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Five-star One MICHELIN Key Agios Nikolaos, south of Elounda, Elounda

Minos Palace Resort

An adults-only resort on its own small peninsula in Mirabello Bay, a mile from the harbour of Agios Nikolaos, with sea on almost every side.

Fly to Elounda

Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.

MICHELIN
One Key
Guests
Adults only
Open since
1981
From the airport
About 55 minutes from Heraklion

The hotel

A peninsula of its own on Mirabello Bay.

The Mamidakis family opened Minos Beach in Agios Nikolaos in the 1960s, and Minos Palace followed on the next headland, receiving guests since 1981. For eight years it ran under the TUI Sensimar name. In 2019 it took its own name back, and a long rebuilding began, finishing in the summer of 2026 with a row of lagoon suites, each with a private pool that spills into a long curved pool above the Aegean. The same family also runs Candia Park Village, a resort for families.

The resort sits between Agios Nikolaos and Elounda on a spit of land with water on three sides. Some rooms face the town across the bay, others the open sea. Underground there is now a wellbeing centre called nao, and on the shore an arch of more than a thousand hanging lenses looks out at the water. The beach inside the peninsula holds a blue flag, and the town harbour is close.

  • The infinity pool A long pool at the edge of the peninsula, ringed by cabanas and floating beds, singled out by the MICHELIN inspectors.
  • nao The wellbeing centre below ground, with cryotherapy, infrared beds, a spa circuit with hot and cold plunge pools and body assessments.
  • On the water A blue flag beach, a sandy cove inside the peninsula and a diving and watersports centre, with boat trips around the bay.

Rooms & suites

Terraces over the bay, and pools for the suites.

Every room has a terrace or balcony. The categories are named for the view: Sunrise, Sunset, Zen and Infinity.

  • Rooms Sunrise and Sunset Sea View rooms Doubles facing east towards the morning sun or west towards the town and the sunset.
  • Pool suite Infinity Lagoon Suite The newest category, finished in 2026. Each private freshwater pool runs into a curved lagoon pool above the sea, with a shaded terrace and a daybed.
  • Signature Waterfall Suite The top suite in the MICHELIN listing, with a pool of its own.

Dining

Cretan cooking by the sea.

Venues as listed by the tourism board and Time Out. Shown for information.

  • amar Mediterranean, Cretan recipes Above the beach; grilled octopus with fava
  • mom All day, buffet and à la carte Indoor and outdoor terrace by the pool
  • nama Pool Bar Cocktails and light plates Beside the pool
  • mosa Beach Bar Cocktails On the beach

Good to know

Before you go.

  • Arrival Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am.
  • Adults only Guests under 18 are not accepted, and the MICHELIN Guide lists no extra beds.
  • Pets The MICHELIN Guide marks the hotel as pet friendly. We confirm the rule with the resort before booking.

Getting there

Flying to Elounda.

Heraklion airport is about 55 minutes away by car. Private jets use Heraklion too, with a slot and prior permission in summer, so the drive is the same. The centre of Agios Nikolaos is a short walk from the resort.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights Heathrow and Gatwick have British Airways services, and easyJet, Jet2 and TUI add more London departures. From Paris there are Aegean, easyJet and Sky Express to Charles de Gaulle, and Transavia to Orly all year. Request a fare Private Jet Private aviation Heavy jets fit on the 2,714-metre main runway. In summer a landing needs prior permission, requested 48 hours ahead, and a slot; overnight parking is never guaranteed at the peak, and Chania is a common place to reposition. Request a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet to Elounda
  • Athens 45 min
  • Milan 2 h 40
  • Geneva 3 h 00
  • Paris 3 h 30
  • London 3 h 55

Questions

What guests ask first.

Does Minos Palace Resort accept children?
No. The resort is for adults only, and guests under 18 are not accepted.
How far is Minos Palace from Heraklion airport?
About 55 minutes by car. The resort is just outside Agios Nikolaos, on the road towards Elounda.
Does Minos Palace Resort hold a MICHELIN Key?
Yes, one. It is the MICHELIN Key hotel on the Gulf of Mirabello.
Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Elounda?
Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Elounda, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.

Also in Elounda

Other hotels worth the trip.

All of Elounda

Staying at Minos Palace Resort?

Book the room, then the flight.

Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Elounda, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.

Business & First Private Jet

Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.