Where to stay · Crete · Greece
Where to stay in Crete
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Chania Old Town. Venetian harbour, lighthouse and lanes of restored mansions in the west. Best alternatives — families: Platanias and Agia Marina; budget: Kissamos; nightlife: Platanias and Agia Marina.
Key facts
- First visit
- Chania Old Town
- Families
- Platanias and Agia Marina
- Budget
- Kissamos
- Nightlife
- Platanias and Agia Marina
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Chania Old Town | Venetian harbour, lighthouse and lanes of restored mansions in the west |
| Families | Platanias and Agia Marina | Resort strip of sandy beaches west of Chania |
| Couples | Chania Old Town | Venetian harbour, lighthouse and lanes of restored mansions in the west |
| Budget | Kissamos | Small, unhurried town in the far west, close to Balos and Falasarna |
| Luxury | Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | Harbour town on a lake and the luxury resorts of Mirabello Bay |
| Nightlife | Platanias and Agia Marina | Resort strip of sandy beaches west of Chania |
| Food lovers | Chania Old Town | Venetian harbour, lighthouse and lanes of restored mansions in the west |
| Quiet stays | Kissamos | Small, unhurried town in the far west, close to Balos and Falasarna |
| Beach | Platanias and Agia Marina | Resort strip of sandy beaches west of Chania |
Crete neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and culture
Chania Old Town
Chania's old town wraps around a Venetian harbour with a lighthouse and the domed Küçük Hasan mosque, and its Topanas and Splantzia quarters are full of boutique hotels, tavernas and craft shops. It is the best base for western Crete, with buses to Balos, Elafonisi, Falasarna and the Samaria Gorge.
- Good
- Beautiful, walkable old town; Excellent restaurants; Bus links to western beaches and gorges
- Watch out
- No good beach in the old town itself; Busy and pricey in July and August
- Nearby
- Venetian Harbour, Splantzia, Nea Chora beach, Akrotiri
$$ · Best for families, beach and nightlife
Platanias and Agia Marina
West of Chania, the coast road links a string of sandy beaches and resort villages, including Agia Marina and Platanias, with family hotels, tavernas, bars and water sports facing Thodorou island. Buses run into Chania in about 20–30 minutes.
- Good
- Long sandy beaches; Family-friendly hotels; Frequent buses to Chania
- Watch out
- Built-up resort feel; Busy main road
- Nearby
- Thodorou island, Chania, Kolymbari
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and beach
Kissamos
Kissamos is a low-key town on a wide bay, with a port for boats to Balos and Gramvousa and easy drives to Falasarna and Elafonisi. Guesthouses and apartments are better value than in Chania, and the town has an everyday Cretan feel.
- Good
- Base for the western beaches; Good value; Local atmosphere
- Watch out
- Few sights in town; Long drive to central and eastern Crete
- Nearby
- Balos, Falasarna, Gramvousa
$$ · Best for families, first-timers, couples and beach
Rethymno
Rethymno's old town of narrow lanes, wooden Ottoman balconies, minarets and the Rimondi fountain sits beneath the Venetian Fortezza, and a long sandy town beach runs east from the harbour. It is central on the north coast, with good access to Arkadi, Preveli and both Chania and Heraklion.
- Good
- Old town and beach together; Central location; Good value compared with Chania
- Watch out
- Beachfront hotels line a busy road; Old town crowded at midday in summer
- Nearby
- Fortezza, Rimondi Fountain, Arkadi Monastery, Preveli
$$ · Best for culture, budget and food lovers
Heraklion
Heraklion is a working city rather than a resort, with Venetian walls, the Koules harbour fortress, Lions Square and the Archaeological Museum. It is the main arrival point, 5 km from Knossos, with buses all over the island, and the 1866 Street market and city restaurants are good value.
- Good
- Close to the airport and Knossos; Year-round city life; Good transport hub
- Watch out
- Traffic and concrete; No good city beach
- Nearby
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Knossos, Koules Fortress, 1866 Street market
$$ · Best for nightlife, beach, families and budget
Hersonissos and Malia
Hersonissos and Malia are large beach resorts on the coast east of Heraklion, with all-inclusive hotels, water parks and a busy bar scene, especially along Malia's main strip. The Minoan palace of Malia and the old hill villages above the coast offer a quieter side.
- Good
- Wide choice of hotels; Beaches and water parks; Close to the airport
- Watch out
- Very commercial; Loud nightlife areas
- Nearby
- Palace of Malia, Star Beach, Old Hersonissos village
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and families
Agios Nikolaos and Elounda
Agios Nikolaos is an attractive harbour town built around the small Lake Voulismeni, with cafés and town beaches. Nearby Elounda is home to many of Crete's most exclusive resorts, with boats across to Spinalonga, and the Kritsa village and Lato ruins are a short drive inland.
- Good
- Calm, sheltered bay; Top-end resorts; Spinalonga boats nearby
- Watch out
- Expensive in Elounda; Far from the west of the island
- Nearby
- Spinalonga, Lake Voulismeni, Kritsa, Voulisma beach
$$ · Best for quiet stays, beach, couples and budget
Plakias
Plakias is a relaxed village on the south coast, about 40 km from Rethymno, with a long sandy beach, tavernas and small hotels, and walks to Preveli, Damnoni and the Kotsifou and Kourtaliotiko gorges. Evenings are quiet and the sea is often clearer than on the north coast.
- Good
- Peaceful south-coast setting; Hiking from the door; Good-value rooms
- Watch out
- Can be windy; Needs a car for most trips
- Nearby
- Preveli Beach, Damnoni, Kourtaliotiko Gorge
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Chania Old Town | $$$ | Venetian Harbour, Splantzia, Nea Chora beach, Akrotiri |
| Platanias and Agia Marina | $$ | Thodorou island, Chania, Kolymbari |
| Kissamos | $$ | Balos, Falasarna, Gramvousa |
| Rethymno | $$ | Fortezza, Rimondi Fountain, Arkadi Monastery, Preveli |
| Heraklion | $$ | Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Knossos, Koules Fortress, 1866 Street market |
| Hersonissos and Malia | $$ | Palace of Malia, Star Beach, Old Hersonissos village |
| Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | $$$$ | Spinalonga, Lake Voulismeni, Kritsa, Voulisma beach |
| Plakias | $$ | Preveli Beach, Damnoni, Kourtaliotiko Gorge |
Getting to your hotel
Heraklion airport is about 5 km east of the city, with buses and taxis to the centre in about 15–25 minutes. Chania airport is on the Akrotiri peninsula about 15 km from the old town, linked by bus and taxi. Sitia airport in the east has a small number of flights.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Crete for first-time visitors?
Chania Old Town. Chania's old town wraps around a Venetian harbour with a lighthouse and the domed Küçük Hasan mosque, and its Topanas and Splantzia quarters are full of boutique hotels, tavernas and craft shops.
+Where should families stay in Crete?
Platanias and Agia Marina: Long sandy beaches.
+Which area of Crete is best for a budget stay?
Kissamos ($$): Small, unhurried town in the far west, close to Balos and Falasarna.