Not overly touristy (though all the amenities are present), it has a working town feel albeit one with an Ottoman mosque, Venetian Fortress, and Blue Flag Beach. Located to the eastern side of the island of Crete, Kato Zakros is a bit out of the way, but well worth the visit. #1 Best Value of 1,305 Crete Beach Hotels "Beach - Currently sitting on the beach I can tell you it is a little sun trap! #7 Best Value of 66 Quiet Resorts in Crete "The resort location gives quiet seclusion and comfort with its own small beach, sun terraces and infinity pool all with beautiful views over Mirabello Bay." "Secluded enough to be quiet and relaxing but also close enough to the picturesque town of Agios St Nikolas." Special offer 2022 8. Hostels: Chania has two gorgeous design hostel options Cocoon City Hostel and Kumba. A spoiling beach treat! #30 Best Value of 32 Crete Luxury Beach Resorts There are no luxury hotels in the area, but an excellent selection of traditional family-run hotels and pensions, many with sea views. See More, Luxury beach resort just minutes from Agios Nikolaos. Monastery Estate is a beautiful new conversion with Turkish hammam. Most accommodation is in Paleokastro village which is a short drive from several excellent beaches including Kouremenos, Hiona, and Mandati. It is home to a substantial palm date forest, which is accessible by foot or by car. Dont expect anything in the way of amenities when you get there (its actually a nature reserve and is treated accordingly). Transfer time: 1 hr 5 minutes from Heraklion International airport. Return to simpler times at this beautiful hideaway on Crete. This is part of a Greek holiday resort guide series and will cover: Roughly speaking, the north coast is developed and is home to the main cities and also most of the beach resort towns. Despite its proximity to larger resorts, the bus service to Sissi is limited, so its better suited to couples looking for a quiet place to stay in Crete or those wanting to explore the wild Agios Ioannis peninsula by car. Packages to Stalis are available through TUI. #8 Best Value of 35 Exclusive Resorts in Crete. There is the standard selection of resort hotels in the surrounding coastal areas stylish Cretan Malia Park is one of the best, with beachfront access, boho chic decor, and family-friendly facilities. This is Crete off-the-beaten-track. The other top choice in Rethymnon is Rimondi Estate whose courtyard swimming pool is becoming an Instagram star in its own right. The modern rooms boast private balconies overlooking the bay, gardens or pool. Transfer time: 15-45 minutes from Chania International airport. The infamous resort of Malia is known for its 24hr party scene its the best spot for nightlife on Crete, as legions of teenage boys well know. It is an absolute must for visitors to Crete is to complete the walk down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, at which point tourists sail to the nearby village of Sougia or Hora Sfakion, where they could spend a night or they could catch a coach back to Chania. Oceanfront Home With Views (7 guests): $325/night. But the rowdy bars are largely confined to one strip the Malia Mile, and the party doesnt start until later in the evening. The walk can take upwards of two hours depending on ability and speed, but also inclination, make sure you take your time to soak up the beautiful views and atmosphere. If you're looking for a quiet, isolated experience . Each of these areas offers exceptional hotels, fantastic dining, and a wide range of nearby . Boasting four stars, rooms are dressed in a traditional style; premium linens complement exposed stone walls and the best suites have terraces with sea views. ; EAST: The beaches past Elia are beyond the reach of the bus and water taxi network so things calm down considerably. Chania (pronounced Hania and sometimes spelt Xania), with its old Venetian streets, is the gem of Crete and its nicest city. Candia Suites are close to the harbour with clean modern interiors and bicycle rental available. A lively beach town, the resort of Bali is set around a handful of coves in a scenic bay. Triopetra is surrounded by Siderotas mountain, olives groves, and of course, the seafront, the area is named after the three majestic rocks that rise out of the ocean at the edge of the peninsula. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. However, dont let that put you off. Small ferry boats make the run over to Spinalonga from both Plaka and Elounda. Many boat trips, excursions, and day tours are available, and its possible to make some journeys (such as hiking the Samaria Gorge) yourself by bus. Walking through the forest is sublime, and the river that cuts through it is clean enough to swim in (we should hope so as it leads directly out onto Plakias beach). This area is perfect for beach lovers (although its worth noting that the main beach does get very windy). Glyka Nera is located on the south coast of Crete a 2 hour 30 minutes drive from Heraklion Airport. Transfer time: 1 hr 40 minutes from both Chania and Heraklion airports. See More, A home-away-from-home set in a stunning rural spot with beaches, bars and tavernas a walk away. Elounda is a lively harbour town thats surrounded by beautiful scenery and a sandy Blue Flag town beach. The remote area of Sfakia on the southern coast is one of the most beautiful parts of Crete but you have to be prepared for an adventure to get there. East of Sitia the crowds really thin out most tourists dont make it beyond this point. 5* resort Domes of Elounda is one of Cretes most exclusive hotels and has access to a private sandy beach, VIP services, and a champagne bar. If you have a mix of old and young children or value convenience then Stalis is a solid option. The best of the rest are: Creta Blue Boutique Hotel & Suites, Villa Ippocampi,Casa Bianca Boutique Hotel,Abaton Island Resort & Spa, Cooks Club. Its a year-round Greek town that attracts tourists and expats, rather than a purpose-built tourist town. 5. Youll find the standard Greek beachside fare if you want to have a halftime break, and nestled in its backstreets are a multitude of boutique-style shops selling some handmade, and some not-so-handmade trinkets. It is slightly commercialised, but that said if you like the occasional deep-fried or sugary treat delivered to your lounger whilst you catch the sun, its not too bad at all! For all intents and purposes its a real treasure. A small collection of traditional stone cottages make the perfect base for families. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Belvedere Apartments are box fresh and have spa access. The Ottoman influence is front and centre at the Hamam Oriental Suites, housed in a former hammam building some rooms have hot tubs. Crete is almost completely surrounded by beaches. Its a windswept and low-key kind of place, with remnants of a hippie vibe. After a day at the (pebble) beach, you can step out in your Sunday best and pace up and down the walkway paralleling the seafront whilst wondering if you have time to look at the menu before you are accosted by the occupants (Im joking, they are lovely and generally friendly more than pushy). One of the most beautiful cities in all of Greece, Chania is unsurprisingly a popular tourist destination. Just dont expect to find authentic Crete here. The nearest rooms are a few miles away try the sereneGlykeria Hoteland Elafonisi Resort. BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CRETE IN AGIOS NIKOLAOS ($$$) Minos Beach Art Hotel ($$) Miramare Resort & Spa ($) Ikaros Art Hotel FIND AGIOS NIKOLAOS HOTEL DEALS 5. My favourite was Geropotamos Beach, there is a rather attractive stone arch to the west and, on the east, a freshwater river running directly into the sea. 9.8/5 (157 reviews) "The bed was so comfortable. The most famous part of the gorge is the stretch known as the Gates where the sides of the gorge close into a width of only four meters and soar up to a height of almost 300 meters. From spending many breaks on this beautiful island, here is my choice for the quietest and most authentic and unspoiled places to visit in Crete which are perfect for travel snobs. 1,438 reviews. Z Boutique Hotel has comfortable rooms and a small pool. The LATO Boutique Hotel is more modern and has harbour views. Rethymno Beach is also one of Cretes most important turtle nesting grounds. But the main attraction that brings tourists to Heraklion is the nearby ancient Minoan site of Knossos the biggest and most well-known on the island. Chanias maze of old town streets have been prettied up for the tourists, but they still retain a charming atmosphere especially if you can catch them in spring before the masses arrive. Palazzo Duca is one block behind the harbour and is clean and modern with comfortable Cocomat mattresses. Malia can be a great option for cheap last minute packages keep an eye on Lastminute.com for deals. Its vulnerable to high winds but on the other hand, this makes it ideal for surfers. See More, A luxury boutique hotel with quirky design and a private stretch of beach. Agia Pelagia is halfway between Bali and Heraklion and is the only real beach resort to the west of the capital, to which it is connected by a regular bus service which takes about 1 hr. If you are staying one or more nights, you dont need to worry about thumping music or all-night parties. Heraklion is located on the north coast of Crete and is home to the main airport of the island. Plaka is also the gateway to the Spinalonga, the small fortress island that famously housed a leper colony and is now one of the main day trips in the area. Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel 4. By that, I mean you want to indulge in some serious chilling, but also maybe want to have a good time in the evening too. La Maison Ottomane brings a touch of Ottoman decadence meets modern style. On a budget? Try the spotless Marina Hotel, or the beautiful white and blue decor and sea views atElektra. Chania Flair Deluxe Boutique Hotel Show prices Enter dates to see prices 202 reviews Although elements of the walk can be tiring, its most definitely worth it. Theres a wide selection of accommodation, easy transport links, a short airport transfer, and child-friendly shallow waters. Suites have private pools. Due to the presence of cold spring water streams, the seawater can be cold, even in summer but the beach itself is stunning. Chora Sfakion: A few upmarket options here such as the No Problem Luxury Suite (it has a bathtub), and the excellent value Livikon Hotel and Samaria Hotel which both have fresh white and blue decor and seaview balconies. Paleochora is the main resort town on the south-west coast. Euphoria Resort 7. See More, Blue Palace, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, A holistic approach to wellbeing underlies the luxury, Equally swish and perhaps just that little bit smarter the. Ferries leave Sitia once a week for Rhodes, Karpathos, and Kassos. Swimmers will prefer the deep water at Episkopi. Transfer time: 25 minutes to the main harbour from Chania International airport. Agios Nikolaos has four sandy beaches though theyre all a little way out of the city Kitroplateira is the most central, Almiros is the nicest. The beautiful unspoilt Samari Gorge is a major tourist attraction of the island and was created by a small river running through the White Mountains. The beach is sandy and the sea is calm, though the south coast does get fierce winds at times. NORTH: Rugged and unpopulated, with quiet but windy beaches.