If you rent a car, you can easily take a day trip to visit the surrounding countryside to see ruins, village life, and the famous pink-sand beaches of Balos and Elafonissi.
Chania, Crete is popular with young families and couples seeking a good mix of culture and sightseeing with beach time as well as solo travellers who are backpacking around Europe for the Summer.
Splanzia Boutique Hotel — Located in the alleyways of the Old Town and just 15 minutes on foot from the beach, the Splanzia Boutique Hotel offers contemporary rooms in a Venetian building. Rooms are equipped with Internet, air-conditioning and satellite TV. Click here for more information and for the latest price. Scala de Faro — A 5 star boutique property situated in the old town close to the Archaeological museum and 18 minutes on foot from the beach.
The hotel is built in a historical building of the 15th century but was recently renovated and offers luxurious rooms equipped with Internet, Smart TV, air conditioning, coffee facilities, slippers, bathrobes and toiletries. The highlight of the hotel is the breathtaking view of the lighthouse and harbor from the Sea View rooms. Pension Eva — Located in a quiet part of the old town and just 9 minutes from the beach, Pension Eva is a housed in a 17th-century Venetian building.
It offers elegant rooms with Internet, TV and air conditioning among other amenities. The highlight of this hotel is the roof terrace with the stunning views of the Old Town. You might also like: Things to do in Chania. This makes this charming and peaceful place all the more special due to its limited accommodation in the form of boutique hotels and self-catering accommodation. Enjoy the picturesque streets to yourself in the early morning and walk up to the old Venetian fort ruins to admire the view.
Then take a boat trip to the stunning Sweetwater Beach, to the opening of the gorge at Agia Roumelli or explore Chora Sfakion and the wider area with trips out to the Frangokastello Castle or the Imbros Gorge. Loutro makes a beautiful honeymoon location or retreat for artists and hikers who can do the day-hike to the lesser known Aradena gorge or walk to Marmara Beach whilst those looking to sunbath, read, and snorkel their way through the sun drenched days will be more than satisfied.
Daskalogiannis Hotel — Located right on the waterfront with all rooms featuring a stunning sea view, Daskalogiannis Hotel is a welcoming and accommodating hotel for those seeking relaxation in tranquil surroundings as well as hiking opportunities. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Villa Niki Studios and Apartments — Look down on the beautiful bay below from your peaceful room at the top of the village. Traditionally decorated with wood beam ceilings, the rooms at Villa Niki are full of Cretan charm and have a kitchenette and veranda. This South coast fishing town, also known as Chora Sfakion or just Sfakia, is made for those people who love being out in nature whether admiring the coastline, hiking the shady gorges, or sunbathing nude!
With tavernas lining the seafront, boats leave regularly taking passengers to nearby Loutro, Agia Roumelli the end of the world-famous Samaria Gorge hike , Sweet Water Beach, and the island of Gavdos which is the most Southerly point in Europe.
For hiking, there are 2 lesser-known but equally beautiful gorges for visitors if they worry about completing the Samaria Gorge hike, those are Imbros Gorge which ends just outside of the village and Aradena Gorge with bungy jumping bridge. Hora Sfakion is a bit too quiet to enjoy a family holiday with kids but is a good location for couples who want either a relaxing retreat spent on secluded beaches or a hiking retreat surrounded by nature.
Hiring a car offers ample opportunity to explore the rugged region further with Frangokastelo Castle and the Cave of Daskaloyiannis both nearby. Surrounded by restaurants, guests can enjoy the sea, port, or mountain view from their balcony. This fairly remote and sleepy seaside village is just 20 minutes away from Chania airport and falls within the Akrotiri peninsula.
There are a handful of tavernas here and a couple of supermarkets but not much else, a hired car is really needed to enable you to explore the beauty of the local area although there is a bus service to Chania. Paradice Hotel — Stay in a brightly decorated suite just 1km from the beach in stunning Stavros. The hotel is set in a quiet location and has a pool with sun terrace, a fitness centre, restaurant and bar.
Little Bay — Spacious self-catering accommodation set within peaceful grounds that reach to the seafront with sea, mountain, or garden views. This remote and rather sleepy seaside town, once a hippy town, is on the South West Coast of Crete, Greece and offers a tranquil break with gorgeous scenery for those who appreciate rocky rugged beaches with sea caves but there are also long sandy beaches to lay out on.
Paleochora is good for couples seeking a relaxing break in a quaint touristic town in Crete who plan to either spend their days on the beach or hire a car to explore the breathtaking surrounding scenery. On The Rocks — Located opposite the beach and just a short walk from the shops and restaurants in the centre of Paleochora, all rooms at the friendly On The Rocks Hotel have a sea view.
Oreia — Self-catering studios located in a peaceful garden setting just 30 metres from the beach with the main shops and tavernas within walking distance. These spacious, well-decorated rooms have a kitchenette and look out to a garden or sea view.
Located between Rethymno and Chania Crete, this village caters to tourism with a selection of small family-run hotels and self-catering apartments and friendly tavernas located around the village square with a fountain. More shops and tavernas located in the shady side streets lead down to the waterfront with the iconic white church located in the sea that you can walk out to, the long sandy beach stretching out to either side.
There is a bus service to Chania and Rethymno every hour although visitors must make their way to the nearby highway to catch it, therefore a hire car affords more freedom and less walking in the hot sun!
Georgiopolis is popular with families and couples looking to enjoy a beach holiday with bars and restaurants moments away. Georgioupolis Beach Hotel — Across the street from the beach with the centre of the village metres behind, Georgioupolis Beach Hotel is recently-renovated family-friendly hotel with a swimming pool, rooftop bar and restaurant. I just love romantic dinner settings near the sea surrounded by rocks and candles.
You better put your dancing shoes on! This village, located 30 km 20 miles east of Heraklion, is the best city on the island for couples and people who want to party the night away in the Cretan bars. Have fun in the sun on the beach during the day and get drunk on cocktails in town during the night! If you need a break from all the bars and restaurants, spend a night wandering around the small streets of Malia that have beautiful pastel-colored houses and plants hanging from the windows.
I highly recommend exploring the old part of this beautiful village while the sun sets over the island, couples are going to love this fantastic experience! Wake up in this Greek paradise after a night of partying in the town! I love the atmosphere of this hotel, which has a private beach, 4 swimming pools and a great restaurant which serves traditional food. Watching the sunset here from the big outdoor pool should be spectacular! Take some time off from bar hopping and relax in the luxurious spa.
You can enjoy many things in this perfect city; you can go shopping around town or have dinner in a fancy restaurant and admire all the high-class people who are strolling around Elounda. There are beautiful beaches near Elounda where you can enjoy some peace and quiet and maybe sit under a palm tree and watch the beautiful crystalline water.
Another nearby place that you can reach is Spinalonga Island; you can take a day tour by boat to this deserted island which was used as a leper colony between and The sights here are unique and still see some of the ruins.
Did anyone ask for the best views in Crete? This famous boutique hotel in Elounda has the best outdoor pool in town. Sipping cocktails at sunset and admiring the blue sea will make you feel like you got lost somewhere in paradise. The rooms are very spacious and the restaurant serves the best sushi ever! Admire the amazing mountain views from the outdoor pool and enjoy some yummy drinks in this hotel.
And if beaches are your main reason to visit Crete, you might want to make sure you stay near some of these beauties. A place in Crete that has now become a popular ancient excavation site! Elafonisi Located on the southwestern corner of the island, this perfect place is just a 1. The beach is famous for its pinkish sand, which was white before but it turned this color because of the shells. You can explore around and discover some nice restaurants with traditional food.
Falassarna This beautiful tranquil spot is located on the west end of the island just 40 km 20 miles away from Chania by car. There are also many restaurants and tavernas that you can visit after a full day at the beach. Preveli A remote beach located on the south of the Cretan coast just 1. It might be a bit tricky to access the beach just because you have to go down a steep path, but hey, looking on the bright side you can get some exercise done during your holiday!
Make sure you stop at one of the tavernas before going down to the beach for some delicious refreshments. Balos Located 55km 30 miles northwest of Chania, this white sand beach is one of the best places on the island. Enjoy the silence! Seitan Limania Just 20 km 10 miles away northeast of Chania, this hidden beach is worth the climb down from the top of the rocks surrounding it. The views are as beautiful as from above and from below. One of the best places to stay in Crete is Chania , it has the best hotels like Domes Zeen and great restaurants.
The northern part of Crete is definitely the most beautiful and one of the best places to stay as it has most of the major towns mentioned above and the top tourist attractions.
It is filled with many romantic restaurants, friendly locals, and picturesque views. Ikaros is the perfect resort for a romantic getaway. I hope you had fun during this virtual written tour of the villages in Crete, I sure did!
Make sure you book in advance as these sell like hotcakes! Remember you can always pick one as a base and explore from there.
I wish you a fun holiday filled with adventures in the gorge or in the village and day drinking in all the friendly bars. Victoria Lupascu. A citizen of the world, Victoria loves creating new stories and being outside, somewhere in a forest where there are tons of trees, flowers and birds that she can take pictures of. She loves spending her time doing yoga, reading and travelling to places that make her soul happy! Disclaimer : Please note that some of the links on this page might be affiliate links, which means that at absolutely no extra cost for you we will earn a small commission for a sale generated through the website.
We only recommend the things we actually use ourselves and never accept useless sponsored crap. Thank you so much for supporting this project!
We spent a beautiful 5 days there, at Domes of Elounda 6 years ago and are dying to return. There are also extra touches to keep everyone entertained here, from access to free bicycles, to games consoles, and Apple TV. Back at the hotel, rooms are minimally decorated for a touch of simple style, whilst suites feature luxury marble bathrooms. For a slice of culture, the Venetian harbour and the Archaeological Museum of Chania are within walking distance.
Rethymno is made up of beautiful cobbled streets, pretty pastel houses and a picturesque harbor. The city is known for a lively nightlife and has some fantastic beaches for you to spend days lounging on the golden sands. Rethymno has seen a tourism boom in recent years and as such, many hotels have been built along the coast and there is big selection of accommodation to choose from. Rimondi Boutique Hotel — The high-end hotel comes with all of the added comfort and convenience that you might expect from a 5-star hotel.
Choose from either the more contemporary rooms with more polished interiors or from the older heritage style suites for a touch of old-world charm. Breakfast is served up on the outdoor terrace alongside the outdoor pool. Plus, the Venetian Harbour and the Old Town is just a five-minute stroll away. The rooms at this 4-star hotel are modern and contemporary in their decor and facilities and come complete with balconies that boast either sea or garden views.
This hotel also features a restaurant, a bar, an outdoor pool, and a rooftop garden — as well as the all-important free breakfast. Busy Heraklion is the biggest city in Crete and is a bustling urban center which has great transport connections.
The modern city also has walled fortifications, an authentic market, interesting alleyways and archaeological museums. Galaxy Iraklio Hotel — This elegant hotel provides an elegant mix of clean and contemporary style and spacious rooms. Staff are always available to help guests with any requests they might have and are very welcoming and professional.
After a packed day seeing the nearby attractions, you can return to the hotel and enjoy a dip in the sizable freshwater swimming pool and dine in one of the two onsite restaurants. Castello City Hotel — The rooms at this 4-star offering come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from suites complete with balconies to family rooms which include sitting areas so you and your children will have enough room to spread out.
Infinity City Boutique Hotel — The on-trend interiors of this boutique hotel have been tastefully designed to seamlessly blend into the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Light wood ceilings, exposed girders, and pops of complementary colors make for an understated yet fashionable aesthetic throughout the hotel.
Some rooms feature sea views and balconies, whilst others are simpler and more affordable. A cultural mix of creativity and leisurely lifestyle gives the town of Agios Nikolaos a unique dynamic identity.
There is a lot to do in the small town — take a walk along the chilled waterfront, stop for some lunch at a waterside restaurant and watch the locals meeting up to do the same thing. There are a few different types of accommodation on offer here, from suites to villas and bungalows for the utmost in privacy and seclusion.
This high end 5-star offering features four restaurants to choose from, as well as no less than three bars to choose from, too. Miramare Resort — Set up on the hills about the beach, this hotel is all about amazing views of both Aghios Nikolaos and the Mirabello Bay. Select one of the charming rooms decorated in a traditional blue and white color scheme and be wowed by the spectacular blue of the sea. Some rooms even have access to their own small private pool that seems to almost blend into the sea below.
The staff at the hotel are very courteous and friendly and create a relaxed environment so guests can enjoy their holiday in laid back luxury. The hotel is close to the sand of Almyros Beach and just over a kilometer to Lake Voulismeni. The agricultural center of Crete is the small town of Kissamos. Packed full of traditional Greek character, the town is a welcoming destination for visitors who want to soak up the authentic atmosphere of Crete.
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