Villas in Elounda

There are a few different vineyards and wineries around Crete, one of the best being the Dourakis Winery, which can be found in between Rethymno and Chania near to the village of Alikambos – providing wine tasting and tours of the vineyards. This is worth a visit if you wanted to take a trip across to the other side of the island.

From Elounda and the village of Plaka you can take a boat trip to Spinalonga, which was the small island where Lepers from Crete were quarantined until 1957. A walk around here will take about an hour; however you will be tempted into staying for much longer to delve into its history and admire the gorgeous sea views.

There are stunning mountain and sea views all the way along the coastal road from Agios Nikolaos to Elounda. Day trips are available with ‘Flowers of Crete’, who focus on discovering rare and beautiful wild flowers in idyllic locations all over the island. The team are dedicated to protecting and conserving the gorgeous flowers here and trips can be tailor made to suit guests’ interests and abilities.

There are two aquariums on the island of Crete, Aquaworld which is in Hersonissos and Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos in Heraklion. Aquaworld is the nearest to Elounda and Agios Nikolaos being just under an hour drive away, and it was also Crete’s first aquarium, opening in 1995. It features sea life and reptiles from all over the world, and the majority of these animals were rescued or previously injured and have been given a second chance with an amazing new home here.

The nearest water park to Elounda is Water City, situated between Hersonissos and Heraklion. The park covers 80,000 square meters and is filled with 36 different amusements, slides, pools and activities, including the biggest wave pool in Europe. Crete is also home to a few more water parks if you wanted to travel further afield for some more excitement.

Heraklion is situated just over an hour’s drive from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos, and is filled with a variety of different museums, including the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Historical Museum of Crete and The Natural History Museum of Crete. Take a day trip here to learn all about the traditional Greek and Cretan history and culture.

Heraklion is the best place to visit if you want to see many of Crete’s beautiful churches and cathedrals, such as Agios Titos Church and the Cathedral of St. Minas. They are all filled with history and plenty of beautiful artwork that will take your breath away.

The Palace of Knossos is situated 5km southeast of Heraklion, which is around an hours’ drive from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Knossos was the first capital city of Crete and this monument is the most important on the whole island. The Palace of Knossos is also connected to several thrilling legends, including the myth of the Labyrinth, Daidalos and Ikaros and the Minotaur. This amazing historical site is definitely worth the visit and you won’t be disappointed.