For those on a smaller budget, have a look at the small and friendly Nostos Hotel which is a few minutes from the main harbour. 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. Boasting unspoilt bay views, life plays out on a different tempo here. Most visitors wont venture far outside the old town, the nexus of which is the pretty 14th-century Venetian harbourfront, but surrounding it is a decent-sized the modern university city with a year-round population of 60,000 people. It can be as quiet or as rowdy as you like. The lush Villa Octo is up in the hills behind the city and sleeps 6 in luxury. Transfer time: 1hr 15 minutes from Heraklion airport. Balos beach Chania Balos is a fantastic location on the northwestern side of Crete, in the region of Chania. Its a relaxed resort town (well compared to its busier neighbours) and if you want a no-nonsense turn-up and relax on the beach holiday then this is a good choice. You wont find parties and bars here, oh no. PRIVACY POLICY TERMS & CONDITION, Top 26 Unspoilt Places to Visit in Crete for Travel Snobs, Minos Palace Hotel & Suites Adults Only, The Royal Senses Resort Crete, Curio Collection by Hilton, Explore the Mediterranean Sea in a different way with, After a fun-filled day, relax and rejuvenate with, Discover peaceful, uncrowded scenery walking through, Learn about the architectural treasures from around the area and history of the village at, Dont leave without buying a piece of handcrafted pottery as, Find a spot near a bar or taverna along the beach to. Most hotels and rooms in Matala are simple and value. Suites and private villas have personal pools. The beach is large and there are a range of tavernas and shops offering food at a very reasonable price. The architecture of the village looks like it just sprang from a WWII novel, winding streets, brightly painted buildings, plenty of brick and crumbling plaster. Heraklion is located on the north coast of Crete and is home to the main airport of the island. Z Boutique Hotel has comfortable rooms and a small pool. Blue Palace Elounda 9. The beach here is better than any at Hersonissos, which is 5km away. THE 10 BEST Crete Beach Resorts 2023 (with Prices) - Tripadvisor Kids go free to the Minoan Amusement Park. 5* Minos Beach Art Hotel has 1km of beach access, spacious grounds, and calming minimalist decor. Mar 20 - Mar 21. 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. 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. The resort itself is sleepy but like most in the area the beach gets very busy in the summer. Transfer time: 35 minutes from Heraklion airport. Falassarna is located on the west coast of the island around a 2 hour 40 minute drive from Heraklion airport. Start the day with farm-to-table breakfast before a bike ride. Giannoulis - Grand Bay Beach Resort (Exclusive Adults Only) Kolymvari. A good selection of bars and restaurants. Transfer time: 25 minutes from Heraklion International airport. Transfer time: 1 hr 40 minutes from both Chania and Heraklion airports. Transfer time: 1hr 40 minutes from Chania International airport. See More, A modern North Western Crete resort and spa, surrounded by acres of lush landscaped gardens. The beach is sandy and the sea is calm, though the south coast does get fierce winds at times. Transfer time: 20 minutes from Heraklion International airport. There are a number of hotels right on the beach such as the modern and comfortable Sofia Hotel. 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. One of the best beaches in the south coast of Crete, You can actually park the car by the beach, there are a couple o. Oceanview Designer Beach House (4 guests): $300/night. 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! If you want to explore the culinary, you will have a vast variety of restaurants and amazing coffee shops. See More, A luxury boutique hotel with quirky design and a private stretch of beach. Lyttos Beach Resort is a 150-acre family-friendly hotel with dated interior spaces but beautiful grounds, including a sandy beach with free loungers and a lifeguard. Although, shell always have a special place in her heart for the city where she makes her annual pilgrimages Paris, her true city of lights. Ranked as a top Travel Authority in the UK by Agility PR Solutions, Nominated as the best female travel blogger in the Teletext Holiday Awards 2019, British Annual Canada Travel Awards Finalist 2018, Nominated for the Best UK Travel Blog 2018, Cheapflights Travel Blog Awards Nominee 2017, GLOBAL GRASSHOPPER. It has a tranquil fishing village vibe, although the heart of the village does feel a bit commercialised, and there are some small beaches a short walk away (the main one is Boufos). " Clean, spacious rooms, quiet sandy beach with amazing panorama, pools of different sizes and located in different areas of the resort, great waterpark with many . ; EAST: The beaches past Elia are beyond the reach of the bus and water taxi network so things calm down considerably. Its a popular day-trip destination and the crowds somewhat marr the incredible natural landscape with its towering rock formations. A collection of understated luxury rooms and bungalows are elegantly decorated with simple white walls and minimalist artworks. Transfer time: 50 minutes from Chania International airport. See More, An opulent resort comprising five hotels in one on a private peninsula. Agia Roumeli: Lots of budget rooms all around the same price point thanks to the proliferation of walkers tryAgia Roumeli Hotel or Gigilos which are both right on the beach. The further out, the quieter it gets. Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Chania. Kissamos is a working port town on the northwestern edge of Crete. 5. But the highlight is the peaceful and picture-perfect sugar cube village of Loutro, with its whitewashed walls and electric blue seas. 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. Well, you dont need to imagine, as youve just thought of Sissi in beautiful Crete! Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. This is tucked away in a remote pocket of Crete's south-western corner, so you could be forgiven for thinking you might have it all to yourself. Service 4.3. There are numerous beaches to visit, and if they are a bit far or you want to go further afield, as a bigger resort you can find hire cars for the standard rate. The prices in Hersonissos are very competitive, partially to lure customers out of the many all-inclusive hotels in the area. A classy, modern hotel. Located to the eastern side of the island of Crete, Kato Zakros is a bit out of the way, but well worth the visit. Anissaras beach http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownieboy27/4986950206/in/set-72157624948245648 Report inappropriate content roseyManchester manchester Where to Stay on Crete: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide However, dont let that put you off. A small collection of traditional stone cottages make the perfect base for families. The 10 Best Resorts in Chania, Greece | Booking.com The older part of town (Ano Hersonissos or Palia Hersonissos) is set back from the coast and has lots of little family-run tavernas. Its vulnerable to high winds but on the other hand, this makes it ideal for surfers. Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection 6. Whitewashed and chic Cyano Hotel is the best place to stay in Plakias rooms are spotless, the beds are comfy, and its a short walk to the shops and beach. Stay in Makrigialos: White Pearl Apartments are right on the beach. With steep sandy-coloured rocks dropping directly into the sea in this horseshoe-shaped bay and crystal clear water it is postcard perfect. The beaches here are small but this helps to keep the crowds away. 7 Of The Best Resorts In Crete | TravelSupermarket THE 10 BEST Crete Beach Resorts 2023 (Prices) - Tripadvisor 15 Quiet Beach Towns in America - PureWow See More, Domes Noruz Chania boasts a spectacular location on the coast of Crete. 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. The area is popular with locals, which should tell you something, and as a result, the beachside cuisine in the local tavernas is to a pretty high standard. As about as non-commercial as it gets, Sissi is everything you want from a pretty Mediterranean fishing village. 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. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Be aware that roads and bus routes in the south are sparse, its easier to plan an itinerary that takes in one region or travels along the north coast. The nation boasts nearly 5,800 miles of coastline, stretching along the warm Gulf of Mexico to the east and the . Naxos has the best beaches (but little nightlife). There is an increasing number of upmarket resorts in Sissi. There are no luxury hotels in the area, but an excellent selection of traditional family-run hotels and pensions, many with sea views. Check the rooms and prices on Booking.com. Mythology aside you can visit the ruins of the Minoan Zakros palace, which is a genuine archaeological site. The Akrotiri Peninsula is where youll find the airport, a swathe of villas, and a few spectacular beaches such as Stavros Bay and Seitan Limani. Best Places in Crete to Stay for First-Timers and Sightseeing: Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos. On a budget? 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). 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. 302 reviews. Accommodation in Kissamos tends to look a bit dated but you can find good value in the surrounding beaches such as resort-style Balos Beach Hotel, Galini Beach Hotel, and the simpler Maria Beach Hotel. Set in landscaped gardens, the freshly reinvented Radisson Blu Beach Resort has seven pools, direct beach acces, and is popular with families.