Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The bay and the hotels
The water here is unusually calm because the Spinalonga peninsula shelters it, which is why the large resorts chose this coast. That has shaped the village: a working waterfront with tavernas and boats, and a series of gated properties along the shore either side.
You do not need to stay at one to use the bay. The village has public swimming, and the walk along the shore is open.
Olous, the city under the water
Cross the causeway to the peninsula and you are walking over the remains of Olous, a Greek and Roman town now partly submerged by subsidence and sea-level change. Wall lines and building outlines are visible in the shallows on a calm day, and there is an early Christian mosaic floor preserved nearby.
It is not a managed archaeological park with a ticket office. It is a shallow lagoon with ruins in it, which is either a disappointment or a delight depending on what you expected. Swim with a mask on a still morning and it is the second.
Spinalonga from here
Elounda is the main departure point for boats to Spinalonga, the fortress island that served as a leper colony into the twentieth century. Trips run through the day in season, and the island itself is the region’s most visited site.
Take an early boat: the island is small, the buildings are exposed, and it fills.
Practical notes
- The causeway and windmills at the entrance to the peninsula are the classic photograph.
- Prices in the village are higher than the Cretan average, driven by the hotels.
- Water shoes help around Olous, where the bottom is stone and ruin rather than sand.
- A car is useful, though buses run from Agios Nikolaos in season.
Last checked August 2026. Boat schedules and prices change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What is Elounda known for?
Its sheltered bay and luxury hotels, the boats to Spinalonga, and the submerged remains of the ancient town of Olous beside the causeway.
Can you see the sunken city at Elounda?
Yes, in the shallows near the causeway on a calm day. Wall lines and outlines are visible, and a mask makes them much clearer. It is an open lagoon, not a ticketed site.
How do you get to Spinalonga from Elounda?
By boat from the village harbour, with departures through the day in season. Early boats are the least crowded.
Is Elounda expensive?
The village is pricier than most of Crete because of the resort trade, though the waterfront tavernas and public swimming are open to everyone.
How far is Elounda from Agios Nikolaos?
A short drive north along the coast, with seasonal buses on the same route.
Next
Read things to do in Crete, Spinalonga, or Agios Nikolaos.