Where to Stay in Chania

Greece › Crete › Chania Hotels
By Santorini Dave

My Favorite Hotels in Chania

• Luxury Hotel: Casa Delfino
• For Families: Domes Zeen
• For Couples: Domus Renier

Best Places to Stay in Chania

• Chania is easily the most charming of Crete’s main seaside towns, and its Old Town is an ideal spot for first-time visitors to experience its lively ambiance. This town has seen a succession of civilizations from Minoans to Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, and Ottomans, all leaving their mark on its architecture. The scenic harbor features landmarks like the Venetian Firka Fortress, the Ottoman Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque, and the Egyptian lighthouse, while Byzantine walls enclose the southern part of the ancient town. Nearby, the Church of Agios Nikolaos, originally a 14th-century Dominican monastery with a 17th-century Ottoman minaret, now serves as a Greek Orthodox church – a microcosm of local history in just one building. Remains of the “new” Venetian walls extend around what is now known as the Old Town.
• Chania’s Old Town, compact at just 1 km wide, is a maze of tavernas, cafes, shops, museums, and galleries, all within pedestrian-only streets and lanes. Conveniently, Nea Chora Beach to the west and Koum Kapi Beach to the east are just a short walk away. For even more stunning beaches like Elafonisi or the Samaria Gorge hiking trails, a brief bus ride or organized tours with transportation are available. A car isn’t necessary for exploring the Old Town and nearby beaches but can be helpful for reaching these further destinations. If you’re in Chania without a car, it’s best to stay within walking distance of the Old Town.
• Chania has a small international airport (the largest Crete airport is in Heraklio) with direct flights from Athens and a handful of cities in Western Europe and Scandinavia. The port serving Chania is Souda, about 7 km away, with daily ferries to Piraeus Port (Athens). Both the Chania Airport and Souda Ferry Port are accessible by bus from the KTEL bus station just south of the Old Town, less than a 10-minute walk from the Old Town.

The 7 Best Hotels in Chania

1. Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 87400
Casa Delfino, a luxury boutique hotel in a 17th-century Venetian mansion, has been run by the same family for six generations. Originally built for a Genoese sea captain, the hotel boasts 24 unique, spacious rooms and suites with marble bathrooms and modern Italian furnishings. Select rooms feature jacuzzi baths, sofa beds, and private balconies or terraces with harbor views. Its full-service spa includes a white marble steam room, a large whirlpool, and two treatment rooms. Guests can enjoy light meals and a complimentary organic breakfast in the mosaic-floored courtyard, and sunset cocktails on the panoramic roof terrace. Perfect location near the Venetian port, Maritime Museum of Crete, and the fortress.

2. Serenissima Boutique Hotel

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 86386
This five-star boutique hotel, nestled in a 16th-century Venetian manor, exudes timeless elegance and centers around a tranquil courtyard. The rooms and suites preserve the building’s heritage with stone walls, arches, and dark wood beams, with two Superior Suites offering private terraces. Each room features Coco-Mat eco-mattresses, a pillow menu, Molton Brown products, and twice-daily maid service. Guests enjoy an a la carte breakfast with Cretan specialties, available in the courtyard or served in-room. Beautiful location in the historic Jewish Quarter, close to the medieval Etz Hayyin Synagogue and a short walk from Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque, on the south side of the port.

3. Domus Renier Boutique Hotel

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 88806
Distinctively decorated, five-star boutique hotel right on the harborfront in the historic townhouse of one of the last Venetian noble families. Renaissance-era details have been carefully restored, including the hand-painted ceilings and oriel windows. Its nine rooms and suites feature custom furniture, espresso makers, and soundproof windows. Honeymoon Suites add internal balconies, two-bedroom Master Suites include jacuzzi baths and balconies, the Junior Suite has an outdoor jacuzzi, and the two-bedroom Hideaway Suite offers a private courtyard. Complimentary, a la carte breakfast is served in the hotel’s private yard, while a casual Mediterannean menu is available in the attached restaurant. Steps from dining, shopping, the Maritime Museum, and Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque.

4. Domes Zeen

Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
The best luxury hotel for families in Chania, Domes Zeen offers plenty of perks to keep kids entertained and families comfortable. The kids club offers supervised activities in the yard, garden, and pool for ages four to twelve; the baby club cares for children from four months up to three years. Babysitting service is available on request. Family Rooms, Bungalows, Villas, and Pavilions sleep four to eight guests comfortably with open plan, one, and two-bedroom layouts, many with sofabeds. Spacious rooms and suites all feature walk-in showers and private terraces or patios. Some suites add shared pools; Pavilions and Villas have private pools. The resort has a private serviced beach, a sea-view pool, and another pool at the wellness center with an outdoor gym. Two restaurants (one casual and one fine dining) serve Cretan-Mediterannean recipes with fresh, organic ingredients; kids’ menus are available. The hotel sits just two km from Chania’s Venetian harbor, making it an easy trip for dining, shopping, and sightseeing.

5. Domes Noruz

Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
Five-star, adults-only beachfront getaway on Glaros Beach, about three and a half km from Chania’s Old Town. This upbeat resort features two outdoor pools, one split-level pool that overlooks the beach with music and bar service, an a second quiet, heated pool set back from the sea. An indoor pool can be found in the holistic spa, focusing on local Cretan and Greek healing traditions. Every room, loft, and suite here features a walk-in shower and private terrace with its own outdoor jacuzzi, plunge pool, or swimming pool. The small but mighty culinary program here features a Cretan-Mediterannean restaurant with a broad wine selection, a sushi and champagne bar, a stylish cocktail lounge, and a sunny, toes-in-the-water pool bar.

6. Palazzo Duca

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 70460
Family-owned boutique hotel with eight charming rooms and suites spread over three floors on a pedestrian street near the harbor. This Byzantine-era building began as a pottery shop, converted to the Duke’s home in the Venetian years, then added the top floor during the Ottoman reign. Accommodations all include like Coco-Mat sleep systems, kitchenettes, and walk-in showers. Suites add balconies with partial sea views. The top tier Suite adds a private, outdoor jacuzzi. An outstanding complimentary Cretan breakfast is served daily at the taverna next door.

7. Christina Beach Hotel

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 92168
Fantastic midrange hotel on the closest beach to Chania’s Old Town (just to the west of the historic Venetian walls). The swimming directly in front of the hotel is superb. Beach bars and restaurants are within steps, and it’s a pleasant one km walk from the hotel to Old Town cafes, shops, and restaurants.

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