The modern town of Elounda is located in the eastern part of the island of Crete, 12 km north of Agios Nikolas in the Gulf of Mirabello. In ancient times on the site of today's Elounda was a rich Greek and later Roman port city of Olous. After a powerful earthquake in the 2nd century AD Olous almost entirely disappeared under the water, thereby forming a small bay and the peninsula Kolokita ("Big Spinalonga") connected to Crete by a narrow isthmus.

From the middle of the 7th century, this area became almost deserted because of the constant pirate raids. In the mid-15th-century life in the region began to recover thanks to the Venetians, to open a production of salt. The picturesque fishing village is evolving rapidly. Its inhabitants engaged mainly in agriculture, fishing, mining and salt Emery.

In the early 1900s, and until 1957 Elounda is the starting point for the leprosy patients, who followed her to the place of last refuge - Spinalonga island, known as the "island of lepers," which housed a leper colony. Elounda is mentioned in the book "The Island" by Victoria Hislop, which tells the fictional story of a family related to the leper colony. At the time this book became a best-seller in England.

Over time, Elounda has become a prestigious resort, which is famous for its beautiful scenery and luxurious hotels (most of which - five-star hotels). Elounda has been a favorite vacation spot of the former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. He opened this place for VIP-persons world-class (politicians, Arab sheiks, actors movie, pop, etc.).

Comfortable picturesque beaches, a good range of hotels and apartments, shops and souvenir shops, numerous restaurants and cafes, as well as an unhurried pace of life provide a calm and comfortable stay in Elounda.