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Heading to Crete? Congratulations on your excellent holiday destination taste! But you might still be wondering just where to base your trip for the best time possible. Crete is Greece’s largest island, so we’ve put together the perfect guide. You tell us what kind of traveller you are, and our travel experts at Karatarakis will do the rest!

Quick Guide to Crete’s Best Travel Spots

• Nomads – Heraklion – Central hub, walkable core, excellent transport links and an ideal starting point for exploring different parts of the island.
• Solo travellers – Heraklion – Easy to navigate without a car, safe, with a lively and social city atmosphere.
• Couples – Chania – Photogenic Old Town, boutique hotels and harbour sunsets.
• Budget-friendly – Rethymno & South Crete – Plenty of smaller-scale accommodation and alternatives to the larger resort areas.
• Families – Rethymno – Charming Old Town and a family-friendly beach strip within easy reach.
• Luxury travellers – Elounda, Sitia & Ierapetra – From established five-star resorts around Elounda to quieter upscale stays further east and south.

Heraklion – Best Place to Stay in Crete for City Life, Culture & Exploring the Island

Heraklion is Crete’s most practical base and a hub of activity and culture, not to mention it’s the place to stay if the Minoan Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum are top of your list.

Its central position also makes Heraklion an excellent starting point for discovering much more of Crete, from picturesque inland villages and archaeological sites to beaches, wineries and traditional mountain landscapes.

If you’re anything like me, you’re obsessed with exploration, soaking everything in as you go and finding out what really makes a place tick. For Heraklion, it’s enjoying the harmonious sounds of the city blending with the thrash of the waves in the port, gazing at the sun-bleached dusty pinks of the Old Town, following your nose down a twisting alleyway because you’ve smelled something divine, then alighting from a shop moments later with your arms full of olive oil and Cretan cheese.

It’s taking a relaxing evening dip before finding the perfect restaurant with a view of the harbour and a glass of wine at dinner. It’s the sort of place that makes you feel like you could wake up one day to find you’ve moved here for life, and you actually couldn’t be more pleased.

Heraklion by Bus

Day trips are incredibly easy from Heraklion by car or public transport, so it makes a great base for a stay in Crete.

On my first visit, I took the Heraklion to Knossos bus there and back, and it couldn’t have been easier. If you want to travel from Heraklion to Knossos by bus, regular services connect the city with the iconic Minoan Palace.

And Knossos is only the beginning. Depending on how far you want to venture, Heraklion gives you access to destinations such as Archanes, one of Crete’s most attractive traditional villages, as well as Malia, Zaros, nearby beaches and numerous villages and archaeological sites across the region.

Heraklion by Foot

Heraklion’s compact centre makes it wonderfully easy to explore on foot. The Venetian harbour, Archaeological Museum, Lions Square, market streets and Venetian Walls are all within walking distance of one another.

You certainly don’t need a car for everyday exploring in the city. And if you’re visiting Crete for a bit of sun, sea and sand, beaches are within easy reach by bus, taxi or car.

Heraklion by Car – Beaches Within Easy Reach

One of the advantages of staying in Heraklion is how quickly you can swap city streets for the sea. Most of Heraklion’s best beach options fall shy of a 30-minute drive, so it’s always easy to throw a hat in the backseat and hit the road if the day calls for an ocean break.

Beach	Approx. distance/time from Heraklion
Ammoudara	A few kilometres west of the city
Karteros	~8 km / short drive
Gournes / Kokkini Hani	~20–25 min
Analipsi	~25 min
Agia Pelagia / Ligaria	~25–30 min
Stalida / Malia	~30 min
Hersonissos	~30 min

Heraklion really does offer something for everyone: city life, history, food, beaches and easy access to the Cretan countryside.

Tips for exploring Heraklion

• Choose the right base – You’ll want to be close to all the main sites and still enjoy a cosy and chic stay. Our choice is the Olive Green Hotel right in the heart of Heraklion. Great for a spot of relaxation after a long day hitting the pavement and exploring the sights.
• Stay central – Around Lion Square, the Archaeological Museum and the historic centre, many of Heraklion’s cultural attractions, restaurants, shops and landmarks are within walking distance.
• You can easily stay without a car – The airport, port, intercity bus station, Archaeological Museum and historic centre are all conveniently connected. Local buses and taxis make it easy to reach places such as Knossos and nearby beaches such as Ammoudara.
• Rent a car for wider exploration – Heraklion is also an excellent starting point for excursions to wineries, Archanes, Phaistos, Matala, Zaros and many of Crete’s traditional villages.

Chania – Best Place to Stay in Crete for Couples

Chania Old Town is what most people picture when someone says, ‘Have you ever been to Crete?’ Incidentally, it also looks fantastic on a postcard that you can pick up from the local market and stick on your fridge when you get home.

Pastel-coloured Venetian buildings wrap around a curved harbour, with the old lighthouse at the end that feels like it was placed there purposely for enjoying beautiful sunset walks.

Chania is a top pick for couples!

Chania is reasonably compact, walkable, and photogenic in a way that can fill your photo feed with the cutest of couple shots. It gives you a Venetian harbour, beautiful historic architecture, and an abundance of old narrow streets that make you feel as though you’re in A Room with a View and you’ve just misplaced your paper map.

Chania on Foot

Couples can ramp up the romance in Chania, as you’ll be holding hands and sipping on fresh fruit juices in the heat of the day and wandering through narrow lanes that lead onto rooftop bars at dusk.

You won’t want to miss key hotspots along the front like the Küçük Hasan Mosque, it has been turned into an art gallery and is also a marvellous way to get out of the heat for a bit. You’ll also spot the lighthouse – you can walk right up close and take a million selfies with it, if you must. It really is a charming sight, especially at sunset. The harbour faces west (where the sun sets), so the golden-hour light hits the water and the old buildings directly. What could be more romantic than sitting on a bench together and watching the skies burst into a million shades of lovely?

Chania by Boat

The boats are not just sitting pretty in the old harbour. You can take a boat trip around the coastline or use Chania as a starting point for excursions further west.

Alternatively, if you want a lazy beach trip or a quick paddle to refresh your hot feet, Nea Chora Beach is just a short walk from Chania Old Town.

Day Trips from Chania

Chania to Rethymno

If you’re spending several days in Chania, Rethymno is an easy addition to your itinerary. It’s close enough for a day trip, but feels different enough from Chania to make the journey worthwhile.

Its picturesque Venetian-Ottoman Old Town is filled with narrow alleys, cafés, independent shops and traditional restaurants, while the Fortezza provides one of the town’s defining landmarks.

Chania to Palaiochora

Head south to Palaiochora for a different side of western Crete, with beaches on either side of the peninsula, a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of places for a leisurely lunch by the sea.

Chania to Sfakia

For dramatic mountain landscapes and the wilder scenery of southern Crete, Chora Sfakion is another rewarding excursion and a gateway to some of the region’s most impressive coastal scenery.

Tips for exploring Chania

• Stay in or around the Old Town for the classic Chania experience; Koum Kapi offers another central and walkable option.
• Prefer a calmer, more residential feel? Halepa, Tabakaria and Nea Chora offer alternatives outside the busiest Old Town lanes.
• No car is needed for Chania itself, but allow a full day for longer excursions such as Elafonisi or Falassarna.
• Harbour-facing rooms can be wonderfully atmospheric, although the busiest parts of the Old Town can be lively during peak summer.

Rethymno – Best Place to Stay in Crete for Families

Rethymno combines a genuinely beautiful Venetian-Ottoman Old Town with a long sandy beach nearby, making it especially convenient for families and travellers who want history, restaurants and beach time within the same destination.

If it’s your first time travelling abroad with the kids, logistics can sometimes be challenging, so having the historic centre and the beach within easy reach can make things considerably simpler.

Rethymno: A Great Pick for Families and First-Timers

It’s an appealing choice for families and first-timers who don’t want to choose between an atmospheric Old Town and easy access to the sea.

Rethymno is also famous for Cretan dishes such as antikristo – slow-roasted meat cooked around an open fire – and local cheeses including myzithra, so discovering the region through its food should definitely be part of the experience.

Tips for exploring Rethymno

• Old Town, Venetian Harbour and Fortezza are ideal for travellers looking for atmospheric dinners and relaxed evening walks.
• The beach east of Rethymno and the wider coastal area towards Platanes and Adelianos Kampos are convenient for families looking for easy sea access.
• Georgioupoli is another popular option for a long beach and a relaxed day by the sea.
• For more adventurous day trips, explore the landscapes and beaches of southern Rethymno, including Preveli, Plakias, Triopetra and Frangokastello.
• Other worthwhile excursions include Arkadi Monastery and the traditional villages of Anogia and Margarites, with the Psiloritis mountain landscape providing a completely different perspective on Crete.

Best Places to Stay in Crete for Luxury Lovers

Elounda, Sitia and Ierapetra

These destinations in eastern Crete offer very different interpretations of an upscale Cretan stay, from established resort life to quieter coastal experiences.

Elounda

Elounda is the flagship choice for Crete’s grandest resort names. Domes of Elounda, Blue Palace, Porto Elounda all cluster here with private beaches and thalasso spas, commanding roughly €400–€1,200/night in peak season. It’s luxury in the classic sense: you book a property and rarely need to leave it. (It would mean you miss out on some of the stunning hospitality of Crete and its incredible diversity, but a holiday is a holiday!)

If Elounda is your top choice and you do want to leave the comfort of your pool lounge chair, you’re only a few miles away from Agios Nikolaos, just a little further along the Mirabello Bay. The cosy town offers a more low-key, boots-on-the-ground holiday experience. Agios Nikolaos is built around Lake Voulismeni, with restaurants, shops, and easy access to the fascinating Spinalonga Island.

If you’re short on time and want the best of all worlds – as we so often do – you can experience the classic beauty of Agios Nikolaos along with a guided tour of Spinalonga on a gorgeous cruise trip with Cretan Odyssey! Easy pick up from your hotel.

Sitia

Sitia is Crete’s middle ground when it comes to accommodation. It’s a quieter and more local port town, with easy access to some of the island’s least-developed beaches. You’ll find high-end stays without quite the same concentration of flagship five-star names, appealing to travellers who want quality and quiet without Elounda’s prices or crowds.

Beyond the beaches, you can enjoy the historical sites like Kazarma Fortress and plenty of traditional cafes – pop a bit of thyme honey in your drink, thank me later – then cheers to it all with tsikoudia (the schnapps-like liquor that’s a Cretan speciality). The celebrated palm forest of Vai is also a stone’s throw away, featuring one of the most exotic swimming spots in Crete.

Ierapetra

Ierapetra is another candidate for lingering luxury that doesn’t break the proverbial bank. In Ierapetra you’ll experience quiet luxury rather than resort intensity. There’s no need to have a private beach and spa treatments when you’re close to some of the remotest and peaceful beaches in Crete.

Ierapetra is also the perfect diving board to uninhabited Chrisi Island (you get there by boat, not diving, but extremely enthusiastic swimmers might like to try.) This beautiful island has protection in place by the local Greek authorities, so only a few visitors are allowed per day to protect the ancient cedar forests from too much footfall.

South Crete – Best Place to Stay in Crete for Nature Lovers

The south coast of Crete is its most uninhabited, but perhaps most stunningly beautiful. Take away all of the infrastructure, the gentrified squares, the luxury hotels and resorts of the north coast and leave everything nature intended, plus a few of those little luxuries like cafes and restaurants.  With the exception of Ierapetra, south Crete is free of the resort infrastructure of the north. There are fewer big hotels, fewer beach clubs, and more genuinely local villages facing the Libyan Sea.

What about the beach, you say? Say no more. South Crete has no shortage of white sand and welcoming shores. We’ve written up a full guide to Crete’s best beaches, including the south, but if you say pretty please, I’ll tell you the best one is Glyka Nera, which means ‘sweet water’. You might think it’s because it has some pretty sweet-looking seawater, which it does – in the words of Swift, ‘Goddam never seen that colour blue’. But it takes its name from the amazing freshwater springs that bubble up along the coastline. This also makes it super convenient for the forgetful traveller who may or may not have forgotten to pack water, otherwise known as type B.

Solo Travellers and Nomads Rejoice – South Crete Is Calling

Tips for exploring South Crete

• Plakias is one of the most convenient south-coast bases, with restaurants, bakeries, shops and the beach all within easy reach.
• Smaller coastal settlements across southern Crete reward travellers who are happy to slow down and explore beyond the main tourist centres.
• Ierapetra provides more urban amenities while retaining easy access to southeastern Crete’s beaches and natural landscapes.
• Expect long, hot summers and plenty of sunshine, particularly along the southern and southeastern coast.

Quick Guide to the Best Areas of Crete by Traveller Type

Traveller Type	Best Base	Why You Should Choose It
Nomads	Heraklion	Central hub, walkable core and excellent transport links for exploring the island
Solo travellers	Heraklion	Easy to navigate without a car, well connected and lively enough to feel social
Couples	Chania	Photogenic Old Town, Venetian harbour and romantic sunsets
Budget-friendly	Rethymno & South Crete	Wide choice of smaller-scale accommodation outside the major resort areas
Families	Rethymno	Historic centre and easy access to a long beach
Luxury travellers	Elounda, Sitia & Ierapetra	A choice between established luxury resorts and quieter upscale coastal stays

FAQs

Where’s the best place to stay in Crete for couples?

Chania is an excellent choice. Its Venetian harbour, walkable Old Town and sunset atmosphere make it particularly appealing to couples, while Agios Nikolaos and Elounda are alternatives for travellers looking for a more resort-oriented stay.

Where should I stay in Crete with a family?

Rethymno is particularly convenient for families because its historic centre and long sandy beach are close enough to combine sightseeing and beach time without complicated daily logistics.

Where’s a good place to stay in Crete on a budget?

Rethymno and many parts of South Crete offer a broad selection of smaller hotels, apartments and locally run accommodation. Prices vary significantly according to season and exact location, so travelling outside July and August can make a substantial difference.

Where should solo travellers or digital nomads stay in Crete?

Heraklion is a particularly practical base. It’s walkable, well connected and has enough year-round city life to feel social without requiring a car. Its transport connections also make it convenient for travellers who want to use one base while exploring different parts of Crete.

What’s a good luxury area to stay in Crete?

Elounda has one of the island’s strongest concentrations of established five-star resorts. Travellers looking for a quieter upscale experience can also explore Sitia, Ierapetra and other parts of eastern Crete.

Can I split my trip between two areas in Crete?

Absolutely. Crete is a large island, so combining two bases can be a great way to experience different landscapes and towns. Chania can be combined with Heraklion, depending on what you want to see.

Heraklion also works particularly well as a central base for travellers who prefer to unpack once and use day trips to explore different parts of the island.

Do I need a car to get around Crete?

Not necessarily. Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno can all be explored comfortably on foot within their central areas, while buses and taxis cover many popular routes.

A rental car does, however, give you considerably more freedom for villages, wineries, remote beaches and archaeological sites. From Heraklion, for example, a car opens up easy excursions to Archanes, wineries, Phaistos, Matala, Zaros and numerous smaller villages across central Crete.

Finding Your Perfect Base in Crete

There’s no single best place to stay in Crete – and that’s part of what makes the island so rewarding to explore. Chania brings Venetian charm and memorable sunsets, Rethymno combines history with easy beach days, the east offers everything from resort stays to quieter coastal escapes, and South Crete is made for travellers drawn to nature and a slower pace. And if you want to experience as much of the island as possible while still enjoying the energy, culture and food of a Cretan city, Heraklion makes an exceptionally convenient base. Wherever you choose to stay, give yourself time to venture beyond it – Crete’s villages, beaches, mountains, archaeological sites and, above all, its people are what turn a holiday here into a real experience of the island.