We are basing ourselves in Elounda for 5 nights. Would love recommendations on your favorite things in the area...

We are traveling in mid-june with our 2 older teenagers. This is mostly a lie-on-the-beach relaxing kind of vacation, but we would love a little culture and beauty, as well as great food!

Thanks!
dina

Kato Zakros, Palekastro, Vai, Makriyialos, and Moni Toplou- all a good bit west on Elounda. Gournia is a must see, but AFTER you've seen a palace or two

Thanks, Sheila.

We plan to do a day trip to Knossos.

Would you mind elaborating on the places you mentioned? I know Vai is a beautiful beach. But what it is about these places that you love?

thanks!
dina

Kato Zakros and Palekastro are palace sites. Palekastro is probably not worth a visit if you're doing the other two (ie Knossos and Kato Zakros).

Knossos is a bit controversial because of Evans' reconstructions, but for me at least, those act as a helpful interpretation. It's probably important to remember that they represent what MIGHT have been there, rather than what definitely was.

Kato Zakros is the unreconstructed real thing, in an absolutely beautiful location. In summer there's row of tavernas alongside the beach where you can get out of the sun. Oh, and I forgot about the cistern with the tiny terrapins in!

Palekastro is more of the same, but I think the major plus is the Palekastro boy found on the site. He, however, is in the museum in Sitia.

Vai is "just" a very pretty beach with fabulous palm trees shading it. In the height of summer, forget it.

Makriyalos is a harbour town on the south side of the island, still (relatively) unspoilt by tourism with a pretty harbour to sit by and watch the day go by.

Moni Toplou is a monastery which played a big role in WW II. It has the most amazing icon you will ever see- Lord Thou Art Great.

Gournia is a Minoan town, not a a palace, and I loved the ability to put things into a domestic scale.

Don't miss a boat trip over to the little island of Spinalonga with it's ruined village that was once used as a leper colony.

http://www.spinalongaisland.info/

You might also like to read Victoria Hislop's book "The Island", a fictional but moving account of life on Spinalonga.

sheila, thanks. i will check out all those places.
they sound great.

maria -- i think spinalonga is definitely on our list. it is right across from our hotel! and i ordered "the island" from my library.

thanks everyone.

Any other suggestions for places a little closer to Elounda?

while many of these places seem absolutely amazing, they are a 2+ hour drive, and we're already taking a drive to Knossos and considering a drive to chania...

thanks

LSorry, I think people sometimes think Crete is a small island. The only thing I can think of that is closer is the Lassithi Plateau. It's very pretty and you can go to the birthplace of Zeus. Kritsa, a sort of craft village, is en route.

the Lassithi Plateau has come up a few times. i will read more about it in my guide book.

Krista seems like a really close stop. i think there's a great church there to see, as well.

thanks, shiela.

Any idea how long it would take to drive to Kritsa from Elounda?
Would you recommend it as an excursion?

thanks,
dina

It's about half an hour and it's a lovely village to visit.

thanks, sheila!

can you recommend a place for lunch up there?

No, sorry. One morning 5 years ago is all we managed.