Where to Stay in Central Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Central Crete including hotels in Matala, Ayia Galini, and Zaros.
The Armonia Hotel in Matala
Armonia Hotel
The delightful Armonia Hotel is a real find, off the main
road to the left as you approach Mátala. Look for the pool and the white
building with plenty of bougainvillaea around. Most of the 27 rooms are in
small blocks behind the hotel, with views of the unspoilt hill scenery behind.
It is in a quiet spot well outside the town, so a car would be needed, but it
is the perfect getaway for nature lovers and walkers.
Palazzo Greco Boutique Hotel in Ayia Galini
Palazzo Greco Boutique Hotel
The Palazzo Greco is an excellent and inexpensive hotel on the right of the main road as you first enter Ayía Galíni, and with its own parking lot opposite. The bright blue and white frontage is matched by the bright rooms, the ones at the back being slightly more expensive because of their balconies with great sea views. The buffet breakfast varies each day, and can be taken on the terrace at the back with more sea views. Ideally placed halfway between the town centre and the town beach.
Fevro Hotel
The small Fevro Hotel is on your right after the road into Ayía Galíni has descended almost to sea level, and where there is a sharp turn left towards the harbour – that's if you can see the hotel name as the entire building is almost obscured by the most wonderful bougainvillea plant. Some rooms have views of the town, and lower rooms have 'no views but not so many stairs!' The rooms are a reasonable size, clean and simple, with white walls and dark wood furniture.
The Idi Hotel in Zaros on Crete
Idi Hotel
On the edge of the mountain town of Záros and popular with walkers, the Idi Hotel is an unexpected treat. With its swimming pool, tennis court, bar and adjoining restaurant, it represents excellent value for money. Some rooms are in the original small hotel block, while others are in separate buildings in the beautiful gardens. The smell of jasmine at night and the sight of roses and other flowers during the day is a bonus. Rooms are pine-panelled with telephones, air-conditioning and, unusual for Greece, are comfortably carpeted.
Keramos Studios
See our full review of this lovely place in Zaros here.
Hotel Zafiria in Matala
Hotel Zafiria
The main hotel in Mátala is the Zafiria, easily found on your left as the main road enters the town centre. The rooms are simple and clean in typical mid-range fashion, and all have shower, radio and balcony. Some look out towards the sea, others to the hills behind. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant, and also owns the mini-market across the street. It is nothing fancy but a good, reasonably-priced base.
Where to Stay on Crete
Other Crete pages
Ancient Gortina is an archaeological site in southern Crete famous for the church of Ayios Titos and for the Law Code inscribed here, the first in Europe.
This olive grove walk from Limnes to Vrises on Crete also takes you through orchards and gives close-up views of some of the island’s windmills.
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Crete (Kriti) is the largest Greek island and its main attractions include the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Samarian Gorge, Chania and Rethymnon.
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.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Western Crete with tavernas and restaurants in Chania, Rethymnon, and Paleochora.
We visit and tour the Manousakis Winery on Crete with a wine-tasting and a chance to buy their tsikoudia, sea salt, olive oil and other goodies.
The Byzantine Church of Panagía Kerá near Kritsa and not far from Ayios Nikolaos is one of the most famous in Crete, and close by is the site of Ancient Lato.
Rethymnon is the third-largest city in Crete and has a Venetian fortress, Archaeological Museum, Old Town area and Venetian harbour,
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.
Matala Beach on Crete is a guest blog for Greece Travel Secrets from the We Love Crete website, inviting you to Awaken Your Inner Hippy in Matala, Crete.
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.
The Stilianou Winery near Knossos on Crete uses only Cretan grape varieties, with every bottle numbered, and aims for quality rather than quantity.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Eastern Crete including restaurants and tavernas in Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Kato Zakros.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in western Crete, including both luxury and inexpensive hotels in Chania, Rethymnon, and Paleochora.
The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.
The best things to do on Crete and top things to see include the Samaria Gorge, the Minoan Palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the towns of Chania and Rethymnon.
Is someone from Crete a Greek or a Cretan? They are both, of course, but most will tell you that they are Cretan first and Greek second.
Visiting the Arkadi Monastery near Rethymnon is one of the best things to do 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 travel tale Our Hire Car in Crete describes what it’s like when you go driving in Greece and get off the beaten track, resulting in kindnesses.
This Amari Valley drive in southern Crete starts and ends in Ayia Galini, takes four to five hours and cover 100 kilometres or 62 miles.
This Lasithi Plateau drive on Crete starts in Neapoli and ends in Malia, covering a distance of 80 km (50 miles) and taking two to three hours.
Cretan music is part of the island’s soul and visitors will hear live music wherever they go, with several distinctive Cretan musical instruments and songs.
Crete's capital and largest city is Irakleio, also called Iraklion or Heraklion, a large and busy place with good restaurants, museums and historical buildings.
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