Elounda and Plaka are located on the north east coast of the Greek island of Crete. They are popular tourist destinations where summer visitors are able to enjoy spectacular views of Spinalonga, numerous local beaches, watersports and more.

Elounda boasts many hotels and apartments, restaurants, bars and cafes, in addition to a comprehensive range of shops to choose from.

History: The area of Elounda has been a population centre for thousands of years and the sparce remains of the ancient city of Olous are now under the sea close to the canal. Olous was a Dorian city at its height during the half millenia BC, frequently locked in a power struggle with the inland city of Lato (located close to the village of Kritsa). Although only a few walls now bear testament to the existence of Olous, the name Elounda and its variations are directly related to that of its ancient predecessor with Olous, Olondi and Spin Olous morphing into the modern names of Elounda and Spinalonga.

Spinalonga: The tiny island of Spinalonga, or to give it its true name Kalidon, is a popular excursion for tourists staying as far afield as Malia and other large resorts on the island. Its history is varied and reflective of Crete's turbulent past, at times having been a Venetian fortress and in its saddest incarnation as the last leper colony in Europe, the last sufferers of the disease only leaving their exiled existence in the 1950s. Most of the buildings from the various centuries remain and it is a destination guaranteed to fill the visitor with both awe and humility. Trip boats depart for the island from both the harbour at Schisma and the quayside at Plaka.

Beaches and Watersports: Numerous beaches, with various facilities abound in the area. The main beach is adjacent to the harbour and just a two minute walk from the main shopping centre (Odos Papandreou). Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for those wishing to lounge away the day in the sun and watersports are available including waterskiing plus ringo and banana rides for those adventurous enough to take a speedy trip on the water. The main beach has Blue Flag status and it is buoyed off to protect swimmers from boats, as are most of the other manned beaches. A lifeguard station sits at its centre. There are plenty of other beaches in the immediate area from Plaka in the north down to the southern side of the canal, where many of the luxury hotels sit.

Shopping: Elounda is a moderate sized village resort, a far cry from the the large towns of Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania and the big tourist resorts such as Malia and Hersonissos. It is large enough, however, to offer all necessary amenities such as banks and ATMs, numerous shops selling most things including groceries and provisions, books and newspapers, fishing tackle and chandlery, gold and jewellery, clothing, souvenirs and toys. There are also pharmacies in the village, should you need to visit. A market predominantly selling food and clothing is held every Friday morning on the road running in front of the church.

Dining Out: Elounda has a plethora of places to dine out or enjoy a drink including traditional ouzeria, kafenio and tavernas, modern bars and restaurants, located throughout the centre and in the villages beyond.

Car Hire and Excursions: There are a number of local companies offering car-hire, excursions and other travel and tourism related services in the village.

Holiday Season: The height of the season in Elounda, like most places on the island, is in the months of July and August, when the weather is at its hottest with temperatures frequently passing 40 degrees. May, June, September and October are slightly cooler, although it is not uncommon on Crete to find oneself only needing to wear short sleeves even in December! Winter as such could be regarded as falling in the months following Christmas, when the air can be damp and temperatures low.

Getting to Elounda: The closest airport to Elounda is at Heraklion. During the season many flights depart from a wide variety of European airports directly for Heraklion, although independent winter visitors may need to be a little more creative regarding routes and airlines in order to find the best deals. Elounda is less than 80km from the airport by road and a direct taxi journey will normally take about an hour. Tourist coaches timings will vary according to the number of other drop off points that they need to visit en-route.

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