Elafonisi is a beautiful island off the coast of Crete and it is the perfect destination for your next vacation. It is unique because it is actually a walkable distance from Crete, as the water is quite shallow. The island is a protected nature reserve and is famous for its many stunning beaches, some of which even have pink sand.
Guests looking to find their center during their trip can take a visit to the Chrysoskalitissa Monastery, perched on top of a hill that overlooks the ocean. There is no doubt that a stay on this island will be an unforgettable trip and, to make that visit a reality, here are some of the island’s highest-rated Airbnb rentals.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on October 23, 2024.
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1. Studio apartment by the sea (from USD 43)
Chrysa’s quaint and comfortable home can sleep up to four guests, with one double bed, two single beds, and a sofa. The space has an open-plan kitchen and access to the family farm, where guests can wander amongst the 10 acres (10 hectares) of olive trees or see the sheep, chickens, and cats. The home is very close to the beginning of the E4 path and is a short walk from a peaceful beach. A crib is available to borrow for families traveling with children and Chrysa can offer a discount for those with children under 10 years of age.
Top guest reviews
Host:
the hosts: their welcoming warmed our heartsshe was super friendly and helpful throughout our stayour host and her family were amazingthe appartment is well equipped and children friendlychrisa was a very good host the place was perfectLocation:
amazing place amazing location amazing people the location: you can't get closer to the seachrysa's place is located in an amazing location with a beautiful sea just at their entranceit's a walking distance to an amazing beachvery good the location is excellent we have great time therevery beautiful calm and silent place near the seaCleanliness:
the sea is very clean and clearthe apartment itself was spacious clean and well equipped with everything we neededthe appartement itself is clean spacious and bright; very basic thoughher place is clean quiet and pleasant it's wonderfully situated on a beautiful beachRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
everybody was very friendly the place: ac functioning kitchen was as expected
Superhost
2. Villa with a swimming pool (from USD 158)
This spacious villa can sleep up to seven guests and is perfect for a large vacation with friends and family. The home has been recently built in a traditional style and features granite flooring and wooden beam details, as well as a 35 square meter (376.7 square foot) outdoor pool. The entire space is equipped with air conditioning and central heating and has wireless internet access and satellite TV. The beach and village are both less than 10 km (6.2 miles) away from the home.
Top guest reviews
Host:
mappia was a wonderful hostmaria was a wonderful host very kind and helpfulmaria is the best host making our stay perfectmaria is a great and helpful hostmaria was very kind and gracious in welcoming us to her homeLocation:
what a wonderful villa and locationexcellent location to visit wonderful beaches and lakes as well as a nice monastery close to the housethe location is great 5mns from elafonisi beach10 minutes walk to the delicious sunset tavernait's also a perfect location to visit elafonisisCleanliness:
very clean very well keptthe place has a great atmosphere and spotlessly cleanpool was regularly cleaned as well and kids had lots of fun in itthe interior was beautifully decorated and the house was spacious and immaculately cleanall rooms bathrooms living room and kitchen were very cleanRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
lots of cooking equipment good coffee maker beautiful balconies comfortable bedssurrounded by olive groves with an incredible view of the monastary and a lovely outdoor poolthere are beautiful views from the house and a nice swimming pool to cool off init might benefit from a proper shower but there are two baths with shower attachmentsit has a great outdoor pool and plenty of loungers and chairs
3. Classic stone home (from USD 55)
This beautiful stone townhouse can sleep between two and four guests, who will have access to the entire space. Visitors can relax in the spacious garden with a beautiful view and when you tire of the sun, you can cool down in the shade of the local trees. The space is equipped with Wi-Fi, a television, and a fully-equipped kitchen, where guests can prepare their own meals. A crib is available for families traveling with young children.
Top guest reviews
Host:
the host is very friendly and helpfulgiannis is a great hostgiannis was an amazing hostgiannis is a great host and always available to satisfy your needsthe host is very communicative and always willing to helpLocation:
it's an amazing location in a peaceful village close to beautiful beachesa perfect mixture of being quite close to the beach (15 min wthe village has all that one needs and very good tavernas are close byplenty of really good places to eat a short drive awaythe location was amazing as we had a car to travel around withCleanliness:
house beautifully clean and well done) its clean and nicely furnishedthe flat is really well equipped clean and nicely decoratedvery confortable clean and well equiped appartmentit was immaculately clean and had a very comfortable king sized bedRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
the wifi is strongair conditioning is great too which is important during the summer monthsthe apartment has everything you need and excellent air conditioning so can be nice and cool insidethe apartment is great the pictures/description are accurateit is very well designed and top quality with a comfortable bed inventive kitchen and very stylish shower room
4. Home by the sea (from USD 56)
For those looking for a simple and cozy apartment by the sea, look no further than Chrysa’s home. The space is equipped with air conditioning and a fully-equipped kitchen, where guests can prepare their own meals. Guests also have access to the home’s spacious garden. In case you need to stop by the town to pick up a necessity, the home is a 13-minute drive from Paleochora.
Top guest reviews
Host:
the hospitality was really friendlythe hosts chrisa and mike are extremely lovely and welcomingniki maria and filinia are great hostsi can recommend the place to everyone:) friendly peopleniki is an incredible host: incredibly kind warm helpful and knowledgeableLocation:
the gorgeous krios beach is at a 5 minute walk from the housethe pretty village/town paleochora with lots of shops and restaurants is 7-10 minutes driveCleanliness:
house: clean and large housethe place is really clean and nice and is a remote area a few meters from the beachthe beach is quiet and the water is cleangreat place and host quick to respond close to the beach clean and cozy apartment totally recommendRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
niki's home without being pretentious is comfortable clean and equipped with everything you need
5. White Lake home (from USD 125)
This beautiful, traditional home has easy access to a number of waterfronts, perfect for those hoping to spend their days at the beach. The home has an open-plan living room and a kitchen with a pullout sofa, two bedrooms with double beds, and two bathrooms. Guests have access to the home’s organic vegetable garden and their own private pool. The space is only 500 meters (1640.4 feet) from the town’s shops and restaurants and there are four different beaches within 5 km (3.1 miles) of the home.
Top guest reviews
Host:
the owner was so friendly and helpfulthe host was so gracious to help me plan our stay near elafonisi beach with travel advice and suggestionswent above and beyond from what i would expect a host to help withso attentive kind and welcomingthe parents of the owner were so friendly and left some groceries and drinksLocation:
we really recommend this place close to beautiful elafonisiexcellent smaler beaches are also close to the housevaluewise the price is excellent for what the place offersperfect location close to some excellent beaches including elafonissi kedrodasos aspri limni and voulolimniRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
the house has a great swimming pool and all the amenities neededbeds are comfortable and new as well as the linen
6. Ground-floor Irida Cottage (from USD 98)
Μαρία’s traditional stone cottage is comfortable, with easy access to a number of beaches. The space can sleep up to five guests in its two bedrooms and there is a washing machine, a kitchen for preparing meals, and wireless internet. Free parking is available and a crib and highchair are available for use by those traveling with young children. The home is located in a quiet and peaceful area, with beautiful views of the mountains and the nearby monastery.
Top guest reviews
Host:
our host was very welcomingmaria was very helpful providing directions and answering questionsthe hosts couldn't have been more obliging and helpfulthe host was too kind helpful and offered us food and drinksLocation:
the location cannot be beat: 5 minutes from elafonisi and 2 minutes from great foodwhite beach and elafonisi beach are very close by car they are gorgeous and not to missgood place to stay very peacefulCleanliness:
space quiet and cleanwe were very keen on the swimming pool very clean even if shared with 2 others familyRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
the rooms beds kitchen etc were great and well equipped
7. Beautiful stone home (from USD 218)
This stoic white stone villa can sleep up to five guests in its two bedrooms, with one double bed, two single beds, and a pullout couch. The property is equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi and there is a kitchen where guests can prepare their own meals. Guests have access to their own private pool and free parking is available for those bringing their own transportation. The home has its own private entrance to Grameno Beach, a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear water.
Top guest reviews
Host:
the hosts were very generous and kind to uscheck in was easy and kiriaki our host was very responsivehost was responsive and kind greeting us with fresh local fruit and local wineshe treated the place like it was hers also was very helpful to the gueststhe hosts provided thoughtful extras like fruit baking and eggsLocation:
it's possible to walk to the nearest supermarket and just a short drive to a fantastic bakerygreat location the landscape and the pool was amazingthere are two tavernas with very good food in walking distance and a supermarket is only 500m awaylovely villa great location next to a sandy beach swimming pool greatthere is a lovely brand new pool and a short walk to the beachCleanliness:
the place was very clean and generously equippedthe house was cleaned everyday so we felt really comfortablea beautiful and sparkling clean villa with its own terrace and poolthe cleaner lady came every day to make sure the house was beautiful and cleanthe place is clean and the location is perfectRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
we didn’t venture very far as the pool and villa had everything we needed for a relaxing stay
8. Cozy seaview villa in Elafonisos (from USD 71)
This newly-built, two-bedroom home can sleep up to six people, perfect for a family getaway. The two-floor luxury villa has two bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a living room with a fireplace. Guests also have access to air conditioning, satellite TV, and wireless internet, as well as the community’s shared pool. Breakfast is provided free of charge, and restaurants, cafes, and shops are a short five-minute drive from the home.
Top guest reviews
Host:
lovely stay with fantastic and helpful staffthe villa’s staff is super nice kind and welcomingthe staff was super friendly and the breakfast included made the start of the day very easyLocation:
great location communication and ideal stay overall - many thanksperfect for those who like remote placespozax’s villa is perfect if you want to stay close to the famous elafonisi beach (5km)the kids enjoyed the pool and we liked that it was very close to the beachwe also appreciated that fact that there were restaurants and shops within walking distanceCleanliness:
the villa is nice and cleanexcellent place clean nice pool and only 10 minutes from elafonisithe place was lovely the home was large clean and had everything we neededRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
beautiful property with amazing view and pool areathe villa is large clean and comfortable with air conditioning and a patio with a swimming poolthe breakfast was continental style which was always fresh
9. Elafonisos villa with sea views
For those looking to stay in a house with a view, this stone villa has it all. The home is located on the side of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean sea and will have guests feeling as if they are royalty living in a castle. Guests have access to the entire space, which is air-conditioned throughout and includes one twin bedroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, and two private pools. If the two pools aren’t enough for you, the beach is a quick 20-minute drive from the house. A baby crib and highchair are available for those traveling with young children.
Chania, Crete, GreeceTop guest reviews
Host:
thank you lefteris and george for your kind hospitality and creating this extraordinary place on earththe host was great and the taverna offers wonderful food and viewsLocation:
we loved this house and the locationi love this place and i we will definitely come back soonwe absolutely loved this place and wish we had spent more time there clean roomy amazing views well-locatedCleanliness:
other than a smell coming from the pipes the house was very clean and well-maintainedRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
the view is stunning and the two pools are awesome
10. Deluxe suite in Elafonisos
This stunning villa is perfect for a romantic holiday. The home is on the side of a hill with amazing views of the ocean and there is a private pool partially shaded by a locust bean tree. The suite has a private entrance and a comfortable queen-sized bed, as well as a hot tub, a fully-equipped kitchen, and an outdoor dining area. The home is fully air-conditioned and the nearest beach is only 200 meters (656.2 feet) away.
Chania, Crete, GreeceTop guest reviews
Host:
the staff is really nicethe hosts were lovely and made us feel very welcomeeveryone is extremely hospitable and niceour hosts were so kind and considerate that we could not thank them enoughthe villa is amazing and the owners became our close friends since day oneLocation:
the location was perfect for as we enjoy being away from all the noise of the citylocation is amazing place looks exactly as on the picturesthis is a beautiful place to stay in this areaCleanliness:
the apartment and the pool are very cleanRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
we enjoyed the place the breakfast facing the sea aperitivos with sunsets dinners with the moonthe pool was great and watching the sunset each night from the deck was lovely
A sunny vacation awaits
Although it may take a while to get here, a stay on the island of Elafonisi will be well worth the trip. And a stay in any one of these Airbnb rentals is sure to be an amazing trip.
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