Phaea Blue

Crete, Plaka Near Elounda

Based on 2450 traveller reviews

80% of travellers recommended this hotel

Rated as one of the best places to stay in Greece by Condé Nast Traveller
All rooms feature a stunning sea view, with superior rooms looking out over the famous Spinalonga island
Enjoy a number of destination experiences
Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio

A recommendation from Condé Nast traveller promises exciting things and the Phaea Blue certainly doesn’t disappoint. Overlooking a beautiful bay with views of Spinalonga (the island immortalised in Victoria Hislop’s The Island), this boutique hotel is a treat for all the senses.

The rooms are as impressive as the views – from a Deluxe Bungalow right up to the jewel in the crown, The PHĀEA Blue Villa – a three-bedroom villa with private heated pool, a private chef and butler. Honeymooners will fall for the romantic views and private plunge pools of the Deluxe Bungalows.

Recently renovated, the Phaea Blue invites you to enjoy a brand-new look and feel with rooms enjoying a relaxed and refined island aesthetic with neutral tones for a calming stay. Committed to conscious luxury, this hotel allows you to have a deeper connection with the timeless heritage of Crete.

The diverse restaurants offer something to please every palate. Enjoy Greek delights at Anthós or the Blue Door. Celebrating farm to table meals with homegrown produce, the new Phāea Farmers Feast invites you to embark on a journey of culinary discovery. After dinner make time for a drink in the scenic Votsalo bar – overlooking the sea it’s a beautiful spot to enjoy a cocktail.

The Phaea Blue is also the perfect base for some gentle exploring. Head into the charming hamlet of Plaka, where among the narrow streets you’ll find a selection of tiny restaurants, tavernas and cafés for a lunchtime snack or buzzy evening drink. For a day trip take a boat over to the former leper colony of Spinalonga for a breathtaking history lesson. Guests can also experience the beauty of the Mirabello Gulf on a caique, a traditional Greek fishing boat.

Hotel child prices apply to ages 2–12 years. The hotel has 47 bungalows and suites.

Facilities

Bars & Restaurants

Anthós

Enjoy the finest Greek dishes, cooked in an open air kitchen by a team of highly skilled chefs in this restaurant located located at the hotels outdoor pool overlooking the sea and Spinalonga.

Dress code is smart casual - gentlemen are required to wear long trousers.

Blue Door

A picturesque Greek taverna serving local specialities and fresh fish, the waterside location is as delicious as the dishes.

Open: 12:00-00:00.

Votsalo Bar

Cool and calm, the Votsalo bar offers complimentary Wi-Fi and enjoys stunning views of the resort.

Open: 19:30-00:00.

Phāea Farmers Feast

Enjoy a farm to table experience at Phāea Farmers Feast where every meal invites you to try some Cretan delights.

Private Dining

Enjoy an intimate experience with private dining at the Phaea Blue.

Beach & Pools

Beach

The private 200m pebble beach is surrounded by stylish wooden decking and comfortable loungers.

Swimming Pools

From the 28 private plunge pools to the one main outdoor pool you’re never far away from water at Phaea Blue.

For Families

Kids Club

The little ones can have fun all day long at the playground, with plenty of exciting activities at the Kids Club.

Experiences

Traditional Caique Experience

Set sail from the hotel’s jetty on a traditional Greek fishing boat for a journey around the Mirabello Gulf. Cruise along the coast of Elounda and Spinalonga Island, enjoying the fresh air, remote beaches, and clear cobalt waters. This trip offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature. Relish exquisite Cretan wines and local cheeses, enhancing your experience with authentic flavours of the island.

Welcome to the Hive

PHĀEA PLAN BEE is an innovative and seasonal project focused on supporting pollinators, especially bees. To promote their protection, the hotel has installed beehives and created a bee-friendly landscape with year-round flowering plants and ample water sources. They celebrate this initiative with special events where guests can tour the organic garden and beehives, participate in mini-harvesting and honey tasting sessions, and enjoy traditional Cretan pies drizzled with honey and a celebratory cocktail.

Cretan Feast

Crete offers countless opportunities to celebrate life with good music, endless dancing, and vibrant festivals. The island is alive with feasts for religious holidays, weddings, and baptisms, where eating, drinking, and celebrating with family and friends is a way of life. Enjoy a unique Cretan feast on the hotel’s private beach, featuring the famous “antikristo” lamb, seasoned with sea salt and slow cooked for five hours over a bonfire, along with authentic local delicacies.

A Lesson in Greek Cuisine

Join Phaea Blue’s Greek cooking class to explore the authentic flavours and traditional recipes of Crete. Learn to make Dakos (Cretan salad), aromatic Dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves with rice and herbs), and Prawn Saganaki. Discover valuable cooking secrets, practice hands-on techniques, and enjoy the meal you've prepared at Blue Door Taverna.

Wine Tasting

Classic Car Village Tour

The Classic Car Village Tour offers a nostalgic journey reminiscent of classic movies. Guests will travel in a vintage Mercedes or Cadillac to explore four traditional villages, each with unique charm. The tour includes a visit to the historic Areti monastery, lunch at Platanos, coffee in Kasteli, and a scenic return to the resort through Neapoli and Agios Nikolaos.

Spa & Wellness

Spa

Phaea Blue offers relaxing spa treatments, yoga & Pilates classes as well as a fully equipped indoor/outdoor gym.

Activities & Entertainment

Movie Area

Sit back and relax in the movie area with a fantastic range of films being shown.

Watersports

Enjoy a range of watersports at Phaea Blue including scuba diving.

About the location

Phaea Blue is found nestled on the north east coast of the Greek island of Crete, in Plaka. It’s located close to a pebbly beach and enjoys spectacular views of Spinalonga Island. This former leper colony is home to a historic fortress and is the setting for Victoria Hislop’s best selling book, The Island. Plaka itself takes you back in time to the idyllic little villages and beautiful whitewashed architecture of the Greek islands.

Head into nearby Elounda for a bustling harbour area and a selection of authentic restaurants. It also has a sandy beach where you can spend long lazy days soaking up the sun before ordering refreshments straight to your lounger.

Transfer time

Phaea Blue is an hour and ten minutes’ drive from Crete Heraklion Airport.

Deluxe Bungalow Sea View

Max 2 persons

Enjoy beautiful views of the Aegean Sea from the Deluxe Bungalow. These rooms come with a private furnished balcony and a comfortable king size bed.

Facilities

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Deluxe Bungalow Sea View with Private Heated Pool

Max 2 persons

With your own private heated pool, the Deluxe Bungalow comes with fantastic sea views for a relaxing holiday in Crete.

Facilities

Deluxe Suite Sea View

Max 4 persons

Spacious, with plenty of natural light, the Deluxe Suite enjoys authentic local touches and views across the blue of the sea.

Facilities

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Junior Suite with Private Heated Pool

Max 4 persons

Step into the private heated pool at the Junior Suite and enjoy moments of pure relaxation surrounded by greenery.

Facilities

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Blue Maisonette Suite with Private Heated Pool

Max 5 persons

Sink into a comfortable king size bed in the Blue Maisonette Suite. With views of the Cretan landscape, the whole family can enjoy dining on the private veranda.

Facilities

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Island Suite Sea View Heated Private Pool

Max 4 persons

The perfect choice for holidays in Crete, the Island Suite comes with its own private pool, comfortable king size bed and views across the Aegean Sea.

Facilities

Early Booking Discount

Save up to 15% discount on the hotel price for holidays between 01 May - 30 October 2025.

Valid when booked by 31January 2025. This offer is not valid on the Deluxe Suite Sea View room type.

Sovereign Plus Offer

Sovereign guests receive a complimentary bottle of Cretan red wine in room on arrival.

A minimum of 5 nights stay is required for the above special offers.

Honeymoon Offer

Guests receive special signature honeymoon amenities (offer must be requested at the time of booking and wedding certificate to be presented in resort).

Based on 2450 traveller reviews

80% of travellers recommended this hotel

Travellers Ratings

Excellent

1636

Very Good

495

Average

183

Poor

Terrible

What to expect

Location

Sleep Quality

Rooms

Service

Value

Cleanliness

Reviews

“

Relaxing and beautiful

1_Greece_Lover, San Francisco, California

Nov 25 2024

First impression was wow ! The lobby is gorgeous and welcome drink is the best I’ve ever had. Check in was easy, I didn’t have to leave the couch, the check in lady came to me with an iPad and made...

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“

A True 5 Star

sm991122, Irvine, California

Oct 23 2024

Blue Phaea in Crete was an exceptional stay for us, with top-tier service from start to finish. Located in a prime area, walking distance to vibrant spots, the hotel offered stunning scenery, clean...

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“

A Truly Exceptional Stay - Our Favorite Hotel in Greece

Tina C,

Oct 15 2024

We stayed at the Phaea Blue Palace with my family in early June, and it was an unforgettable experience. Our room featured a private swimming pool with breathtaking views of Spinalonga, creating the perfect backdrop for relaxation. Although one side of the hotel was closed and the elevator to the beach was out of service, the hotel provided golf cart rides down to the beachfront.. The hotel is beautifully designed and tastefully decorated with art and flowers, creating a calming and elegant atmosphere. Our room was incredibly spacious, and the luxurious bath products—soaps and lotions—had the most incredible scent. The housekeeping team was attentive to every detail, even folding our clothes. An exceptional touch was when my mum admired the dried flowers in the lobby, and the next day, an arrangement of dried flowers was placed in our room for her to enjoy. Those small, thoughtful gestures made our stay feel personal and warm. Breakfast each morning was a highlight. Not only was the food delicious, but the presentation was also fantastic. The freshly made Greek yogurt was the best we had on our entire trip. It was served to our table with an array of toppings. The à la carte options were equally delightful, featuring the freshest ingredients. We also appreciated that the staff was experienced yet never overbearing, which can sometimes happen in luxury hotels. The beach area was equally impressive. It was clean, and the service was top-notch without being overly expensive. We loved that they provided towels, cold water, and even sunscreen. A rental shop on-site with SUPs, boats, and more made it easy to enjoy water activities. It was great to leave our belongings at our beach chairs and casually head out to paddle. Another perk was the hotel’s proximity to the nearby town, which was a pleasant walk for lunch. We enjoyed strolling into town, grabbing lunch, and returning for an afternoon swim and a bottle of rosé on the beach—pure bliss :). Overall, we highly recommend the Phaea Blue Palace. The price is absolutely worth it for the quality of the experience. This is, without a doubt, our favourite hotel in Greece, and we look forward to returning.

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Phaea Blue

Facilities

Bars & Restaurants

Anthós

Blue Door

Votsalo Bar

Phāea Farmers Feast

Private Dining

Beach & Pools

Beach

Swimming Pools

For Families

Kids Club

Experiences

Traditional Caique Experience

Welcome to the Hive

Cretan Feast

A Lesson in Greek Cuisine

Wine Tasting

Classic Car Village Tour

Spa & Wellness

Spa

Activities & Entertainment

Movie Area

Watersports

About the location

Transfer time

Deluxe Bungalow Sea View

Facilities

Deluxe Bungalow Sea View with Private Heated Pool

Facilities

Deluxe Suite Sea View

Facilities

Junior Suite with Private Heated Pool

Facilities

Blue Maisonette Suite with Private Heated Pool

Facilities

Island Suite Sea View Heated Private Pool

Facilities

Early Booking Discount

Sovereign Plus Offer

Honeymoon Offer

What our guests think