Where to Stay in Chania

Greece › Crete › Chania Hotels
by Santorini Dave • Updated: March 8, 2023

Best Places to Stay in Chania

• Best Luxury Hotel: Casa Delfino
• Best Hotel for Families: Domes Zeen
• Best Hotel for Honeymoons: Domus Renier
• Chania is easily the most charming of Crete’s main seaside towns. Visitors should stay in the Old Town to best experience Chania’s spirited atmosphere. Inhabited over millennia by the Minoans, Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, and Ottomans, its streets reflect this blend of cultures and epochs most noticeably in its monumental architecture. Its picturesque harbor is home to the Venetian-era Firka Fortress, Ottoman-era Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque, and the Egyptian lighthouse, while Byzantine walls bind the south end of the oldest part of the town. Just outside these ancient walls, you’ll find the Church of Agios Nikolaos, a 14th-century Dominican monastery with a 17th-century Ottoman minaret and converted in the 20th century to a Greek Orthodox church – a microcosm of local history in just one building. Remains of a “new” Venetian wall expand the borders to what is now called the Old Town.
• Chania’s streets and pedestrian-only lanes are absolutely stuffed with tavernas, lounges, shops, museums, galleries. The Old Town district is only about 1 km at its widest point. A couple of great beaches are within a short walk away, namely Nea Chora Beach the west and Koum Kapi Beach to the east. Even better beaches are a short bus ride away. A car is not necessary for exploring the Old Town and beaches. A car is useful for reaching farther flung destinations, such as the pink sands of Elafonisi Beach or the hiking trails of the Samaria Gorge, although organized tours to these areas include transportation.
• Chania has a small international airport (the main airport is in Heraklion) with direct flights from a handful of cities in Western Europe and Scandinavia, as well as Athens and Cyprus. The main ferry port serving Chania is Souda, about 7 km away, with daily routes 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 Venetian port.

The 7 Best Hotels in Chania

1. Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 87400
In the same family for six generations, Casa Delfino is a luxury, boutique hotel set in a 17th-century Venetian mansion, built for a Genoese sea captain. Its 24 spacious, character-filled rooms and suites are unique in layout and size, but all feature marble bathrooms and contemporary Italian furnishings. Some add jacuzzi baths, sofa beds, and private balconies or terraces with harbor views. The full-service spa features a white marble steam room, a grand whirlpool, and two treatment rooms. Light fare and a complimentary, organic breakfast is served daily in the mosaic-floored courtyard, while sunset cocktails are offered nightly 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
Timeless elegance abounds in this five-star boutique hotel set in a 16th-century Venetian manor set around a serene interior courtyard. Rooms and suites highlight original architectural elements, including stone walls, graceful archways, and dark wood beam ceilings; two Superior Suites add private, furnished terraces. Luxury touches in each room include Coco-Mat eco-mattresses, pillow menus, Molton Brown amenities, and twice-daily maid service. A la carte breakfast featuring Cretan products is included for all guests and served in the courtyard or directly to the rooms. Beautiful location in the historic Jewish Quarter on the south side of the port, near the medieval Etz Hayyin Synagogue and a short walk to Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque.

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 bespoke furniture in rich colors, espresso makers, and soundproof windows. Honeymoon Suites add internal balconies, two-bedroom Master Suites add a jacuzzi bath and balcony, the Junior Suite offers an outdoor jacuzzi, and the two-bedroom Hideaway Suite has its own 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 sharing pools; Pavilions and Villas have private pools. A private, serviced beach fronts the resort and a pool overlooks the sand and sea. A second pool can be found in the wellness center along 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, self-catering, 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 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. It’s a pleasant one km walk from the hotel to the cafes, shops, and restaurants of the Old Town.

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