We had a super English speaking guide to talk us through the history of the island. She did this in a way which kept our interest and she was very informative. The island itself was very small but definitely worth a visit. Points to note are there is an entrance fee of 20 euros each to visit the island. Also, make sure you take water and snacks with you as the cafe is very expensive. 1.5 litre of water cost 5 euros.

Id liken it to a school trip except there's no quiz at the end. The guide had lots of information and we were asked to wear ear pieces but mine kept falling off. It's a baking hot place so take plenty to drink, wear a hat and sunscreen.

This island has so much history. From an army base and Muslim community to the lepar colony and tourist attraction it is now. Walking around you get a sense of the past and the journey it has been through. Amazing place

Some very picturesque ruins turned into a real tourist trap Spinalonga Island is one of Crete’s main attractions, so it’s no surprise that the impressive fortified gate appears in (almost) every tourist brochure. And yet… 1. The island is incredibly crowded. 2. The ruins are far less spectacular than they seem. What you see in the brochures (the monumental fortifications at the entrance) is pretty much all there is to see. The rest of the ruins are mostly just some dilapidated walls and a lot of piles of stones. 3. The price is quite high (over €20) and increases every year. Keep in mind that, since it’s an island, you can only get there by boat — and you’ll, of course, have to pay for the crossing. Usually, the transport fee does not include the entrance ticket, and many boat operators don’t mention this in advance. I even saw tourists who decided not to enter and instead just walked along the fortress’s outer walls. 4. The visiting time is very limited. Those coming from nearby (for example, from Plaka) may have a bit more time, but if you come from farther away (we came by ferry from Agios Nikolaus), you’ll get very little. As for visitors coming from long distances (Heraklion or even Chania), I honestly don’t think it’s worth the effort. 5. Skip the climb unless you have proper shoes. Don’t try to go up the hill without hiking shoes, especially since there’s nothing worth seeing up there. A walk around the island is easier, more pleasant, and actually more interesting. 6. You won’t have time to explore the entire island in one visit, so it’s a good idea to research in advance and decide what you want to see. 7. Better go without a guide. We wasted time waiting in the sun for the guide to arrive, then wasted more listening to things we had already read online. Once inside, we spent nearly an hour hearing not-so-interesting stories about the buildings, all easily available on the internet anyway. In total, we lost almost two hours, which drastically reduced our time to explore the island. In the end, we just ran up to the top of the hill and went back down through the impressive circular bastion that everyone knows from the photos — and that was about it. 8. There’s a bar at the entrance; we didn’t have time to stop, but I heard the prices are quite high. 9. Don’t expect a real beach. Online maps show one, but in reality, there’s only a small spot where you can enter the water — definitely not a beach. 10. On sunny days, bring plenty of water and sun protection. And don’t go when it rains.

Nice for a day trip. The road to follow is not very clear, we got lost. Check the rates of the boats. Some include a guide on the island. The island has a small beach so take your bathing suit.

It's an interesting heritage location, lots of history, but... It is been utilised as a tourist cash grab! No maintenance, no care, and useless to visit unless you have a professional guide. Frankly, it should have a nominal free to access, then audio guides to purchase, or scheduled tours, but it is NOT worth the €20 per person! The thousands of people streaming through this place everyday at €20 a pop... I wonder where that money is going??

Had a great tour with the folks from Nostos Cruises. Easy boat ride to a peaceful area for a 30-minute Mediterranean swim and then a quick jaunt to Spinalonga for a very informative tour. Food on the boat is very reasonable and tastes great. Highly recommended!

Loved it. If you are prepared to read some of the history and go there with an inquisitive mind, you’ll take a lot away. The leper colony was closed within living memory. How the unfortunate inmates would marvel at the tourists visiting their island. It’s not cheap but this is a connection with the living past and another example of how superstition, medical ignorance, intolerance and discrimination have shaped our modern history.

We explored the island during an excursion and it was worth it! The island is beautiful and you can reach it after a quick boat trip. Our boat went around the island before docking which allowed us to view the whole area and enjoy the sea view. The price of admission is quite high (20€) especially as there are not many information on the island and the app they created for the visit did not work. I recommend using a guided tour or finding information on the island beforehand to make the most of the visit. There are toilets but they are very small (too small for the number of visitors) and a snack bar which is very expensive. It is recommended to bring food and drink before reaching Spinalonga. Good shoes are recommended as the area is quite steep but the views from inside the island are worth the effort! It’s a must do if you are staying on the eastern part of Crete !

Truly impressive, one of the most interesting and diverse place we have seen in Crete. There are Venetian, Otoman and modern prints you will find. History at its best! Old stone buildings you can search around, mighty walls and beautiful views. Transport by boat from Plakia. This is 1-2h walk up and down with no shop accessible so take water and shoes with good soil 😁

**⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Fascinating Journey Through History and Beauty!** Visiting **Spinalonga Island** was an unforgettable experience. The island is steeped in history, with its Venetian architecture, ancient ruins, and the eerie remnants of its past as a leper colony. Walking through the narrow streets of the old settlement feels like stepping back in time. The old buildings, the fortress, and the haunting atmosphere tell stories that have shaped the island for centuries. The view from the island is absolutely stunning, with **Spinalonga Bay** offering some of the most breathtaking vistas on the island. The turquoise waters contrast beautifully with the rugged landscape, making it the perfect spot for photos. It’s easy to see why this place is so iconic—its combination of natural beauty and historical significance is truly one of a kind. The boat ride over to Spinalonga is equally picturesque, with the crystal-clear waters and coastal scenery adding to the overall charm. Once on the island, you can explore at your own pace, taking in the fascinating history and enjoying the panoramic views. For history buffs, it’s a must-see, but even if you're just after a relaxing, scenic trip, Spinalonga offers something for everyone. A truly unique experience that should not be missed while in Crete!

Spinalonga is a tiny island just off Plaka, with a history that runs deep. The Venetians bought it in the 13th century, fortified it against the Ottomans, then it passed hands — Venetians, Turks, Greeks — until it ended up as a leper colony through the first half of the 20th century. Today, the whole island is essentially one big ruin. Some sections are stabilized to stop them from crumbling further, but most of it is raw: half-standing houses, old shops, fortifications. Walking through feels like stepping into a ghost town that’s layered with centuries of survival. Is it worth the €20 admission? That depends on what you count as a “must-see” in Crete. For us, yes. It was an absorbing few hours of wandering, and the views from the fortress walls — open sea and coastlines stretching endlessly — were breathtaking. We genuinely enjoyed tracing history’s footsteps across those narrow paths

The island of Spinalonga, off the coast of Crete is an old Leper Colony. It's accessible by boat from Agios Nikolous, Eloundas or Plaka. Vacated by the lepers in 1957, once a thriving community, now a tourist attraction and with good reason. A must visit if you're in the area. We took a 4.5hr tour from Agios Nikolous, which gave us 1.5 hrs on the Island, 1/2 hr English speaking guide and an hour to wander around. It costs €20ea to access Spinalonga, free if you're under 25 and from an EU member country or under 18 if not. The boat trip we took was €25ea.

I do not want to take away from the historical aspect of the Island, but the island, its history, its location... are all been used as a monumental tourist cash grab, and it is disgusting! €20 to enter, no guide, no information, just walk around, read some boards and good luck to you! The location is beautiful, nature wise, the history is saddening, but the fact that it is been utilised as cash grab is beyond ridiculous. There is no upkeep, so what exactly is the money been used for??? The sad thing is that you do not know this until you get there and once you are there it becomes almost mandatory to pay up and walk it, as what else are you going to do while you wait for the rest of the tour group!?! And to top it off, our guide, not as in guided tour but the employee of the tour company telling us when to be back for the return boat trip, was most excited about the panoramic view from the top! My recommendation, check out the photos on my review and save your hard earned money for something more meaningful!

Nice sandy beach. Some smaller flat stones approx. 2 metres into the water.No waves as it’s protected from the open sea even on a windy day. Toilets, changing rooms and showers all in good working order. Easy parking and clean beach. 2 sunbeds and a parasol for 10 euros per day (keep your ticket as they check it later in the day). We spent a day there when it was too windy on the other side of the island.

Large beach. Water is clear, shallow ,it has some rocks. A lot of sunbeds. A lot of free space. You can bring your own stuff if you don't want to rent.

Beautiful place, lovely quiet beaches. €10 for 2 sun beds & shade. Handy shops for stuff you might forget and lots of snack bars, very reasonably priced too!

Beach is great! Very clean, sandy and the rocks in the water are pretty small and really manageable with water shoes. Given that it is somehow a gulf beach, it is calmer during windy periods as ir has little to none waves. Great for swimming! The water is sometimes rubin green and other times has a beautiful bright blue. 10 euros for 2 sun beds and 1 umbrella seemed fair to me. At the beggining of July it was not so crowded and I loved the vibe. I totally recommend this beach.

Free toilets. Free changing room. Amazing beach! Well worth a visit. Beautiful sand. Lovely little town. Close by to explore.

A wonderful, quite town with fantastic array of restaurants and cafes. Lovely place to go any time of day. Recommend the morning markets which have a variety of stalls! You can also get the ferry here to Spinalonga Island which was highly recommended to us but sadly we didn't get the time!

Very good family beach. Located inside a golf it's a very good place to avoid weather with wind and waves. You can rent also umbrella and sunbed and relax for the hole day! Enjoy you sunny vacations and relax under the Greek sun!

Dining at this seaside tavern in Elounda was nothing short of magical. Nestled right by the water, the setting was serene and picturesque, waves gently lapping just meters away as we enjoyed our meal under the soft glow of the Cretan sun. We tried a variety of entrees and mains, each dish bursting with flavor. But the standout star of the evening? The saganaki feta with honey. The service was warm and welcoming. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Elounda!

I found this place thanks to Google and its reviews, and I regret discovering it on my last day in Elounda. The food and atmosphere are absolutely incredible. I honestly planned to take pictures of all the dishes, but realized too late — half of them were already gone. Highly recommended. Amazing service, delicious food, lovely people, and a charming spot right by the water.

A tavern in a quiet place right by the sea, where the food is really delicious. I am very picky, but in this tavern I ate the most delicious lamb in wine sauce. The tavern staff is very nice, well organized, the food is served in a relatively short time. The tavern offers various delicacies, delicious cake for free... I also really liked their raki, which I was treated to. I definitely recommend visiting.

Ate at Rakomelo twice on this holiday. It’s as good as we remember from the previous years.. Great food; attentive service; perfect location. It’s a smaller family-rub restaurant - so you don’t feel crowded. And the food is authentic - Manolis’s mother cooks it to perfection. We are looking forward to coming here again.

The best lamb chops & Crete hospitality I've experienced. Get a sunset sea view, with great house wine and Meze. Must try! Honey Raki, Feta, Calamari... All incredible!

Great view, lovely food and fantastic staff. We ate here twice, once for dinner then coming back for lunch. I highly recommend their dish Briam. Vegetarian friendly. The staff are very good with kids, which we experienced at lunchtime but in the evening recommended for a lovely couples date night. As with most restaurants in Elounda, multi-lingual staff speaking at least English, French and Greek (i'm sure they could speak more languages, but I don't understand any others haha). If we are back in the area we will return!

It was more than we expected , we order also starter a Greek salad…the dishes we asked were simple but the quality they are done were over the standard you realize with the taste, good portion, fresh, the view, this is a must if you are around… and the view with the roof is perfect for hot weathers

Amazing restaurant right by the sea with an gorgeous view. The fish is fresh and delicious, perfectly prepared in an unusual way. The atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. Overall experience is totally fancy and makes you feel so good — an ideal place to enjoy a meal by the water.

Beautiful setting, chilled out music, surprisingly grumpy staff but a perfect place to watch the sun set over the excellent Houmous and Tzaziki. Updated: we made a second visit on the way back from kolokytha beach and found a warmer welcome as well as the best and generously portioned fried Calamari I have ever eaten

You will not find a better setting to eat some of the best seafood of your life. Not only is the seafood outstanding but the presentation is equally impressive. Definitely worth visiting and you will need to book a reservation in advance. Way off the beaten path and have your camera and video ready!! Try the salt crusted fish UNBELIEVABLE 😋😋😋

Traditional Greek seafood. I enjoyed the sea bream - came grilled whole with vegetables. My wife had the mushroom risotto and a Greek salad. Not fancy - very well done version of traditional and typical Greek meal. The setting is amazing!

We had great service considering the venue was full when we arrived without booking. The food was absolutely fabulous and reasonably priced. We intend to walk out there again next week before we leave the Elounder. Ali & Tim

Don’t get fooled by their great reviews (4.6 stars by the time I’m writing this). We booked a table 4 days ago. When we arrived, they told us to wait for a table to free up. They sat us down on an improvised table in the middle of the waiter’s passage in order to have a drink and wait. Nevertheless, they didn’t serve us anything to drink for 20 minutes. After speaking with other foreigners around us, we realised that they all had the same experience (like waiting for their order to be taken for over 40 minutes, even though they also booked a table). Thing is, while sitting there, waiting, we saw people arriving (all greeks) one after another, being greeted friendly, and being given a table to eat. If you’re not greek, dont go there. We ended up leaving without eating dinnner. The guys couldnt care less. This place is the opposite of the warm and welcoming hospitality Greece usually has to offer. Btw, there are dozens of better restaurants in Elounda that welcome you with the real greek (or cretan) hospitality. Food looked good from afar though. But it only « looked » good that’s why the 2 stars for food.

I had a wonderful experience , I recommend this restaurant. we had octopus, sea bream and chocolate cake.

We tried several restaurants in our 8 day stay in Elounda but we kept gravitating back to Ergospacio with their fabulous food and attentive friendly staff. No hard sell here, no pouncing on you as you walk past, just the best service and food we have found in Elounda! The Moussaka is absolutely amazing as was every course we have eaten here over our four visits. Comfortable furniture and great views back along the seafront from their covered jetty restaurant.

Great food and great vibe! Sitting on the water with a charming romantic atmosphere. Had an assortment of staters - the beetroot was great, the smoked eggplant was so tasty & the vine leaves were the best I ever had (it’s one of my favorites so I’ve had quite a few). The slow roasted lamb is cooked in a traditional way - it was good, but not as amazing as everything else… Service was excellent, strongly recommended.

Overall over sold and under delivered. Nice grilled sardines but out of a freezer bag cheese croquettes. Great mushroom risotto but lamb chops were poor served with over stewed roast veg. For location great, for food mediocre, for price should have been much better!

Ergospasio Restaurant is absolutely the Best Restaurant in Elounda! We had an unforgettable dining experience here in Elounda, Greece. The restaurant offers a stunning sea view, incredible food, and impeccable service — truly the best we had during our entire holiday in Crete! Every dish was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented — from the fresh seafood to the traditional Greek specialties. The staff were warm, friendly, and made us feel genuinely welcome. If you’re looking for the best restaurant in Elounda with a romantic atmosphere, delicious local cuisine, and a breathtaking view, this is the place to go! Everything was just perfect — highly recommended! Thanks for having us!

Great restaurant the food overall was good the views stunning on the water friendly service and I’ll try it again

Beautiful location, chilled vibe, super friendly staff and wonderful food. The calamari was so light, beautiful sardines, marinated anchovies and Greek salad. Highly recommend and great value.

They have a large parking lot across the street so it was easy. Great views and so many seats by the water’s edge. The atmosphere decor looks high end and well thought out. You can even see the giant grill skewers for the meat. This building is historic and was the first to make carob on the island— you can read about it in the menu or the large sign in a corner of the building outdoors. The breadbasket had two different types of bread and a both were good. They also brought out a beet, and orange yogurt sauce to eat with the bread. The yogurt sauce was so good; the beet flavor wasn’t overpowering and it was balanced. The dark pink color against the yellow bread slice was so bright and colorful. I ordered the sea bass and the skin was crispy and the fish tender. The breaded chicken looked like chicken parmesan. The watermelon salad was actually very filling with the grilled cheese and the watermelon was very sweet. The mousaka was non-greasy, light and delicious— the proportion of cheese to the rest of the entree was a little too much but the cheese has a fluffy texture and weight. At the end of the meal we were treated to peach slices and watermelon slices as well as shots of a local alcohol. Servers were friendly and helpful and refilled our drinks.

Tasty, fresh, full of flavour, savory food! Every dish had different flavours on the plate, well chosen for creating an experience when you taste them. The service was perfect, they explained every dish they brought to the table, smiling; good wine recommendation. As a dessert we shared a chocolate cake very tasteful! Lovely experience! ❤️❤️❤️ If I would come back in Elounda again, I would definitely eat here one more time!

I would have given six stars if I could. This restaurant was our best discovery. Each dish was beautifully presented, explained in detail, and the taste was above imagination. They even make their own bread. And all for a really fair price. I can not explain enough the freshness of the ingredients, the incredible flavour, and the attention to detail. You could taste the love in those plates and how much they cared about them. I agree with who said that they should have a Michelin star. If this restaurant was in a more touristic area, the booking queue would be enormous. If we return to Crete, this would be a must return.

The atmosphere, the restaurant and the staff were superb! The caramelized aubergine is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. The drinks were good and came quickly. People who had other mains were very impressed. I've taken off a star off because the fish of the day was really just average, and was disappointing. Both the presentation and the taste. The dessert that I had was also disappointing. I had ice cream and it was just average, bordering on poor. Overall though, a great restaurant, that I would highly recommend, but there are one or two dishes letting them down.

We walked around Elounda Town twice before heading in to Magali, this is certainly the best looking restaurant and the food and service matched. Firstly, we were given complimentary dish in a small bowl, some kind potato dish, absolutely lovely. My steak was cooked to perfection, my partners mentioned her Risotto was the best she has ever eaten. We had a Lemon dessert which was also incredibly good, we were a little gutted we found this place the night before leaving for home as otherwise would have been back without hesitation. Not the cheapest but you get what you pay for and what you get here, is quality food and service.

I've been to Greece 8 times and this is by far the best restaurant I've been to there. If you don't try it, then you're missing out on some of the best food in the world! We randomly found this place because the owners also run a jewelry shop nearby. We bought some jewelry and asked if they knew of any good restaurants. They told us about it, and we ended up eating there 2 nights in a row because it was so good and we had to try everything on the menu!

Absolutely insane! The best meal we have had in a long time, not just in Crete but anywhere!…and we are big foodies who love to hunt out an amazing restaurant. We could not fault the food, service or atmosphere. The caramelised aubergine was a particular highlight as was the cauliflower purée that came with the steak and the lemon meringue and fruit dessert. The staff were great at explaining the dishes and how best to experience the flavours. The price was really reasonable and if we had had this meal in London we would have expected to pay 3 times the price. Please don’t miss out on eating here whilst you are in Elounda. You won’t regret it. Especially if you are a foodie. We have enjoyed all the food in Crete but generally found it all quite similar. Magali stands out above everywhere else we have been. It is next level. X

Amazing experience from start to end. Atmosphere is very inviting and a beautiful space to be in, including the tableware. The service was impeccable as well. The menu was explained well and drinks were refilled we weren’t rushed to eat either. I had the rooster dish and it was cooked perfectly with sides that paired quite well. The desserts were absolutely delicious!

Absolutely amazing experience at Ferryman! The seafood was incredibly fresh , we loved the mussels, the seafood paella, and the calamari. The octopus with fava was a standout dish, and the steamed mussels were perfect. Everything we tried was delicious and clearly made with care. The service was excellent too , very friendly and attentive. Don’t pay attention to any negative comments about the owners, they were absolutely fabulous and made us feel very welcome. Highly recommended if you’re looking for fresh seafood and a great atmosphere by the sea

Stunning location with superb, traditional greek food. The goat and calamari were a real highlight. Bar a little slow, the service was exceptionally friendly.

Ferryman Restaurant is absolutely amazing! 🍽️ The food was excellent - fresh, beautifully presented, and full of wonderful flavor. The atmosphere was warm, relaxed, and welcoming. A huge thank you to the fantastic staff and the owner, who truly care about their guests. And especially to Jana from the Czech Republic, our dear friend, who took such great care of us ❤️ She’s incredibly kind, attentive, and made our evening feel extra special. Thank you so much for a wonderful dinner and a lovely experience - we’ll definitely be back! 🙏✨

Best food in all of Greece. Every bite is a gastronomical pleasure. Highly recommend The owner and all the stuff are very lovely people 🩵

Food was unreal, great service and atmosphere. We came on our first night of holidays with some friends during a powerful which effected the whole area, they managed to serve a fantastic meal and continued the great service and hospitality. We enjoyed the meal so much we came back on our last night for a final dinner out. The chicken kebab and beef orzo was delicious, great house wine and enjoyed the pitta and dips too! Would definitely return if we come back and will be recommending friends for a visit. Beautiful views across the bay!

Beautiful restaurant sitting on the waters edge. Very picturesque. Food and service fabulous.

Great food and attentive staff. Much quieter on the evenings than during the day it seems but that was perfect for us.

Lovely spot off the main road in/out of Elounda. Easily walkable from town or the elounda bay hotel complex. Friendly welcoming staff Food is fantastic with a good range from pasta and kids classics like nuggets and chips if you've fussy kids. Or the more classic Greek dishes and a great set of sea food options. We had fried anchovies and sardines the first lunch there. Then second time round fried zucchini balls and Dakos (a bit like bruschetta but with feta and olives and the dakos/rusk is kind of similar to brown bread). Then mixed grill, fresh bream and steamed muscles. Both times there was complementary raki and a pudding which was a nice touch and the raki is reallly very drinkable. Oh and the view is lovely in both directions, mountains one way, sea the other and the restaurant is surrounded by flowers and climbing plants with options to sit in the sun or shade.

Absolutely gorgeous restaurant with fresh seafood and tasty salads. We popped in walking down to Elouda from our resort and enjoyed a long, lazy 2.5 hour lunch with very good house wine. The kids were enchanted and we had a break. Win win.

This welcoming home from home traditional Greek Taverna is exceptional. The atmosphere away from the road in the middle of an olive grove with views to the sea is sooo relaxing. The food and Oh My God the lamb kleftiko are really the last thing you would wish to eat as your last meal !!! The Dolmades and Greek Salad are loverly - really salty olives :-) The local 0.5l carafe of Cretan red wine is a perfect accompianment to a superb relaxing dining experience :-) A +++, like the Greek Metaxa 12star brandy - yummy. Guess what ... Paradisos is wonderful and indeed food heaven :-)

A Taste of Paradise in Elounda Taverna Paradisos is a true hidden gem, a family-run business that has been serving guests since 1965 in the quiet, scenic area of Elounda, Crete. Located next to the ancient site of Olous, the taverna offers a peaceful escape from the main road, nestled within a lush garden surrounded by olive trees. The "temple-like structure" provides a beautiful, shaded space for dining, creating a truly tranquil and memorable atmosphere. The food at Taverna Paradisos is as delicious as a home-cooked meal, with a focus on traditional Cretan and Greek dishes. They take pride in using fresh, local ingredients, many of which are grown right in their own garden. One of their standout specialties is the great root beet salad, a dish that perfectly captures the fresh, earthy flavors of the region. The menu is extensive, offering a variety of options to suit every taste: * Starters: Classic Greek appetizers like Tzatziki, Dakos Cretan rusk, and local Wild Greens Pies. * Main Dishes: A wide selection of traditional Greek fare including Moussakas, Lamb Kleftiko, and Stifado. * Grilled Meats & Fresh Fish: A great selection of grilled meats, seafood, and fresh fish, including Grilled Octopus and Marinated Anchovies. With its beautiful surroundings, delicious home-style food, and long-standing family tradition, Taverna Paradisos offers a truly authentic and satisfying dining experience. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing meal that feels both special and welcoming.

Lovely view and friendly, efficient service. Complimentary dessert. Food was nothing special (the aubergine dip seemed to be mostly mayonnaise) and on the pricier side for this area. Nice for a drink but we wouldn't eat here again.

It was nice. But that's all really. The food was standard fare for the area. It's a lovely spot and if busier could have a good feel. Everything was fine but nothing outstanding. The portions were ok, but considering the price, it could have been more generous.

It's the first time in Crete I leave a restaurant unsatisfied. The portions are extremely small and expensive. Four grilled prawns, of small size, 20 euros! 100 grams of grilled octopus 20 euros. They don't include any sides. Beside the mere quantity, the food is also not very tasty. Not much flavours. The location is nice, but it's really not worth the abismal food experience.