Luxury Hotels in Crete

Where to Find Luxury Hotels in Crete

Crete's luxury hotels cluster in 4 areas: Elounda and Agios Nikolaos in the east, the Hersonissos and Malia coast east of Heraklion, the Rethymnon seafront, and the beaches west of Chania. Smaller boutique hotels sit in old town mansions and restored inland villages.

This guide groups 42 hotels first by type of stay (romantic, family, seaside, cultural and eco) and then by region. We checked every hotel's name and status in October 2026. Where a hotel has changed its name, we give the current name first and the former name once.

Luxury Romantic Getaways in Crete

Small boutique hotels suit couples, because they have few rooms, quiet terraces and personal service. The 2 below are both in or near Chania and both are adults-only.

The Theodore Boutique Hotel, Chania

The Theodore Boutique Hotel is a 9-room, adults-only (16+) beachfront hotel in Agia Marina, about 7 km west of Chania. Each room has its own décor and name.

What Makes this Hotel Special

The hotel is small enough for the staff to know every guest. Breakfast is cooked to order and served on the terrace, with local honey, cheeses and herbs.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

Stalos beach is a short walk away and the long sandy beach of Agia Marina is under 20 minutes away on foot. The Venetian harbour and old town of Chania are a short drive east. Elafonissi beach and the Samaria Gorge are full-day trips from here.

La Maison Ottomane, Chania

La Maison Ottomane is an adults-only bed and breakfast with 3 suites in Chania old town, less than 100 m from the Venetian harbour. The owners opened it in 2014 in their own restored house.

What Makes this Hotel Special

Each suite is decorated in Ottoman style, with antiques, oriental rugs, wooden floors and ceilings and original artworks. The owners serve a large breakfast and the reception is staffed through the day. There is no spa or restaurant, and the house has a couple of parking spaces.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

The Venetian harbour, its lighthouse, the Nautical Museum and the Archaeological Museum of Chania are all a few minutes' walk away. Nea Chora beach is about a 15-minute walk west. The clear water at Seitan Limania, on the Akrotiri peninsula, is a short drive away.

Family-Friendly Luxury Hotels in Crete

Creta Maris in Hersonissos and Daios Cove near Agios Nikolaos are 2 luxury resorts built around families, with kids' clubs, children's pools and shallow beaches.

Creta Maris Resort, Hersonissos

Creta Maris Resort (formerly Creta Maris Beach Resort) is a large beach resort beside Hersonissos, run by the Metaxa Hospitality Group. It opened in 1975 and marked its 50th anniversary in 2025. Its family facilities include:

• A kids' club with supervised activities.
• Several swimming pools, including a water park with slides.
• Family rooms and bungalows.

What Makes this Hotel Special

Creta Maris is laid out like a small Aegean village, with twisting paths and little squares planted with trees and flowers. Parents can use the Thalasso spa, whose treatments use seawater, while the children are at the kids' club.

Creta Maris is 24 km from Heraklion airport, on a long sandy bay beside Hersonissos. The beach shelves gently, which suits small children.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

Hersonissos has several family attractions within a short drive. Star Beach has water slides and pools, and Aquaworld Aquarium lets children see local sea creatures up close. The Lychnostatis Open Air Museum shows traditional Cretan village life. The Lassithi Plateau, with its farms and windmills, makes a good family day out by car.

Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas, Agios Nikolaos

Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas sits on its own sandy cove at Vathi, about 7 km from the centre of Agios Nikolaos. Family villas and residences have private pools, which gives families space and privacy. Highlights include:

• A free kids' club for school-age children and a crèche for younger ones.
• A family pool and a private beach with shallow water.
• Children's menus in the resort's restaurants.

What Makes this Hotel Special

The villas and suites are large, and many have a private pool, so parents can relax while children swim nearby. The kids' club and crèche run from April to November, which leaves parents time for the spa or a quiet meal.

Daios Cove is set into the cliff face, so the resort has many steps. These steps can be difficult for guests with limited mobility.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

The resort's own beach is the easiest swim for young children. In Agios Nikolaos town, families can walk around Lake Voulismeni and stop for an ice cream. Older children enjoy a boat trip to Spinalonga island, the former leper colony off Plaka.

Crete Seaside Elegance

Abaton Island Resort in Hersonissos and the Elounda Peninsula resort are 2 beachfront hotels where many suites have private pools facing the sea.

Abaton Island Resort & Spa, Hersonissos

Abaton Island Resort & Spa has 152 rooms, suites and villas along a 364-metre shoreline near Hersonissos, many with private pools. It opened in 2017–2018 and has an infinity pool and a private sandy beach.

What Makes this Hotel Special

Abaton is built in a clean, minimalist style, with suites stepping down to the beach. It has several restaurants serving Mediterranean and international food. Its ANAPNOē spa offers treatments by Elemis.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

The resort's beach suits swimming and snorkelling on calm days. The harbour tavernas and shops of Hersonissos are a short distance away, and the Acqua Plus water park is nearby. The Minoan Palace of Malia is a short drive east.

Elounda Peninsula Luxury Resort, Elounda

Of all the luxury hotels in Crete, this has to be one of our favourites.

Elounda Peninsula Luxury Resort (formerly Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel) stands on a small headland at Elounda, with suites and villas that look over Mirabello Bay. Many have private pools, and the resort has a private sandy beach. It belongs to the Elounda Collection group.

What Makes this Hotel Special

The resort has a Six Senses Spa. It says it was selected for the MICHELIN Guide 2026. Guests can play the 9-hole golf course at the neighbouring Porto Elounda resort, a short walk away.

The Elounda Peninsula also caters well for children. Its children's club is called Kid's Ark.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

Boats to Spinalonga island leave from Elounda and Plaka, a short trip from the hotel. The Venetian fortress and the story of the leper colony make it the most popular day out in the area. Elounda village has tavernas along the harbour, and Agios Nikolaos, with its lake and cafés, is about 12 km south.

Greek Cultural Escapes in Crete

Casa Delfino in Chania old town and Kapsaliana Village near Rethymnon are 2 luxury hotels set in restored historic buildings.

Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa, Chania

Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa occupies a 17th-century Venetian mansion in Chania old town, a few steps from the Venetian harbour. The same family has owned the house for 6 generations. The Archaeological Museum of Chania is a short walk away.

What Makes this Hotel Special

Breakfast is served in the pebble-mosaic courtyard. The roof terrace bar, open from mid-April to the end of October, looks over the rooftops to the harbour. The small spa has a steam room, a hot tub and 2 treatment rooms.

Casa Delfino has 24 rooms and suites, from standard rooms to a penthouse suite with a sea-view terrace. The staff help couples plan weddings at the hotel, from the bride's bouquet to the photographer.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

Casa Delfino is in the middle of Chania old town, with its narrow lanes, market and harbourside tavernas. The Venetian lighthouse and the Maritime Museum are minutes away on foot. Seitan Limania and Falassarna beach are both within a day's drive.

Kapsaliana Village Hotel, Rethymno

Kapsaliana Village Hotel is a restored hamlet near Arkadi Monastery, built around an olive oil mill that the monastery's abbot founded in 1763. The village emptied after the mill closed in 1955. A Cretan architect later restored it as a hotel, and it is a member of Historic Hotels of Europe.

What Makes this Hotel Special

The stone-built rooms keep their traditional Cretan architecture, and the old mill is now a small museum. Quiet courtyards, herb gardens and views over the olive groves surround the rooms.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

Arkadi Monastery, the site of the 1866 siege during the Cretan revolt against Ottoman rule, is a few kilometres away. Rethymnon town, with its Venetian harbour, old town and Fortezza, is a short drive north. The sandy beaches of Episkopi and Geropotamos are within easy reach.

Eco-Luxury Accommodation in Crete

Phāea Cretan Malia and the Royal Marmin Bay are 2 luxury hotels that put sustainability at the centre of how they are built and run.

Phāea Cretan Malia, Malia

Phāea Cretan Malia (formerly Cretan Malia Park) is a beachfront resort in Malia and a member of Design Hotels. The architect Vana Pernari fully renovated it in 2018, mixing materials and styles from several design eras while keeping a Cretan identity.

What Makes this Hotel Special

The hotel says sustainability shapes its design and its day-to-day running. It has 3 restaurants that cook with local produce, gardens around low-rise rooms and bungalows, and yoga and Pilates classes.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

The Minoan Palace of Malia is close by, and Potamos beach beside it is quieter than the main Malia beach. The Lassithi Plateau, with its traditional villages, is an easy day trip inland. The beach bars and tavernas of Malia are close by.

Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel, Elounda

The Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel is an adults-only, 5-star hotel of 88 rooms and suites on the hillside above Mirabello Bay near Elounda. It describes itself as the first certified energy-efficient green hotel in Greece.

What Makes this Hotel Special

The kitchen uses organic products from local producers, except for meat, and cooks only with extra virgin olive oil. Rooms have balconies with sea views. The hillside site has many slopes, so golf carts carry guests between the rooms and the beach.

Nearby Attractions, Beaches and Activities

The hotel has a private beach on Mirabello Bay. Boats to Spinalonga leave from Elounda and Plaka, the fishing village just up the coast. Walking trails in the hills above Elounda give wide views of the coast.

More Luxury Hotels in Chania

The Chania region in west Crete has luxury hotels in Chania town, along the beaches to the west of the town and in the Apokoronas area to the east. Our guides to Chania town and the beach resort of Platanias cover the area in more detail.

Kydon, The Heart City Hotel, Chania Town

Kydon, The Heart City Hotel stands on Sofoklis Venizelos Square in the centre of Chania, next to the covered market and about 10 minutes' walk from the Venetian harbour. It was one of the first hotels built in the city and has since been fully updated. Parking is available for a fee, which helps guests with a hire car.

Cretan Dream Resort & Spa, Stalos

Cretan Dream Resort & Spa (formerly Cretan Dream Royal) sits about 50 m from Stalos beach, a short drive west of Chania. Rooms include large family rooms and suites, and they have kitchenettes. The hotel has 2 outdoor pools, a children's pool and a spa, and it opens from May to October. It has a lot of steps, which guests with limited mobility can find difficult.

Thalassa Beach Resort & Spa, Agia Marina

Thalassa Beach Resort & Spa is an adults-only (16+) hotel on the beach at Agia Marina, about 9 km west of Chania. Its spa has a sauna, a hot tub and 3 treatment rooms, including rooms for couples. The beach taverna serves Cretan dishes and Greek meze. Staff can arrange boat trips, couples' spa treatments and honeymoon packages.

Minoa Palace Resort & Spa, Platanias

Minoa Palace Resort & Spa is a hotel and low-rise bungalow complex in Platanias, 12 km west of Chania town. It looks out over a long sandy beach, with the White Mountains behind. It has 4 outdoor pools and a children's pool, and the spa has an indoor heated pool, a sauna and a jacuzzi. Some rooms have their own private pool.

Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa, Platanias

Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa is a large resort beside the sandy beach at Platanias, about 400 m from the village centre. It was renovated in 2019 and some booking sites now list it as Porto Platanias Beach Luxury Selection. Rooms range from family rooms with connecting doors to rooms with a private pool. The resort has several outdoor freshwater pools, a children's pool, a kids' club and a spa with a heated indoor pool.

Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort & Spa, Kolymvari

Cavo Spada, part of the Giannoulis hotel group, stands on the beachfront at Rapaniana near Kolymvari, about 18 km west of Chania. It faces the Gulf of Chania and Cape Spada, and Gonia Monastery is within walking distance. Every room has sea views from a terrace or balcony. A room with a private pool costs a little more, and we think the morning swim in privacy is worth it.

Kiani Beach Resort, Kalyves

Kiani Beach Resort is an all-inclusive family resort on the Blue Flag beach at Kiani, just outside Kalyves and about 20 km east of Chania. It has 5 pools, a children's playground, 3 restaurants and a spa. Shops and tavernas are a few minutes' drive away in the village of Kalyves.

Kalyves Beach Hotel, Kalyves

Kalyves Beach Hotel is a 4-star hotel on the sea next to the Xydas river in Kalyves, in the Apokoronas area east of Chania. It has 2 outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a spa and a beach bar, and it offers an all-inclusive option. It is the sister hotel of Kiani Beach Resort.

Samonas Traditional Villas, Samonas

Samonas Traditional Villas is a group of 5 traditionally built, self-contained maisonettes in the hill village of Samonas, about 400 m above sea level and 25 km from Chania. Each maisonette has a kitchen, a fireplace and a balcony or patio, and the grounds have an outdoor pool. The ancient site of Aptera is nearby, and the village's hillside position gives wide views and starry night skies.

More Luxury Hotels in Rethymno

The Rethymno region has luxury hotels along the long sandy beach of Rethymnon town, in the villages just outside it and on the south coast at Agia Galini. Our Rethymnon town guide covers the old town, the Venetian fortress and the harbour.

Aquila Porto Rethymno, Rethymnon

Aquila Porto Rethymno (formerly Porto Rethymno Beach Hotel) stands on the promenade of Rethymnon town, facing the long sandy beach. Restaurants, cafés, tavernas and shops are all within walking distance. The balconies look out over the old town and the harbour.

Aegean Pearl, Rethymnon

Aegean Pearl (formerly Sentido Aegean Pearl) is a 5-star beach hotel at the end of the Rethymnon promenade, run by Pearl Hotels. Its sister hotel, Pearl Beach, is next door. The hotel has more than 110 rooms, maisonettes and suites, several pools including children's pools, and a spa with an indoor pool.

Macaris Suites & Spa, Rethymnon

Macaris Suites & Spa is a suite hotel in Rethymnon, about 100 m from the beach and a short walk from local tavernas. Each suite has a kitchen and living area and a balcony, and the hotel has an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a children's pool and a spa with a hammam. The hotel has a lot of steps, which guests with limited mobility can find difficult.

Grecotel Creta Palace, Missiria

Grecotel Creta Palace is a 335-room beach resort in Missiria, about 4 km east of Rethymnon old town, set in 100,000 m² of gardens. Rooms range from doubles to family bungalows and villas with a private pool. It has several pools, tennis courts, a kids' club, a water sports centre and the Elixir spa.

Carme Villas, Adele

Carme Villas is a group of 12 two-storey villas, built in 2010 in an olive grove in the village of Adele, about 10 minutes' drive from Rethymnon. Each villa has its own private pool, a kitchen and 2 bedrooms, and the gardens have a children's playground and a small stone theatre. The sea is about 800 m away. The complex is family-run and has a quiet, homely feel.

Palazzo Greco, Agia Galini

Palazzo Greco is a boutique hotel of about 30 rooms on the hillside at the entrance to Agia Galini, on the south coast, with views over the Bay of Messara. It was rebuilt from the village's older El Greco hotel. The rooms use natural materials and traditional Greek architecture, and the pool looks over the bay. The beach and the tavernas of Agia Galini village are a short walk away.

More Luxury Hotels in Heraklion

The Heraklion region has luxury hotels in Heraklion city, in the countryside south of the city and in the beach resorts of the north coast, from Fodele in the west to Malia in the east. Our guides to Heraklion city and the resort of Hersonissos cover the area in more detail.

Galaxy Iraklio Hotel, Heraklion

The Galaxy Iraklio Hotel is a 127-room city hotel in Heraklion, close to shops, restaurants and nightlife and within easy reach of the airport. It has a wellness centre with a gym, sauna and freshwater pool, and meeting rooms for business guests. Its PURE allergy-friendly rooms have hypoallergenic bedding and mattresses, air purifiers and deep-cleaned air conditioning, which suits allergy sufferers.

Vergis Epavlis, Agios Myronas

Vergis Epavlis is a small hotel of 4 suites on a hillside near Agios Myronas, a quiet village about 14 km from Heraklion, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and wild herbs. Each suite has a kitchen and a large veranda or balcony with mountain views, and the hotel has an infinity pool and a spa. Local transport is limited, so hire a car or bike to explore the north and south coasts.

Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort, Fodele

Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort is an all-inclusive family resort of 395 rooms on the sandy beach at Fodele, on the north coast about 25 km west of Heraklion airport. Its own water park, children's pools, a mini club and a daily entertainment programme keep children busy. The resort has a main buffet restaurant, 2 à la carte restaurants and a spa.

Nana Royal Premium Resort & Spa, Anissaras

Nana Royal Premium Resort & Spa (formerly Aldemar Knossos Royal) is a beach resort at Anissaras, just west of Hersonissos. The Karatzis Group bought it from Aldemar in late 2024 and reopened it under the Nana brand in 2026 after a full renovation. It has a private sandy beach, 2 large seawater pools, a children's pool and a spa.

Paradise Island Villas, Anissaras

Paradise Island Villas is a family-run group of 12 villas on a hillside at Anissaras, about 2 km from Hersonissos, built in traditional Cretan style. Each villa has sea and mountain views, and some have their own private pool. The complex also has shared pools, a tennis court, a children's playground, a fitness centre and a spa.

Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort, Analipsi

Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort is a 240-room family resort on its own stretch of Analipsi beach, about 7 km from Hersonissos and 20 km from Heraklion airport. Rooms range from family rooms to suites and villas. Children have an aqua park, 3 children's pools and an entertainment team, and adults have 2 lagoon-style pools and 2 tennis courts.

Cactus Royal Spa & Resort, Stalis

Cactus Royal Spa & Resort is a 177-room hotel in the centre of Stalis, separated from the sandy beach by the coast road. It is now adults-only, for guests aged 16 and over. The hotel has 3 outdoor pools, an indoor pool and a spa, and the bars and tavernas of the resort of Stalis are on the doorstep.

Royal Heights Resort, Malia

Royal Heights Resort is set on the hillside at Pezoula, above Malia, with wide views over the coast. Its 2-storey villas each have a private pool, and the suites have a separate bedroom and sitting area. The spa has an indoor pool, a steam room and a sauna. The beaches and tavernas of Malia are a 2-minute drive away.

Ikaros Beach, Luxury Resort & Spa, Malia

Ikaros Beach, Luxury Resort & Spa is an adults-only (16+) beach resort of about 185 rooms on the sandy coast close to the centre of Malia. Rooms have a terrace or balcony with garden or sea views, and some have a private pool. The resort has 4 pools, several restaurants and the Aura spa.

More Luxury Hotels in Lassithi

The Lassithi region in east Crete has a cluster of luxury hotels around Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and Mirabello Bay, with more at Sissi, Istron and Sitia. Our guides to Elounda village and hotels in Agios Nikolaos cover the area in more detail.

Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection

Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection is a resort of suites and villas on the Plaka side of Elounda, looking out towards Spinalonga island. It joined Marriott's Autograph Collection in 2015. Accommodation ranges from couples' suites with a private pool to villas with a private pool and jacuzzi. The spa has an indoor seawater pool, a sauna and a steam room.

Elounda Mare Hotel, Relais & Châteaux

Elounda Mare is an 81-room Relais & Châteaux hotel just outside Elounda village, overlooking Mirabello Bay with the mountains behind. Rooms, bungalows and villas all face the sea, and some have a private pool. The hotel has a children's club, tennis courts, water sports and a spa.

Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas is a large resort in Elounda overlooking the clear water of Mirabello Bay, and a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Rooms, bungalows and suites have hand-made furniture and marble bathrooms. The resort has 2 private sandy beaches, 5 restaurants, a spa and sports facilities.

Faedra Beach Hotel, Ammoudara

Faedra Beach Hotel is a small seafront hotel on the sandy beach of Ammoudara, about 3 km south of Agios Nikolaos town. Elounda is about 13 km further north. It makes a good base for exploring east Crete by car, motorbike or bus. Rooms are decorated in traditional Cretan style, with views of the sea or the gardens. The seafront restaurant serves Greek and Cretan dishes.

St. Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas, Agios Nikolaos

St. Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas stands on a secluded peninsula about 1.5 km from Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Elounda, with panoramic views over Mirabello Bay. Rooms range from sea-view doubles to suites and villas, some with a private pool or jacuzzi. The resort has a private beach, the Poseidon spa, and a children's club, a children's pool and children's menus for families.

Istron Bay Hotel, Istron

Istron Bay Hotel is a family-run hotel on Mirabello Bay at Istron, close to Agios Nikolaos and overlooking Golden Beach. The same family has run it for 2 generations and treats its long-serving staff as part of the family, which gives the hotel a personal atmosphere. Our Istron Bay Hotel review has more detail.

Castello Boutique Resort & Spa, Sissi

Castello Boutique Resort & Spa is a 48-room, adults-only (16+) boutique hotel a 3-minute walk from the centre of Sissi. Some maisonettes have their own freshwater pool or an open-air jetted tub, and the hotel has a spa, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. The restaurant cooks with local produce.

Sitia Beach City Resort & Spa, Sitia

Sitia Beach City Resort & Spa is a 5-star hotel on Sitia Bay in the far east of Crete, next to Petras beach. It has an outdoor pool, a children's pool, a free children's club and a spa with a sauna, hammam and hot tub. The hotel is away from the nightlife of the busier resorts, and the town of Sitia, with its archaeological museum, is within walking distance.

Choosing a Luxury Hotel in Crete

The right area matters more than the star rating. Elounda and Agios Nikolaos have the largest choice of 5-star resorts with private pools. Hersonissos and Malia put big family resorts close to water parks and nightlife. Chania and Rethymnon have boutique hotels in Venetian old towns, and the inland villages have restored stone hotels away from the coast.

Several hotels in this guide are adults-only (16+), including The Theodore, La Maison Ottomane, Thalassa Beach, Royal Marmin Bay, Cactus Royal, Ikaros Beach and Castello. Check the age policy before you book with children. Many resorts on the north coast open only from spring to late autumn.