Elounda (Crete, Greece)

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Elounda is located in E Crete, in the N of the Prefecture of Lassithi, 6 mls N of Aghios Nikolaos and 42 mls E of Heraklion and its airport. It faces E/NE on the Elounda Bay, opposite Spinalonga Peninsula, with an island of the same name off the N tip; the peninsula is linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty which sustained tourist development has failed to spoil.

Once a small fishing village, Elounda still retains a certain charm, offering an appealing mixture of old and new. It has an attractive harbour surrounded by cafes and bars where you can sit and watch the world go by, and a somewhat crowded, noisy town square with a busy car park catering to the many day visitors. Demand for ever more lively nightlife has led to an increase in discos, disco pubs and other venues playing loud music into the small hours.

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There is something here for everyone, including walkers and snorkellers. Suits a wide range of budgets.

Accommodation ranges from the finest of de luxe hotels and fully equipped complexes to basic self-catering establishments and B&Bs, all found within 1 to 2 mls of the centre.

The beach here is small, man-made, coarse sandy beach on the edge of town and a small central patch, but beaches are not one of the resort's strong points. Other small areas can be found along the coast, but it is mainly a pebbly, rocky coastline. Nevertheless, bathing is good and most water sports are available. The nearby sunken Greco-Roman city of Olous is a regular pull for snorkelling enthusiasts. The peninsula provides some attractive, secluded coves with crystal-clear water.

Shopping consists of a number of local shops that sell everyday provisions such as food and toiletries; plenty of souvenir shops and a smattering of smart jewellery outlets. 1 or 2 expensive boutiques at the larger hotels but Aghios Nikolaos is a better bet for a wider choice.

Entertainment consists of a variety of water sports and sunbathing; local boat trips; archaeological sites; good walking trails. Nightlife is fairly sophisticated evening dining and dancing at the luxury hotels; number of discos, bars and abundance of tavernas hosting Greek music and dancing evenings; other establishments catering for more Western tastes.

Any number of local-style tavernas are present for a relaxing and satisfying evening out; hotels provide menus for a more international palate. Also a supply of eateries providing more basic food for the less adventurous.

Public transport consists of hourly buses to Aghios Nikolaos; local taxis and many car- or bike-hire outlets.

Excursions consist of boat cruises and fishing trips; Venetian fortress on Spinalonga Island, a former leper colony; Aghios Nikolaos. Full day: Minoan palace of Knossos and Heraklion archaeological museum; coastal town of Sitia and nearby Vai Beach, famous for its palm forest; mountain village of Fiesta; Samaria Gorge (long day).

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Population: 10.668.400
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Greece - Athens

Country Dialling Code: +30
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

2 parallel circular prongs with a female earth connector

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.

The Olympic Games were spawned in ancient classical Greece, along with democracy and the fundamentals of philosophy, science and mathematics. Modern Greece is better known as a great place to vacation rather than a centre of learning and culture. Today the country attracts by offering simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic surprises.

The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.

On the mainland the city of Athens in the south is sprawling, overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless enthralls visitors, while Thessaloniki in the north is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. Athens is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon: the remains of other wonders of the ancient Greek classical world are to be found mainly on the Peloponnese Peninsula, south of Corinth, the gateway to a veritable treasure trove of history.

Greece and Greeks welcome with open arms the thousands of visitors that flock to admire their national assets every year - no-one leaves without having been warmed, both by the sun and the hospitality.