Crete is big: around four hours to drive from end to end, with very different regions. The west around Chania is green, with beautiful beaches and the island’s prettiest town; the centre has Rethymno’s Venetian old town; the north coast east of Heraklion is lively resort country; and Elounda and Agios Nikolaos are Crete at its most upmarket.
Here is our guide to choosing, with twelve of our best-rated hotels across the island.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- West Crete: Chania and Georgioupolis
- Central Crete: Rethymno and Heraklion
- East Crete: Hersonissos to Elounda
- How to choose
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samaria Hotel | Chania Town, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Inea Sole | Kato Daratso, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.9/5 | No |
| Mythos Palace Resort & Spa | Georgioupolis, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive | 4.7/5 | No |
| Rimondi Boutique Hotel | Rethymnon – Heraklion, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.9/5 | No |
| Caramel A Grecotel Resort To Live | Adelianos Kampos – Heraklion, Crete | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Irida Mindful Living | Agia Pelagia, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Petousis Hotel & Suites | Amoudara, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Vasia Boulevard | Hersonissos, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.7/5 | No |
| Latania Studios and Apartments | Stalis, Crete | 3★ | Bed and Breakfast, Self Catering | 4.8/5 | No |
| Danelis Hotel | Malia, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Self Catering | 4.8/5 | No |
| Lyttos Mare | Analipsis, Crete | 5★ | All Inclusive Plus | 4.7/5 | No |
| Elounda Garden Suites | Elounda, Crete | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.9/5 | 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
West Crete: Chania and Georgioupolis
Green mountains, sandy beaches and Chania’s Venetian harbour. Fly to Chania.
Samaria Hotel
- Chania Town, Crete
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Samaria Hotel has an excellent central location in Chania Town, comfortable rooms, a great pool area and a relaxed atmosphere.
Best for: Chania Town
Inea Sole
- Kato Daratso, Crete
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Inea Sole in Kato Daratso, just west of Chania, has modern rooms and a relaxing pool area close to the beach.
Best for: Beach near Chania
Mythos Palace Resort & Spa
- Georgioupolis, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Five-star Mythos Palace Resort & Spa in Georgioupolis is beachfront, with swim-up and private-pool rooms and all-inclusive.
Best for: Beachfront all-inclusive
Central Crete: Rethymno and Heraklion
A Venetian old town, long sandy beaches and Knossos. Fly to Heraklion.
Rimondi Boutique Hotel
- Rethymnon – Heraklion, Crete
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Rimondi Boutique Hotel is a small, friendly hotel in a 15th-century Venetian manor house in the heart of Rethymno’s old town.
Best for: Old-town charm
Caramel A Grecotel Resort To Live
- Adelianos Kampos – Heraklion, Crete
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Five-star Caramel in Adelianos Kampos, near Rethymno, has a modern design with traditional Greek charm, a range of facilities and great dining.
Best for: Rethymno beaches
Irida Mindful Living
- Agia Pelagia, Crete
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Irida Mindful Living in Agia Pelagia is a wellness-focused hotel on a stunning hillside, with authentic Greek hospitality and organic farm-to-table cuisine.
Best for: Wellness
Petousis Hotel & Suites
- Amoudara, Crete
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Petousis Hotel & Suites in Amoudara, just west of Heraklion, has a modern design and swim-up rooms, close to the beach.
Best for: A short transfer
East Crete: Hersonissos to Elounda
Lively resorts, big beach hotels and upmarket Elounda. Fly to Heraklion.
Vasia Boulevard
- Hersonissos, Crete
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Vasia Boulevard in Hersonissos has a great location, a relaxing pool area and stunning sea views.
Best for: Hersonissos
Latania Studios and Apartments
- Stalis, Crete
- 3-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Small and friendly Latania Studios & Apartments in Stalis is close to the beach, with a relaxed atmosphere and self-catering.
Best for: Self-catering
Danelis Hotel
- Malia, Crete
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Danelis Hotel in Malia has a lively atmosphere close to the resort centre, and it is great for groups.
Best for: Friends and groups
Lyttos Mare
- Analipsis, Crete
- 5-star
- All Inclusive Plus
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Five-star Lyttos Mare in Analipsis is beachfront, with a fantastic pool area, bright and modern rooms, swim-up rooms and All Inclusive Plus.
Best for: All-inclusive
Elounda Garden Suites
- Elounda, Crete
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Elounda Garden Suites has a modern style, great service and a relaxing atmosphere in an excellent location.
Best for: Elounda
How to choose
For beaches and scenery: the west, with Balos, Elafonisi and Falasarna. For history and charm: Chania or Rethymno’s old towns. For short transfers and lots of choice: Hersonissos, Stalis and Analipsis, east of Heraklion. For nightlife: Malia. For luxury and calm: Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Hiring a car for a few days is the best way to explore.
How we chose these hotels
We looked at all 213 hotels we sell in Crete and chose the best-rated in each resort. We excluded hotels already featured in our other guides, so you get fresh choices. Every hotel here is well rated by our guests on TripAdvisor, and every one can be booked with us 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in Chania or Heraklion?
Chania for charm and beaches; the Heraklion coast for short transfers and lots of resorts.
Where is the best beach area in Crete?
The west, near Chania, with Balos, Elafonisi and Falasarna.
Which airport should I fly to?
Chania for the west, Heraklion for the centre and east.
How long is the flight to Crete?
About four hours from the UK.
Find your Crete holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
- All Crete hotels
- Greece holidays
- Best luxury hotels in Crete
- Best family hotels in Crete
- Best all-inclusive hotels in Crete
- Hersonissos vs Malia vs Stalis
- Best hotels in Elounda and Agios Nikolaos
- Best hotels near Chania and in west Crete
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
