Best for
Families and friends sharing a Crete holiday should consider Elounda Gulf Villas for separate bedrooms and kitchen facilities in its larger villas.
Best for
Families and friends sharing a Crete holiday should consider Elounda Gulf Villas for separate bedrooms and kitchen facilities in its larger villas.
What makes it special
Arrange the hotel's boat trip to Spinalonga to explore its Venetian fortress, adding a historical excursion to days spent around your villa.
Room to consider
For private workouts and sauna time, consider the one-bedroom Imperial Spa Villa; its gym, steam bath and sauna stay within your accommodation.
Insider tip
Request the shuttle for beach days: the private Beach Club is a 15-minute drive away, rather than directly below the villas.
Free membership gives you access to preferred rates, exclusive benefits and current promotions for your stay.
Elounda Gulf Villas is a hillside hotel above Mirabello Bay on Crete's northeast coast. Its 18 private pool villas and 15 suites form a small collection of places to stay, with terraces and living spaces arranged around the slope. The setting looks toward the sea, but the hotel's beach club is a separate destination along the coast. Life at the main property centers on the accommodation, the shared pool and Argo Restaurant, with Elounda and Agios Nikolaos within reach for evenings out.
The outlook varies between the gardens and the sea, with a balcony or terrace according to the suite.
The bedroom sits apart from the main living room, with a dining corner in the lounge. Doors open from this shared space toward the balcony or terrace beyond it. Painted ceiling details and polished floors bring a classic note to the suite's design. A garden-facing version frames olive trees and a low stone wall through tall glass doors. Pale lounge chairs and a sofa gather around a small wooden table in that room. The bedroom uses white wall paneling with dark wooden furniture beside the bed. Its bathroom pairs a long double vanity with a broad wood-framed mirror, while the tub sits along the stone wall. The main pool is close by.
The bedroom sits apart from the main living room, with a dining corner in the lounge. Doors open from this shared space toward the balcony...
A skylight brings daylight into the bathroom. Pool heating can be requested for an extra fee.
The bedroom and sitting corner share an open room, with tall doors leading toward the gulf. Loungers stand beside the infinity pool, where the water seems to meet the coast beyond. Colored lighting adds a distinct touch to the pool after dark. Some designs pair deep blue walls with white paneling and a striped headboard behind the bed. In one suite, a pale sofa stands beside the door to the bathroom. Sheer curtains soften the glass, with light fabrics set against the richer wall color. The bathroom has a glass shower screen and a broad basin on a dark vanity. Pale stone runs up the walls, making a bright contrast with the bedroom.
The bedroom and sitting corner share an open room, with tall doors leading toward the gulf. Loungers stand beside the infinity pool, where the water...
The main pool and children's pool sit close to these suites within the hillside resort.
Two bedrooms sit apart from the shared lounge and dining room, with different designs in each sleeping space. Painted ceilings add a classic note to the stone-lined bathrooms. Some suites have a split-level layout, with a white staircase rising beside the main lounge. In that design, an oval dining table stands beyond a sofa and a woven armchair. Small dark accents mark the pale floor, which links the sitting corner to the dining area. One bedroom has white paneled walls with pendant lamps on either side of the bed. The other has a writing table near a tall window, with two chairs facing the view. These rooms give the suite a warm, residential feel.
Two bedrooms sit apart from the shared lounge and dining room, with different designs in each sleeping space. Painted ceilings add a classic note to...
A working fireplace anchors the shared living room, with the kitchen open beside the lounge. The terrace has distinct dining and sunbathing corners around the villa's sea-water pool. Inside, the bedrooms have their own designs, with furniture that varies from room to room. One version pairs a white paneled headboard with a broad wooden desk and pale stone floors. Interior shutters frame the window, with a warm wood tone balancing the light walls. An outdoor design has a curved stone wall that follows the edge of the water. A round table and woven chairs stand beneath a white pergola, with loungers arranged nearby. Large glass doors link the pale lounge to this outdoor space.
A working fireplace anchors the shared living room, with the kitchen open beside the lounge. The terrace has distinct dining and sunbathing corners around the...
Pool heating is available at an extra charge. In-villa wellness treatments can be arranged on request.
The pool curves around its built-in Jacuzzi, with a jet for swimming against the current. Inside, the kitchen opens to the lounge, while the bedroom has its own bathroom. Some interiors pair warm wood floors with white paneled walls and windows facing the trees. In one design, a long double vanity faces a tub beneath a window with dark blinds. Cream stone wraps around the bath and continues across the floor, edged by a brown border. Tall glass doors bring light into the bedroom, with green leaves beyond the sheer curtains. A gym below a white staircase has wood floors and mirrored walls.
The pool curves around its built-in Jacuzzi, with a jet for swimming against the current. Inside, the kitchen opens to the lounge, while the bedroom...
The suite has a split-level layout, with a wellness space apart from the main sleeping area. The bedroom and sitting corner share an open room, looking out toward the gulf. Beyond the glass doors, the sea-water pool has an infinity edge and built-in massage jets. Some versions pair deep blue walls with white paneling and pale fabrics around the sleeping space. A small round table and two chairs stand against the paneled wall in one design. Tall glass panels frame the water, with the doors opening beside the bed. The blue and white palette gives that room a fresh coastal feel, while the separate wellness level adds a more private retreat.
The suite has a split-level layout, with a wellness space apart from the main sleeping area. The bedroom and sitting corner share an open room,...
The lounge and dining room face the gulf from the villa's hillside setting. The kitchen joins this open room, with the bedrooms set beyond the main living space. Two bedrooms share a bathroom, while the main bedroom has its own. A Jacuzzi forms part of the pool, beside separate corners for dining and sunbathing. One kitchen design has dark wood cabinets opposite a pale table and broad sliding doors. Small brown accents mark the cream stone floor, linking the indoor room to the terrace. Bedroom designs include a white paneled headboard beneath wide windows facing the sea. Light curtains frame the view, with warm neutral fabrics adding a soft touch around the bed.
The lounge and dining room face the gulf from the villa's hillside setting. The kitchen joins this open room, with the bedrooms set beyond the...
Three levels connect by an elevator. Pool heating is on request at an extra charge.
Tall glass doors open from the main lounge straight onto the stone terrace beside the water. The kitchen forms part of the shared room, away from the two private sleeping areas. The infinity pool has a Jacuzzi and a jet for swimming against the current. One interior pairs a cream sofa with round wooden tables and a broad ribbed pendant lamp. Small dark diamonds mark the pale floor, which continues toward the open terrace doors. In that design, stone walls border the outdoor space, with trees beyond the water. Sheer curtains soften the glass, while warm neutral fabrics and a woven rug bring texture to the lounge.
Tall glass doors open from the main lounge straight onto the stone terrace beside the water. The kitchen forms part of the shared room, away...
Full-height windows frame the main living room, with the kitchen open along one side. The terrace has a dining area beside the pool and its built-in Jacuzzi. Painted bathroom ceilings and modern vanity pieces add a classic touch to the private rooms. In one bedroom design, a dark wooden headboard stands against white paneling and warm taupe walls. Tall narrow windows frame small views of the coast, with sheer curtains falling to the floor. A pale armchair and slim console stand nearby beneath a large round mirror. The contrast between dark wood and light fabrics gives this room a warm, calm feel within the villa's shared coastal setting.
Full-height windows frame the main living room, with the kitchen open along one side. The terrace has a dining area beside the pool and its...
Pool heating is on request at extra cost. Yoga and private training also cost extra.
Private bathrooms adjoin each bedroom, beyond the shared rooms at the heart of the villa. The lounge opens to the kitchen, while the bedrooms have views across the coast. A round Jacuzzi sits within the pool's curve, beside a jet for swimming against the current. Individual bedroom designs include white paneled headboards and gently pitched ceilings above the sleeping area. In one room, a broad window frames the gulf, with plants just outside the glass. A slim standing mirror and small bedside tables add a light touch to that space. Other interiors include a sitting corner with rough stone walls and wooden shutters.
Private bathrooms adjoin each bedroom, beyond the shared rooms at the heart of the villa. The lounge opens to the kitchen, while the bedrooms have...
Dining and pool heating are on request; heating costs extra.
This two-level villa sits beside the beach, apart from the main resort on the hillside. The lounge has a fireplace, with a dining room and kitchen forming the shared living area. Beyond the doors, the paved terrace and gardens extend toward the shore and the pool. Warm neutral colors run through the lounge, with muted tones continuing into the bedrooms. One lounge pairs a pale sofa with a broad window and a dark-topped console. A low table sits in front of the sofa, beneath gentle lighting around the ceiling. Bedroom designs include muted green walls and white paneling. A woven pendant lamp and pale fabrics bring warmth to that private space.
This two-level villa sits beside the beach, apart from the main resort on the hillside. The lounge has a fireplace, with a dining room and...
The area is approximate. Pool heating costs extra.
The upper living floor brings together the lounge, dining space and kitchen behind broad glass doors. Bedrooms occupy the floor below, each with a bathroom of its own. A working fireplace forms the center of one sitting area, beside further corners for lounging. Outside, the pool has a crescent shape with two Jacuzzi tubs built into its curve. The current interior pairs warm wood floors with deep blue and green lounge furniture. White wall panels and a group of round mirrors add texture around the dining space. One bedroom has mustard-colored cabinets opposite a dark wooden headboard, with doors facing the gardens. Different colors give the private rooms their own character.
The upper living floor brings together the lounge, dining space and kitchen behind broad glass doors. Bedrooms occupy the floor below, each with a bathroom...
The One Bedroom Deluxe Suites measure 60 to 75 square meters and accommodate up to three guests. A king or twin beds, a living room with a dining area and a marble bathroom give them a residential layout. The bathroom has a bathtub and separate walk-in shower, with a trompe-lœil ceiling adding an unexpected decorative detail. Italian fabrics soften the interiors, and views vary between the sea and gardens. These suites are close to the main pool rather than having pools of their own.
For a family, the Two Bedroom Deluxe Family Suite offers 100 to 120 square meters, with a double bedroom and a separate twin room. Its living room opens the layout beyond the sleeping spaces, and a furnished balcony faces the sea. There is a marble bathroom, and the category accommodates up to five guests. The main pool is nearby, keeping shared swimming within easy reach of these larger suites.
The One Bedroom Sea View Serenity Pool Suite takes a different approach. At 30 to 45 square meters, it is smaller indoors and accommodates two, with an open-plan bedroom and sitting area. A skylight brings daylight into the marble bathroom. Outside, the terrace has loungers beside a private infinity pool with hydro and air-massage features. Adjustable colored lighting changes the pool's appearance after dark. Pool heating can be requested at an additional charge.
The Two Bedroom Elounda Pool Villa provides 100 square meters for four guests. Both bedrooms have en suite marble bathrooms, while an open-plan kitchen and living room lead into the shared part of the villa. A dishwasher and washing machine are useful details for a longer stay. Outdoors, a furnished lounge and dining area sit beside the private pool and Jacuzzi, allowing meals to move onto the terrace.
In the One Bedroom Imperial Spa Villa, the facilities extend to a private gym, sauna and steam bath. This category spans 100 to 150 square meters and accommodates up to three guests. It has a king bedroom with an en suite marble bathroom, plus a large living room and open-plan kitchen. The sea-facing pool includes a Jacuzzi and a counter-current jet for resistance swimming. The wider collection also includes two-bedroom Executive, three-bedroom Presidential and four-bedroom Royal Spa Villas, as well as the three-bedroom Sea View Prestige Pool Villa.
The hillside layout gives the terraces their outlook, but it also means that routes between accommodation and shared facilities vary. Guests needing step-free access should discuss the specific villa or suite and its approach with the hotel.
The Private Beach Club is around a 15-minute drive from the resort, with a daily private shuttle available on request. Its sandy shore looks across the bay toward Spinalonga. Beach service includes lunch, snacks and drinks, so a visit can extend beyond a quick swim without returning to Argo for a meal. Water sports can also be arranged. This is the hotel's seaside setting, separate from the elevated terraces and pools at the main property; transfers should be coordinated with the team.
Argo Restaurant serves breakfast, daytime meals and dinner, with Mediterranean and international cooking shaped by Greek influences. Breakfast runs from 8:30 to 11 a.m., followed by daytime dining from noon to 4 p.m. and a separate evening service. The kitchen draws on Cretan produce and its network of farms and suppliers, with fish also part of the dining approach. Its smart-casual setting gives the hotel a place to gather for dinner beyond the individual villas. The menu's regional focus also connects a stay on the hillside with the food traditions of the island.
Beside the main pool, Argo Lounge Bar changes with the hour. Coffee, juices and smoothies suit the daytime, while cocktails and spirits carry it into the evening. Snacks are served too, allowing the pool area to function as a place to meet as well as swim. For a meal in your own outdoor space, the hotel can arrange a private-villa barbecue. Olive-oil and Cretan wine tastings offer other ways to explore local flavors without turning every meal into a restaurant outing.
Elixir Spa offers full-body massages and other treatments, with sessions also available in a guest's suite or villa. The concierge can coordinate appointments around the stay.
The Cool Crèche and Kids Club cater to two age groups, one to three and four to eleven. Supervised activities include sports, yoga, music, dancing, treasure hunts and open-air play. The program gives children time with others beyond the family accommodation. Crèche care and babysitting are arranged on request at an additional charge, with at least 48 hours' notice required. Parents can coordinate those sessions with a treatment, meal or excursion rather than assume care is available at any moment.
Elounda lies about 10 kilometers north of Agios Nikolaos, with Plaka and Spinalonga among the coastal places to explore. The hotel arranges sailing and yacht excursions, as well as visits to Spinalonga. Kolokytha and the lagoon around the Spinalonga peninsula add other settings for time on the water. Away from the villa terraces, these outings reveal more of the bays and small settlements along this part of Crete.
Heraklion, around 65 kilometers away, is the principal arrival route by plane or ferry, followed by a road transfer to Elounda. The drive follows the island's northeastern coast, with the final approach bringing guests up to the hillside property. Elounda Gulf Villas operates seasonally and closes for winter from November through March. Its calendar is therefore tied to the warmer part of the Cretan year, when beach-club visits, pool terraces and coastal excursions shape much of the stay.
Supervised games, music and outdoor play give children their own holiday activities; the crèche also supports families with younger children on request.
Argo Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, making it possible to stay for meals when you do not feel like cooking.
From a sea-view villa's furnished outdoor lounge, you can look across Mirabello Bay while reading or enjoying a drink outside.
Mesa Pigadakia, Schisma Eloundas, 72053 Elounda, Greece
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Three nights works for a short Elounda stop, but five to seven nights is better if you choose a villa and want the stay to feel relaxed. With a longer stay, you can enjoy pool time, Elounda village, Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga, the beach-club setup, and a few slow days without rushing.
Yes, if you plan a mostly villa-focused stay and use transfers or taxis for Elounda, Plaka, Agios Nikolaos, and the beach-club area. A rental car is better if you want to explore eastern Crete independently, visit multiple beaches, or dine in different towns often. The hillside setting makes logistics worth planning.
Elounda Gulf Villas is usually around one hour by car from Heraklion Airport, depending on traffic, route, and season. That is manageable for most Crete arrivals, but it is still worth arranging a comfortable transfer after a long flight. Chania Airport is much farther and usually less practical for this part of Crete.
Yes. Elounda is one of the most practical areas for visiting Spinalonga, with boat departures commonly available from Elounda and nearby Plaka. Elounda Gulf Villas works well if you want to combine a villa stay with a half-day cultural excursion. Go earlier in the day during hot summer months.
The key dining names are Argo and Daphni. Argo is the more relaxed poolside restaurant for easy meals through the day, while Daphni is the more elevated sea-view dining setting. This suits guests who want a small-property feel without having to leave every evening for dinner in Elounda or Agios Nikolaos.
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