For most travellers, Rethymno Town is the best all-round place to stay in Crete. It combines a beautiful Venetian old town, a long sandy beach, good restaurants and cafés, and a central position between Chania and Heraklion. Rethymno suits travellers who want one base for sightseeing without staying in a large resort.
Choose Chania if you want the prettiest old town and easy access to western Crete's famous beaches. Choose Elounda or Agios Nikolaos for luxury, Hersonissos or Malia for nightlife, and Georgioupolis or Almyrida for a relaxed family beach holiday.
Crete has 4 main regions: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi. The island is large, and travelling between the west and east can take time, so your location matters more than finding a hotel near the geographical centre.
Best Places to Stay in Crete at a Glance
| Area | Best for | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rethymno Town | Best all-round base | Old town, beach and central location | Less convenient for far-west beaches |
| Chania Old Town | First visit, culture and atmosphere | Picturesque city and harbour | Parking can be difficult, and the main beaches are outside the centre |
| Georgioupolis or Almyrida | Families and beach resorts | Easy swimming beaches and relaxed facilities | Less historic and lively than Chania or Rethymno |
| Heraklion | History, museums and short stays | Close to Knossos and major transport links | Not the best base for a traditional beach holiday |
| Agios Nikolaos | Couples and a lively coastal town | Waterfront restaurants, coves and access to eastern Crete | Far from western Crete |
| Elounda | Luxury and resort holidays | High-end hotels, calm bays and trips to Spinalonga | Expensive and less convenient without a car |
| Hersonissos or Malia | Nightlife and organised resorts | Beaches, bars, activities and a wide choice of accommodation | Busy and commercial |
| Plakias or Paleochora | Quiet south-coast escapes | Scenic coastline and a slower pace | Longer transfers and greater reliance on a car or boat |
1. Rethymno Town: the Best Overall Base
Stay in Rethymno if you want history, beaches, restaurants and a practical location in one place.
Rethymno's old town has Venetian and Ottoman architecture, narrow lanes, tavernas, cafés and the Fortezza fortress. A long sandy beach starts close to the town centre, so it is easier than Chania for combining sightseeing with regular swimming.
The town lies between Chania and Heraklion, making it useful for trips in either direction. Rethymno suits:
- Couples who want atmosphere without a heavy party scene
- Travellers without a car
- Visitors who want a walkable town near the beach
- Longer stays that include western and central Crete
Stay inside or beside the old town for the best setting. Choose the beachfront area east of the old town if you care more about easy beach access and larger hotels.
2. Chania: the Best Choice for Beauty and a First Visit
Stay in Chania if your main priorities are a romantic old town, waterfront dining and western beaches.
Chania's Venetian harbour, Egyptian lighthouse, Ottoman buildings and historic neighbourhoods make it one of Crete's most distinctive cities. The wider region also provides access to Balos, Elafonisi, Falassarna and the Samaria Gorge.
The main areas are:
- Chania Old Town: Best for atmosphere, restaurants, boutique hotels and evening walks
- Nea Chora: Better for a nearby sandy beach and a more residential setting
- Koum Kapi: Good for waterfront cafés and nightlife near the old town
- Agia Marina or Platanias: Better for a full beach-resort holiday west of the city
Chania Old Town works well for a short city break or a first visit focused on food, architecture and day trips. It is less suitable if you want to walk straight from your hotel onto a large resort beach.
3. Georgioupolis or Almyrida: Best for Families
Stay in Georgioupolis or Almyrida if you want a calm beach holiday with useful facilities close by.
Georgioupolis has a broad sandy beach and a resort layout that keeps accommodation, tavernas and swimming within easy reach. Almyrida is smaller, with sheltered beaches, restaurants and villa-style accommodation. Both sit between Chania and Rethymno, so you can visit either town while staying somewhere quieter.
Choose this area when:
- Beach time matters more than nightlife
- You are travelling with young children
- You want a villa, apartment or family resort
- You plan to hire a car for beaches and villages
A car helps with inland villages and more remote beaches, although the resort centres are easy to manage without one.
4. Heraklion: Best for History, Museums and Transport
Stay in Heraklion if you want to visit Knossos, explore museums or use the city as an arrival and departure point.
Heraklion is Crete's largest city and the main gateway to the Palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. It also has a waterfront, Venetian walls and good transport connections.
Heraklion suits:
- A short cultural break
- A visit to Knossos without a long transfer
- A first or final night near the airport or port
- Travellers who prefer an active city to a resort
It is not the best choice for a classic beach holiday. If you want to stay near Heraklion but prefer the coast, consider Agia Pelagia, Gouves or Kokkini Hani. For a busier resort, choose Hersonissos or Malia further east.
5. Agios Nikolaos and Elounda: Best for Couples and Luxury
Choose Agios Nikolaos for a lively coastal town, or Elounda for high-end resorts and a quieter setting.
Agios Nikolaos is built around Lake Voulismeni and has a compact waterfront lined with restaurants, cafés and evening activity. It is a useful base for eastern Crete if you want to stay in a real town rather than a self-contained resort.
Elounda suits travellers looking for luxury hotels, private pools, spa facilities and calm coastal scenery. It is also a convenient starting point for boat trips to Spinalonga.
Choose:
- Agios Nikolaos for walkability, restaurants and a town setting
- Elounda for luxury, privacy and resort facilities
- Plaka for a smaller village near Elounda and Spinalonga
This part of Crete is a poor single base for Chania, Balos or western Crete. It works best for an eastern Crete holiday or as one half of a split stay.
6. Hersonissos or Malia: Best for Nightlife
Stay in Malia for the strongest party scene, or Hersonissos for a wider mix of beaches, activities and nightlife.
Malia is known for late-night bars and clubs. Hersonissos has a broader mix of beaches, restaurants, hotels and entertainment. Both are developed holiday resorts on the north coast, east of Heraklion.
Hersonissos suits groups with different priorities because it has quieter areas, family facilities and a wider range of accommodation. Malia is the better fit if nightlife and a busy social scene are the main reasons for your trip.
For a quieter stay nearby, consider:
- Stalis: A beach resort with a gentler atmosphere
- Koutouloufari: A traditional village above Hersonissos
- Piskopiano: Smaller and more atmospheric than the main resort strip
7. Plakias, Paleochora or Matala: Best for a Quieter Escape
Choose the south coast if you want scenery, fewer large resorts and a slower holiday.
Plakias is a useful base for the beaches and landscapes around southern Rethymno. Paleochora has beaches, tavernas and a relaxed small-town feel in southwestern Crete. Matala is known for its beach, caves and bohemian history.
The south coast suits:
- Couples seeking a peaceful break
- Travellers who enjoy swimming, hiking and small tavernas
- Visitors hiring a car
- Repeat visitors who want a less resort-focused trip
Transport takes more planning here. Mountain roads can make journeys slow, and some coastal destinations are easier to reach by boat than by road. Do not choose the south coast if you want effortless access to every major attraction on the island.
Should You Stay in One Place or Split Your Stay?
Stay in one base for a short holiday, and split the trip if you want to cover both western and eastern Crete.
One base means less packing, less driving and fewer hotel changes. Rethymno works well when you want a balance of towns, beaches and day trips. Chania is a better fit when western beaches and the old town will fill most of your itinerary.
A practical split stay is:
- Chania or Rethymno for western Crete, old towns and major beaches
- Agios Nikolaos or Elounda for eastern Crete, resort time and Spinalonga
Avoid choosing a location just because it looks central on a map. Crete's mountain roads, long coastline and spread-out attractions can turn a supposedly central hotel into a base for long daily drives.
Final Recommendation
If no single activity determines your trip, book Rethymno Town. It is the least awkward compromise between town life, beach time and travel in both directions. Choose a more specific base only when you already know what you want most from the holiday.