Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 16:50     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up- considering Crete in the fall as a tag on to a family event and trying to figure out where to stay. From where we will be coming in Europe, Heraklion looks most convenient for flights, same for the return. We'd plan to rent a car but would love to be able to walk into a nice town for dinner as well as a beach or two. Heraklion looks busier/bigger than what we are looking for as a base. Chania looks lovely but a bit far to get back to the airport for the return flight, although I suppose we could stay in a hotel closer to the airport the night before. Other suggestions? With 7 nights would you stay in one place or divide between two areas? Mainily looking for a mix of beach time (kid-friendly beaches), sightseeing, some light hiking.


Rethymnon is my favorite spot in Crete, hands down. IMO the only thing to do in heraklion is to visit Knossos, and then get out of there and leave the chaos behind. If you have time, the southern coast is absolutely stunning. It's not anywhere near as developed as the north coast but the beaches are beautiful and the small towns are so rich in history and Cretan culture.


Thanks! One follow-up qiuestion- how did you find the beach in Rethymnon? Scanning tripadvisor forums I keep seeing references to it being really windy/big waves with a lot of red flag days. I know we could drive to other beaches and likely would but it would be nice to have a decent home-base option. I think that's my only hesitation there because otherwise the location and town itself look ideal.


Hi, I'm the PP you quoted. We didn't go to the beach in Rethymnon, so I don't have any advice for you there, I'm sorry. I think there are resorts along the north coast between Chania and Rethymnon that do have really nice beaches, but it sounds like the northern coast in general may be very windy? Reminds me of Puerto Rico. Do you have time to break up the trip by doing a few days in the south for the beaches and then do the cities in the north? Or go to the western part of Crete, west of Chania, that is also gorgeous and may have calmer water.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2026 02:33     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up- considering Crete in the fall as a tag on to a family event and trying to figure out where to stay. From where we will be coming in Europe, Heraklion looks most convenient for flights, same for the return. We'd plan to rent a car but would love to be able to walk into a nice town for dinner as well as a beach or two. Heraklion looks busier/bigger than what we are looking for as a base. Chania looks lovely but a bit far to get back to the airport for the return flight, although I suppose we could stay in a hotel closer to the airport the night before. Other suggestions? With 7 nights would you stay in one place or divide between two areas? Mainily looking for a mix of beach time (kid-friendly beaches), sightseeing, some light hiking.


Rethymnon is my favorite spot in Crete, hands down. IMO the only thing to do in heraklion is to visit Knossos, and then get out of there and leave the chaos behind. If you have time, the southern coast is absolutely stunning. It's not anywhere near as developed as the north coast but the beaches are beautiful and the small towns are so rich in history and Cretan culture.


Thanks! One follow-up qiuestion- how did you find the beach in Rethymnon? Scanning tripadvisor forums I keep seeing references to it being really windy/big waves with a lot of red flag days. I know we could drive to other beaches and likely would but it would be nice to have a decent home-base option. I think that's my only hesitation there because otherwise the location and town itself look ideal.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 19:13     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up- considering Crete in the fall as a tag on to a family event and trying to figure out where to stay. From where we will be coming in Europe, Heraklion looks most convenient for flights, same for the return. We'd plan to rent a car but would love to be able to walk into a nice town for dinner as well as a beach or two. Heraklion looks busier/bigger than what we are looking for as a base. Chania looks lovely but a bit far to get back to the airport for the return flight, although I suppose we could stay in a hotel closer to the airport the night before. Other suggestions? With 7 nights would you stay in one place or divide between two areas? Mainily looking for a mix of beach time (kid-friendly beaches), sightseeing, some light hiking.


You don’t need to choose a town spot vs a beach spot. It’s easy to combine both when you have a car. So stay close to a nice beach, and then drive to Chania or rethymno for sightseeing and dinner, or vice versa. If you decide to split, then split it between two different parts of the island, like south coast and north coast, or west and east parts.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 18:47     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Stay 3 nights in Old Town Chania and then 3 nights in a beach spot.
Definitely rent a car. There is so much to do in Crete!
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 16:16     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up- considering Crete in the fall as a tag on to a family event and trying to figure out where to stay. From where we will be coming in Europe, Heraklion looks most convenient for flights, same for the return. We'd plan to rent a car but would love to be able to walk into a nice town for dinner as well as a beach or two. Heraklion looks busier/bigger than what we are looking for as a base. Chania looks lovely but a bit far to get back to the airport for the return flight, although I suppose we could stay in a hotel closer to the airport the night before. Other suggestions? With 7 nights would you stay in one place or divide between two areas? Mainily looking for a mix of beach time (kid-friendly beaches), sightseeing, some light hiking.


Rethymnon is my favorite spot in Crete, hands down. IMO the only thing to do in heraklion is to visit Knossos, and then get out of there and leave the chaos behind. If you have time, the southern coast is absolutely stunning. It's not anywhere near as developed as the north coast but the beaches are beautiful and the small towns are so rich in history and Cretan culture.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 14:56     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Stay near Chania. The drive to Heraklion is 2 hours but it's super easy.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 14:36     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
We stayed at Elounda Beach and it was amazing.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 07:05     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up- considering Crete in the fall as a tag on to a family event and trying to figure out where to stay. From where we will be coming in Europe, Heraklion looks most convenient for flights, same for the return. We'd plan to rent a car but would love to be able to walk into a nice town for dinner as well as a beach or two. Heraklion looks busier/bigger than what we are looking for as a base. Chania looks lovely but a bit far to get back to the airport for the return flight, although I suppose we could stay in a hotel closer to the airport the night before. Other suggestions? With 7 nights would you stay in one place or divide between two areas? Mainily looking for a mix of beach time (kid-friendly beaches), sightseeing, some light hiking.


Check out Agios Nikolaos to the east or Rethimnon to the west, both are about one hour by car from Heraklion.

I haven’t been in Agios N cause we ended up staying in south coast and then Chania, so it was out of our way. Rethimno is then 1 hour from Chania, so you could visit as well.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 05:32     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
We are staying three nights at an Airbnb in Chania and then three nights at a hotel in Paleochora. Want to spend time walking in old town Chania then proximity to beaches is next on the list. We have a car.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 04:35     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Bumping this up- considering Crete in the fall as a tag on to a family event and trying to figure out where to stay. From where we will be coming in Europe, Heraklion looks most convenient for flights, same for the return. We'd plan to rent a car but would love to be able to walk into a nice town for dinner as well as a beach or two. Heraklion looks busier/bigger than what we are looking for as a base. Chania looks lovely but a bit far to get back to the airport for the return flight, although I suppose we could stay in a hotel closer to the airport the night before. Other suggestions? With 7 nights would you stay in one place or divide between two areas? Mainily looking for a mix of beach time (kid-friendly beaches), sightseeing, some light hiking.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 11:48     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
Are you the same op traveling with 2 teens and didn’t want to get a rental car?

We stayed at an Airbnb in almirida. It’s close to Almirida beach. Somewhat equidistant between Chania and Rethymnon. My teens loved the beach, it was busy but they loved that, there are restaurants offering chaise longues. It’s a touristic village so easy to arrange tours. We had a car, so just drove ourselves.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uLc2jDJ5wBvA4qJ19?g_st=ic

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uLc2jDJ5wBvA4qJ19?g_st=ic
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 07:55     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
We stayed at what is now PHĀEA Blue a few years ago when it was the Blue Palace affiliated with Marriott. It was amazing. I can’t tell from the current website if they still have the same dining options.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 18:34     Subject: Crete - where to stay?
We'll be visiting Crete (first time) in June for 6 nights with 2 teens. I'm looking for recommendations on where to stay as well as any hotel recommendations. We'd like to be on/near nice beach and near cute town for the teens.

From previous posts, I've seen Chania, Rethymno, Elounda mentioned - any feedback on those or specific hotels you liked? Should we split time between any of those area?

thank you!!