Where to stay
Where to stay in Crete: six areas and the hotels we pick
Crete is almost 260 kilometres long, and the area you choose shapes the whole holiday. These are the six areas that suit most people, with the airport, beach and hotel for each.
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In short: where to stay in Crete
For a town and a beach together, stay in Chania or in Platanias and Agia Marina just west of it. Rethymno sits mid-island with an old town and a long sandy beach. Heraklion and Hersonissos suit families and all-inclusive stays. Elounda has the island’s densest cluster of luxury hotels.
Our pick in Chania: Check availability and prices at Domes Noruz Chania
First, which airport?
Crete has two main airports. Chania is in the west, Heraklion in the middle of the north coast. Fly into the one nearest your hotel, because distances are longer than the map suggests. Chania to Elounda takes around three hours by car.
Chania: old town, harbour and restaurants
Chania is the town most visitors fall for. The Venetian harbour, the lighthouse and the lanes behind are full of restaurants, and you can walk everywhere. The town beaches are small, and the best ones are a drive away, so a car or bus helps.
Domus Renier Boutique Hotel
Domus Renier sits in the old town of Chania, with the ZEPOS restaurant, a bar and a terrace. Breakfast is included, and you can walk to the harbour and Nea Chora beach. It is a good choice if you want the lanes and the restaurants right outside the door.
Best for: couples who want to stay inside the old town.
Good to know: Nea Chora beach is about a quarter of an hour on foot.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Domus Renier Boutique Hotel
Platanias and Agia Marina: beach holidays west of Chania
Ten minutes west of Chania lie Platanias and Agia Marina, long favoured by package holidaymakers from Scandinavia and the UK. The sandy beach is long and shallow, with the islet of Agioi Theodoroi just offshore. Evenings are lively along the main street, especially in July and August.
Minoa Palace Resort, Platanias
Minoa Palace in Platanias has four outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a spa and four restaurants. Breakfast and parking are included. It is a complete resort for staying by the beach west of Chania. The spa offers hot stone massage, and there are two pool bars and a beach bar.
Best for: families and couples who want everything in one place by the sea.
Good to know: Platanias beach is about ten minutes by car.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Minoa Palace Resort
Evenings in the lanes
In the old towns of Chania and Rethymno, dinner is often served in lanes like this one. Photo: Matthieu Oger / Unsplash
Rethymno: an old town in the middle of the island
Rethymno sits between Chania and Heraklion and makes a good base for seeing the whole island. The old town has a Venetian fortress and narrow streets, and just outside it a sandy beach runs for kilometres to the east.
Nautilux Rethymno by Mage Hotels
Nautilux sits right on the sandy beach in Rethymno, with an indoor pool, a spa and a pool bar. Guests especially praise the pool and the staff. The old town of Rethymno is about ten minutes away by car. The indoor pool makes it a good choice in spring and autumn, when the sea is cool.
Best for: couples who want the beach on the doorstep and the old town close by.
Good to know: The Rimondi Fountain in the old town is about ten minutes by car.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Nautilux Rethymno by Mage Hotels
Heraklion and Hersonissos: families and all inclusive
Heraklion is the capital, with the airport, the archaeological museum and Knossos five kilometres away. East of the city, Hersonissos and a long string of big resorts offer water parks and kids’ clubs. Stay here for all inclusive and a short transfer.
Creta Maris Resort, Hersonissos
Creta Maris sits on the beach in Hersonissos, with fifteen outdoor pools and a water park included in the price. Seven restaurants and a kids club in the price make it a strong choice for families. Heraklion airport is close by. The spa has massages and body treatments for the adults.
Best for: families who want all inclusive.
Good to know: It is a big resort, so ask for a room near the pools and the beach when you book.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Creta Maris Resort
Elounda and Agios Nikolaos: luxury in the east
Elounda sits on a calm bay north of Agios Nikolaos, looking out to the fortress island of Spinalonga. Many of Crete’s best-known luxury hotels are here. It is a long drive from Chania, so fly into Heraklion.
Elounda Mare Relais & Châteaux
Elounda Mare is a member of Relais & Châteaux and sits on a private beach on Mirabello Bay. The spa offers Ayurvedic treatments, and three restaurants cover the whole day. A golf course is next door, and guests rate the hotel 9.8 out of 10.
Best for: couples who want peace and polished service.
Good to know: Airport transfers can be arranged, and parking is included.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Elounda Mare
Kissamos: the west coast and Balos
To have Balos and Elafonisi close, stay in Kissamos in the far west. The town is small and quiet, and the boats to Balos leave from its harbour. Hotels are simple, so choose this area for the beaches, not for luxury.
Aphrodite Beach, Kissamos
Aphrodite Beach sits on the bay in Kissamos, with a pool, a beach bar and the Inalia restaurant. The apartments have furnished balconies. The boats to Balos leave from here, and Elafonisi is just over an hour away by car. In the morning you are among the first on board, before the day trippers from Chania arrive.
Best for: couples and families who want to reach Balos and Elafonisi early.
Good to know: The apartments have kitchenettes, handy for simple meals.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Aphrodite Beach
Our pick in Chania
Domes Noruz Chania
Domes Noruz sits by the sea just west of central Chania and is for adults only. The beach and pool are right outside, and the old town and harbour are a short taxi ride away. It suits anyone who wants both: quiet days by the water and evenings in town.
More guides to Crete
Frequently asked questions about where to stay in Crete
Where is the best place to stay in Crete for a first visit?
Chania, or Platanias and Agia Marina, is the safest choice for a first visit. You get a town, an old quarter and beaches within easy reach, and Chania airport is close. With children and a wish for all inclusive, Hersonissos east of Heraklion is the better pick.
Is it better to stay in east or west Crete?
The west suits beaches like Balos and Elafonisi, Chania and mountain walks. The east has more large resorts and the luxury hotels of Elounda. Rethymno, in the middle, is a sensible compromise if you want to see both with a hire car.
Which airport should I fly into for Crete?
Choose the airport nearest your hotel. Chania suits the west coast, Platanias, Kissamos and Rethymno. Heraklion suits Hersonissos, Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. Getting from one airport to the other end of the island can take several hours by car.
Do you need a car in Crete?
Yes, if you want to see more than the beach by your hotel. Buses link the towns along the north coast, but many beaches, mountain villages and day trips are easiest by car. If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort to relax, you can manage without.