Holidays In Elounda

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Elounda, sometimes spelled Elounta, is a pretty little coastal village on the Greek island of Crete. It is close to the town of Agios Nikolaos, and was the setting for the famous 1970s BBC TV series The Lotus Eaters and Who Pays the Ferryman. These shows created a fascination with the village that continues to this day.

Elounda can boast a pretty clock tower, and a beautiful Greek Orthodox church adorned with colourful frescoes, golden chandeliers, and numerous icons. There are also lots of interesting little shops in the town where you can buy jewellery, woven goods, and herbs and spices.

More recently, Elounda was featured in The Island, a hit novel by Victoria Hislop about the last leper colony in Europe, the neighbouring island of Spinalonga. Elounda is close to the small island of Spinalonga, which can be accessed quite easily by boat.

The traditional village of Pano Elounta is just a short walk up a hill from Elounda, and is literally like stepping back in time. Pano Elounta has been designated as an official European Heritage Site, and great care has been taken to preserve all the original features.

Elounda ...
... was built on the site of the ancient Dorian city of Olous, and the ruins of this ancient city can be seen under the sea off the shore of Elounda. If you want to take a closer look you can go snorkelling or scuba diving, and equipment can be hired in the village.

Elounda is home to a number of excellent bars and restaurants where you can have a drink or a bite to at a traditional ouzeria, cute little kaenions, funky tavernas, or modern bars and restaurants. Wherever you choose to spend the evening, you can be assured of excellend food, drink, and hospitality.

Elounda is home to a wide variety of clean, blue flag beaches where you can relax in the sun. If you fancy something a little more active, you can engage in a whole range of watersports such as swimming, scuba diving, sailing, or windsurfing.

The main beach is called Elounda Municipal Beach, and this is the closest to the centre of the village. During the summer months it can get a little crowded, so if you fancy a bit of peace and quiet you might be better off heading a little further afield to Elounda Rocky Beach. This guide to visitor attractions in Elounda was written by Bonny Kominek. For great deals on Elounda hotels visit the Octopus Travel website.