Except for the blockbuster beaches that attract day trips, its not ideal for beach tourism. The most well-known landmark is the blush pink Yiali Tzami mosque on the waterfront, with the main (outer) harbour on one side and the Venetian (inner) harbour and arsenal on the other. The one we are talking about is ideal if youve decided to stay in or near Agios, as its just around the bay. A wonderful place to visit and stay in Crete! The scenery as you traverse the coast road with steep hills and lush greenery gives views that will take your breath away. Be aware that roads and bus routes in the south are sparse, its easier to plan an itinerary that takes in one region or travels along the north coast. There is an increasing number of upmarket resorts in Sissi. Besides the beach, guests gather at the Olympic-sized pool and water park with a big slides for older kids and adults. Theres an excellent selection of tavernas, and its a short drive to Agios Nikolaos for city delights. Cool or what? Three fine dining restaurants, state of the art spa, private sandy beach. Oceanfront Home With Views (7 guests): $325/night. With all these unique and unforgettable experiences lying across the island of Crete, it is hard not to feel guilty for so easily dismissing it into the realm of partying, disco balls, and all-nighters. So many people make a beeline for Rethymno that its surrounding villages are something of a hidden gem. There are few roads in the area, and some of the villages are accessible only by boat. Angela Suites Boutique Hotel is all whites and blues and has a pool. Considering you are only down the road from one of Cretes busiest towns, its pretty quiet and relaxing. The Greek islands with the best beaches are Crete, Naxos, Paros, Ios, Milos, Mykonos, and Rhodes. La Maison Ottomane brings a touch of Ottoman decadence meets modern style. T Hotel Premium Suites is the most comfortable place in town. The City Hotel & Suites is a clean and modern hotel offering excellent value at a lower price point, as are Menta City Boutique Hotel and Omiros Boutique Hotel. You wont find parties and bars here, oh no. Where to Stay on Crete: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide Take your pick from three gourmet restaurants and bars, including a poolside bar. It is flanked by steep, mountainsides, home to a sizable herd of goats (judging from the clinking of bells) as well as a tepid sea, sheltered by a lush bay. Youll find the standard Greek beachside fare if you want to have a halftime break, and nestled in its backstreets are a multitude of boutique-style shops selling some handmade, and some not-so-handmade trinkets. The outskirts of Hersonissos are home to some of Cretes swankiest 5* resort hotels. With the exception of Paleochora, that is. Kalamaki is a relatively new town in Crete, it has more of a purpose-built feel to it. But there are many places offering rooms and studios at a great price. Classy Veneziano Boutique Hotel is in a beautifully renovated historic building. Malliotakis Beach Hotel and Aggelo Boutique Hotel are both close to the beach and offer stylish places to lay your head. Luxurious rooms, suites and villas - most with private heated pools - boast stunning views and top notch amenities. Most of the beach is lined with tavernas, cafes and bars, but with easy acces to the city. There are numerous beaches dotted about, and if you are staying for more than a few days it can be good fun to try a different one each day. Utterly relaxing. Offering plenty of five-star luxury, Elounda is stuffed with beautiful resorts and classy hotels. Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel 4. Several celebrities (including Brad and Angelina in happier days) have been spotted walking on its sandy shores, this combined with it being a hotspot for European dignitaries just adds to the appeal. Much of the south-west coast is rocky and inaccessible, with steep cliffs that drop dramatically into the sea and small beaches that form at the end of gorges. There is a small airport serving flights to and from Athens. 25 of the best places to stay in Greece and the Greek islands Transfer time: 1hr from Heraklion International airport. 302 reviews. The beaches in the Rethymno province are some of the best not as dramatic as the west coast, but long and sandy and perfect for long, lazy beach days. Although elements of the walk can be tiring, its most definitely worth it. On a budget? . But there are plenty of alternatives if your budget doesnt stretch quite that far, have a look at Blue Bay Resort Hotel, Peninsula Resort Hotel, Pela Mare, Seascape Luxury Residences, and Acro Wellness Suites. #3 in Best Resorts in Crete Tripadvisor (921) 1 critic awards 5.0-star Hotel Class Free WiFi Overview Reviews Deals Rooms Kalimera Kriti Hotel Village Resort is a 5 star hotel located. For a private beach, an award-winning spa and fine dining, try the Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. Enter dates to see prices. But the rowdy bars are largely confined to one strip the Malia Mile, and the party doesnt start until later in the evening. "The location is perfect as is one of the best beaches on the island, being quiet yet with locals around, and close enough to the Venetian Harbour for day or evening trips.". Oceanview Designer Beach House (4 guests): $300/night. Agree a time with him and he'll come back for you later. Not overly touristy (though all the amenities are present), it has a working town feel albeit one with an Ottoman mosque, Venetian Fortress, and Blue Flag Beach. Best beaches in Crete - Lonely Planet Coastal perfection. Swimmers will prefer the deep water at Episkopi. See More, Experience luxury in abundance at this peninsula hotel with contemporary, stylish decor and sea views. The main attraction in Stalis (or Stalida) is its 6km golden crescent of beach, and its proximity to party capital Malia (just a 30-minute walk). THE 10 BEST Crete Beach Hotels of 2023 (with Prices) - Tripadvisor Transfer time: 1hr 15 minutes from Heraklion airport. #1 Best Value of 1,305 Crete Beach Hotels "Beach - Currently sitting on the beach I can tell you it is a little sun trap! What delights visitors the most about the White Mountains is the central and southern part of the Lefka Ori which, due to the high altitude, resembles a lunar landscape and offers visiting hikers a surreal experience of walking on the moon which, is wholly unique to the northern hemisphere. If you have a car then you might also want to consider accommodation up in Mirtios village above the bay. The beach here is better than any at Hersonissos, which is 5km away. Yes: Sougia is the best quiet beach in Crete, without a doubt. If you are staying one or more nights, you dont need to worry about thumping music or all-night parties. There is no shortage of boutique in the winding Venetian streets of the old town. Well, you dont need to imagine, as youve just thought of Sissi in beautiful Crete! THE 10 BEST Quiet Resorts in Crete 2023 (Prices) - Tripadvisor Theres a regular bus to Heraklion, and its possible to reach Rethymnon and Agios Nikolaos for day trips too. Sitia, windsurf and nice beaches For a taste of the less touristy places on the island, Sitia is your town where to stay in Crete. THE 10 BEST Quiet Hotels in Crete 2023 (Prices) - Tripadvisor Mexico is one of those well-rounded countries that offer a little bit of everything: food, culture, gorgeous landscapes, and some of the best hotels and resorts in the entire world. BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CRETE IN AGIOS NIKOLAOS ($$$) Minos Beach Art Hotel ($$) Miramare Resort & Spa ($) Ikaros Art Hotel FIND AGIOS NIKOLAOS HOTEL DEALS 5. Its set back from the town but is 4* and modern, with 3 pools and spacious rooms. per night. See More, A vast contemporary beach resort with all the trimmings, lush grounds, four pools and private beach area. Whether you are planning a getaway with the family, a couples' escape or a luxury break there is something to suit most tastes and budgets here. Best 41 Beaches in Chania, Greece | Greeka Pick the Nana Princess in Hersonissos for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of options for self-catered too, likeVilla Niki. The town isnt strictly a beach resort, so theres plenty to see and do besides basking. Go in the shoulder months and youll be rewarded with a day trip to remember. The main village is set 1km back from the beach and is a popular area for villas and expats. Stavros Bay aerial: Mike Drosos / Shutterstock, Matala rocks: Georgios Tsichlis / Shutterstock, Map of Crete: The Mediterranean Traveller, Map of Chania region The Mediterranean Traveller, Elafonissi: Zakhar Marunov / Adobe Stock, Paleochora: Vladimir1984 / Shutterstock, Map of Rethymnon region The Mediterranean Traveller, Panormo: Jaroslav Moravcik / Shutterstock, Agia Galini: Georgios Kritsotakis / Shutterstock, Map of Heraklion region The Mediterranean Traveller, Agia Pelagia: Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock, Map of Lasithi region The Mediterranean Traveller, Agios Nikolaos: olgaarkhipenko / Adobe Stock, Elounda: Georgios Tsichlis / Shutterstock. Transfer time: 35 minutes from Heraklion airport. Paleochora is the main resort town on the south-west coast. The beach is a mix of shingle and sand, and the water is crystal clear and calm. In the small grid of streets behind the main beach, you will find souvenir shops, mini-markets, and small hotels/rooms to let. Monastery Estate is a beautiful new conversion with Turkish hammam. ; EAST: The beaches past Elia are beyond the reach of the bus and water taxi network so things calm down considerably. You can find private plunge pools at Miramare Resort & Spa. South of the Lasithi Peninsula, this part of Crete has its own climate its drier, hotter, and more barren than the rest of the island. . Falassarna Beach has won prizes for being the most beautiful beach in Crete and is always one of the top ten beaches in Europe, with its wonderful, fine white sand and warm, crystal-clear water. FalassarnaBeachhas won prizes for being the most beautiful beach in Crete and is always one of the top ten beaches in Europe, with its wonderful, fine white sand and warm, crystal-clear water. There are several beaches that you can reach by foot, and as the crowds thin out you can still find a few nudist beaches. Enjoy the many dining options, good spa and lots of activities - tennis, water sports and nearby nightlife. The Akrotiri Peninsula is where youll find the airport, a swathe of villas, and a few spectacular beaches such as Stavros Bay and Seitan Limani. Suites and private villas have personal pools. This is Crete off-the-beaten-track. An epic choice of restaurants and bars. Margarites is located in the very centre of the island of Crete, its an unspoiled village surrounded by the vibrant green hills of the Rethymnon region and is as well known for its picturesque panorama as it is for its extensive pottery trade. The resorts here are some of the nicest places to stay on Crete. If you want to explore the culinary, you will have a vast variety of restaurants and amazing coffee shops. A small town located on a small peninsula in southwest Crete, Paleochora is ideal if you want a bit of both. Plaka has a lovely beach, especially lovely if you dont like sand getting everywhere, as its made from pebbles. You may have to head to the south coast when the wind is blowing. See More, A stylish modern hotel with spacious one-bedroom suites with a separate living room and great views over the ocean. There are actually three beaches within walking distance from the cobbled stone street village, all of which are pretty shallow and nestled amongst some really lovely local topography, allowing for some rather nice snorkelling experiences. Two Cretes minor islands Chryssi and Koufonisi are just off this part of the shore. Here you will find the emptiest beaches on the island and you can swim well into the autumn/winter months. What really amazed when I was in Crete was how quiet it is. Falassarna is home to one of the best beaches on Crete vast, sandy, and relatively undeveloped. The lazy river was a particular highlight. Suites have private pools. But at the end of the day, Mexico will always be known as a beach destination - and for good reason. Where to Stay on Rhodes: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide Astoria Hotel is a small family-run hotel with sea views and coastal decor. That said, there are bus links to Rethymno and Heraklion so car hire is not necessary. Accommodation in Kissamos tends to look a bit dated but you can find good value in the surrounding beaches such as resort-style Balos Beach Hotel, Galini Beach Hotel, and the simpler Maria Beach Hotel. Top 26 Unspoilt Places to Visit in Crete for Travel Snobs The 10 Best Resorts in Chania, Greece | Booking.com Transfer time: 1hr 40 minutes from Chania International airport. The thrum centres around the Venetian harbour, the cafe-packed backstreets, and the extensive beach which extends to the east. Falassarna is located on the west coast of the island around a 2 hour 40 minute drive from Heraklion airport. An adults-only hotel in a converted historic mansion, it has been elegantly restored and has its own hammam. An award winning restaurant, a superb wine list and a well-known spa on site. Parts of it are organised in the summer months though, and it does attract daytrippers. Although, shell always have a special place in her heart for the city where she makes her annual pilgrimages Paris, her true city of lights. Its super sedate. Elounda is a lively harbour town thats surrounded by beautiful scenery and a sandy Blue Flag town beach. Outside this, its a large resort town with an excellent (though busy) beach, an unashamedly commercial centre, and a charming old quarter (Old Malia), where youll find traditional houses and tavernas. Value 4.1. Top things to see and do in Rethymno include: And possible day trips in the area include: Rethymnon Beach is Cretes longest sandy beach at 12km long, and as it extends east from the city it swallows up villages that have long since morphed into suburban beach resorts. See More, Low-rise garden resort with immaculate seaside grounds. Elafonisi Lagoon is located on the west coast of the Greek island of Crete around a 3 hour 20 minute drive from Heraklion Airport. Accommodation in Frangokastello is all self-catered and around the same price point. Panormos a small and charming traditional Cretan fishing village located on the northern coast has a few little extra bits that make it attractive, and a winery, it also has guided tours and tasting as well making it an attractive proposition indeed. Including the five star beach resorts, family friendly hotels on Crete and great value finds. Chora Sfakion: A few upmarket options here such as the No Problem Luxury Suite (it has a bathtub), and the excellent value Livikon Hotel and Samaria Hotel which both have fresh white and blue decor and seaview balconies. Our hotel experts have scoured the length and breadth of the island to bring you a collection of Crete's best beach hotels selected on their location, designs, service, and amenities. It is hardly surprising then that there are a world-class selection of beach hotels to choose from. The village itself is loaded with a rich history, including a museum which houses finds of Minoan archaeological importance found nearby and you can hear tales about the towns colourful past and folklore in the many local tavernas. The LATO Boutique Hotel is more modern and has harbour views. Several of the Elounda luxury resorts are actually in Plaka. On a budget? Transfer time: 1 hr 40 minutes from both Chania and Heraklion airports. 20 BEST Crete Beaches To Visit - The World Pursuit Its not perhaps as quaint as some of the other places on this list but what it lacks in tradition it more than makes up for in swankiness and still manages to retain an air of what makes Crete so great.
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