Greece › Crete › Chania Hotels
Updated: December 20, 2025 • By Santorini Dave
My Favorite Hotels in Chania
• Luxury Hotel: Casa Delfino
• For Families: Domes Zeen
• For Couples: Domus Renier
The Old Town of Chania is the best place to stay for first time visitors to this magical city.
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 the 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, stretching 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, the Nea Chora neighborhood to the west offers a sandy local beach and excellent seafood restaurants just a 15-minute walk from the center. To the east, Koum Kapi is a quieter, less touristy spot popular with locals for morning coffee and views of the sea walls.
- Do not underestimate travel times for day trips. While Chania is the best base for Western Crete, famous spots like 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. If you plan to stick to the city and local beaches, 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 daily connections to Athens and seasonal flights from across Europe. The main ferry port is Souda, located 7 km from town. Daily ferries from Piraeus Port (Athens) typically run overnight. Both the airport and Souda port are connected by local buses to the KTEL Central Bus Station, located just south of the Old Town. From this station, you can also catch regional buses to Rethymno, Heraklio, and the southern hiking hubs like Hora Sfakion and Paleochora.
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 harbor front 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 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, 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 Mediterranean recipes with fresh, organic ingredients; kids’ menus are available. The resort is 2km from the Venetian harbor, a 5-minute drive or a 25-minute walk to the center of the action.
5. Domes Noruz
Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
High-end, adults-only resort on Glaros Beach, located 3.5km west of the Old Town. This is the best choice for those seeking a modern beach club vibe within easy reach of the city. This upbeat resort features two outdoor pools: one split-level pool overlooking the beach with music and bar service, and a second 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 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-Mediterranean 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 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
Excellent midrange option in the Nea Chora neighborhood. It sits directly on the closest swimming beach to the Old Town, which is an easy 15-minute walk away. 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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Chania without a car: The central bus station in Chania is located just outside of Old Town, serving routes traveling all across the island.
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