Excellence Luxury Villas · Elounda
Luxury Villa Rentals in Elounda
Sea-view villas with private pools above the Gulf of Elounda, looking across to Spinalonga
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A sheltered gulf, a fortress island and a long Cretan lunch
Elounda began as a fishing village on the north-east coast of Crete, and its small harbour still sends wooden boats out across a gulf so sheltered it often looks like a lake. Across the water sits Spinalonga, a Venetian fortress island that later became a leper colony. Behind the village, terraced hillsides of olive and carob climb towards the mountains, and those hillsides are where the best villas are.
Our Elounda collection runs to 50+ villas, from two-bedroom houses for couples to large family villas and apartments with infinity pools. Most look out over the gulf, and many sit on the hills between Elounda, Plaka and Vathi.
What follows covers where to stay, what to see and the best months to come.
Elounda at a glance
- Villas
- 50+ around the Gulf of Elounda, with up to 16 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £4,500 to £13,500 a week, from around £3,200
- Best areas
- Elounda village and harbour, Plaka opposite Spinalonga, and the hillsides around Vathi
- Best time
- May to October; June and September for warm seas and fewer crowds
- Airport
- Heraklion, around an hour away by road
Browse all 50+ villas in Eloundaor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Kyanos Exandra Elounda: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Tennis Court – Elounda6 bedrooms
Villa Kritsa Elounda: Luxury 16-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Elounda16 bedrooms
Spinalonga Villas 8 Greece6 bedrooms
Spinalonga Villas 3 Greece6 bedroomsWhere to stay in Elounda
Elounda village for the harbour and its tavernas, Plaka for the closest crossing to Spinalonga, the hills around Vathi for quiet and views, and Agios Nikolaos a short drive south.
Harbour tavernas below, sea views above
Elounda's harbour square is the centre of things. Boats leave from here for Spinalonga, and the tavernas along the waterfront fill up at dusk. Villas in and just above the village put dinner within a short stroll or a very short taxi ride.
Head uphill and the pace slows. Villages such as Vathi sit among olive groves on the slopes above the bay, and the reward is privacy and a wide view over the gulf to the Kolokytha peninsula. Agios Nikolaos, the regional capital, with its lake and archaeological museum, is around 11 kilometres away along a coast road that climbs over the headland.
Ten minutes across the strait to a fortress
Plaka, about five kilometres north of Elounda, is a small former fishing village facing Spinalonga across a narrow strait. Its little boats make the crossing in around ten minutes, the quickest way onto the island, though they do not run in winter.
The Venetians fortified Spinalonga in the sixteenth century and held it long after the rest of Crete fell to the Ottomans. In the twentieth century it became a leper colony, a story many British readers know from Victoria Hislop's novel The Island. Go early, before the larger boats from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos arrive, and walk the circuit of the walls while it is still cool.
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A sunken city, painted churches and a mountain plateau
A causeway south of the village crosses to the Kolokytha peninsula, past old stone windmills. In the shallows beside it lie the remains of ancient Olous, a city that slipped beneath the sea, and snorkellers can make out its walls on a calm day.
Inland, the hill village of Kritsa is worth the drive for the Byzantine frescoes of the Panagia Kera church. Higher still, the Lasithi Plateau is a broad, fertile basin ringed by mountains, and the Dikteon Cave there is where Zeus was said to have been born. For a different Crete, Chania and the west are a full day's drive away and are better treated as a second holiday.
Dakos, octopus and a glass of tsikoudia
Cretan cooking is simple and very good: dakos, a barley rusk topped with tomato and soft cheese, wild greens, slow-cooked lamb, octopus grilled on the harbour and, at the end of the meal, a small glass of tsikoudia, the island's grape spirit, usually on the house.
The season runs from May to October. July and August are hot and busy, while June and September bring warm seas and quieter boats to Spinalonga. Our concierge can arrange transfers from Heraklion, a private boat around the gulf, a chef for the villa and tables at the best tavernas.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Elounda
Villa Boreas Agios Nikolaos Elounda: 8-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Sea Views & Pool – Elounda8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £17,122 a week
Villa Kokkino Elounda: Spacious 8-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Elounda8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £16,401 a week
The Residence 4 bedroomed villa Greece4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £14,072 a week
Villa Elounda Megali | 8-Bedroom Villa in Ellinika Decentralized Admin8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £14,005 a week
Luxury 3 Bedroom Villa – Greece3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £13,428 a week
Daios Two Bedroomed Villa Greece2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £13,371 a week
The Residence 3 bedroomed villa Greece3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £12,793 a week
Villa Elounda | 8-Bedroom Villa in Nikolaos Decentralized Administrati8 bedrooms · sleeps 17From £12,723 a weekWhy book your Elounda villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Elounda's villas run from the harbour up into the hills, and we know which are within walking distance of a taverna and which have the clearest view across to Spinalonga. With 50+ properties in Elounda, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Transfers from Heraklion, car hire, private boat trips around the gulf and to Spinalonga, private chefs, taverna reservations and nannies. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Elounda?
Elounda village suits those who want to walk to the harbour and its tavernas. Plaka is quieter and closest to Spinalonga, and the hillsides around Vathi give the most privacy and the widest views over the gulf.
When is the best time to visit Elounda?
May to October is the main season. June and September are the sweet spot, with warm sea and fewer visitors, while July and August are the hottest and busiest months.
How do I get to Spinalonga from Elounda?
Boats leave from Elounda harbour throughout the season, and the crossing takes around twenty minutes. The quickest route is from Plaka, about five kilometres north, where small boats cross in around ten minutes.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Elounda?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Elounda cost?
Across our 50+ villas in Elounda, weekly rates typically range from £4,500 to £13,500, with the most affordable from around £3,200 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Elounda?
Heraklion airport is the nearest international airport, around an hour away by road. Our concierge can arrange private transfers or car hire.
Are there villas in Elounda for large groups?
Yes. Our Elounda collection includes properties with up to 16 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Elounda
50+ villas around the Gulf of Elounda, booked direct with our concierge on hand