Cafe menus worldwide are beginning to display every pumpkin and autumn spice concoction possible.
Any seasoned traveler knows that’s the telltale sign it’s time to seek out a sunny escape as leaves begin to fall and temperatures dwindle.
Some can’t wait to cozy up by a fireplace, while others wish beach season never ended. That’s where Greece comes into play.
The vast, blue Aegean Sea is teeming with gorgeous hideaways. That’s right — you don’t have to follow the crowds to Santorini and splurge your whole paycheck in a single night.
Personally, my favorite Greek island thus far is Crete, which was recently revealed as Greece’s most popular beach destination — the highly underrated city of Heraklion, to be exact.
Though Crete’s northeast coast beholds perhaps the country’s best-kept secret, this whitewashed beach town boasts fewer crowds, quintessential Greek charm, and posh resorts at a fraction of the price of Santorini.
Welcome To Elounda: Crete’s Real-Life Postcard
Backdropped by gleaming whitewashed villas and bougainvillea-draped terraces, you’ll instantly feel you’ve stumbled upon one of Greece’s dreamiest destinations.
Wrapping around the horseshoe-shaped bay of calm, vibrant shores lies a mix of bobbing fishing boats dotting the harbor and ample resorts to make your base.
Just offshore lies an island no one seeks to talk about, either — Spinalonga. Here, you’ll discover the insightful history of this former leper colony and the remarkable Venetian fortress
We’re not here to fluff it up as an Acropolis alternative, but it’s certainly Instagram-worthy nonetheless.
A great starting point is Elounda’s waterfront promenade, speckled with sleepy cafes, family-run tavernas, and storied landmarks.
As nice as resorts are here, don’t look back with regret that you stayed inside your posh digs.
With a mild, sunny climate of plentiful 70-degree days, Elounda is made to enjoy the outdoors this time of year, whether it be basking in the sun at one of its golden beaches, starting your day with sidewalk cafe affogato, or capping off your day taking in the sunset at a seaside restaurant like top-rated Rakomelo Cretan Cuisine.
Crowd-Free Shores & Ritzy Resorts
Leave the crowds to Greece’s most notorious islands this fall. Unlike Santorini, where you have to set your alarm clock before the rooster crows to snap the best photos, you can melt into your mattress and venture out any time here.
Beaches are plentiful despite being a relatively small town. Travel experts at the Irish Sun are hyping up Kolokytha Beach as the most beautiful spot, with the caveat being locals favor Plaka Beach.
As mentioned, Spinalonga is another tucked-away paradise, easily reachable by ferry or water taxi, but not ideal for beaches.
No matter which beach you choose, you shouldn’t expect to see another face in the crowd. There’s ample elbow room and even more activities since the Elounda is still sun-drenched in fall.
Snorkeling, diving, and paddle-boarding in the bay are all popular amongst locals and tourists.
Celebrities love flocking her,e and that’s largely attributed to Elounda’s low-key village vibe and luxurious stays.
Though dining out won’t break the bank, resorts here aren’t exactly cheap, per se. But comparing apples to apples with Santorini, Elounda is the clear winner for your wallet.
For example, the 5-star Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas goes for $272 per night for a weeklong stay in October.
According to TripAdvisor, these are travelers’ 3 favorite Elounda resorts:
- Doumes of Elounda (Autograph Collection)
- Elounda Gulf Villas (by Sandglass)
- Aquila Elounda Village
Best Ways To Get Here
If you aren’t best buds with the rich and famous, don’t fret — you don’t have to hop aboard a mega yacht.
Despite seeming far-flung, Elounda is relatively easy to reach, even for Americans making the long flight.
There are currently 9 U.S. cities offering nonstop flights to Athens. From here, you can hop aboard one of Greece’s famous ferry rides from Athens (Piraeus), arriving in nearby Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos, and continuing your journey by rideshare, taxi, or a pre-arranged tour operator.
Heraklion is roughly an hour drive away, while Agios Nikolaos is much closer, at just 20 minutes.
Though if it were me, I’d hop aboard a short, cheap flight from Athens to my favorite Greek locale, Chania.
A visit to Crete without visiting Chania seems like a crime, in my eyes. Located 3 hours away, make a Cretan adventure along this vastly underrated coastline with a pitstop to check out Heraklion’s hidden ruins, ultimately ending up in the seaside haven of Elounda to wrap up a trip of a lifetime.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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