Elounda is a small village on Crete's north-east coast that has quietly become the island's most refined address. Curved around the protected waters of Mirabello Bay, with the fortified peninsula of Spinalonga rising just offshore, it has been a magnet for upscale travellers since the first grand resorts opened on its shores in the 1970s. The bay is unusually calm, the sea unusually clear, and the coastline lined with private beaches, sleek spas and adults-focused suites.

The village itself has kept its scale. A small harbour fans out into a stone-paved square, family-run fish tavernas spill onto the waterfront, and a stub of a causeway leads to a tiny islet where you can watch sunset over the bay. There are no high streets, no nightclubs and no flashy promenades; the energy sits in slow lunches, drinks at the harbour and long evenings on terraces with sea views. Most of the action happens behind the gates of the great resort estates north of the village, on the road toward Plaka.

This is a destination built for couples, honeymooners and families looking for high-end comfort with a quiet pace. Expect suites with private pools, beachfront villas, and adults-only properties with butler service and Michelin-trained kitchens, alongside mid-range stays in the village and a handful of family apartments. Beyond the bay, the rest of eastern Crete unfolds: the lakeside town of Agios Nikolaos is a 10-minute drive south, the Lasithi Plateau lies inland, and a boat across the bay reaches Spinalonga island, one of Crete's most atmospheric historic sites.