- Region
- Mirabello, Lasithi
- Distance
- About 10 km from Agios Nikolaos
- Boats
- To Spinalonga and around the gulf
- Nearby
- Plaka, Kolokytha, Olous
Spinalonga
Excursion boats run from Elounda harbour to Spinalonga, the Venetian island fortress that became a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. Schedules vary with the season; the shortest crossing is from Plaka, 6 km further north.
Poros, the windmills and Olous
At Poros, south of the harbour, a canal cut by the French in 1897–98 separates the Spinalonga (Kalydon) peninsula from the mainland. Three old windmills stand by the salt pans. Parts of the ancient city of Olous lie in the shallows nearby and can be seen when the sea is calm.
Beaches
Elounda's own beaches are small. The best nearby is Kolokytha, on the peninsula near the chapel of Agios Loukas, with clear turquoise water; it is reached by a dirt road and a short walk.
Staying
Elounda has some of Crete's most expensive resorts as well as simple rooms. The harbour square is the place for an evening walk.
Questions before you go
How do I get to Spinalonga from Elounda?
By excursion boat from the harbour; Plaka has a shorter crossing.
What is the sunken city at Elounda?
The remains of ancient Olous, partly underwater near Poros.
Is Kolokytha beach worth visiting?
Yes, for its clear water, but there are few facilities.
