If you are looking for an idyllic holiday destination, we suggest coming to Elounda, Crete. Celebrated for its stunning beaches for swimming and water sports, amazing sites and exciting nightlife, the seaside resort of Elounda is the ideal vacation spot for all types of tourists.
The prefecture of Lassithi, located on the eastern coast of Crete, is famous for its Palm Tree Beach, traditional Cretan villages and breathtaking natural sites that are a joy to explore.
We recommend purchasing a map of Crete that includes all the sites and attractions.
Lassithi Beaches, Crete
In the Lassithi Prefecture, you are sure to find beaches that suit your particular taste. While staying at the Elounda Palm Hotel Rooms, Suites, Bungalows and Villa, you can go swimming at the nearby Elounda Beach and Plaka Beach.
If you wish to tour the other northern coast Lassithi beaches, we recommend the beaches of Sisi, Milatos, Almyros, Ammoudara, Havania, Istro, Driros, Pachia Ammos, Mochlos, and the beaches around Sitia Town.
The eastern shore of the Lassithi Prefecture is packed with several beautiful beaches, including the well-known Palm Tree Beach of Vai – which is the only one of its kind in Europe -, and the well-known beaches of Itanos, Palekastro and Kato Zakros.
The southern Lassithi Beaches are as beautiful as those on the northern coast of the prefecture. The most renowned are the beaches of Xerokambos, Langada, Makrygialos, Agia Fotia, Ierapetra and Myrtos. We also suggest going on a day-trip to the islands off the southern coast of the Lassithi Prefecture that are called Koufonissi and Chryssi. Both islands are famed for their lovely sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
Lassithi Sightseeing, Crete
If you are a history aficionado, Crete is the perfect holiday spot. Lassithi offers a great number of excellent sites to visit. Just grab your map of Crete and be on your way. Located close to the Elounda Palm Hotel is the Ancient Site of Olous (the ancient name of Elounda), which is beneath the water and a perfect place to explore while snorkeling. Next, you can visit the impressive monasteries and churches, the Paleo-Christian Basilica and the stone windmills.
Just a 30-minute walk from Elounda is Kolokytha, a splendid area for swimming, near the ruins of the historical Church of Agios Fokas. From the traditional village of Mavrikiano, which you can reach in 20 minutes on foot from Elounda Palm Hotel, visitors are offered an exquisite view. The island of Spinalonga, host to a wonderful Venetian fortress, can be reached by tour boat from Elounda Bay.
The rest of the Lassithi Prefecture is also impressive. The Minoan Palaces in Zakros, the Ancient Cities in Itanos, Praisos and Driros and the Minoan Settlements of Myrtos, Hamezi, Palekastro, Pachia Ammos, Makrygialos and Gournia, rival even the famous Knossos and Phaistos Minoan Palaces in Heraklion.
To see some of the wonderful archaeological finds, we suggest visiting the Archaeological Museums in Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Ierapetra. For a taste of genuine Cretan life, you can tour the Folklore Museums in Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Ierapetra.
Other interesting sites are the Toplou Monastery in Sitia, the Panagia Kera Byzantine Church in Kritsa, the Venetian Fortress "Kazarma" in Sitia and the Kales Fortress in Ierapetra.
If you like roaming through natural sites, you should include the spellbinding Palm Tree Forest in Vai, the stunning Milatos Cave and the beautiful Cha and Chavga Gorges in your touring schedule. No trip to Lassithi is complete without a stroll through the town of Agios Nikolaos to admire its lake and charming port.
Getting to the Elounda Palm Hotel
From Heraklion Airport, get onto the main road, in the direction of Agios Nikolaos, going away from Heraklion Town. Continue on this road for approximately 60 km, passing the town of Malia. As you approach Agios Nikolaos Town, you will come to a set of traffic lights, where you will turn left, following the signs posted to Elounda, approximately 7 km. Go up and down a hill with a magnificent view of Elounda Gulf. Just before entering Elounda Town, you will see Elounda Palm Hotel, a complex of cream and light brown colours, on your right hand side.
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Map of Crete Island |
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Getting to Elounda and the Lassithi Prefecture, Crete
 To Lassithi, Crete from Athens by ferry boat or airplane:
Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos":
Tel. +30 210 353-0000
Olympic Airlines Athens:
Tel. +30 210 966-6666 or 801-11-44444
Piraeus Port:
Tel. +30 210 422-6001 to 03
To Lassithi Crete from Thessaloniki by airplane:
" Macedonia " Thessaloniki Airport:
Tel. +30 2310 985-000 or +30 2310 473-212
Olympic Airlines Thessaloniki:
Tel. +30 2310 368-311
You can reach Athens and Thessaloniki from Lassithi, Crete by ferry boat and from Heraklion, Crete by airplane:
Agios Nikolaos Port: Tel. +30 28410 22312
Sitia Port: Tel. +30 28430 22310
The "Nikos Kazantzakis" Heraklion Airport:
Tel. +30 2810 397-129, +30 2810 397-136 or
+30 2810 397-800
Sitia Airport: Tel. +30 28430 24424
Olympic Airlines Sitia:
Tel. +30 28410 22270 or +30 28410 24666
From Sitia and Agios Nikolaos Ports, you can also travel to some islands in the Dodecanese Cluster (Chalki, Karpathos, Kasos and Rhodes) as well as Milos Island in the Cyclades.
Other useful phone numbers:
Elounda Rural Hospital: Tel. +30 28410 41563
Agios Nikolaos Hospital: Tel. +30 28410 66000
Elounda Police: Tel. +30 28410 41348
Agios Nikolaos Tourist Police: Tel. +30 28410 91409
Agios Nikolaos Police: Tel. +30 28410 90400
From the Elounda Palm Suites, Rooms, Bungalows & Villa in Lassithi, Crete, visitors can easily reach the following destinations:
Elounda Town: 1 km
Elounda Beach: 500 meters
Plaka Beach: 1,5 km
Agios Nikolaos Port & Town: 7 km
Heraklion Airport: 68 km
Herakion Port: 69 km
Supermarket: 500 meters
Bus Stop: 50 meters
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