Best Crete Resorts Guide

Crete's beach resorts run the length of the island, from Kissamos in the far west to Sitia in the far east, with a quieter string of villages along the south coast. This guide lists our favourite resorts by area, with what each one is like and how to get there.

The north coast has the big, busy resorts and most of the hotels. In the west, Maleme, Platanias and Agia Marina line the coast near Chania, and the fishing villages of Kalyves and Almyrida sit in the Apokoronas area. Central Crete has Georgioupolis, Rethymno, Platanes, Adelianos Kampos and Bali, and east of Heraklion come Anissaras, Hersonissos, Stalis, Malia and Sissi, then Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and Istron. The south coast resorts include Ierapetra, Makrigialos, Agia Galini, Matala, Plakias, Loutro, Sougia and Paleochora.

Our Favourite Crete Resorts

Chania Harbour

Kalyves and Almyrida are 2 of the most popular beach resorts in western Crete, and both are firm favourites with repeat visitors. These near neighbours in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region each have a fishing harbour, beach tavernas and sandy beaches.

Further east is Georgioupolis, another favourite with many visitors. It has golden sand, accommodation from budget apartments to luxury hotels, and beachfront restaurants.

Platanes and Adelianos Kampos are neighbouring beach resorts east of Rethymno, in the middle of the north coast. Platanes is often confused with Platanias near Chania. Both resorts have long stretches of golden sand, with hotels, bars, shops, tavernas and restaurants to suit most budgets.

East of Heraklion are 3 of the most popular beach resorts in Crete: Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia. Many people rate Malia's beach the finest in Crete. All 3 have accommodation from budget studios and self-catering apartments to all-inclusive 5-star hotels. Traditional Greek tavernas sit alongside Irish bars and British, Italian and Chinese restaurants.

Our own favourite beach resort is Istron, on Mirabello Bay just past Agios Nikolaos in east Crete. It has 3 beaches and good tavernas, and it is much smaller and quieter than most Crete resorts, which makes it ideal for families. We love Istron, and visitors get a warm and friendly welcome there.

West Crete Resorts

West Crete resorts are closest to Chania airport and to the ferry port at Souda Bay.

Agia Marina (also spelt Aghia Marina) is one of the most visited beach resorts in Crete, on the north coast just west of Chania. Its long sandy beach has room for the crowds, with plenty of seafront tavernas and bars for the evening.

Agia Marina and its neighbour Platanias blend into each other along the coast, so it is hard to tell where one resort ends and the other begins. A road sign marks the entry to Platanias, but it is easy to miss. Our Platanias guide covers that side of the coast.

Almyrida (also spelt Almirida) is a fishing village and beach resort east of Souda Bay, about 25 km east of Chania town. Like neighbouring Kalyves, it is in the Apokoronas area. Kafenions, traditional tavernas, cafe and cocktail bars and shops are dotted through the village.

Kalyves (also spelt Kalives), a short distance from Almyrida, is one of our favourite beach resorts in Crete. It is big enough for a choice of hotels and apartments but small enough to keep its village feel. The fishing village has plenty of good tavernas, some on the beach and waterfront and others around the village square near the large village church. Our Kalyves village guide covers the resort in more detail.

Chania (also spelt Hania or Xania) sits below the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), and its old town mixes Venetian, Turkish and modern buildings. Although it is a town rather than a beach resort, Chania has beaches nearby and a lively nightlife.

Central Crete Resorts

Central Crete resorts are within reach of Heraklion airport and port, and the western ones are also close to Chania airport and Souda Bay.

Adelianos Kampos is a busy beach resort east of Rethymno town, next to Platanes. It is sometimes called Adele, though Adele is in fact an inland village above the beach area. Adelianos Kampos has plenty of bars, restaurants and budget hotels, plus a few large hotels with all-inclusive options.

Agia Pelagia (also spelt Aghia Pelagia) is a north coast resort about 20 km west of Heraklion. It is quieter than its neighbours along the coast but still has a wide choice of accommodation, places to eat and beaches.

Bali is a small, low-key beach resort on the north coast, about 30 km east of Rethymno and roughly halfway to Heraklion. Hills surround its small coves and pretty harbour, and it has 4 small cove beaches of sand with pebbles in places. The resort gets busy in the height of summer, and plenty of restaurants and bars sit close to the beach.

Georgioupolis is a favourite with families, older visitors and couples, with golden sand and accommodation from budget apartments to luxury hotels. Corissia Park, a seafront park between the Corissia hotels, has a freshwater pool, a pool bar and restaurants. The Talos Express tourist train leaves daily from Corissia Park for Lake Kournas, the only natural freshwater lake in Crete, and the springs at Argyroupolis.

Gournes is a small beach resort on the north coast between Kokkini Hani and Gouves, near Hersonissos. Its small sandy beaches rarely feel crowded. Gournes is home to Cretaquarium, the large public aquarium run by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, which suits young and old alike.

Gouves, or more correctly Kato Gouves, is one of the most popular beach resorts in Crete, on the north coast east of Heraklion airport. Kato Gouves is the lower beach area of Gouves and has large hotels, smaller budget hotels and apartments. Tavernas line its long, golden sandy beach, and the resort has a lively nightlife.

Kokkini Hani is a busy north coast resort east of Heraklion with sandy beaches, beachside tavernas and plenty of accommodation, including 4 and 5-star hotels, some of them all-inclusive. It suits families and people who want nightlife.

Panormos is a north coast resort in the Rethymno region, with 2 golden sandy beaches, a fishing harbour, traditional Greek tavernas and a few cocktail bars.

Platanes is on the north coast of the Rethymno region and merges into Adelianos Kampos. Its nightlife ranges from Greek dancing shows and relaxed cocktail bars to dance bars and clubs. The long golden beach has small pebbles too, so many swimmers wear the beach shoes sold in the tourist shops.

The town of Rethymno (also spelt Rethymnon or Rethimno) lies on the north coast in central Crete and is one of the most visited places on the island. Beaches run along the shore in and around the town, which has hotels, traditional tavernas, restaurants and cocktail bars.

East Crete Resorts

East Crete resorts are closest to Heraklion airport and port.

Agios Nikolaos (also spelt Aghios Nikolaos or Ayios Nikolaos) is the capital of the Lassithi region, east of Heraklion, north of Ierapetra and west of Sitia. It is a town rather than a beach resort, but it has several good beaches in and around it.

Elounda (also spelt Elounta) is a beach resort close to Agios Nikolaos in the Lassithi region. Several beaches are in and around the area, and many large 5-star hotels stand close to Elounda.

Hersonissos (also spelt Hersonisos or Chersonissos) is one of the busiest resorts in Crete, about 27 km east of Heraklion on the north coast, with Stalis and Malia as neighbours. Accommodation ranges from budget studios and apartments to luxury hotels, and the resort has plenty of places to eat and drink and a busy nightlife.

Istron and Kalo Horio are 10 km from Agios Nikolaos in the Lassithi region. Istron is a quiet beach resort on the coast, and Kalo Horio is slightly inland. The 3 bays at Istron are within walking distance of each other and close to the tavernas and small shops.

Malia is the most popular Crete beach resort with the 18 to 30 crowd, about half an hour's drive from Heraklion airport. It has a long sandy beach and the liveliest nightlife in Crete, with clubs and bars along its main strip. Our Malia guide covers the resort and the old village.

Sissi (also spelt Sisi) is one of the smaller beach resorts in Crete, with a small port and a sandy beach, about 25 km from Agios Nikolaos. Several beaches are within walking distance of the village.

Sitia (also spelt Siteia) is one of the most easterly resorts in Crete. Fishing boats bob in the harbour, and a wide waterfront promenade lined with palm trees, cafes and tavernas ends in a long, clean sandy beach.

Stalis, also known as Stalida, is about 30 km east of Heraklion, between Hersonissos and Malia. We love Stalis for its long, gently shelving beach of soft golden sand, which is good for families with young children. There is a wide choice of places to stay, shop, eat and drink.

South Coast Resorts

South coast resorts are reached from Heraklion airport and port in the centre and east, and from Chania airport and Souda Bay in the west. The south coast is generally quieter than the north.

Agia Galini (also spelt Aghia Galini or Ayia Galini) is a small, laid-back resort on the south coast of the Rethymno region, with enough hotels, tavernas and bars for a choice without feeling overbuilt.

Ierapetra is often called the southernmost town in Europe. It is one of the most popular south coast resorts, with several good beaches around the town and accommodation from large hotels to budget apartments and studios.

Makrigialos (also spelt Makry Gialos, Makrygialos or Makriyialos) is a small coastal village on the south coast of the Lassithi region, between Ierapetra and Sitia. Despite its size it has a choice of hotels and apartments for a holiday in southern Crete.

Matala is one of the most famous beach resorts in Crete, on the Bay of Messara in the south of the Heraklion region. Its gently shelving sand sits below sandstone cliffs carved with caves. In Greek myth, Matala is where Zeus swam ashore in the guise of a bull with Europa on his back.

Paleochora (also spelt Paleohora or Palaiochora) is perhaps the most popular south coast resort in the Chania region, usually reached from Chania airport or Souda Bay. It has budget hotels, apartments and self-catering studios, a few larger hotels, and a relaxed choice of bars and tavernas.

Plakias is a beach resort on the south coast, about 40 kilometres south of Rethymno. Its beach has soft sand and clean water, with sunbeds, umbrellas and water sports. Diving excursions and diving lessons run from the resort. Seafront tavernas and beach bars line the shore, and naturists use the eastern end of the beach.

Sougia is a quiet fishing village on the south coast of the Chania region and one of the most peaceful beach resorts in Crete. It suits families on a budget, because accommodation and restaurants tend to cost less than in the busier north coast resorts.

Chora Sfakion (also spelt Hora Sfakion) is in the Sfakia region on the south coast of western Crete. The area has small, quiet beaches, and many visitors come for walking in the mountains and gorges. Sfakia is known across Crete for its food, especially the cheese pies served with honey.

Frangokastello (also spelt Frangocastello) is a small south coast resort in Sfakia, named after the Venetian fortress that stands behind its beach of shallow, clear water. It has a few sandy beaches, tavernas, bars, small hotels and budget apartments.

Loutro is a small south coast village in the Chania region that you can reach only by boat or on foot. It has smaller hotels, self-catering rooms and a few traditional tavernas, and it is the place to go for a really peaceful holiday.

Our guide to Crete beaches by type picks out beaches for families, snorkelling, quiet days and nightlife. Official travel information for Greece is on Visit Greece, the Greek National Tourism Organisation site.