Where should I go in Crete? | Smaller coastal towns

This guide helps you find the ideal place for you to truly enjoy Crete.

These brief descriptions help give you an initial idea of the variety of places to visit and stay. Where a detailed feature is available [ ] - you can click and see much more information. We will be adding a full feature on every place mentioned here and many others.

Choose the place that suits you!

Specially selected hotels in Crete marked have been hand-picked and can be reserved with us.

Agia Marina

Could be called Chania's resort and beach hotel section. Many beach hotels and numbers of apartments, domatia and smaller hotels of wide range in style and standard. Many cafes, restaurants, tavernas, gift shops and car rental offices stretch along the coast road. There is plenty of nightlife.

Agia Pelagia

Only just over 20 km from Heraklion the bay is impressive as you drive down from the National road. A narrow but sandy beach, in a bay bordered by the gardens, exotic zoo and soothing buildings of the Capsis resort hotel on one side and the natural, small peninsula which separates the small town from neighbouring Lygaria and Made. Water sports.
Waterfront tavernas serve a variety of fare, the centre has ample small shops for gifts, food and more. A variety of cafes and some very pleasing smaller hotels and places to stay. Tourism may be the mainstay, but this is a place with a local and friendly atmosphere. Places to stay include Capsis, Dioskouroi (hotel's own website), Alexander House, Peninsula Hotel, Mononaftis, Panorama, Villa Bellevue.
Hyperion Villas

Amoudara (or Ammoudara)

Almost a continuation of Heraklion to its west, this is the beach resort area. With a long stretch of roadside gift shops, cafes, restaurants just in-land and hotels and apartments from Luxury to cheap. Resorts include the luxury Candia Maris, several other large hotel: Zeus Beach, Grecotel Agapi Beach, Creta Beach, Dolphin Bay, Santa Marina Beach. At the Linoperamata end there is Akti Zeus and Apollonia Beach. There are beach-edge tavernas. The beach is sand and this is both a popular tourist and local playground. Many local buses (from Heraklion centre) serve Amoudara a 15-20 minute ride.

Bali

Set along a curving and hilly peninsula with dramatic rising mountains inland. The views are of the bay, mountains and sea. As cafes, restaurants and small hotels or apartments are threaded along the west side of the bay, Bali combines the reality of a small place with many changes of scene or atmosphere. While here, make a visit to Anogia. Several beaches, small harbour with waterside cluster of a cafe and three tavernas. Boat trips to Rethymno. Places to stay include: Evita, Bali Paradise, Talea Beach, Bali Mare, Bali Star.

Panoramic photo of Bali

Georgioupoli

At the mouth of the Almiros river, swimming is protected by a breakwater and the place has a local feel. This is a "small" place with some charm and atmosphere, even though there are many small hotels and places to stay. Much wildlife in the area (river and semi-wetland as neigbours). Turtles nest here and it is viewed by many visitors who return often, as a relatively calm, relaxed place. Your choice of base in the general area includes: Eliros Beach, Mare Monte, Pilot Beach, Georgioupolis Beach, Gorgonia and several more small hotels and pleasant apartment clusters.

Kastellos traditional house (near Kournas), Villa Avra in Kavros, Villa Lucia in Episkopi, Villa Limeri in Monopari.
In Apokoronas area: Samonas Inn-Samonas, Natalia's Houses-Douliana, Apokoron Villas-Gavalohori

(Kato) Gouves

With a civilized array of beach-front cafes and tavernas, several medium to large comfortable hotels and many choices of apartment and villa rentals, Gouves provides a traditional beachfront holiday atmosphere, close to Heraklion and its surrounding attractions. The bigger hotels include: Aphrodite Beach, Astir Beach, Diogenis Palace, Grecotel Creta Sun, Marina Beach and Pantheon Palace. Good centre for a family holiday. The village of Pano Gouves a few kilometres away on the hillside overlooks this area and has some pleasant Kafeneia. Easy access by bus.

Istro and Istron Bay

The village of Istro, a few minutes drive east of Agios Nikolaos, has many modern and pleasingly designed and decorated small hotels and apartments. It also boasts two internet cafes!
A few kilometres to the east, along on of the most dramatic stretches of coastal road in Crete, is Istron Bay. The bay is the hotel if you like. Though the hotel was built some years ago, it is of high standard and delivers the calm and luxury that is a thousand miles from the resorts which play disco music to lobster-coloured sunbathers at party-resort pools. Great setting. Visit Kritsa and drive up to the Katharos plateau (a couple of tavernas and a kafeneio await!).

Istron Bay Hotel  Istron Collection Villas  Nimfes Villas

Kokkini Hani

Has a rather quieter feel than nearby Hersonisos, but still sports a collection of hotels, apartments, tavernas and a real beach holiday atmosphere. Just 10 minutes from Heraklion airport - you can land, start enjoying a hotel or apartment and be out dining or sunbathing within half an hour of landing in Crete. Hotels include Arina Sand, Anna Apartments, Corali Beach, Knossos beach, Mary Village, Rinela Beach, Themis Beach and others. Minutes by bus to Heraklion.

Nearby, in Anissaras: Paradise Island Villas

Kolymbari (Kolimbari)

Untouched by larger hotel or multiple units of accommodation, Kolymbari has a good beach and some pleasant small and cozy tavernas. A wonderful stone-built cafe on the beach is a very pleasing place to enjoy coffees and conversation at the sea-side. The Odigitria monastery just a kilometre on from the centre has fine buildings and a church with wonderful icons and frescoes. Smaller new and somewhat older groups of apartments and rooms are available on the sea front and also higher up overlooking this small town and the sea.

Elia Traditional Inn   Spilia Village Inn  The Old Olive Mill ~ Around Kolymbari: Villa Kalliani  Villa Sevi

Maleme

One of the many beach areas that provide a stop on the long coastal stretch west of Chania - in this case about a half hour or so drive or bus ride away. The largest hotel, the Louis Creta Princess, sits on the edge of the sandy beach here. Several smaller hotels and rooms for rent are close by and the road has some cafe/taverna selections.

Matala

Known for its wonderful sandy beach and the caves carved into the rocks. The busy village is now popular for tourism with a very appealing setting. Good swimming - beach, numerous waterside cafes, gift-shops and tavernas are the mainstay of activity. It is tidy, well looked after. Several small hotels, smaller inns and rooms for rent. For other interests, it's close to the archaeological sites at Kommos, Gortys and Phaestos; also it's a short drive to Agia Gallini for a change of setting. Nearby villages of Pitsidia (horse riding available) and Kamilari are well worth visiting/considering staying.

Calypso Hotel  South coast villas

Makrigialos (Makrygialos)

Some way from any major or developed tourist towns, it lies east of Ierapetra, along a coastline with secluded bays and beaches. Easy access to and from Sitia. The harbour area has character. Framed in front of an impressive mountain backdrop with gorges that are more accessible and every bit as rewarding as the Samaria Gorge. Large sweep of sandy beach with a selection of hotels, apartments and rooms for rent. Some well conceived and decorated restaurants, cafes and bars, feels casual or stylish, as you wish. "Local" and not excessively tourist-trodden atmosphere.
Read full Makrigialos feature...

Akrotiri Apartments  Aspros Potamos

Paleochora (or Paleohora)

Quite a journey from Kissamos or Chania, Paleohora has the feel of a place that might once have been very popular as a hippy destination. Not any more, but it is one of the less commercial feeling places to base a stay on Crete. A finger of land juts into the Libyan sea, sporting a pebble and rock beach to the east and extensive sandy beach on its west side. Wonderful cafes - including newly opened Water's Edge and the kafeneio where they heat Greek coffee in the traditional hot sand system - and many smaller places to stay, a proximity to some pleasant mountain villages and relative closeness for a trip to Elafonisos. A friendly place to be. Served also by the south coast ferry service to Sougia, Agia Roumeli (Samaria gorge), Loutro and Chora Sfakia (all worth a visit). Also a point to set sail to the southernmost island of Gavdos from, go whale or dolphin watching.
Places to stay include: Elman Hotel, Aris Hotel, Haris Studios, Villa Marise, the refurbished On the Rocks Hotel, Margerita, Pal Beach, Oriental Bay and many more.

On the Rocks Hotel

Plakias

A big crescent bay holding a fine beach. This is quite a busy tourist destination, but has a unique feel, which appeals to some who normally choose to stay in smaller, quieter places. Beautiful surrounding countryside, fine walks and gorges. Visit the mountain village of Spili, Preveli Monastery and Preveli beach and the wonderful villages in the hills on the road to Sfakia.
Stay at some of the many hotels, domatia and apartments including: Damnoni Bay (nearby), Neos Alianthos, Plakias Bay and many small pension/domatia.

"Thalassa House" Apartments

Platanias

On the stretch of coast west of Chania. Platanias has, apart from shops, restaurants and cafes, many hotels and places to stay on the coast, also an old village on the hill which also offers shopping and dining opportunities, mixed with good views.

Sougia

A long and spectacular drive from the north coast towns, ports and airports, this is a haven on the Libyan sea. The beach is pebbly and expansive, with waterfront tavernas, a neat internet cafe and smaller hotels and domatia both on the seafront and the village streets. Also some larger apartment hotels are at the approach to the village, a little inland. Sougia is very small, but the people have built some very attractive restaurant/tavernas and some charming domatia/small hotels along with the standard offerings. A place to laze, not mass-tourism and few typical nightlife/beach bash entertainments.

You can of course take ferry trips to Agia Roumeli (Samaria Gorge), Paleochora, Loutro and Chora Sfakia...or just walk (E4 path goes through Sougia). Good swimming in the Libyan sea. Uncrowded, relaxed, relaxing and friendly.

(Chora) Sfakia

The regional seat, small port and center of the Sfakia region of Crete. Restaurants strung along the harbour-side. Moderate prices for your place to stay and to eat. Sfakia is a pleasing place and avoids most conspicuous signs of tourism - especially friendly people and interesting walks and villages to see, plus the village of Anopolis and its plateau with a dramatic backdrop of the Lefka Ori mountains. A small pebble beach. Loutro only a 20 minute ferry ride away.
Read full Sfakia feature...

Stalis (or Stalida)

In the east-of-Heraklion resort stretch of coast, but with a more select and slightly calmer feel than Malia or Hersonisos. Stalis has its cafes and tavernas and beachfront, without the hum and throb of busier neighbours. Larger hotels include: Anthousa Beach, Blue Sea, Cactus Beach and a good assortment of mid-size and small 20 to 80 room hotels, apartments and a few houses for rent.