Crete is one of the best family destinations in the Mediterranean: long sandy beaches, warm shallow water, a reliable summer climate and an incredible choice of family resorts, from luxury villas with private pools to all-inclusive hotels with waterparks.
These ten family hotels are the ones our guests rate most highly, spread across the island.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- Ten family hotels with photos and ratings
- East or west Crete?
- Family days out
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thalassa Villas | Aghios Nikolaos, Crete | 5★ | Full Board, Half Board, Half Board Plus | 5/5 | No |
| Oros Luxury Beach Resort | Rethymnon – Heraklion, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive, Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Arina Beach Resort | Kokkini Hani, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive | 4.8/5 | No |
| Lyttos Beach | Analipsis, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive | 4.7/5 | No |
| Domes of Elounda Autograph Collection | Elounda, Crete | 5★ | Full Board, Half Board | 4.7/5 | No |
| Anemos Luxury Grand Resort | Georgioupolis, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive Plus, Half Board | 4.7/5 | No |
| Candia Park Village | Aghios Nikolaos, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board, Self Catering | 4.7/5 | No |
| The Royal Senses Resort & Spa Crete Curio Collection by Hilton | Panormos – Chania, Crete | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.6/5 | No |
| Euphoria Resort | Kolymbari, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive Plus | 4.6/5 | No |
| Stefan Village Hotel Apartments | Aghia Marina – Chania, Crete | 3★ | All Inclusive | 4.6/5 | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
Our top picks
1. Thalassa Villas
- Aghios Nikolaos, Crete
- 5-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 5/5
Five-star Thalassa Villas in Agios Nikolaos is perfect for families, with a stunning waterfront location, luxurious décor, villas with private pools and a range of fantastic facilities.
Best for: Luxury villas
2. Oros Luxury Beach Resort
- Rethymnon – Heraklion, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Oros Luxury Beach Resort between Rethymno and Heraklion has direct beach access, stunning sea views and a fantastic spa, and it is great for families and couples.
Best for: Beach and spa
3. Arina Beach Resort
- Kokkini Hani, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Beachfront Arina Beach Resort in Kokkini Hani has a children’s club, a waterpark with slides and a great range of facilities on an all-inclusive basis.
Best for: All-inclusive families
4. Lyttos Beach
- Analipsis, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Lyttos Beach in Analipsis is beachfront, with an on-site waterpark, a fantastic pool area and an outstanding range of facilities on an all-inclusive basis.
Best for: Waterpark fans
5. Domes of Elounda Autograph Collection
- Elounda, Crete
- 5-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Domes of Elounda is perfect for families, with all suites and villas, a choice of pools and superb views of Spinalonga island.
Best for: Suites and space
6. Anemos Luxury Grand Resort
- Georgioupolis, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive Plus
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Anemos Luxury Grand Resort in Georgioupolis has an on-site waterpark, swim-up rooms and private pools and a range of restaurants, perfect for all ages.
Best for: All ages
7. Candia Park Village
- Aghios Nikolaos, Crete
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Candia Park Village in Agios Nikolaos has great sea views, a children’s club, a choice of bars and restaurants and a self-catering option.
Best for: Flexibility
8. The Royal Senses Resort & Spa Crete Curio Collection by Hilton
- Panormos – Chania, Crete
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.6/5
The Royal Senses Resort & Spa in Panormos is perfect for families, with stunning sea views, private beach access, an on-site splash park and excellent dining.
Best for: Food-loving families
See The Royal Senses Resort & Spa Crete Curio Collection by Hilton →
9. Euphoria Resort
- Kolymbari, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive Plus
- TripAdvisor 4.6/5
Euphoria Resort in Kolymbari has an on-site splash park, swim-up rooms and a range of bars and restaurants on All Inclusive Plus, close to the beach.
Best for: West Crete
10. Stefan Village Hotel Apartments
- Aghia Marina – Chania, Crete
- 3-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.6/5
Stefan Village Hotel Apartments in Agia Marina has spacious apartments, all-inclusive and a great location close to shops, bars and restaurants.
Best for: Great value
East or west Crete?
East (Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Analipsis, Kokkini Hani): luxury resorts and easy transfers from Heraklion airport. Central (Panormos, Rethymno): a charming Venetian old town and long beaches. West (Georgioupolis, Kolymbari, Agia Marina near Chania): greener, with sandy beaches, the beautiful old harbour of Chania and day trips to Balos and Elafonisi. Fly to Heraklion for the east and centre, and Chania for the west.
Family days out in Crete
Visit the CretAquarium near Heraklion, take a boat to the island fortress of Spinalonga, explore the Minoan palace of Knossos (go early in the morning), splash around at one of the island’s big waterparks, and enjoy the shallow, sandy beaches of the north coast. Older children love the walk down the Imbros Gorge or a boat trip to the lagoon at Balos.
How we chose these hotels
We sell 213 hotels in Crete. To build this list we started with the family-friendly hotels on the island, then read what our guests say: every hotel here is well rated on TripAdvisor. We spread our picks across different areas where we can, and we only include hotels you can book with us today as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page for live availability, or ask a Travel Designer for a tailored shortlist.
When to go and getting there
May to October is the season, with the sea warmest from July to October. For families with young children, June and September offer warm weather without the peak heat. Flights to Heraklion or Chania take around four hours from the UK. Many east-coast resorts are within 30 to 60 minutes of Heraklion airport.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Crete is best for families?
The north coast, east of Heraklion, has the most family resorts and the shortest transfers; the west around Chania is great for beaches.
Which Crete hotels have waterparks?
Lyttos Beach, Arina Beach Resort and Anemos Luxury Grand Resort have waterparks; Royal Senses and Euphoria have splash parks.
Is Crete good for toddlers?
Yes, with shallow beaches, kids’ clubs and family suites. June and September are cooler for little ones.
How long is the flight to Crete?
About four hours from the UK.
Find your Crete family holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
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Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
