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?
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Crete:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Crete: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Gramvousa island + Balos Lagoon
Fun activity: Quad excursion off the beaten path
My favorite places to stay:
- Chania: see best rated hotels – e.g. Casa Delfino
- Palaiochora: see best rated hotels – e.g. Blue Horizon Hotel
- Rethymno: see best rated hotels – e.g. Leo Hotel
Which side of Crete is best? – short answer & map
Map – sides and coasts of Crete
Let’s start with a map that clearly identifies the various coasts.
You can find several definitions on the Internet. The island of Crete is very long so for this article, this is what I mean for each side of Crete:
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!
Need to rent a car in Crete?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
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!
Plan your dream trip in Crete thanks to my guide
- 5 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 60+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 150+ original photos to help you choose
The North-West coast
Best things to do
- the Balos Lagoon,
- Falassarna beach, away from the crowds
- Crete Botanical Garden
- Historical town of Chania
- The Akrotiri peninsula with Marathi beach – great for families or the stunning landscapes of Seitan Limania Beach
- Theriso Gorge
Where to stay
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
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…
The North-East coast
Best things to do
- Heraklion and its archaeological museum
- The Knossos Palace
- Zeus cave
- Spinalonga island
- Palace of Malia
- Quiet village of Mochlos
- Aquarium
- Voulisma beach
- Richtis gorge
- …
Where to stay
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
- Elafonisi pink beach
- Samaria Gorge and its impressive hike
- Sougia, a wild beach between mountains
- Chrysoskalitissa Monastery and its gold legend
- The white village of Loutro, accesible on foot or by boat
- Preveli beach between mountains
- Triopetra beach and its rock formations
- …
Traveling around this region can take a lot of time.
To travel between some of the towns you either drive back to the north shore and then south or take a boat.
Where to stay
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
Best things to do
- 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
- …
Where to stay
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
Chania or Rethymno – where to stay?
If you want easy access to the beach, then choose Rethymno.
If you want a central location to explore, choose Reyhmno
If you want a place with more charm, choose Chania
Learn more in my article Chania or Heraklion or Rethymno? Where to go?
Is Heraklion and Chania better?
They really can’t be compared…
Heraklion is the main large town, with lots of shopping, the main museums, a port and an airport.
The other is a smaller town with a charming old center.
My preference goes to Chania.
Learn more in my article Chania or Heraklion or Rethymno? Where to go?
Best hotel in Crete
It is really difficult to choose the best hotel. Everyone has different tastes. Will all have aspects that are more or less important: decor, view, size of the room, quality of restaurant, access to a beach…
Some of my favorites are:
- Resort:
Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & art Hotel
with its private beach, wonderful pools and relaxed atmosphere. Located in Elounda (North of Agios Nikolaos)
See pictures, prices and availabilities - Boutique:
Residenza Vranas in Chania
Intriguing design with fantastic views
Check out pictures, prices and availabilities
Best beach in Crete
There are beautiful beaches all around Crete.
Some of the most beautiful is my opinion are on the west side of Crete:
- the Balos Lagoon
- Elafonisi beach (pink beach)
- Falassarna beach
Learn more about the best beaches in Crete in my article here.
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:
Plan your dream trip in Crete thanks to my guide
- 5 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 60+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 150+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
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