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.
Casa Delfino
One of the absolute best places to stay in Chania is the Casa Delfino, a 17th century former palace, built around a fabulous, big Venetian-style courtyard. It has studio rooms, ordinary rooms and suites, all of which are bright and cheerful and superbly fitted-out with old photos on the walls. All 20 have air-conditioning, mini-bar, satellite TVs, and marble Jacuzzi baths. There's a large bar, breakfast room, roof terrace, and a guest lounge.
Hotel Doma
Though about a 20-minute walk east of Chania’s Venetian Harbour and town centre, the inexpensive Hotel Doma provides a memorable stay, in a converted century-old mansion. The historical feel is kept in the general décor, including the rooms, although all rooms are ensuite with air-conditioning and TV. The 3rd-floor dining room has great views towards the town, and front rooms have views out to sea.
Hotel El Greco
Perfectly situated on an almost traffic-free street in the old town of Chania, just a minute’s walk from the harbour, the El Greco is a family-run hotel with just 23 rooms. They are all a good size and well-appointed, some being suites with extra living space. There’s a relaxing bar downstairs and a terrific roof garden with wonderful views over the roofs of the old town to the sea.
Elia Palazzo
This delightful small hotel is on a quiet street in the old town of Chania. The Elia Palazzo was once a mansion and the 11 rooms, named after Greek Gods and heroes, are full of wood-panelling and old-fashioned touches, though with modern bathrooms, TVs, fridges, and phones. The generous breakfast is one reason to stay here, others being the friendly service and ideal location: use the public car park west of the harbour if driving.
Hotel Fortezza
The Hotel Fortezza has been built in traditional style, echoing the Venetian feel of the old town around. It is in one of the quieter areas of Rethymnon, mostly pedestrianised, and close to the Venetian fort that gives it its name. The best rooms overlook the small swimming pool, so try to book one of these, and booking is recommended even in low season as it is justifiably popular.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Galaxy Rooms
The Galaxy Rooms is one of the most pleasant of the many 'rooms to rent' options in Paleochora, above the Galaxy Fish Restaurant. Front rooms have large balconies overlooking the town's pebble beach and the sea. The ensuite rooms are a good size and surprisingly well-equipped with TV, fridge, phone and washing lines. They are also clean and well-maintained, and though no breakfast is served, there are several nearby options. The owner also has more rooms across town near the sandy beach.
Grecotel Creta Palace
Although a deluxe standard hotel, prices are reasonable given the quality and the location, right by the beach. The Grecotel Creta Palace is about 3 km (1.9 miles) east of Rethymnon centre, beyond the wonderful town beach. The rooms are simple but bright and clean, and the hotel has all the facilities you might expect including three swimming pools (one indoors), restaurants, bars, gym, tennis courts and watersports.
Hotel Ideon
The Hotel Ideon is in a wonderful location overlooking the harbour, but set back from the main road and with a public car park (vital in Rethymnon) directly opposite. The Ideon has 100 rooms, all with balconies, overlooking either the sea or the private swimming pool. The rooms are modern and simple, with phone, radio, safe, air-conditioning, and bathroom. The slightly pricier suites have fridge and TV too.
Ifigenia Rooms and Studios
Ifigenia Rooms and Studios isn’t one hotel but several places close together near Chania’s Venetian harbour. All are owned by the same enterprising young man and all have the same flair when it comes to the decoration. Some of the rooms are stunningly designed with stone arches, four-poster beds, galleried areas and with open-plan baths adding to the striking look. As well as the Ifigenia I, II and III there is the Ifigenia Studios, Pension Orio, and Hotel Captain Vassilis.
Other Crete Pages
What was daily life as a Minoan like on Crete, living in palaces like the ones at Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros, and what were their religious beliefs?
Greece Travel Secrets’ potted guide to Eastern Crete and why you should consider it for a holiday, including seeing Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Vai Beach and Zakros.
This Airbnb in the quiet village of Malaxa, a 30-minute drive into the hills above Chania, is a peaceful retreat with a delightful and thoughtful artist owner, with wonderful views and amenities.
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
The area east from Paleohora along the south-west coast of Crete includes resorts like Agia Galini, gorges like the Imbros Gorge and quieter towns like Sfakia.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Western Crete with tavernas and restaurants in Chania, Rethymnon, and Paleochora.
Greece Travel Secrets eats at Vegera in Zaros and finds a cheap but wonderful feast of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes cooked daily with fresh local food.
Crete festivals and events include Carnival Easter, Whitsun, Christmas, many other religious feast days and public holidays.
Crete (Kriti) is the largest Greek island and its main attractions include the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Samarian Gorge, Chania and Rethymnon.
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.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Eastern Crete including restaurants and tavernas in Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Kato Zakros.
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.
For a Crete olive oil tour Greece Travel Secrets visits Biolea, one of the few olive oil factories on Crete that you can visit.
Visiting the Arkadi Monastery near Rethymnon is one of the best things to do on Crete.
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.
Chania is the main city in Western Crete with a lovely setting and a beautiful harbour as well as several museums.
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.
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
The largest of the Greek islands, Crete has four ENUESCO sites, which are Sitia, Psiloritis, Asterousia, and the Gorge of Samaria.
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.
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.
Visiting Knossos near Iraklion is one of the best things to do on Crete, and this page has a history of the site with visitor information.
Greece Travel Secrets discovers Sitia, the main town in eastern Crete, with its relaxing waterfront, inexpensive hotels, good food, and nearby ancient sites.
Ancient Gournia is a Minoan archaeological site between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia in Eastern Crete where the visitor can see evidence of a maze of back streets.
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