I Stayed In Crete’s A-List Hideaway, And Now I Understand Why Celebrities Keep Coming Back

There are parts of Greece you visit because you want beach clubs, packed bars and a holiday that requires another holiday to recover from.

Elounda is not that place.

Sitting on the northeast coast of Crete, this little seaside town has developed quite the reputation as an A-list hideaway. Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Charlize Theron are among the celebrities who have reportedly spent time around this part of the island.

And honestly? As soon as you drive into Elounda, you understand why.

Think calm blue water, mountains tumbling towards the coastline, beautiful hotels dotted around the hills, and a general feeling that everyone has collectively agreed not to make too much noise. 

And after spending a few days exploring Elounda and the surrounding part of Crete, here are eight reasons I completely understand the appeal.

1. Elounda makes you feel like you've upgraded your holiday before you've even arrived

You know when you turn up somewhere and immediately think, “oh, this was a good decision?” That was Elounda.

The drive into town gives you sweeping views across ridiculously clear water, little boats bobbing in the bay and gorgeous hotels tucked into the landscape.

And what really struck me was how peaceful it was.

There's none of that frantic resort energy where you're dodging promoters, traffic, and someone trying to sell you a fishbowl cocktail at 11 am.

Instead, everything feels a little more grown-up.

Perhaps that's why celebrities like it. They're probably just trying to avoid fishbowls too.

2. And yes, there are some VERY nice places to stay

Our base was INNSiDE by Meliá Elounda, and it fit the location perfectly.

From the warm welcome and arrival drink to the modern, stylish room overlooking the sea, the hotel immediately felt like somewhere designed to make you slow down.

There's an infinity pool with extremely comfortable sunbeds, an open-air gym and gorgeous views out towards the water.

I spent a significant portion of the trip reading beside the pool, falling asleep beside the pool and, on one particularly successful afternoon, getting slightly sunburnt beside said pool.

The food was another highlight. Dinner at the hotel restaurant Harupi is absolutely worth booking - octopus to start, a stunning beef risotto, gooey chocolate dessert, and a wine chosen by the sommelier that was dangerously easy to drink.

Basically, the hotel gives you a very good excuse not to leave. You should, though, because there's plenty outside.

3. Elounda town is made for long seafood lunches

A few minutes away is Elounda itself, and this is where the whole Greek seaside fantasy really kicks in.

It's small, relaxed and wrapped around the water, with fishing boats in the harbour and plenty of restaurants for the essential holiday activity of eating something while staring at the sea.

One of our favourites was Nikos Fish Tavern. I also had another plate of octopus. Before Crete, octopus was something I occasionally ordered.

By the end of this holiday, it had essentially become a core personality trait.

4. You need to visit Spinalonga

Just across the water from Elounda sits Spinalonga, and it's probably the most fascinating day trip in the area.

The small island has a long and complicated history. It was heavily fortified by the Venetians and later became a leprosy colony, with people diagnosed with Hansen's disease sent there between 1903 and 1957.

Today, you can walk through the remains of the settlement, including its streets, buildings, and fortifications.

It is a genuinely moving place to explore, particularly when you consider the lives of the people who were forced to make a home there.

And then you look up, and you're surrounded by some of the clearest, bluest water imaginable.

5. Better still, hire a boat to explore the coastline

You can take a ferry to Spinalonga. Or you can have your main character on a Greek island moment and hire a boat.

We did the latter, and it was easily one of the best things we did.

You can cruise around Spinalonga, explore more of the coastline and stop in little spots for a swim or snorkel. The water around this part of Crete is so clear that you can actually see the fish swimming underneath you.

Top tip: Bring snorkelling equipment, and channel your inner Aquaman as you float around in the Cretan Sea staring at fish.

6. Agios Nikolaos gives you your dose of buzz

If Elounda is the chilled older sibling, Agios Nikolaos is the one suggesting you go out for "just one drink".

It's only a short drive away but has much more going on, with shops, bars and restaurants packed around the centre.

Its most recognisable feature is Lake Voulismeni, surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

It's lovely during the day, but I particularly liked it at night when the waterfront lights up, and everyone spills onto the terraces.

Grab a table, order some drinks, and people-watch.

7. Crete is an extremely dangerous place if you like food

And by dangerous I mean I could quite happily have eaten my way around the island for another week.

Fresh fish. Grilled octopus. Olives. Cheese. Bread. Local wine. More octopus…

Cretan food works particularly well with this sort of holiday because so much of it is simple and fresh, and even the most unsuspecting kitchens turn out 10/10 dishes.

And the local wine deserves some attention too. I began the holiday drinking it because I thought, well, I'm in Crete. I ended the holiday drinking it because I had conducted extensive research and concluded that it was very good. This is journalism.

8. The best thing about Elounda might be that you don't HAVE to do anything

This was probably my biggest takeaway from the trip.

There is plenty to do around Elounda – Spinalonga, boat trips, snorkelling, seafood restaurants, Agios Nikolaos – but you never feel like you're wasting the holiday if you decide to do absolutely none of it.

And that is surprisingly rare.

Some destinations come with an invisible checklist. Elounda basically says “sit down, have some wine, look at the sea.”

It's the kind of place where a perfectly respectable day can consist of breakfast, a swim, three chapters of your book, lunch, a nap, and a cocktail.

You go home feeling like you've actually been away rather than completed a particularly scenic endurance challenge.

So, is Elounda worth visiting?

If you want a Greek holiday built around huge clubs and all-night parties, you'll probably be better off going elsewhere.

But if you're looking for gorgeous scenery, ridiculously clear water, excellent seafood, fascinating day trips, and somewhere you can properly switch off, Elounda gets a huge yes from me.

And perhaps that's the real A-list appeal.

Peace, privacy, beautiful scenery and excellent food.

Although, disappointingly, Leonardo DiCaprio didn't appear during my stay. Maybe next time.

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