About Phāea Blue Palace (Blue Palace Elounda)
Nestled on the enchanting coast of Elounda, Phāea Blue Palace (formerly Blue Palace Elounda) represents the pinnacle of Cretan luxury hospitality, offering a wedding destination where five-star sophistication meets authentic island charm. Now reimagined as an intimate 47-room boutique resort, this member of Small Luxury Hotels and the Marriott Luxury Collection provides a setting against the breathtaking backdrop of the historic Spinalonga Island.
Your wedding journey here begins well before the ceremony at the award-winning Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy. This sanctuary offers the ultimate pre-wedding pampering experience, ensuring you and your bridal party feel relaxed and radiant before the big day.
For the main event, the resort offers one of Greece’s most romantic venues: the restored Chapel of Saint Titus (Agios Titos). This Byzantine-style sanctuary sits near the water's edge and accommodates intimate ceremonies steeped in Greek Orthodox tradition or spiritual blessings.
Following your vows, the celebration flows seamlessly across the terraced property—from cocktails by the infinity pool overlooking Mirabello Bay to elegant dinners showcasing farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine. A standout feature of weddings here is the touching "Olive Tree Tradition," where couples plant an olive tree on the grounds to symbolize peace, fertility, and long life, creating a living legacy to visit on future anniversaries.
With luxurious bungalows for your guests and a dedicated team backed by Marriott’s expertise, Phāea Blue Palace delivers an extraordinary, personalised celebration where every detail honours both luxury and love.
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Amenities
Saint Titus Chapel for ceremonies
47 luxury bungalows and suites
Private infinity pools in select rooms
Private beachfront access
Spinalonga Island views
Award-winning Elounda Spa (23 treatment rooms)
Thalassotherapy center
Hammam and treatment facilities
Multiple infinity pools
Private beach with loungers and umbrellas
Multiple restaurant venues
Mediterranean cuisine with farm-to-table sourcing
Bar and lounge facilities
Wedding chapel with olive tree planting tradition
Terraced gardens cascading to beach
Clifftop ceremony terraces
Children's club and facilities
Fitness center and yoga classes
Water sports center
Concierge services
Free WiFi throughout
Private parking
Helicopter landing pad for VIP arrivals
Services Offered
Chapel wedding ceremonies
Greek Orthodox ceremony coordination
Blessing ceremony arrangements
Symbolic wedding ceremonies
Professional wedding planning team
Customized reception design
Multiple venue options
Gourmet catering and menu design
Wine pairing and sommelier service
Wedding cake creation
Floral design and decoration
Lighting and ambiance design
Sound system and entertainment coordination
Photography coordination
Guest accommodation management
Pre-wedding spa treatments and packages
Rehearsal dinner hosting
Welcome reception coordination
Post-wedding brunch
Legal paperwork assistance for international couples
Multi-lingual staff support
Transportation coordination
Olive tree planting ceremony
Anniversary return packages
Honeymoon suite arrangements
Good to Know
From port:68 kms (47 miles) from Heraklion Port, the main ferry terminal. Port-to-resort transfer time is 75-90 mins
Frequently Asked Questions
Phāea Blue Palace stands apart through its combination of boutique intimacy (just 47 rooms) with comprehensive luxury resort amenities rarely found at smaller properties. The resort's most distinctive feature is the restored Saint Titus Chapel, providing authentic Greek Orthodox ceremony options with deep spiritual significance. The Spinalonga Island backdrop creates wedding photographs of extraordinary historical and visual impact—this UNESCO World Heritage candidate fortress island adds layers of meaning and beauty impossible to replicate. The olive tree planting tradition connects your wedding to ancient Greek symbolism and provides a living reminder of your commitment that grows over the years. As both a Luxury Collection property and Small Luxury Hotels member, Phāea Blue Palace delivers Marriott's institutional expertise and resources while maintaining the personalized service and exclusive atmosphere of an independent boutique resort. The recent transformation to 47 rooms (from the previous larger configuration) means your wedding receives genuinely personalized attention rather than being one of many simultaneous events.
The intimate Saint Titus Chapel accommodates 30-40 guests for ceremonies, perfect for close family and friends in a deeply meaningful spiritual setting. For larger weddings, outdoor terrace ceremonies can host 80-100 guests with Spinalonga Island and Mirabello Bay as backdrop. Reception capacities vary by venue choice: the beachfront and pool terrace areas accommodate 80-100 guests for cocktail receptions, while the resort's restaurants can host 60-80 for seated dinners or up to 100 for standing receptions. The boutique nature of the property (47 rooms total) means weddings feel exclusive and intimate regardless of size, with the entire resort atmosphere focused on your celebration. For very large weddings exceeding 100 guests, additional guests can stay at nearby Elounda properties while your immediate wedding party enjoys the intimacy of Phāea Blue Palace itself.
This beautiful tradition connects your wedding to ancient Greek culture where olive trees symbolize peace, fertility, wisdom, and long life. Following your ceremony, you and your spouse plant an olive tree together in the resort's grounds, creating a living symbol of your marriage that will grow and flourish over decades. The resort maintains these wedding olive trees, and many couples return on anniversaries—5th, 10th, 25th—to visit their tree, see how it has grown, and reflect on their own marriage's growth and deepening roots. Some couples incorporate their tree into renewal of vows ceremonies years later. The tradition adds profound meaning to your wedding day, transforming it from a single event into an ongoing connection to place, symbol, and commitment. Your tree becomes part of the resort's landscape, contributing to the beauty that future couples will enjoy, creating a lovely continuity of love stories in this special place.
Yes, Phāea Blue Palace can facilitate legal Greek Orthodox wedding ceremonies in the Saint Titus Chapel for couples meeting Greek legal requirements. Greece has specific requirements for legal marriages including documentation, paperwork submitted in advance, and often requiring at least one partner to be Greek Orthodox Christian for church weddings. The resort's experienced wedding team guides international couples through the process, coordinating with local authorities and the church. Alternatively, many couples choose to have a legal civil ceremony in their home country and then celebrate with a blessing ceremony at the chapel—this provides the spiritual and aesthetic experience of a Greek Orthodox ceremony without the complex legal requirements. Symbolic ceremonies without legal status are also popular, allowing complete flexibility in personalizing your ceremony while still experiencing the chapel's beauty and spiritual atmosphere. The wedding team discusses all options during planning to determine the best approach for your specific situation.
Phāea Blue Palace offers exceptional Mediterranean cuisine emphasizing farm-to-table sourcing and authentic Cretan flavors. The resort features multiple restaurant venues that can host wedding receptions, each providing different atmospheres and capacities. The culinary team creates fully customized wedding menus showcasing the best of Greek cuisine—fresh Aegean seafood, locally-sourced produce, Cretan specialties like dakos and lamb, premium Greek wines, and artisanal ingredients from the island's best producers. Menu options range from elegant plated multi-course dinners to lavish buffet presentations to family-style Mediterranean feasts encouraging communal dining. The resort's commitment to "homecooked" hospitality rather than commercial hotel dining means your wedding meal feels genuinely special rather than generic banquet service. Wine pairings feature excellent Greek varietals alongside international selections, with sommelier guidance ensuring perfect accompaniments. Dietary accommodations—vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, religious restrictions—receive the same culinary creativity and attention as standard menus. The combination of spectacular setting, impeccable service, and genuinely delicious food creates wedding feasts guests genuinely enjoy rather than merely endure.
The award-winning Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy ranks among Greece's finest spa facilities, featuring 23 treatment rooms offering extensive signature treatments, therapeutic massages, rejuvenating facials, body treatments, and specialized thalassotherapy using seawater's healing properties. The spa provides perfect pre-wedding pampering for brides, grooms, and wedding parties—many couples book group spa experiences for bridesmaids or create groom's parties around spa treatments and wellness activities. Pre-wedding packages can include couples massages, bridal beauty treatments, manicures and pedicures, hair services, and makeup sessions. The hammam (traditional Turkish bath) offers unique cultural wellness experience perfect for multi-day wedding celebrations. Facilities include a thalassotherapy pool utilizing seawater's mineral content for therapeutic benefits, hot tubs, steam rooms, relaxation areas with soothing sounds and lighting, and yoga spaces for morning sessions before your wedding. The spa's size and comprehensiveness mean your entire wedding party can be accommodated without conflicting schedules, and treatments can be customized for various preferences and needs. Post-wedding, the spa provides perfect retreat for newlyweds beginning their honeymoon or wedding guests recovering from celebration.
The Luxury Collection partnership provides significant advantages while maintaining boutique resort character. Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points for wedding accommodation costs—with Phāea Blue Palace as a Category 8 property, members can book rooms using 75,000-100,000 points per night, potentially saving thousands on guest accommodations. The affiliation ensures institutional standards for service, safety, and quality while the resort maintains its independent boutique personality and personalized approach. Couples planning destination weddings appreciate the familiarity and trust associated with major hospitality brands, especially when booking from abroad sight-unseen. The Marriott connection also means access to comprehensive event planning resources, established vendor networks, and professional coordination systems refined across thousands of weddings globally. For wedding guests, the Bonvoy affiliation provides familiar booking platforms, loyalty program benefits, and the comfort of knowing they're staying at a property meeting international luxury standards. Yet unlike large chain resorts, Phāea Blue Palace maintains authentic Cretan character, locally-inspired design, and that personalized service where staff remember your name and preferences. The combination delivers the best of both worlds—institutional expertise with boutique soul.
Spinalonga Island, visible from Phāea Blue Palace and creating dramatic backdrop for wedding ceremonies, holds fascinating historical significance that adds depth to your celebration. Originally a Venetian fortress built in 1579 to protect Elounda's strategic harbor, the island later became one of Europe's last leper colonies (1903-1957), housing people afflicted with Hansen's disease in compassionate community. The island gained international fame through Victoria Hislop's 2005 novel "The Island" and subsequent Greek television series, bringing its poignant history to worldwide attention. Today Spinalonga is a UNESCO World Heritage candidate site and one of Crete's most visited historical attractions, with preserved fortress walls, former leper colony buildings, and powerful atmosphere connecting visitors to both medieval military history and 20th-century medical history. For weddings, Spinalonga provides more than just photogenic backdrop—it symbolizes endurance, community, compassion, and the human spirit's resilience, themes that resonate with marriage commitments. The island's dramatic silhouette in your wedding photographs creates instantly recognizable Cretan sense of place, and sharing its history with guests adds meaningful context to your celebration location. Many couples incorporate boat trips to Spinalonga as pre-wedding guest activities, enriching the destination wedding experience with cultural and historical exploration.
The optimal wedding season runs from May through October, with each period offering distinct advantages. June through August provides peak summer conditions—guaranteed sunshine, warm swimming (Aegean reaches 24-26°C), long daylight hours (14+ hours in midsummer), and vibrant Greek island atmosphere, though these are also the warmest months (28-35°C) and busiest tourist season. September ranks as many couples' preferred month: reliably warm weather (25-30°C), calmer seas perfect for boat activities, spectacular light for photography as summer's intensity softens, fewer tourists than peak summer, and that golden end-of-summer atmosphere. May and October serve as excellent shoulder season choices with comfortable temperatures (20-25°C), lower rates, better availability, and authentic local character as mass tourism hasn't arrived or has departed. Spring wildflowers in May and autumn colors in October add seasonal beauty. The resort operates year-round, allowing winter weddings for adventurous couples seeking dramatic off-season Crete, though weather becomes less predictable November through March. Elounda's position on Crete's northeast coast in sheltered Mirabello Bay provides somewhat more reliable conditions than exposed western locations. The enclosed bay also means calmer waters for swimming and water activities compared to open-sea beach locations.
The resort excels at both scales through intelligent design and flexible planning. For intimate weddings (20-40 guests), the Saint Titus Chapel provides perfect ceremony venue, the boutique 47-room capacity means your small group can potentially reserve significant portions of the resort for exclusive-feeling celebrations, and the multiple small-scale venues (private terraces, beach areas, intimate restaurant spaces) create cozy rather than empty atmosphere. Small weddings benefit enormously from the personalized service possible at boutique properties—staff learn everyone's names, preferences, and stories, creating warm family atmosphere. For larger celebrations (60-100 guests), the resort's terraced outdoor spaces, beachfront areas, and event venues scale up beautifully, the comprehensive amenities (multiple pools, spa, restaurants, beach) prevent crowding as guests disperse across facilities, and the professional event team experienced with sizeable weddings ensures smooth logistics. The 47-room accommodation capacity means very large weddings require some guests to stay at nearby Elounda properties, but this actually works well—your immediate family and closest friends stay at Phāea Blue Palace enjoying intimate atmosphere, while the broader guest list books nearby hotels and joins for ceremony and reception. This tiered approach maintains the boutique feeling while accommodating larger celebrations.
Guest Reviews
Google Reviews
Misleading Marketing
Negatives
Marketing and website over sells. It is misleading.
It is not a boutique hotel. It has the feel of a large hotel, which after a bit of research was the case. It rebra...
My biggest recommendation is not to stay here until construction is complete on their other hotel property. Prior to booking, we reached out with our concerns about construction and were told construc...
We had the most magical stay at Phaea Blue – it truly felt like a dream! From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel so warmly welcomed, and every detail of the resort was just perfect. The atm...
We had the absolute pleasure of spending our honeymoon at Phaea Blue Crete, and it was nothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel special and...
Five stars - would give 6 if it was an option! The entire experience was fantastic. The service was exceptional and the staff was incredibly attentive. Already planning to come back next summer!
TripAdvisor Reviews
A truly Special Place!
The understated elegance that fully takes at advantage of the natural views that come with this location is truly stunning.
We truly appreciated the food and the service I this amazing spot.
Each expe...
Fabulous!
This was our first time to this part of Crete and therefore Phaea Blue and we were not disappointed.
We were greeted at the door and led into the lobby area where we were checked in and given a compl...
Second visit, amazing!
It was our second visit this year, and once again we enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful holiday. We were pleasantly surprised that the hotel staff recognized us and made us feel as if we were...
A disappointing stay.
The original hotel on the larger plot has been separated into two parts - Phea Blue, designated a boutique hotel and a much larger hotel currently in development which I’m led to believe will be a Ros...
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