The one we are talking about is ideal if youve decided to stay in or near Agios, as its just around the bay. For initial visits to Crete, especially if you have limited time to travel, plan on staying in one of the 5 main settlements. The local fare in many of the harbour tavernas is about as close as you can come to freshness, maybe even caught meters from where you sit. Interiors are chic, contemporary and comfortable. } Its super sedate. 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. Its located on the western end of the north coast, withpeaks of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) providing a dramatic backdrop. On the Venetian harbour: is the 5 star Ambassadors Residence which has rooftop hot tubs. Elafonisi Lagoon is located on the west coast of the Greek island of Crete around a 3 hour 20 minute drive from Heraklion Airport. But the rowdy bars are largely confined to one strip the Malia Mile, and the party doesnt start until later in the evening. Panormos is the first beach resort that you hit east of Rethymnon that has a proper village feel and isnt just an outpost of the city. Although almost every main beach gets busy in July and August, you can usually walk just a few minutes away to find a patch of heaven sans crowds. Most of the accommodation in this area is in traditional rooms and studios. A perfect miniature island-hopping adventure. Panormos a small and charming traditional Cretan fishing village located on the northern coast has a few little extra bits that make it attractive, and a winery, it also has guided tours and tasting as well making it an attractive proposition indeed. Value 4.1. Definitely one of the most unspoiled places to visit in Crete, the pretty peaceful village of Loutro evokes some strong emotion when you land here it is truly like stepping back in time! Located to the eastern side of the island of Crete, Kato Zakros is a bit out of the way, but well worth the visit. The harbourfront is lined with restaurants and smart boutiques, and the narrow alleys filled with souvenir shops, and the colourful tables and twinkly lights of tavernas vying for your trade. 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. 17. South of the Lasithi Peninsula, this part of Crete has its own climate its drier, hotter, and more barren than the rest of the island. 302 reviews. Oceanfront Home With Views (7 guests): $325/night. Its an easy and cheap bus ride to Knoss from Heraklion. event : evt, Show Prices. The City Hotel & Suites is a clean and modern hotel offering excellent value at a lower price point, as are Menta City Boutique Hotel and Omiros Boutique Hotel. Hailing from the Emerald Isle she calls a small coastal town near Dublin home, but has lived in a few countries including Saigon, Vietnam where she resided for over a year. There are only a few places to stay in Plaka try Athina Villas, Plaka Beach Cottages, and Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa. And if you'd like your own private pool, as well as access to a private beach, Refine your search to our Guru's recommendations for. Glyka Nera is located on the south coast of Crete a 2 hour 30 minutes drive from Heraklion Airport. Slap bang in the middle of the northern coastline, the city of Heraklion (also spelt Iraklio or Iraklion) is the capital and its surrounding coastline is some of the busiest and most developed on Crete. See More, This five-star eco hotel overlooks the famous Mirabello Bay in Elounda, Crete. A luxurious hideaway near Rethymnon. Our hotel experts have scoured the length and breadth of the island to bring you a collection of Crete's best beach hotels selected on their location, designs, service, and amenities. Falassarna is located on the west coast of the island around a 2 hour 40 minute drive from Heraklion airport. Many Chania beaches are among the best on the island, such as Balos, Falassarna, and Elafonissi. Access to this haven can be achieved through E4 trail but the climb can be treacherous in places as it climbs to an altitude of 700m, so its not for the fainthearted but on arrival, you will no doubt agree that this is one of the finest beaches in all the Greek islands. Ideal for totally relaxing. #3 Best Value of 119 Crete Resorts "The mini water park within the hotel is excellent, with plenty of slides for younger and older kids. Elounda is a good middle ground for those who dont want utter isolation, but still want to keep their break fairly relaxed. BEST LUXURY HOTELS: Lindos Blu, Casa Cook Rhodes, Boutique 5 Hotel and Spa BEST BUDGET HOTEL RIGHT ON THE BEACH: Delfini Beach Hotel BEST VILLAS: Kiotari Beach Villa, Axiotheaton Villas, SeaSide Suites BEST RESORT HOTELS FOR FAMILIES: Hotel Porto Angeli Beach Resort, Atlantica Aegean Family Resort, Rodos Princess Resort & Spa Some swim-up rooms are available. A typical routine is to eat dinner in the old village and then head down towards the waterfront for evening drinks. There are still many quieter, less commercialized resorts, villages, and secluded coves to explore and more hidden locations that are barely touched by tourism. Agree a time with him and he'll come back for you later. Lyttos Mare 5. Lasithi, the easternmost province of Crete, is home to some of its most luxurious hotels as well as its wildest and most traditional areas. Ierapetra is known as the capital of the south coast as its the biggest town along the coast, and one of the southernmost towns in Europe. On the beach: Check out LUX.ME White Palace and Caramel Grecotel Boutique Resort for sheer whitewashed bliss right on the beach. See more photos Add to shortlist. Small ferry boats make the run over to Spinalonga from both Plaka and Elounda. #30 Best Value of 32 Crete Luxury Beach Resorts Mexico is one of those well-rounded countries that offer a little bit of everything: food, culture, gorgeous landscapes, and some of the best hotels and resorts in the entire world. Minoa Palace Resort & Spa is another beachfront blockbuster with private pools and daybeds. 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. Crete is almost completely surrounded by beaches. Paleochora is located on a small peninsula with beaches on either side perfect for windsurfing as one of them will always be catching the wind. In certain lights as well, Balos Beach has a hint of pink sand. She counts supping on Bloody Marys on a rooftop in Manhattan, downing Singapore slings at the Raffles Hotel, daring a paraglide on the Grand Cayman, spending an exotic Christmas in Malaysia and exploring the Angkor Wat, Cambodia as her all time favourite travel moments. Its located just to the east of Heraklion, meaning it is easy to get to if you dont want to spend too much time with pesky transfers. Some suites have access to a private hot tub on the roof terrave. Although the hippies have long since been moved on, and the caves protected and closed to the public, the town retains a laidback feel despite the explosion of tourism here. For a mix of the two - great beaches and some nightlife - Paros is perfect. Much of the south-west coast is rocky and inaccessible, with steep cliffs that drop dramatically into the sea and small beaches that form at the end of gorges. There is an increasing number of upmarket resorts in Sissi. Here, you can available of the offerings from the nearby tavernas and umbrellas are available. Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort has a Six Senses Spa, direct beach access, and a private 9-hole golf course. Crete has some of Greece's best sandy beaches - many far from developed areas, so you can truly enjoy a remote holiday on the sand. This 5* property offers boutique accommodation decorated in a typically Mediterranean fashion and with either a private plunge pool or hot tub. Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Chania. On a budget? If you think of a sleepy Greek fishing village, you probably have images of small boats bobbing in quartz waters, piles of multicoloured nets, and fishermen unloading their catch before nipping off to the Taverna for a cheeky ouzo. Falassarna is home to one of the best beaches on Crete vast, sandy, and relatively undeveloped. Although be warned, the walk takes five to seven hours and can be strenuous, especially at the peak of summer. The outskirts of Hersonissos are home to some of Cretes swankiest 5* resort hotels. 1. Rapid growth resulted in some dense development around the small harbour, and the small beach is a 10-minute walk out of the village. The Troulis Apart-hotel is excellent value. There are plenty of options for self-catered too, likeVilla Niki. Start the day with farm-to-table breakfast before a bike ride. 26. The 680-room Creta Maris Beach Resort is a beachfront all-inclusive resort a 10-minute walk from Limenas Hersonissos village. Here are the best luxury Crete resorts on the beach. Except for the blockbuster beaches that attract day trips, its not ideal for beach tourism. You may have to head to the south coast when the wind is blowing. On a budget? 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. See More, Domes Noruz Chania boasts a spectacular location on the coast of Crete. The main village is set 1km back from the beach and is a popular area for villas and expats. Hostels: Chania has two gorgeous design hostel options Cocoon City Hostel and Kumba. 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. You are properly in the land of Greek mythology, I expected Jason and his argonauts to pop over the horizon at any moment whilst we sat on the beach. Transfer time: 15-45 minutes from Chania International airport. If you are a true adventurer take your flashlight and head up to Milatos caves. Its raw beauty is undeniable, with glassy aquamarine waters and swirls of pastel-pink sands kissing the shore - a natural phenomenon caused by thousands of . If youre used to staying in small villages then you may find Bali too busy and commercialised. Pick of the pack is the uber-chic Serenissima Boutique Hotel its located one block back from the main harbour in a 15th-century Venetian mansion. Transfer time: 50 minutes from Heraklion International airport. The landscape is dry and barren, and the beaches largely empty. Theres plenty to keep older children entertained, including watersports and boat trips. Its known for its calm waters, and for being a nesting site for endangered loggerhead sea turtles. It has a quiet and authentic atmosphere and a well-sheltered beach its one of the best places in Crete for families with small children. 5. One of the main attractions of this part of Crete is Vai Beach, the famously exotic palm beach and former hippie colony. See More, An opulent resort comprising five hotels in one on a private peninsula. of the rooms, the quality of the beach. Inland Heraklion region is home to farmland and vineyards, whereas the coastline spreading east from Heraklion is also the most developed on Crete, and home to its most famous (and infamous resorts). See More, Luxury beach resort just minutes from Agios Nikolaos. It is truly non-commercialised, and we hope it stays that way. Explore the surrounding islands or simply lie back and relax. On the beach itself, there is a tavern that sells local nibbles and drinks as well as sunbeds. Oceanview Designer Beach House (4 guests): $300/night. It is a port city that offers an urban vibe with a touch of nature. There are lots of good value hotels in Sitia, though in general decor is a tad dated check Booking.com for prices and availability. The area is also crisscrossed with donkey paths that make it fantastic for walking (its possible to walk to Plaka). 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. Makrigialis, on the other hand, is a small and friendly traditional beach resort. And Plakias now has a youth hostel! Offering plenty of five-star luxury, Elounda is stuffed with beautiful resorts and classy hotels. The beaches here are small but this helps to keep the crowds away. Take a dip in the courtyard pool; a stylish seaside hotel. Transfer time: 50 minutes from Chania International airport. Highly discreet, with striking designs, each hotel is different. Cretes famous hippie beach is located on the south coast the name will be familiar to any fan of Joni Mitchell, who lived in the caves here for a short time as described in the song Carey. It feels a little like the end of the known world, and Sfakions are known for their fierce independence and excellent cheese pies. Transfer time: 25 minutes to the main harbour from Chania International airport. Yes: Sougia is the best quiet beach in Crete, without a doubt. There are few roads in the area, and some of the villages are accessible only by boat. FalassarnaBeachhas won prizes for being the most beautiful beach in Crete and is always one of the top ten beaches in Europe, with its wonderful, fine white sand and warm, crystal-clear water. Boat trips to Balos leave from the harbour. A small village consisting simply of a few hotels and tavernas, shops and restaurants, and a church, but what Loutro lacks in modernity it makes up for in nostalgia and panorama. A good selection of bars and restaurants. The smaller of the two beaches, Small Triopetra (or Koumado), is more an enclosed, sandy, and rocky bay. The upmarket vibe of Elounda is rubbing off on the small nearby village of Plaka, which is ideal with those looking for a quiet and peaceful holiday. Transfer time: 55 minutes from Heraklion International airport. $148. Nana Princess Suites Villas & Spa 2. Few make it out this far, despite its calling card the impressive (but empty) Venetian castle on its shore. These vary greatly depending on the region and location: Snow white sand alternates with shell sand and fine gravel. On a budget? These hikes can be strenuous and at some moments, hair-raising but they are well maintained. Plakias is one of the nicest small resorts on Crete. Balos beach Chania Balos is a fantastic location on the northwestern side of Crete, in the region of Chania. The Royal Blue Resort. Off the beaten track, this tranquil hotel is ideal for a simple seaside holiday for families. Best Places in Crete to Stay for First-Timers and Sightseeing: Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos. } A spoiling stay. Good value rooms and family-run studios abound check rooms and availability on Booking.com. Private sandy beach, and fantastic facilties for all the family including a luxury spa and kids club. In the small grid of streets behind the main beach, you will find souvenir shops, mini-markets, and small hotels/rooms to let. The main cities and towns on the north coast are linked by regular buses each regional capital has buses going to the south of its region. Mykonos has the best beach clubs (and nightlife). See More, A home-away-from-home set in a stunning rural spot with beaches, bars and tavernas a walk away. The coastline is developed on either side, but it was the introduction of budget flights to Chania airport that really put it on the map. I think it time for a bring visit back! At Finikounda in south-western Peloponnese, it's a simple beach resort with honey-hued beaches, space for 80 campers, and 16 sizeable bungalows with their own bathrooms, cooking facilities. The coastline between these cities is the busiest and most developed part of the island. 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. The Spinalonga peninsula is connected to the town by a causeway the peninsula curves right around and the UNESCO-listed island sits at its tip, creating a natural harbour sheltered from the elements. Three excellent restaurants, salt water pools and an extensive spa complete the picture on this luxe stay. Beach Life - The property has a private beach area (complete with an open-air cineam in the evenings) - ideal for a quiet beach getaway. The main attraction in Stalis (or Stalida) is its 6km golden crescent of beach, and its proximity to party capital Malia (just a 30-minute walk). A luxury beach holiday. However, if you would like to sit outside one of its handful of tavernas with a carafe of the local red and a plate of vine leaves then this is the quiet place to visit in Crete for you! Sitia, windsurf and nice beaches For a taste of the less touristy places on the island, Sitia is your town where to stay in Crete. } Transfer time: 2hrs from Heraklion International airport, 10 minutes from Sitia Public Airport. See More, Impressive luxury resort, totally insulated from the outside world in semi-tropical gardens. The city of Rethymnon (you might also see it spelt Rethymno or Rethimno) is like a smaller, more chilled version of Chania. Its a 40-minute drive to Rethymno. Kalamaki is located on the south coast of the island around an hours drive from Heraklion airport. Its a windswept and low-key kind of place, with remnants of a hippie vibe. Agios Nikolaos is located on the east side of the island around a 50-minute drive from Heraklion Airport. listeners: [], If finding tucked-away coves and exploring craggy rocks appeals to you then Milatos a small quaint Crete village may be the place for you. Whether you are planning a getaway with the family, a couples' escape or a luxury break there is something to suit most tastes and budgets here. Similar rooms are available at Elysium Boutique Hotel & Spa. This is Crete off-the-beaten-track. Set in landscaped tropical gardens, it has 7 pools, a spa, and access to a rocky private beach. And you can find amazing rock formations nearby at Souda such as Calypso Bay. It has a slightly scruffy feel but there are two town beaches, an archaeological museum and some excellent restaurants to entertain you. See More, A luxury boutique hotel with quirky design and a private stretch of beach. Candia Suites are close to the harbour with clean modern interiors and bicycle rental available. The beaches in the Rethymno province are some of the best not as dramatic as the west coast, but long and sandy and perfect for long, lazy beach days. Sissi is located on the north coast of Crete a 40-minute drive from Heraklion Airport. . 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. Suites have private pools. Excellent Mediterranean dishes are served up in the restaurants. The beach of Myrtos is a hidden treasure which, rarely gets crowded and provides a real opportunity to take a load off and truly relax. #14 of 51 hotels in Georgioupolis. If you like your beaches vast and often deserted then make a beeline for Frangokastello on the south coast. Anissaras beach http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownieboy27/4986950206/in/set-72157624948245648 Report inappropriate content roseyManchester manchester Transfer time: 1 hr 40 minutes from both Chania and Heraklion airports. Ferries leave Sitia once a week for Rhodes, Karpathos, and Kassos. Once youve driven (carefully) to the town youll find a laid-back vibe and easy-going atmosphere that is synonymous with most of the lesser-known spots on the island. It has a sand-and-pebble beach and a handful of good tavernas to choose from. The south is wild and remote with a spectacularly rocky coast and a few standout beach resorts. Luxury highlights: Domes Noruz in Kato Daratsa is the 5* pick beachfront location, private plunge pools and hot tubs are available. 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. 9. Rooms with floaty linen curtains have excellent sea views from their large glass windows. Transfer time: 1hr 10 minutes from Chania International airport, 1 hr 10 minutes from Heraklion International Airport book a transfer. 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. Most accommodation is in Paleokastro village which is a short drive from several excellent beaches including Kouremenos, Hiona, and Mandati. But what you will find is a collection of properly local eateries, a few small and sandy beaches, and crystal clear water if you want to go for a dip. Due to the presence of cold spring water streams, the seawater can be cold, even in summer but the beach itself is stunning. The main tourist street is Odos Halidon, which divides the old and new city. Its vulnerable to high winds but on the other hand, this makes it ideal for surfers. Nearby is the Palace of Malia, one of the best Minoan ruins on the island. Isolated, authentic, and very tranquil, Lentas isnt for Crete thrill-seekers or partygoers. 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.