Crete is Greece's largest island and by far the most popular tourist destination in the Greek archipelago. The island is home to Europe's oldest settlement in Knossos and has been a cultural hotspot since prehistory. This rich background is imprinted anywhere you look, from the buildings and the landmarks to the people and the land itself, Crete is a true kaleidoscope of history, culture and tradition with roots lost in mists of time. The island is surrounded by amazing coastlines and its mainland is virtually only mountains, creating a unique and exciting landscape where sea meets land.
Crete spans 260 km from east to west and is 60 km to its widest point. Across the island, tourists can find a wide range of activities and a diverse array of attractions. The island is known for its water sports activities, amazing restaurants, world-class spas, fine wines and spirits, and, of course, the famous Greek hospitality. Crete's climate is the perfect example of Mediterranean weather; mild and pleasant the weather on the island allows tourists to enjoy Crete all-year round. A top holiday destination loved by many.
Budget
Nikos Apartments is an affordable self-catering complex of apartments in Stalis. The Nikos is family run and adds a personal spin that makes it stand from the crowd. On Sundays the hotel serves Sunday roast and impromptu fiestas are thrown every once in a while.
Istron Bay is a no-frills hotel that offers flexible deals for tourists on a budget. The hotel offers B&B deals as well as half-board, self-catering and even all-inclusive deals to suit every type of tourist. The quality of service is excellent, especially considering the low prices.
Aegean Sky Hotel & Suites is one of the most affordable accommodation options for young holidaymakers staying in Malia. Much loved by Malia's partygoers, this is the place to be if you are looking to fully immerse yourself in Malia's nightlife.
Giorgi's Blue Apartments offers 19 adorable self-catering apartments to tourists on a budget. This small aparthotel is located near the sea of Kalathas, a village close to Chania. The communal areas are clean and way above average.
Niriis is an award-winning budget hotel at Chania, praised for its excellent value and good quality rooms. In 2013, the hotel won the first place in Trip Advisor's Bargain category and is currently considered the single best "value for money" hotel in Greece.
Illios studios offer affordable and stylish self catering accommodation that is perfectly geared towards young tourists. Located in the popular town of Stalis, Illios studios are spacious and well-maintained.
Self-catering
Villa Marie Kelly offers charming self-catering apartments to tourists who seek an authentic Greek experience. The hotel's 30 multi-room apartments are spacious and newly renovated. Every apartment comes with numerous amenities and kitchen equipment that will allow a family to enjoy a great self-catering holiday without overspending. The hotel's rooms boast a great sea view and/or overlook the hotel's outdoor pool and beautiful garden.
Affordable self-catering accommodation in Chania doesn't get much better than Mediterranean Studios Apartments. This small and charming hotel lies in the heart of Chania and offers sun-filled apartments at low prices, with extra offers in off-season months.
Elounda heights apartments and studios is a compact aparthotel with definite Greek style. This place is home to lots of Greek statues and a beautiful garden with local flora. The hotel is owned by a Greek man and his British expat wife, who are always on handy with handy local tips and advice.
True to their name, Lefka Apartments (meaning white in Greek) offer unpretentious, cosy accommodation and self-catering deals. The Lefka has won awards for excellence of service and great value for money.
Villa Iokasti is a self-catering resort that focuses on luxury. These multi-room apartments are fully furnished with lavish furniture and boast every kind of equipment you may need.
All inclusive
Located right on the famous Blue Sea beach, the eponymous Blue Sea Resort is an ultra-modern all-inclusive hotel. The Blue Sea boasts a fully equipped spa and lots of kids-friendly activities such as playgrounds and kid-sized pools.
The Renieris is a beautiful all-inclusive hotel located at the outskirts of Chania. This brand-new hotel has recently become famous for being one of the most hospitable all-inclusive hotels in Crete.
Casa Leone is an all-inclusive boutique hotel build inside a real 15th century Venetian villa. The building has been restored to perfection with the help of official archaeologists and now stands as a unique testament to Chania's rich past. Each room is unique and the Casa Leona overlooks the scenic Chania port.
The Galini beach hotel is a spectacular all-inclusive hotel situated right on Galini beach at Kissamos, famous for its scenic sunsets. The hotel has only 25 rooms and gives definite focus on quality of service.
Family friendly
The Villa Bellvue Hotel and Apartments is a family-owned, family friendly hotel in the scenic village of Agia Pelagia. Located in a quiet neighbourhood and attracting easygoing tourists, this is the ideal hotel for families with children and elderly tourists.
Boasting friendly environment and a host of amenities, the Anastasia hotel in Stalis is one of the most popular family-oriented hotels in north-eastern Crete. The Anastasia includes 13 different buildings and spans a large area, being capable to accommodate hundreds of families at once. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a Mediterranean forest.
Families seeking quality flock to the Creta Blue Suites. This hotel offers independent, luxurious suites for families with a taste for the finer things in life along with pristine communal areas and a welcoming environment. The Creta Blue was one of the finalists at the international World Luxury Hotel Awards.
On the beach
Paradise Island Villas is a newly built, 5-star resort right on the beach. These 12 lavishly luxurious villas offer style and privacy. Each villa has direct access to the beach and boasts its own private pool and verdant terrace.
Kokalas Resort is wonderfully located at the tip of the longest sandy beach in northern Crete, in the gulf of Georgioupolis (Georgetown). Every single multi-room apartment is just meters from the sea and the hotel spots a romantic, intimate atmosphere ideal for couples and tourists seeking peace and quiet.
Atlantis Beach Hotel is perhaps Rethymnon's most popular beachside resort, and for good reason. This 4-star hotel boasts exclusive access to a pristine golden sand beach, while also offering several fantastic services, including a fully equipped fitness centre, a sauna and pools.
Eleana studios, winners of TripAdvisor's "Traveller's Choice" award of 2013, offer amazing beachside accommodation in the city of Georgioupolis. The hotel is clean and much loved by anyone who visits for the politeness of its staff and the overall excellence of service.
Top end
The famous Grecotel Amirandes is a popular 5-star resort that is often quoted to be "the best hotel in Crete". Offering an exquisite selection of villas, suites, bungalows and guestrooms, the hotel has something for everyone. The Amirandes boasts ten restaurants and bars, as well as a highly rated spa.
Arguably, the single most luxurious hotel in Malia, the Ikaros Beach Resort & Spa is the place to get pampered in style. The hotel is located near the local airport, which is handy if you fancy a pre-flight post-holiday pamper session.
Rethymnon's most luxurious boutique hotel, the Rimondi estate is an impressive 5-star hotel built and furnished in a unique neo-classical style. The estate maintains an exclusive spa and a beautiful flower garden.
The premier choice for luxurious accommodation in Crete's capital Heraklion, Galaxy Hotel Iraklio is a 5-star resort with striking minimalist architecture and style. The hotel is famous for its two gourmet restaurants and its swimming pool, which is by far the largest in Crete. Additionally, the Galaxy offers special access to the Crete Golf Club, the island's only 18-hole golf course.
The Sunrise Suites offer luxurious accommodation in the beautiful village of Kalyves. This hotel features a pretty garden and a lovely pool area. The Sunrise's architecture gives almost every room on the complex unrestricted view to the glorious sunrises over the ocean.
Situated just outside Chania, Minoa Palace Resort and Spa is a busy 5-star hotel. The resort has a total of 2000 sqm of outdoor pools, an excellent spa, numerous gardens and a host of other attractive services.
Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort is one of the most famous 5-star hotels in Greece. This seaside paradise offers every conceivable luxurious amenity including access to golf courses, exclusive entry to the six senses spa (the world's best spa), limousine services and more. This hotel may be pricey but it is definitely one of the best in the whole Mediterranean.
With a spa
The Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa is an exclusive spa hotel with incredible reputation. Featuring only 24 rooms, the Casa Delfino focuses on quality and excellence of service for all its spa features. This hotel is so popular that rooms are booked as much as six months in advance.
The highest rated spa resort in Sissi, Crete's current most popular tourist destination, is none other than the Castello Boutique Resort & Spa. This newly built 5-star hotel has a world-class spa and offers some luxurious services including prestige and limousine car services, concierge services and more.
Saint Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas is the highest rated spa resort in the popular area of Agios Nikolaos. This hotel has earned half a dozen international awards for excellence and currently maintains one of the most cutting edge spas on the island. The Saint Nicolas offers exclusive villas and spacious suites to its discerning guests, along with a number of top-tier hotel services.
Romantic retreats
Luxury and romance go hand in hand at the Aquila Elounda Village. This 5-star luxury resort offers a host of couple-oriented amenities such a luxury car rentals, numerous private pools, restaurants and a fully equipped, exclusive spa with saunas and hammams specially designed for couples.
A widely acclaimed boutique hotel, the Niriides Hotel Apartment Studios has only 10, attractively romantic rooms perfect for couples. The hotel gives definite emphasis on quality and luxury of accommodation to make each couple's stay memorable and unique. The Niriides is a newly build hotel that offers the very latest in terms of gadgets and high tech amenities.
An attractive hotel, ideal for romantic getaways, the Splanzia is a boutique that caters mostly to couples. The hotel gives emphasis on hospitality and local traditions, seamlessly blending them with modern décor and a romantic mood-setting Venetian style.
The ideal hotel for naturists, the Vritomartis is located in a secluded area offering naturists an ideal discreet environment. The hotel also accepts children and maintains a cleverly designed dress code that allows naturism in all outdoors areas while indoors areas require at least underwear.
Boutique & B&Bs
Hotel Palladion is a beautiful boutique on a scenic Mediterranean prairie. The hotel has a definite Greek style and local Cretan art can be found everywhere throughout the premises. The Palladion boasts a rich breakfast buffet, free WiFi, a large pool and many other amenities to make your stay in Crete enjoyable and hassle-free.
Modelled after a genuine Cretan estate, the Avli Lounge Apartments at Rethymnon strives to offer traditional Cretan hospitality to tourists who are lucky enough to stay there. Built to reflect the design and values of a real Cretan courtyard, the Avli offers a premier and authentic Greek experience that is hard to forget.
The Ammos hotel is a charming boutique right on the beach and away from the busy tourist area. Boasting a lovable "island on an island" design, the Ammos has 33 multi-room apartments that fully capture the spirit of Cretan hospitality. The hotel is equipped with hand-painted furniture and lots of other small details that make it so unique.
Built inside a real, 16th century Venetian castle house, the Casa Vitae is a boutique hotel in Rethymnon's old town. The building is unique as it is not attached to any other old town structure and boasts its own garden and internal terrace.