KTEL buses run through the day between Elounda, Plaka and Agios Nikolaos.
Elounda in five
- Sleep in Elounda for calm, Agios Nikolaos for choiceElounda has small beaches, a harbor with tavernas and resorts. Agios Nikolaos has more restaurants and nightlife, and the two are about 10 km apart.Agios Nikolaos
- Book the morning boat to SpinalongaShort crossings leave from Elounda and nearby Plaka. Go early to avoid midday heat and cruise-bus crowds, and check ticket rules on the official site before you plan a day around it.
- Swim and snorkel near the Olous ruinsThe ruins of ancient Olous lie in shallow water near the causeway at the village edge, a snorkeler's stop. Bring water shoes, since the rocks are sharp.
- Rent a car if you stay more than two nightsTaxis work for dinner, but the east's villages and beaches are best by car. Reserve ahead for summer, and expect to park beside the harbor.Getting around Greece
- Combine it with the rest of the eastAdd Kritsa, Gournia and the Lasithi Plateau as day loops. Leave west Crete for a separate trip based in Hania.Crete travel guide
Things to do in Elounda
See all attractions in Elounda
Need to know
- Airport
- Heraklion (HER), about 70 km west, around 1–1.25 hours
- Getting there
- Road or KTEL bus via Agios Nikolaos; transfers from the airport
- Getting around
- Walking in the village; taxi or rental car for the bay and villages
- Best base
- Elounda village, the harbor or one of the bay resorts
- Time needed
- 2–4 nights as a calm base, with a Spinalonga morning
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Mild, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low8°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Mild, flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Spring, EasterAprilClear
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm, calmMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low22°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calmer
- OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, quietOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Mild, closingNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, closing
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Elounda, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Elounda
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 66%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 10%
Elounda
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°14°10%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Tue21°14°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed18°13°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu14°11°8%Thursday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri12°10°6%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat13°10°5%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun14°10°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 10:22 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Agios Nikolaosabout 15 minutes by carA lakeside harbor town for dinner and a wider choice.Read the guide
- Spinalongaabout 15–25 minutes by boatA Venetian island fortress and former leper colony.
- Iraklioabout 1.25 hours by roadKnossos and the museum, a long day or an airport stop.Read the guide
Before you go to Elounda
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Rules for Elounda, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public places in Greece, including most bars and restaurants. Check local signs before you light up.
- Do not take objects from the ancient remains at Elounda Bay or from Spinalonga. Greek law protects antiquities, and fines apply.
- The European emergency number is 112. Ask your hotel or the local police station for the nearest medical service.
Plan around Elounda
Athens, the islands and the mainland
Read the guideAgios NikolaosThe livelier town 10 km south of Elounda
Read the guideCrete travel guideSplitting a trip between east, center and west
Read the guideHaniaThe western Crete base with a Venetian harbor
Read the guideIraklioKnossos and the main Crete airport
Read the guideElounda FAQ
Is Elounda worth visiting?
Yes for a calm bay stay and the Spinalonga boat, less so for sights. The village is small, so most visitors pair it with a day in Agios Nikolaos and a trip to Knossos.
How do you get to Spinalonga from Elounda?
By short boat rides from Elounda or nearby Plaka, usually running in the morning to late afternoon in season. Check the current schedule and ticket details on the operator and site pages.
Is Elounda or Agios Nikolaos better?
Elounda is quieter, with resorts and calm swimming. Agios Nikolaos has more restaurants and nightlife and is cheaper. They are about 10 km apart, so you can sleep in one and eat in the other.
How far is Elounda from Heraklion airport?
About 70 km, roughly 1–1.25 hours by road. Many hotels arrange transfers, and buses run to Agios Nikolaos with a change for Elounda.
Do you need a car in Elounda?
For a resort stay, no. For villages, beaches and Spinalonga logistics, yes. Taxis are handy for dinner in Agios Nikolaos, and a one-day rental can cover the rest.