Best Crete Hotels
Choosing the best Crete hotels isn't easy. Crete is a huge island, and there are many more fine hotels than we have space to list here. But we've tried to single out some of the most exceptional hotels – historic, romantic, luxurious – that are in some way special.
We've provided some choices in popular spots such as Chania, Rethymnon, Iraklion and Elounda, near Agios Nikolaos.
There are also many really good cheap hotels on Crete, offering very good value for money, but when you're choosing the best hotels on Crete they do tend to be at the more expensive end of the price range.
Here's our choice, in alphabetical order.
The Aquila Atlantis Hotel's Rooftop Pool
Aquila Atlantis Hotel
This is a 5-star hotel in the centre of the Cretan capital and close by the Archaeological Museum. It has its own rooftop pool, restaurant, bars, and a rooftop garden, and some rooms have views over the harbour. It's upmarket and classy without being snooty.
Atlantis Hotel
Iglas 2, Iraklion
Casa Delfino
Casa Delfino Suites
This lovely hotel is in a 17th-century building that was once a Venetian palace. It's right in the old part of town but with a rooftop terrace that overlooks Chania's lovely Venetian harbour and where they serve drinks and bar snacks. The suites lead off a central courtyard and all have luxuries like marble Jacuzzi baths. It's both historic and romantic, and along with the Casa Leone (below) it's easily one of the best hotels in Chania.
Casa Delfino
Theofanous 9, Chania
Casa Leone Boutique Hotel in Chania
Casa Leone
The Casa Leone rivals the Casa Delfino (above) for quality, and beats it for history as this is a 15th-century Venetian villa, even older than the Delfino. It too has a rooftop terrace overlooking the harbour, and some of the suites also look out over the harbour while others face the lovely hotel garden. There are only five suites so personal attention is guaranteed, and all have air-conditioning, private bathrooms and wifi access.
Casa Leone
Theotokopoulou 18, Chania
The King Minos Royalty Suite at the Elounda Mare
Elounda Mare Hotel
One of the best luxury resort hotels in the whole of Greece is here in Elounda, just outside Ayios Nikolaos. It's the only Relais & Chateaux hotel on Crete and has 215 suites and private villas, some with their own pool if you want complete privacy and pampering. It has three restaurants, gorgeous gardens, golf, tennis, watersports, and access to the spa and other facilities at its sister property, the porto elounda DE LUXE RESORT which is 400 yards away and another of the best Crete hotels. Those aren't typing mistakes, by the way, that's just how they like to write their name.
Elounda Mare Hotel
Elounda
The Beach at the Istron Bay Hotel
Istron Bay Hotel
Not far from Ayios Nikolaos on Crete's north-east coast is this wonderfully hidden retreat which has won many awards for its fine cuisine. It also has a great pool, steps down to its own private bay, and all its rooms have balconies with views over the bay. When we stayed here we were totally spoilt and wanted to stay forever.
Istron Bay Hotel
Istro, Agios Nikolaos
The Megaron Luxury Hotel
Megaron Luxury Hotel
This newish hotel instantly became the most luxuriousd hotel in Iraklion. It's a conversion of an old classical building from 1925 that overlooks the harbour, and the modernisation has been done with great style. It has a rooftop pool (open May-October), health club and gym, restaurant and bars, and all the facilities you expect of a 5-star hotel. Definitely one of the best hotels on Crete.
Megaron Hotel
Beaufort 9, Iraklion
Palazzo Rimondi, Crete
Palazzo
Rimondi
These
4-star suites are rated A Class, and the Palazzo is made up of several
15th-century Venetian houses that are right in Rethymnon's Old Town. There are
twenty luxury suites, and it has its own swimming pool and a quiet courtyard.
It's owned by two architects and is beautifully stylish.
Palazzo Rimondi
Xanthoudidou
21, Rethymno
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Other Crete pages
Where to Stay in Western Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in western Crete, including both luxury and inexpensive hotels in Chania, Rethymnon, and Paleochora.
Where to Stay in Irakleio
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Irakleio, the capital of Crete, including nearby beach resort hotels and accommodation in the city centre.
Where to Stay in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets suggests where to stay in Eastern Crete with our favourite hotels in Zakros, Elounds, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Istron Bay, Myrtos, Neapolis.
Keramos Studios in Zaros
Keramos Studios in Zaros on Crete is an inexpensive two-star hotel/guesthouse with one of the best breakfasts on the island using food from the family’s farm.
Where to Stay in Central Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Central Crete including hotels in Matala, Ayia Galini, and Zaros.
Crete
Crete (Kriti) is the largest Greek island and its main attractions include the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Samarian Gorge, Chania and Rethymnon.
Zaros
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
Zacharioudakis Winery
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Zacharioudakis Winery near Ancient Gortina in southern Crete, and does a vineyard tour arranged by our guide from Go Crete.
Where to Eat in Western Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Western Crete with tavernas and restaurants in Chania, Rethymnon, and Paleochora.
Where to Eat in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Eastern Crete including restaurants and tavernas in Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Kato Zakros.
Western Crete in Five Days
Western Crete in five days allows time to visit Chania and Rethymnon, enjoy the beaches, hike the Samaria Gorge and see the monasteries at Arkadi and Preveli.
Western Crete Beaches and Villages
Western Crete has some wonderful golden sand beaches as well as mountain villages, monasteries, caves, and archaeological sites to discover.
West Coast of Crete Drive
This drive along the west coast of Crete and inland from there will take a whole day and starts and ends in Kastélli Kissámou, west of Chania.
Touring the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets tours the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete and learns about Crete grape varieties such as plyto, dafni, vidiano, vilana, mandilari and kotsifali.
The Icon Painter
Icon painting is a centuries-old tradition in Crete and the rest of Greece, and Greece Travel Secrets meets a modern-day icon painter in Elounda on Crete.
The Herb Man of Kouses
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Cretan Botano herbs and spices shop near Matala in southern Crete in search of the herb man of Kouses.
The Cretan Diet
Studies have shown the Cretan Diet as one of the healthiest in the world, involving lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, and moderate amounts of wine.
Stilianou Winery near Knossos
The Stilianou Winery near Knossos on Crete uses only Cretan grape varieties, with every bottle numbered, and aims for quality rather than quantity.
The Snails House on Crete
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Sitia
Greece Travel Secrets discovers Sitia, the main town in eastern Crete, with its relaxing waterfront, inexpensive hotels, good food, and nearby ancient sites.
Sir Arthur Evans, archaeologist at Knossos on Crete
Sir Arthur Evans is the archaeologist famous for the excavations he made at the royal palace of Knossos on Crete.
Shopping Tips for Crete
These shopping tips for Crete include advice on buying souvenirs like ceramics, icons, jewellery, leather, weavings, wood carvings, and food and drink.
Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is one the longest gorges in Europe and doing the hike is one of the best and most popular things to do on Crete.
Rouvas Gorge Walk
This Rouvas Gorge walk starts and ends in Zaros in southern Crete and should take three to four hours with a distance of eight kilometres or five miles.
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