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After spending 2 months on the Greek island of Crete, I have compiled a list of the nicest places to stay. In case you're wondering what would be a nice vacation spot on Crete, I'm happy to help you get started! Crete is much bigger than many people think. From east to west it takes more than 5 hours by car, from north to south it takes only 1.5 hours. The island is divided into 4 provinces: Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lassithi. There are also 2 airports, Heraklion in the middle of the island and Chania entirely on the west side of the island.Â
For beautiful beaches and clear blue sea, it is best to stay on the western or southern side of the island. The north and east of Crete also have a lot to offer! Think for example of the cozy port of Agios Nikolaos or the northern coastline where Hersonissos and Malia are located. That the island has so much to offer, in all aspects, makes Crete for me one of the nicest and most beautiful places in Europe. Below I share my favorite places to stay in Crete in Greece.Â
1. Agia Pelagia
A small but tremendously cozy and beautiful resort on the north side of Crete is Agia Pelagia. It is only about a 30-minute drive from Heraklion airport. Of all the places I have seen, Agia Pelagia is and remains my favorite! It is a friendly place, the people (in general the Greeks anyway) are very friendly and the sea is clear and blue. In my opinion it is one of the best places to discover the underwater world on this island. Bring your mask and you do not even have to go far into the sea to see the beautiful curious fish. You can enjoy yourself on one of the beaches, there are plenty of delicious restaurants and some small stores.Â
The nicest restaurant in Agia Pelagia is Le Gourmet. In addition to genuine Greek cuisine, you can also find delicious pasta, good meat and freshly made sushi here.
Should you not stay here during your vacation, it is definitely worth planning a trip to Agia Pelagia.Â
Psaromoura Beach
If you are in Agia Pelagia, Psaromoure Beach is a must-visit. It takes some searching, but once on the beach you'll find yourself in a beautiful bay. By the way, you can park here for free in a large open field. Also, be sure to explore around this beach where you will arrive at a beautiful vantage point and overlook the breathtaking bay!
The best accommodations in Agia PelagiaÂ
There are several nice places to stay in Agia Pelagia. One of these hotels is the sustainable Irida Hotel & Apartments. It is located on quite a hill, but is a beautiful hotel. Also Seascape Luxury Residences in the heart of the center is highly recommended and Acro Suites and Castello Infinity Suites (both 16+). The latter are two gems that you can book through Eliza Was Here. Both are slightly on the pricey side, but absolutely worth it.
2. Bali
Bali is a tiny beach town, but tremendously friendly and cozy! And yes, I hear you thinking ''Bali?'' Yes, Bali is so much closer to home than you think! A small Greek seaside resort where you can enjoy swimming and various water sports.
There is not much else to do here, but it is a wonderful place for travelers who want to relax and enjoy the sun. What is completely ideal is that it is located between Agia Pelagia and Rethymnon. These are two great places you can easily get to with a rental car.Â
The best accommodations in Bali
A fine hotel chain in Greece is the Mitsis hotel group. We already stayed here once during a Vacations to Kos, but you will also find a fine Mitsis hotel in Bali on the island of Crete: Hotel Mitsis Bali Paradise.Â
3. Rethymnon
Rethymnon is a relatively large town (by island standards) where many a woman can do her shopping well. There is a very large beach with a promenade with lots of nice restaurants. I find it a hugely enjoyable town and it was great to spend some time in a "big" city during my stay in Crete!Â
The best accommodations in Rethymnon
Also in Rethymnon are plenty of fine places to stay. A favorite is Hotel The Syntopia (adults only 18+).
4. Analipsi
A very nice village is Analipsi, this is also the place where I myself lived for 2 months. The beaches and the sea on this side of the island are not as beautiful as on the west coast, but still it is a lovely place to be. Especially at beach club Ocean Seaside Where I was pretty much every day. They serve delicious food, tasty drinks and the beach beds are also very comfortable. Another insane hot spot is Pizzeria Volkano, here you eat without a doubt the best pizzas in Crete.
The best hotels in Analipsa
During my stay in Analipsa, I had rented an apartment at Astron Boutique Apartments, right across from the pizzeria. They are modern, spacious studios and they also offer larger apartments. There is unfortunately no pool with them, but less than a 10-minute walk and you are on the beach and at Ocean Seaside and Areya Beach Bar!Â
Other tips include Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa (16+) and Paralos Venus Suites (15+). For groot-scale resorts that are especially nice for families with children I recommend Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort, Stella Village Seaside Hotel and Lyttos Beach to.Â
5. Chersonissos
Chersonissos is mainly known for its "booze tourism" and is a popular vacation destination among young people, but personally I find it a very nice town for shopping and dining. It is a pity that the image of this town has been tarnished, where I am sure many people deliberately skip it. Even though it still has its charms. You have lots of different eateries and lots of things to do. Be sure to have a bite to eat at Sofas in old Hersonissos, the best traditional Greek food I've had these months. A particularly nice hotspot in the old town is Sofas, you eat good traditional Greek food here. Another favorite hotspot of mine in Hersonissos is Sweet Home.Â
Tip: Are you looking for peace and quiet? Then do not stay here from June to August.Â
The best hotels in Hersonissos
Because many young people have Hersonissos on their list of favorites, there is a large selection of accommodations. Are you looking for a quiet stay in the popular resort? Then there are also nice, small-scale hotels in Hersonissos. My tips are Indigo Inn (Adults Only), Kahlua Boutique Hotel and Hotel Elios Hill.Â
6. Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos is an incredibly nice and cozy port town on the east coast of the island. It is somewhat larger than Analipsi with the advantage that you can do some really nice shopping here. It has plenty of nice restaurants and is mainly known for its "bottomless" lake, also known as Lake Voulismeni. Of course, the lake is not bottomless, but this was once thought to be the case. By the way, a fun fact is that at its lowest point, the lake is as much as 65 meters deep.
The best accommodations in Agios Nikolaos
There are many fine places to stay in Agios Nikolaos, in different price ranges. Some nice boutique hotels are: Hotel Blue Marine Resort & Spa, NIKO Seaside Resort MGallery (16+) and Vasia Ormos Hotel (14+).
Spinalonga
Should you want to visit the island of Spinalonga, also known as the former "Alcatraz of Crete," you can take a boat from Agios Nikolaos to this island. In my opinion, one of the fun places to discover in Crete. It is very special to visit Spinalonga to hear the stories about the past from a local guide. You are taken around the island and also visit a beautiful bay where you can swim and snorkel while a delicious barbecue is prepared. Should you be vegetarian, no problem, there are plenty of options even then.Â
Kritsa Gorge
From Agios Nikolaos it is not far to the Kritsa Gorge, a gorge you can hike through. It is a tough hike, especially during the summer months, but also a very beautiful hike. Because of the climbing and scrambling in the gorge, this hike is not suitable for those with mobility problems. We combined visiting the Kritsa Gorge with relaxing at Voulisma Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete.
All Greece inspiration at a glance!
What does Greece have to offer as a vacation destination? Discover the most beautiful places. In fact, on our blog we share endless travel tips for the Greek islands, but also for the crazy Greek mainland!
Annemiek Zimmerman
Exploring the world is one of the things I love the most. From a gap year in New York where I studied English to a 6-month exchange in Malaysia, my studies took me to crazy destinations. Not to mention the road trip I took through Australia. I really enjoy traveling, both inside and outside of Europe and love to share my stories and tips with you on Travander!
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