27 Best Hotels in Crete, Greece

Set on the edge of the gulf, with sweeping views across to the bay from its rooftop terrace pool, this hotel may be the answer to affordable accommodations in Elounda. Rooms are perfectly functional and kept very clean, and many overlook a small shingle beach that fronts the property, with a beachside restaurant where you can take breakfast. Quiet, it is certainly more budget than boutique but a 10-minute stroll gets you into the heart of the town.

Quite simply, one of the best family hotels in Greece, this is the classic Greek seaside hotel brought up-to-date with a chic and funky twist, where Cycladic and Scandinavian design references throughout create an atmosphere that is both modern and timeless. Rooms, in white with primary color accents, are a good size with clean lines, and the sandy beach is just steps away. The simple pleasures are elevated to an art form here—thoughtful staff, delicious food, and an extraordinary attention to detail complete the picture. People return year after year because they just do everything so right here.

In a cluster of lovely 16th-century Venetian buildings, centered on a romantic leafy, walled yard, accommodations are split between the various properties, and characterfully decorated with sparkling chandeliers, baroque gilt frames, and antique furniture against a backdrop of rough stone and wooden beams. Avli is a complex of rooms, suites, restaurant, wine bar, cooking school, store, and rakadiko. It's as a whole, though, that Avli sparkles; the food in both dining options is exemplary, as is breakfast, and that courtyard with stone mill wheels and antiquated farm utensils is a great place to hang out. Alternatively, take a glass of wine from one of Greece's largest cellars to the roof terrace with its mosaic Jacuzzi, and enjoy the views of a contender for Crete's most appealing town.

If you have an ounce of romance in your body you'll love this gorgeous hotel—in 1835 Captain Delfino sailed from Genoa, only to founder on the rocks off Gramvousa, but, smitten by the beauty of Chania, he bought this Renaissance Venetian mansion as his home. Six generations later, his descendants have sensitively restored this astonishing property to its former glory. Stylish and sophisticated, with chocolate and gold highlights, every room is individual and whispers history. Intimate and very grown-up, the matinee-idol looks are backed by assured and discrete service; it is somewhere that makes you feel very special. A classic. Sister property Villa Oleander, a modern, contemporary house by the sea which can house up to 14 people, is equally stunning.

This 19th-century seaside mansion on the eastern edge of town, about a 20-minute walk along the waterfront from the Venetian harbor, is an outpost of old Cretan taste and refinement. The simple yet elegant guest rooms and suites face either the luxuriant garden or the sea and have Cretan-style furnishings and beautiful kilims and fabrics. Carved-wood couches and local and family photos fill the sitting rooms, and an exquisite collection of headdresses from around the world is displayed off the wicker-filled garden room. Breakfast, a lavish spread, is often awarded the best in Chania title.

The original luxury resort hotel in Elounda, and one of Greece's most renowned, is set in 40 acres of gardens next to 1 km (½ mile) of seashore, and offers a dazzling array of delights. It features five restaurants; soothing whitewashed walls, shady porches, flagstone floors, and a guest-friendly variety of accommodations, from villas with their own swimming pools to large, gracious doubles in a hotel block. All have terraces or gardens and are beautifully appointed with Greek-influenced decor; the higher-priced villas are truly jaw-dropping, but some of the nicest are the hideaway villas in gardens above a stretch of shoreline reached by stone steps from your own waterside veranda.

For those who value privacy and comfort, this may be the ultimate Elounda destination—with less of a resort feel than its larger neighbors, it is a second home to the jet set and the bright and the beautiful. Family-run, with a focus on relaxation and personal service, many of the villas feature private pools, and in-house gyms and saunas. These are exceptional accommodations with elegant, individual contemporary decor. Perched on a hillside, there is a private beach 10 minutes away, but really this is a place to relax in the impressive surroundings and take in the spectacular views of the gulf below.

This Relais & Chateaux property is one of the longest established in Elounda, and it blends charm and sophistication with a comfortably relaxed atmosphere. Quiet and calm, it suits those in search of seclusion. There is a classic theme throughout, with dark wood, rustic furnishings, and exposed stonework. Antiques, tapestries, and folk art are showcased along the marble-clad halls and lobbies. At its best, it offers an old-world charisma missing from some of its more flamboyant neighbors.

A handsome building, GDM Megaron stands sentinel over the harbor front, and from its humble roots as a citrus processing enterprise in the 1930s, it has risen to be the city's luxury choice; interiors are classic and elegantly furnished, with an impressive lobby and refined air. Up on the roof terrace is a restaurant with some of the best views in town, and a small plunge pool to relax by on warmer days. The overall impression is of unobtrusive sophistication, backed by generous service, which makes this the grande dame of Heraklion hotels.

Right on the lake in the center of town, this good-value hotel has airy and spacious guest rooms that are nicely done with simple, contemporary furnishings; studios, with kitchens and large baths, are enormous and ideal for families. Views from all rooms and their balconies are pleasant, though some face a shopping street; the best overlook the lake.

An especially appealing base for exploring Knossos and Heraklion is the well-kept wine village of Archanes, where three 19th-century stone houses tucked into a garden are fitted out with traditional furnishings and all the modern comforts. The two-story houses have one to three bedrooms, kitchens, fireplaces, and lots of beams and woodwork as well as appealing outdoor spaces. Just beyond the garden wall, the village itself is a delight, with a lively square and a good choice of restaurants and shops. A great alternative to basing yourself in Heraklion.

A 300-year-old hamlet set amid vast olive groves has been converted to one of Crete's most distinctive and relaxing lodgings, with luxurious, stylishly appointed rooms, welcoming lounges, and an excellent dining room—all fashioned out of beautiful, ancient stone houses that were once part of the Arkadi Monastery holdings. Surrounding the main lounge of the restored Olive Mill, rooms are beautifully presented with bold wooden beams, mighty stone walls, and carefully selected furniture. Arches, cobblestone lanes, terraces, sublime views of the surrounding countryside and the sea, and a refreshing pool all contribute to an idyllic retreat and a taste of Cretan life—though surely rural life was never as luxe as this.

Eleni Christonaki oversees this lovely little inn that occupies the 600-year-old house in which she was raised. The location on a quiet lane is at the heart of the Old Town, yet removed from the well-worn tourist paths. Large, well-decorated guest rooms with stone walls and beamed ceilings are filled with handsome contemporary furnishings. Architectural details abound as you would expect, with secret alcoves, fireplaces, and arched vaults. A bar spills onto the street downstairs and is a great place to take breakfast and watch the world go by.

Rethymnon has several hotels occupying old palaces, but Corina is one of the most handsome, with pleasant, stylish surroundings that include a nicely planted courtyard surrounding a small plunge pool. Set over three floors, comfortable guest rooms, many with exposed-stone walls and wooden beams, are furnished with a mix of antiques and contemporary pieces. Though the hotel is set in the middle of the Old Town and the beach is a short stroll away, the side-street location seems to be a world removed.

A renovated 650-year-old Venetian town house, once the home of Greek prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos, is full of architectural surprises: wood ceilings and floors; small, deep-set windows; and two-story suites with lofts, accented with handsome traditional furnishings. Weather permitting, breakfast is served on the narrow lane out front.

Nautical themes in blue and white make for a light, airy atmosphere in this harborside establishment, but the main draw are those views of the Venetian waterfront and the White Mountains. A nice, honest hotel, with an award-winning breakfast, it is brought to life by its super staff. Minutes from all the attractions but quiet and peaceful, it offers great value. As a plus, it is open year-round, making a great base for out-of-season travelers.

Lovely and luxurious, this special resort is set within immaculate, verdant gardens overlooking the Gulf of Mirabello at the edge of Ayios Nikolaos—the surroundings are magical. Teak wood, blue-and-white striped cottons, bouquets of bougainvillea, rough-hewn stone walls, multiple pools, and a sandy beach make this a delightful Cretan cocoon. Rooms and small bungalows, all with terraces and sea views, some with private pools, are all stylishly furnished. Unlike some of its glitzier neighbors, it retains a sense of Greekness that is supremely genuine. What it does, it does very well. The large number of guests who return year after year is a testament to its appeal.

To enjoy a remote Cretan retreat without sacrificing comfort, it's hard to beat these beautifully renovated stone houses in an ages-old village that clings to a mountainside high above the Libyan Sea. Fireplaces, handmade wood furnishings, and embroidered carpets enhance the character-filled surroundings, while terraces, a cliff-side pool, and an outdoor summer taverna are vantage points from which to take in the mountain and sea views. Excellent farm-to-table local fare is served in a fire-warmed, wood-beam restaurant. This is agro-tourism at its finest—a real escape to nature and a sustainable, traditional way of life far removed from the commercial hordes elsewhere.

The German high command occupied this seaside villa during World War II (Rommel supposedly enjoyed the old swimming pool that is still next to a larger one in the garden). The yellow, neoclassic mansion contains large suites—some on two levels with sleeping areas upstairs—that overlook the garden or face the sea. Ornate painted ceilings, marble floors, and tapestry rugs add to the elegance of the communal spaces. It's a walk from the main town, but there are restaurants and bars nearby, and the views across to Chania are charming.