The 7 Best Hotels in Chania, Crete

Updated: January 22, 2026
Greece › Crete › Chania Hotels
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com

My Favorite Hotels in Chania

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

Staying in Chania – My Tips

• Chania is the most atmospheric city in Crete. Its Old Town is a pedestrian-only maze of Venetian mansions, Ottoman structures, and Byzantine walls. For first-time visitors, staying within the Old Town is essential to experience the evening buzz and harbor views. Key landmarks include the Venetian Firka Fortress, the Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque, and the Egyptian Lighthouse. For a deep dive into local history, visit the Church of Agios Nikolaos in the Splantzia district; it is one of the few buildings in the world featuring both a Christian bell tower and an Ottoman minaret.
• The Old Town is compact and walkable. The historic center stretches about 1 km from end to end. You will find the best concentration of tavernas and boutique shops tucked away in the narrow lanes behind the harbor. While the harbor is the most scenic area, the Koum Kapi neighborhood to the east is a quieter spot popular with locals for morning coffee and views of the sea walls. To the west, the Nea Chora neighborhood offers a more local, seaside village feel just a short walk from the Venetian port.
• You do not need to go far for great beaches. While the famous pink sands are a day trip away, Chania has excellent swimming options nearby. Nea Chora Beach is the most accessible, located just a 15-minute walk from the Old Town; it is sandy, organized, and lined with superb seafood tavernas. For a more natural setting, take a 15-minute bus or taxi ride west to Agii Apostoli or Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti). These three protected bays offer shallow turquoise waters and golden sand, making them the best choice for families and wind-free swimming.
• Do not underestimate travel times for day trips. Chania is the best base for exploring Western Crete, but the famous spots are distant. Elafonisi Beach and Balos Lagoon are at least 90 minutes to 2 hours away by car or bus due to winding mountain roads. The hike through Samaria Gorge is a full-day commitment requiring an early start. If you plan to stick to the city and local beaches (Nea Chora or Agii Apostoli), you do not need a car. However, for those heading to the remote south coast or exploring mountain villages, I recommend renting a car for at least a few days.
• Arrival and transport are straightforward. Chania International Airport (CHQ) has frequent connections to Athens and seasonal flights from across Europe. The main ferry port is Souda, located 7 km from town, where daily ferries from Piraeus Port (Athens) arrive. Both the airport and Souda port are connected by frequent local buses to the KTEL Central Bus Station, located on Kydonias Street just south of the Old Town. From this station, you can also catch regional buses to Rethymno, Heraklio, and southern hubs like Hora Sfakion and Paleochora.

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The 7 Best Hotels in Chania

1. Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 87400
This luxury boutique hotel is housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion that has been run by the same family for six generations. Originally built for a Genoese sea captain, it features 24 unique, spacious rooms and suites with marble bathrooms and modern Italian furnishings. Select rooms offer jacuzzi baths, sofa beds, and private balconies or terraces with harbor views. The full-service spa includes a white marble steam room, a large whirlpool, and two treatment rooms. Guests enjoy light meals and a complimentary organic breakfast in the mosaic-floored courtyard, as well as sunset cocktails on the panoramic roof terrace. Ideally located 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 is nestled in a 16th-century Venetian manor that centers around a tranquil courtyard. The rooms and suites preserve the building’s heritage with stone walls, arches, and dark wood beams, while two Superior Suites offer private terraces. Each room features Coco-Mat eco-mattresses, a pillow menu, Molton Brown products, and twice-daily maid service. An a la carte breakfast with Cretan specialties is available in the courtyard or served in-room. The hotel sits in a beautiful location in the historic Jewish Quarter, close to the medieval Etz Hayyim Synagogue and a short walk from Kiutsuk Hasan Mosque.

3. Domus Renier Boutique Hotel

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 88806
A distinctively decorated, five-star boutique hotel located right on the harbor front in the historic townhouse of one of the last Venetian noble families. Renaissance-era details have been carefully restored, including 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 private yard, while a casual Mediterranean 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, offering plenty of perks to keep kids entertained and parents comfortable. The kids club provides supervised activities in the yard, garden, and pool for ages four to twelve, while the baby club cares for children from four months 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 a wellness center pool with an outdoor gym. Two restaurants serve Mediterranean recipes with fresh ingredients and kids’ menus. Located 2km from the Venetian harbor, a 5-minute drive or 25-minute walk to the center.

5. Domes Noruz

Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
A high-end, adults-only resort on Glaros Beach (3.5km west of Old Town) that is the top choice for a fun beach club vibe within easy reach of the city. This upbeat resort features two outdoor pools: a split-level pool overlooking the beach with music and bar service, and a quiet, heated pool set back from the sea. An indoor pool is available in the holistic spa, which focuses on local Cretan and Greek healing traditions. Every room, loft, and suite features a walk-in shower and private terrace with its own outdoor jacuzzi, plunge pool, or swimming pool. The culinary program includes a Cretan-Mediterranean restaurant, a sushi and champagne bar, a stylish cocktail lounge, and a sunny pool bar.

6. Palazzo Duca

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 70460
A family-owned boutique hotel with eight charming rooms in a Byzantine-era building on a pedestrian street near the harbor. The structure began as a pottery shop, was converted to a duke’s home in the Venetian years, and had a top floor added during the Ottoman reign. Accommodations all include Coco-Mat sleep systems, kitchenettes, and walk-in showers. Suites add balconies with partial sea views, while 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
An excellent midrange option in the Nea Chora neighborhood, sitting directly on the closest swimming beach to the Old Town. The swimming directly in front of the hotel is superb. Beach bars and restaurants are within steps, and the location is a pleasant one km (15-minute) walk to Old Town cafes, shops, and restaurants.

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