The Best Guesthouses on Crete
Crete has a well-developed tourist industry offering everything from hostels to high-end resorts. If you want to avoid either high prices - usually in the luxury resorts around Elounda and Agios Nikolaos - or high-octane 24-hour partying - centred around the Iraklio region of Malia and Hersonisos - a guesthouse can be a good solution. Our pick of the best gueshouses on Crete should satisfy all tastes, with a selection ranging from the cheap and cheerful to the luxurious.
Some of the best areas are around Réthymno in the centre of the north coast, and areas to the west, including Haniá and Chania. Réthymno, for example, has a delightful, medieval old town which still displays its network of Venetian lanes and Turkish houses, and an impressive Venetian fortress. It also boasts Crete's longest sandy beach
Not only can guesthouses be more characterful and more modestly priced, but they are often family-run. Use our guide to the best guesthouses on Crete to bag yourself a worthy bargain.
5 of the Best Guesthouses in Crete
The Best Guesthouses in Chania
- Overlooking a quiet square, but only five minutes from Chania's harbour, Ionas Boutique Hotel is an Ottoman-style townhouse where rooms are cool in white and exposed stone. A pergola-shaded terrace makes a lovely retreat after a day on the beach or exploring.
- It's worth the (slightly) extra money to stay at La Maison Ottomane, a restored Venetian mansion also in Chania. More like a private house, the three bedrooms mix antiques, wood floors and Persian rugs with modern, marbled bathrooms. Breakfasts are served in the quiet courtyard.
- Despite its name, the Splanzia Hotel has a guesthouse feel, with just eight, elegantly rustic rooms and offering great value for central Chania.
The Best Guesthouses in Rethymno
- For a richly historic feel, Casa Vitae, an Ottoman-Venetian era townhouse in Réthymno, takes some beating for its price. Rooms are atmospheric with stone walls, wooden floors and raftered ceilings, and are romantically furnished with antiques and rich hangings.
Staying in one of the best guesthouses on Crete can prove one of the best ways to experience the island, but if you can't find your perfect accommodation on our Guru's list of 5 of the best guesthouses on Crete you could:
- Expand your search to include all the best places to stay on Crete?
- Or refine your search to just the best places to stay in Chania? or the best places to stay in Heraklion? or the best places to stay in Heraklion?
- Or you could refine your search to our Guru's recommendations for 12 of Crete's Best Beach Hotels? or 7 of the Best Self-Catering Apartments and Villas on Crete?
- Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.
5 of the Best Guesthouses on Crete
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Ionas Boutique Hotel Chania (Crete) 9 rooms from CA$227
Local exploring - Situated in a quiet and authentic section of town, with many of the city's monuments and museums within walking distanceRomantic Break - For a romantic base pick one of the split-level Superior Suites with beautiful canopied beds and plenty of characterBoutique - With plenty of history, this small boutique blends the character of the old with modern comforts seamlesslyIntimate - With just nine rooms and occupying a quiet spot, this is a tranquil and intimate hideaway
Check AvailabilityTucked away on a pedestrian square full of potted shrubs and flowering trees, five minutes walk from Chania's Venetian harbour, Ionas Boutique Hotel suits couples and single visitors looking for a quiet haven from which to explore the old town. Rooms range from comfortable to luxurious. A chic base. See More
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Splanzia Hotel Chania 8 rooms from CA$205
Local exploring - Well positioned away from the tourist scrum (yet near all the action) in the in the heart of Chania's historic Splanzia districtValue chic - With unique design, attentive service, and a great location - you are getting a lot for your money hereDesigner - Chic modern design is created by the award-winning designer Yannis YiannakakisIntimate - With just eight rooms, this owner-managed property feels chic and intimate
Recommended by - I EscapeCheck AvailabilityA Venetian building that's been craftily modernised creating a chic boutique stay. Elegant rooms have stone floors, wooden furniture, pops of colour, and private balconies. Impressive homemade breakfasts are served on the lovely terrace while the owner-managers are always on hand for top tips. See More
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La Maison Ottomane Chania (Crete) 3 rooms from CA$328
Antiques - Interiors have period furnishings inspired by the Ottoman period, such as antique faded carpets and ornate headboardsLocal exploring - Set in the Old Town right besides the archaeological remains of Minoan Kydonia and moments from the Venetian harbourFull of character - The property is owned by a well-travelled collector of antiques so there are heirloom items in every roomGroups - With just three rooms, this is a great option to take in its entirety with a group of friends or family
Check AvailabilityStaying in this restored Venetian mansion is more like being a guest in a rather splendid private home than in a hotel. With just three bedrooms, La Maison Ottomane appeals to those looking for a peaceful cocoon in a quiet corner of the old town. See More
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Casa Vitae Rethymno 8 rooms from CA$108
Boutique - Interiors perfectly mix the building's original style with contemporary rustic-chic designValue chic - A stylishly renovated old Venetian castle house, both central and great valueHistoric - The Building dates back to the late Venetian/early Ottoman periodCoastal - Nearby Preveli beach is beautiful and boasts natural spa pools
Check AvailabilityA historic castle guesthouse with original Ottoman-Venetian architecture. Traditional rooms and suites have wooden floors, stone walls, and four poster beds. A romantic choice, full of character, great value, and walking distance to beaches, restaurants and museums. See More
Written by Helen Pickles
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