Which side of Crete is best? East or West? North or South?

Wondering which side of Crete is best to stay and to explore?

• Which coast has the best beaches?
• Which side has the best resort towns?
• Where are the best things to do?

Below is my guide to help you make decisions: will you stay in Crete East or West? Will you explore the North or South Coast?

Which side of Crete is best? - short answer & map

Which side of Crete is best?

There is no one best side of Crete, full stop. It depends on what you are looking for: long beaches, scenic coves, mountains, nightlife...
However, if I really have to make a choice:

• Best base to explore: north-west coast
• Best beaches: south coast in general
• For nightlife: north-east coast
• For all inclusive stay: north-east coast
• For off the beaten path: east coast

In this article, I share with you plenty of pictures and explanations behind my choices to help you make decisions.

Where to stay, our top choice:

If you choose the north-west coast, I recommend to stay in:

• Chania if you want a town with charm - see best rated hotels
• Rethymno if you want easy access to many attractions and a beach  - see best rated hotels

If you choose the north-east coast, I recommend to stay in:

• Malia, if you want beach and party - see best rated hotels
• Sitia, if you are looking for cheaper accommodations and more local experiences - see best rated hotels

If you choose the south-west coast, I recommend to stay in:

• Palaiochora, one of my favorite places with mountains, ruins, large beach... but every drive is long if you want to explore, because it is isolated - see best rated hotels

If you choose the south-east coast, I recommend to stay in:

• Plakias from families and sunbathing - see best rated hotels

If you prefer details by towns, instead of by coast, check out my article about where to stay in Crete.
Everywhere you can enjoy sea views!

Crete East or West? North or South coast?

Asking the right questions

Crete has a very long shape:

• it spans 260 km (160 mi) from east to west,
• it spans 60 km (37 mi) from north to souths at its widest point
• it narrows to 12 km (7.5 mi) around the town of Ierapetra

And you can consider the the following driving times

• Heraklion to Rethymno = 1h15
• Rethymno to Chania = 1h10
• Chania to Palaiochora = 1h30
• Palaiochora to Hora Sfakion = 2h30
• Rethymno to Hora Sfakion = 1h20
• Heraklion to Ierapetra = 1h30

Therefore, even though there are mountains in the middle of the island, it is quite fast to get from the North to the South.
But if you stay on the complete east end, you can't do a day trip to explore.

First discussion: North or South coast - where to stay?

Between north and south, as you can do day trips between each coast, it is more a question of vibe. What type of ambiance do you prefer?

Along the north coast is where you find:

• the largest towns: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos
• Resort towns which beach, bars, watersports and all you can eat
• All the main activities, parks...
• You can still find quiet places (such as Mochlos ou Panormos), but you will mostly see vibrant towns and beach resort-towns

Along the south coast is where you find:

• quieter and smaller towns: e.g Plakias, Myrtros
• hidden places accessible only by boat (e.g. Loutro)
• more mountains between destinations
• laid back vibes such as the hippie vibe in Matala Beach.

Second discussion: East or West - where to visit?

Since the island is very long, it limits what you can see on a day trip.
Between east and west, it is more a question of what you want to see:

On the west side of Crete, the most famous attractions are:

• Balos Lagoon and its incredible colors
• Elafonisi beach and its pink sand
• Town of Chania, with so much charm
• Many hikes in gorges, including the famous Samaria Gorge

On the east side of Crete, the most famous attractions are:

• The Heraklion museum
• Ruins of Minoean Palaces: Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, Zakros
• the fort-island with a troubled history: Spinalonga island
• The Cave of Zeus with impressive stalactites

In the center of the island, the most famous attractions are:

• Matala beach and its hippie culture
• The magnificent Preveli beach nestled in the mountains
• Arkadi monastery

See all my favorite places in this article  and here is a short video with all the type of things you can do in Crete:

Our recommendation

If you are staying more than one week in Crete and you want to explore a log, we strongly suggest booking at least 2 accommodations:

• Half of the time on the east side
• Half of the time of the west side

Or you can book a road trip. It means packing all the time, but seeing more with less driving!

The North-West coast

Best things to do

In the town of Chania, for a place with a lot of charm:

• Luxury
  Casa Delfino Hotel and Spa with a lot of charm!
  Check out pictures, prices and availabilities
• Boutique Hotel
  Residenza Vranas with fantastic views
  Check out pictures, prices and availabilities
• Historical vibe and sea views
  Domus Renier boutique hotel in Chania
  see photos and availability
• Apartments
  The Semeli Studios is close to the beach
  Check out pictures, prices and availabilities
• Family
  Palazzo Duca with spacious suites sleeping 4
  Check out pictures, prices and availabilities

==> or see the best rated accommodations in Chania

Or in the town of Rethymno, for access to a long beach and a more central location to explore.
There is a large choice of accommodations either in the old center (without parking) or along the beach:

• Apartment old town
  I stayed at Sea Front Studios old town - it is a small apartment with a terrace. It is right in the old town and they have a parking system (10min walk). The location was great to explore the city however the welcome was not the best I had in Crete
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities
• Apartment beach front
  The Golden Coast Seaside apartments are modern accommodations just 3km from the city center
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities
• Boutique Hotel
  if you are looking for rooms with character, Leo Hotel is set in a listed 1450s Venetian house
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities
• Luxury
  Rimondi Boutique Hotel is a small hotel in the heart of town with a beautiful pool and 5 star facilities
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities

==> or see the best rated accommodations in Rethymno

The North-East coast

• Heraklion and its archaeological museum
• The Knossos Palace
• Zeus cave
• Spinalonga island
• Palace of Malia
• Quiet village of Mochlos
• Aquarium
• Voulisma beach
• Richtis gorge
• ...

 In the town of Heraklion, for access to all amenities in town and a more central location to explore.
There is a large choice of accommodations either in the old center (without parking) or along the seafront:

• Apartment
  I stayed in a beautiful rental apartment with lots of character close to the Venetian fort: Dio Downtown Boutique Apartment. The owner was really nice
  Check out more photos and availability
• Hostel
  So Young hostel is located in the center just 4min from the Museum
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities
• Boutique Hotel
  The Veneziano Boutique Hotel is located in a historical building and it has kept a lot of charm
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities
• Luxury
  The GDM Megaron is located in a historical monument. It overlooks the old port
  Check out photos, prices and availabilities

or Check out the accommodations in Heraklion Amoudara near the beach

Malia is  a great area with sand beaches and rocky beach areas to explore.
However, it is not for those who enjoy quiet. Malia is known for its nightlife and party vibe.

• Good value resort
  Yiannis Manos Hotel Resort has a nice pool and practical location - good value for money
  see photos and availability
• Apart hotels
  Pyrgos Beach Hotel Apartments offer splendid sea views, a gorgeous pool and peace while being 5min from everything.
  see photos and availability
• Boutique Hotel
  Sunshine Boutique Hotel offers bar, pool and warm decor
  see photos and availability
• Luxury
  Ammos Beach Hotel is located on the beachfront with white and wood design.
  see photos and availability

or see the best rated accommodations

Or stay in Mochlos,  if you are looking for a quiet stay.
The village is tiny and facing a small island with Minoan ruins.
The village has kept its charm without big chains or loud party hotels. And lots of taverns are offering great food with sea views.
Note: there is only a mini-market in the village, so if you are staying longer than a night you should shop for food before.
See accommodation options

The South-West coast

Best things to do

Palaiochora is one of my crushes in Crete. It is a beautiful destination that combines mountains, beaches and a good atmosphere.
It is away from the crowds as it is located on the South-West shore across the mountain range.
But it is definitely a wonderful destination.
In Palaiochora, you can mostly find apartments for rent.

• Boutique hotel and apartments
  Blue Horizon is direct access to the beach and relaxing blue vibes
  see photos and availability
• Apartments
  Art Apartment is only 15Om from the beach and close to everything, and with nice decor
  see photos and availability
• Larger Apartments
  Aristea Apartments located above the town with stunning views
  see photos and availability
• Beachfront Apartments
  Paleochora Apartments Right on the beach... just a few steps to be in the water
  see photos and availability

==> or see the best rated accommodations

The South-East coast and East coast

• Chrissi islands
• Charming villages such as Myrtos and Makry Gialos
• Stunning mountains scenery
• Xerokampos and its beach off the beaten path
• Zakros with gorge, beach and ruins
• ...

Village of Myrtos

Located on the South Coast, it is away from any touristy routes.
However, the small villages with tiny roads, white buildings, colorful decor and seafront is a great place to breathe and relax.
You may never want to leave.
See best rated hotels and accommodations

Xerokampos or Zakros

The East coast of Crete has stolen my heart. Its bare landscapes and almost empty beaches are a great reprieve from the locations flooded with tourists.
Zakros is the most well-known place of the 2 because it is home to the 4th largest Minoan palace. You can visit the ruins. And it is located at the end of the Valley of the Dead (a famous walk in a gorge).
Xerokampos is hardly ever mentioned, but its bare mountains plunging into turquoise water and its 2 gorges with towering cliffs are worth the visit

None of them have big resorts. Just smaller rentals and guesthouses.

• You can find accommodations at the beach. Book by the beach (Kato Zakros)
• The Akti rooms (photo below) are located just in front of the Xerokampos beach - see more photos and availabilities
• Of higher up with open views of Xerokampos, you can find the Natica Mare Villas with a gorgeous terrace - Check out the photos and availabilities
• And if you want a building with a lot of character, get a little further away from the Xerokampos beach, to find the Lithos Traditional Guest Houses - Check out the photos and availabilities
• Or check the short list of accommodations in Xerokampos

FAQs

Best beach in Crete

Want to see more of the best Crete has to offer?

• 40 best landscapes in Crete (in pictures) - read article
• 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
• The best destinations in Crete, where to stay - read article
• Advice for planning your road trip in Crete and your itinerary - read article
• Tips for renting a car and driving around Crete - read article
• The most beautiful boat trips around Crete - read article
• Chania or Heraklion or Rethymno - where to go? - read article

Planning a trip to Crete?

Check out my travel guide eBook to help you plan:

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