Five-star Elounda, Elounda
Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas
Open since 1971: villas and bungalows terraced along sixty acres of shore, two private sandy beaches, and pools heated to 26 °C at the water's edge.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- MICHELIN
- In the selection, no Key
- Opened
- 1971
- Grounds
- 60 acres, two private beaches
- From the airport
- About an hour from Heraklion, our estimate
The hotel
Half a century on the bay.
Elounda Beach opened in 1971, and the hotel calls itself the first luxury hotel in Greece. In 1992 it became the first Greek island hotel to join The Leading Hotels of the World, and in 1995 the first in Crete to give suites and villas private pools of more than forty square metres. It first made the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List in 1997.
The buildings stay low, terraced along sixty acres of shore with wide gardens behind. In 2009 came the Yachting Villas, and in 2017 the Waterfront Dreamline renovation began, rebuilding forty villas and bungalows at the water's edge. Many of the staff have worked here for decades. Rooms in the main building have balconies, and the best of them look out over Mirabello Bay.
- Two beaches Private sandy coves, both with Blue Flags, with sunbeds, umbrellas and a beach butler.
- Heated pools The waterfront villas have private pools kept at 26 °C at no extra charge.
- On the water Scuba diving, water sports and yacht cruises, with tennis and mini golf on land.
Rooms & suites
From sea-view rooms to villas with staff.
Rooms in the main building, bungalows by the sea, and villas up to the Platinum Club, where a driver, chef or trainer can come with the stay.
- Bungalows Island Bungalow Waterfront At the edge of the sea, with more room than the main building and a private terrace or garden.
- Waterfront Yachting Villa Added in 2009, with a private heated pool; one version has its own gym.
- Platinum Club The Royal Villa Sea views, a full kitchen and both indoor and outdoor heated pools.
Dining
Five restaurants.
Restaurants named by the hotel; the MICHELIN Guide counts five in all. Shown for information.
- Dionysos Fine dining The fine dining room
- Artemis Breakfast The breakfast restaurant
- Veghera Bar Bar In the hotel
Recognition
A long list.
- The Leading Hotels of the World Member since 1992
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List First listed in 1997, and since
- World Travel Awards Greece's Leading Hotel, 2017 to 2020
Good to know
Before you go.
- Arrival Check-in from 2 pm, check-out by 11 am.
- Children Welcome, with a kids' club, babysitting on request and cots. No extra beds.
- Pets Small pets up to 5 kg, on request.
- Season The hotel opens for the summer season; it is taking bookings for summer 2027.
Getting there
Flying to Elounda.
Heraklion airport is about an hour away by car, our estimate, along the north coast road. Private jets also land at Heraklion, with prior permission and a slot in summer, so the drive is the same.
- Athens 45 min
- Milan 2 h 40
- Geneva 3 h 00
- Paris 3 h 30
- London 3 h 55
Questions
What guests ask first.
- When did Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas open?
- In 1971. The hotel celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2021.
- Does Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas have its own beach?
- Two. Both are private sandy beaches with Blue Flags, and guests have sunbeds, umbrellas and a beach butler.
- Does Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas have a MICHELIN Key?
- No. It is in the MICHELIN Guide selection for Crete without a Key.
- 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.
- Minos Palace Resort An adults-only resort on its own small peninsula in Mirabello Bay, with a Waterfall Suite that has its own pool, and a MICHELIN Key.
- Domes of Elounda Suites and villas beneath windowed domes, most of them looking straight out at Spinalonga.
- Domes Aulus Elounda An adults-only hotel with six restaurants, a rooftop bar and its own shingle beach a few minutes away.
Staying at Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas?
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.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.