Night Stay Between Chania And Analipsi
We hope to holiday at Stella Palace in Analipsi next summer but our flight will be to and from Chania. Looking for recommendations for somewhere to spend 2 nights before our return flight. Should we stay in Chania itself or is there somewhere along the route from Analipsi that people would recommend. We will be traveling with our 16, 14 and 12 year old girls and will have a car. Have never been to Crete so all recommendations much appreciated.
10 replies to this topic
Hi Siobhan
I would look at staying in either Chania or Rethymno. If you decide to stay in Rethymno you would have a drive of about just over an hour back to the airport. I would also suggest staying in the old town area of both towns.
I would stay in Rethymnon which is a fabulous town with a great atmospheric old town area. Chania Town is lovely too but Rethymnon gets you on the way east .
Either Rethymnon or Chania would be good choices if you want to stay in a town rather than resort.
#2 – the OP is heading west after their stay in Analipsi lol!
Personally I would stay in or near Chania so that youâre only a short drive from the airport. With your girls in mind, I recommend staying near Chania town beach which is about 10 min walk from the old town and beautiful harbour lined with tavernas and shopping lanes .
Kalyves:
Best Hotels Outside Chania Town
As I described in my post about our 8-day itinerary in Chania, the whole region is an absolute treasure of beautiful spots, beaches and people. You can stay in any of the above hotels in Chania or stay outside closer to marvellous beaches or other beautiful towns like Paleochora, Falasarna, Loutro etc. In that case, you can rent a car and explore the whole region!
Kalyves is a seaside village 20 from Chania. It has a lovely sandy beach and restaurants if you want to relax during the day and visit picturesque Chania during the night.
15. Porto Kalyves Kalyves
These apartments have a fantastic view of the sea, and you will enjoy your coffee or your breakfast looking at the deep blue! Also, Ioanna and Panagiotis are fantastic hosts, which is always a big plus for me! More information here!
16. Monastery Estate Retreat Sougia
Its a beautifully designed hotel with private pools in most of the rooms! The view in the area is impressive, and you can enjoy lovely walks just below the property with the best mountain views! Super comfortable beds, quiet and peaceful to sit outside the room. The hotel is located right outside a calm village near Sougia beach. The whole simplicity and tranquillity of the place will disconnect you from daily life! More Information Here!
17. Renieris Hotel Stalos
18. Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection- Adults Only Kato Daratso
20. Agarathos Rooms Kaliviani Kaliviani, Kissamos
21. Naya Kissamos
Where To Stay In Crete For Beaches Families And Couples In A Nutshell
- Where to stay in Crete for the best beaches: Crete has 4 of the best sandy beaches in Greece. Two of them are on the west coast and Chania is a great place to be based for them, besides having a local beach too. The other 2 amazing beaches are on the east coast and reachable from Sitiaor Agios Nikolaos, both lovely towns to be based. Read more below about staying next to the best beaches
- Where to stay in Crete for couples: Sissiis one of the most romantic boutique towns I have ever seen, with a small harbour area that is so charming. Paleochorais the perfect place to relax with a long beach and the possibility of day trips to the isolated south coast. Maleme, close to Chania, has access to two of the most beautiful beaches in Greece and some of the best trekking, perfect also if you are on a budget. Read more below about staying in Crete with your partner.
- Best places to stay in Crete with family: Agios Nikolaos is a lovely town that works great with bigger kids. If you are travelling with smaller kids then the quiet Almyrida may be a better and more relaxed destination. Gouves is the area that works better for an all-inclusive stay, with many resorts around. Read more below about staying with your family in Crete.
In this video, you can see the areas with my commentary on the pros and cons.
I have more video on Crete in this dedicated YouTube playlist.
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Sissi One Of The Most Romantic Places To Stay In Crete
Sissi lies east of Heraklion. If you are not looking for it you could drive past it, but this would be a sad mistake. Repeat visitors to the town call it among the most romantic places in Crete with its charming natural inlet covered with palm trees. It boasts a small port that was a key unloading point for weapons in the Cretan revolution.
Nowadays, Sissi has reverted to its peaceful, small village charm that does come to life in the night time thanks to its handful of local bars and restaurants.
There is great swimming in its Boufos Beach. Though this is undoubtedly not the best known beach on the island, it does offer fantastic and relaxing sand and swimming. The town has a pier with restaurants and bars, though the best one is probably Neromilos Taverna, a 15 minute walk from town.
Any of the pier side taverns will offer you fantastic fresh fish. It is a busy place as restauranteers and shop keepers from Heraklion come here to get what local call the best fish in Crete.
Sissi offers a surprising range of hotels for a small quiet town. The several choices here range from boutique to budget depending on your particular price point.
If you are looking for what could be the most picturesque little village in Crete that comes with some nightlife, then this is a good choice where to stay in Crete. The wilder Malia is only a 10 minute drive away by taxi or car.
Best Places to Stay in Sissi
Honourable Mentions Of Places To Stay In Crete
Malia If good nightlife is important to you, Malia is the best place in Crete for it. Its a bit rough around the edges but has an endless selection of bars and clubs to choose from.
Lasithi Plateau Prefer a rural countryside location, at least for a few days? The small villages of Lasithi Plateau are a great place to stay in Crete. Youre secluded in nature and have some mountain amazing scenery to wake up to.
Kissamos Do you like the sound of Chania but want a quieter place to stay outside of the city? Kissamos is a small local town with a lot going on. Its just a 30-minute drive from Chania centre and is one of the best places in Crete for boat trips.
That concludes our list of ideas for where to stay in Crete. Its a huge island with countless hotels, beach resorts and attractions, so we recommend staying in a couple of different regions if you can. Relax in peace and quiet, deep within the mountains, soak up culture in a bustling city, or kick back on a stunning beach. Youll get all of the great aspects of Greece travel in one place when you visit Crete! If you have any questions about the hotels or towns weve featured on our list, let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more Crete travel inspiration? Check out our other guides:
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Elounda Trendiest Place To Stay In Crete
Robert Linsdell
Elounda is a small and pleasant village located in the northeastern part of Crete. A former fishing village, this town is now a playground for the rich, famous and fashionable.
Attracting international celebrities, like Brad and Angelina, this cosmopolitan community is where youll find gorgeous resorts, stunning beaches, and fine mountain views.
Elounda is also home to a myriad of attractions, restaurants, and cultural exhibitions. From a charming town centre to a handsome harbour, world-class eateries and picturesque bars, theres a lot to enjoy in this Cretan seaside paradise.
Aoria Estate Old Port
In the elegant Skoufon Street, AoriaEstate Old Portis another place to stay on the island offering allergy-free rooms . The rooms are bright and clean, full of light and air. The decoration is simple and edgy, still maintaining some of the traditional architectonic traits of Chanias old buildings, such as limestone walls and wooden ceilings.Every room has a private lounging area, high-pressure showers, and super comfy beds as well. There is a rooftop terrace to admire the tower bells and minarets of Chanias skyline. As usual in Crete, the staff is available and friendly!
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What Is The Most Beautiful Town In Crete
Chania is often listed as the most beautiful town in Crete.And I agree. It does have a charm that none of the others have.
Want to see more of the best Crete has to offer?
- 20 best things to do in Crete – read article
- The 27 best beaches in Crete – read article
- The most beautiful archaeological sites – read article
- The most beautiful churches and monasteries in Crete – read article
- Advice for planning your road trip in Crete and your itinerary – read article
- The most beautiful boat trips around Crete – read article
And keep track of your own trip!
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Malia Best Place To Stay In Crete For Nightlife
En route from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos lies Malia. The road there splits through the town into the Old Malia lying in the foothills of Mount Selena and newer town closer to the shore. Malia is another town completely unlike the others on the island. It was long famous for its incredible potatoes, but these fields have been mostly replaced by small and large hotels as well as bars and tavernas.
Tourism here has split the personality of the town between the old Malia complete with narrow streets, houses lined with flowers, and live Greek music-offering tavernas. The other component of the town now is the coastal resort complete with nightclubs, bars, and the frantic nightlife that keeps the younger tourists dancing from 11 pm until the early hours of the night.
People looking for quieter nights will retreat to their hotels or rental studios and apartments when the sun sets. These are found in both sections of town, the old town streets and coastal Malia. Restaurants and tavernas of all kinds and price points line the streets on both sides of town.
Best Places to Stay in Malia
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Best Places To Stay In Chania The Old Town
The town of Chania is located on the north coast of Crete, facing the Cretan Sea. The old town is home to some of the best hotels on the island. Only in the center of town, the accommodation range in Chania is huge. It goes from convenient family rooms to exclusive boutique hotels in wonderful historic buildings from the Venetian times.
The old town is right next to the city center of modern Chania, making it a perfect place to stay to be within walking distance of shops, main attractions, and further entertainment.
But that is not all, its also possible to splurge in unique seaside resorts or even save some money renting a flat in town or sharing a bedroom in a city hostel. You can also find plenty of convenient deals and cheaper fees the earlier you book or the further away you get from the city center.
SMART STAY IN CHANIA: For business or a holiday, seasonal or throughout the year, Dimitris City Break Apts is a cozy, peaceful, and sun-drenched place to stay in town. Get in touch with the code TinyBook for a 10% discount!
Where To Stay In Chania On A Budget
If you have a somewhat limited budget, this does not mean you cannot have a great holiday in Crete. The island has long been known for being a very convenient destination and there are some wonderful places you can book without declaring bankruptcy!
And you dont necessarily need to be staying in some remote location. There is accommodation for any pocket in every area of Chania, even in the heart of the Venetian district, a great location to live the best of the city, a short walk from the main town. These are some of the best places to stay in Chania if you want to stay within a limit of 50-60 per day.
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Best Airbnb In Splantzia: East Seafront Suite
If youre traveling on your own or as part of a couple, this is one of the best places to stay in Chania. It offers close proximity to the beach as well as beautiful sunset views from the balcony.
Suitable for 2 guests, the apartment has clean modern furnishings and is within an easy walk from the old center of the city.
Best Hotel In Rethymno: Faros Beach Hotel
Located just one kilometre from the city centre, you wont find a better value in Rethymno. Comfortable and modern, this three-star hotel provides guests with spacious rooms, free wifi and a rooftop terrace.
Enjoy all of Rethymnos top attractions, restaurants, bars, and more, just moments from the hotels front door.
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Imposant Cliffhouse On Greece’s Most Trendy Island
A Bijou Venetian house with sea views in the middle of the “Castro”. This 800 year old house belongs to the protected monuments of the island and is located in the main town of the island, the “Hora”, part of the Venetian castle – the “Castro”, which is located on the edge of a high cliff and offers a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea ,
An ideal place in the heart of the village – centrally located – and at the same time a very quiet place to relax as no cars are allowed to drive into the Castro area. The stone house built in the 12th century by the Venetians with its two terraces offers a fantastic sea view – perfect for an extensive breakfast or a romantic dinner at sunset.
Chania: The Most Touristy One
It was the most crowded city we visited during our road trip in Crete.
Nevertheless, very charming! Especially when venturing in the cute little cobblestone streets of the old town.
We only spent a few hours here so we’d recommend this Chania-guide from an actual local, a Greek from Athens but living in Chania for more details about the city.
As for places to stay in Chania, Crete, we found this apartment at a very sweet price , about 50 m from the Venetian harbour :
Oh and for the food, we had dinner at the Kritamon Restaurant. They also have nice rooms and are located in one of these beautiful little cobblestoned streets in the old town.
For other more awesome prices in Chania, have a look at the deals below:
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Chania Or Heraklion Or Rethymno
The above trilemma is something that I often meet on your questions about which place you should visit in Crete!
But the answer isnt straightforward! So, lets analyze it!
Chania should be your first choice as we described it on the first point.
But Heraklion has some quite lovely advantages!
It has the second biggest airport in Greece, so it is easier to reach Heraklion.
It is the capital of Crete and the biggest city.
And most importantly, it has some beautiful museums, and of course, the impressive Palace of Knossos is very close! Here you will find our article about the best hotels and apartments inside and outside Heraklion city.
And last, Rethymno is another good choice as it is located between Chania and Heraklion and you can get something of both worlds!
But also Rethymno itself is a lovely little town. In the past, it was under the occupation of Venetian and Turkish occupation, which is quite obvious if you walk around the Old Town, as the town is filled with beautiful houses and churches and a 16th-century fortress!
Note that there is no airport in Rethymno, and you can use Chanias or Heraklion airport to reach the town. Both airports are 1 hour and 10 away from Rethymno town.
Also, some nice things to do close to Rethymno would be visiting the Monastery of Arkadi , Preveli Monastery and the amazing beach nearby , Kourtaliotiko Gorge Eleutherna archaeological siteEleutherna archaeological site , and even Chania old town.
Where To Stay In Chania
SecretGreece
Crete, Stay
On this blog, we will present where you stay and which are the best hotels in Chania!
Initially, we would say that there are many different choices, and you might be overwhelmed by the varied choices!
But, dont panic! Lets see if we can help you with choosing the desired accommodation in this dreamed region!
Usually, we stay outside Chania town, as we prefer a quiet place in front of the sea and can easily drive into the town. But this works for us! Some people prefer to be inside the town and feel the energy of the place! It is totally up to you!
We will present the best hotels and apartments inside Chania town, where all the magic happens, plus some accommodation value for money.
Additionally, we will give some tips for staying outside the town! The Chania region is quite large, so if you want to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Chania, you can use Chania old town as your starting point and have some daily trips to the beaches.
Finally, you will find tips, reviews, photos and at the end a map with all the locations of the mentioned hotels.
If you are not sure where you should stay in Crete, we have written a specific article about that where we present all the different options and we provide our recommendations here!
Update: Due to Coronavirus, we wrote an article to explain the current measures and situation, and we will update it as often as possible.
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