Where should I go in Crete? | Coastal villages

This guide helps you find the ideal place for you to truly enjoy Crete.

These brief descriptions help give you an initial idea of the variety of places to visit and stay. Where a detailed feature is available [ ] - you can click and see much more information. We will be adding a full feature on every place mentioned here and many others.

Choose the place that suits you!
 

Specially selected hotels in Crete marked have been hand-picked and can be reserved with us.

Falasarna (Falassarna)

Extraordinary beach with shale-like rock platforms and some stretches of smooth gentle sand. When it is windy, Falasarna feels it, but this is a rarely-crowded and spacious beach area. Combining a few neat and appealing small modern hotels with some casual relics, a handful of separated beachfront cafes and tavernas. There are great fans of Falasarna as well as those who find it ill-defined, but well worth visiting as another open-space natural beach area unlike any other in Crete. A brief jaunt from Kissamos (Kastelli) and easy to visit from Chania.

Roubini Hotel   Falasarna Villas
Near Kolymbari, easy access to Falassarna: Elia Traditional Inn   Spilia Village Inn   Old Olive Mill House  Villa Kalliani  Villa Sevi

Kato Zakros

A beach place that's simple but also has a Minoan Palace Archaeological site to boot. Wonderful warm sea swimming - busy in the day, perhaps, calm and soothing at night. Tavernas, food and cafe. Away from the crowd.
Read full Kato Zakros feature...
You can book via Athena, Poseidon & Coral rooms own website

Keratokambos

Beach and sea. Fresh fish in tavernas. Spectacular mountain scenery nearby.
Explore. Relax, swim, read, write or paint or just spend quality time with someone special. A favourite with Greek and foreign tourists.
Read full Keratokambos feature...

Komis Studios

Lentas

A small friendly place reached by descending a steep and spectacular winding road, with no large hotels. A few cafes and tavernas and a special cafe (El Greco) with attractive gardens leading down to the sea. A small pebbly beach, and a steep background give this small place atmosphere. As it is quite popular it is often best to book accommodation in advance. Some spectacular sandy beaches are a moderate walk away, including Dytiko beach which has tavernas on its long sandy beach - popular nudist beach. Lentas panorama photo

Loutro

Like no other. No cars - no mopeds. A special place. Perfect place to relax, walk, hike, select your beach for the day! Many places to stay - all simple, just what you need. A gem on the south coast of Crete. Read a book, paddle in a canoe, gaze at the mountains and the sea, but above all rejuvenate!
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Hotel Porto Loutro

Made

So near Crete's biggest town, so far in feeling. A sandy beach, a small bay - apartments if you need and a big hotel. Bar with food beside the beach. People yes - by the car load not the bus load! Neighbouring Lygaria has one of the most sheltered beaches - even when the sea is a little angry, the bay remains calm. Lygaria has several waterfront tavernas.
Read full Made feature...

Mochlos

A fishing village by any other name. Separated from nearby places by a steep road, winding gently down from the National highway, there are tavernas in a perfect waterfront setting, serving great food, a small friendly village, small sandy beach and rock swimming platforms - a larger beach in from of Aldiana Hotel is an additional choice. The view of the tiny islet opposite with it's archaeological remains, which many swim to, adds to the quiet appeal. Most places to stay here have sea views. An away-from-it-all find that is known for its mild winter temperatures. Winter-friendly!

Mochlos Villas   Mochlos Mare Apartments   Meltemi studios

Tsoutsouros

A busier beach party place than Keratokambos, popular with local and foreign tourists. Several apartments and domatia, tavernas and cafes cluster with unfinished buildings and a busy beach. 

Xerokambos

Quiet, uncrowded, holiday on the beach. Swim and sunbathe. Hike, cave, walk. Relax. Good food. Space.
Long sandy beaches, great swimming, peace and quiet at moderate prices. 
Entertainment is something you make for yourself. Explore by car.
Read full Xerokambos feature...