The 19 Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Crete (2026)

Greece › Crete › Kid-Friendly Hotels
December 21, 2025 • By Santorini Dave

My boys on a tour of the Knossos ruins, near Heraklio, Crete.

Crete With Kids – My Advice

• The “Big Island” Warning: Crete is massive. It takes 5+ hours to drive from end to end. Do not try to see the whole island in one week.
  • West Crete (Chania): Best for beaches (Elafonisi, Balos) and the most beautiful Old Town.
  • Central Crete (Heraklion/Rethymno): Best for history (Knossos), the Aquarium, and logistics (main airport).
  • East Crete (Elounda/Agios Nikolaos): Best for luxury resorts and calmer waters.
• My Top Family Hotels:
  • Best Overall (Chania): Domes Zeen Chania. A “jungle luxury” resort designed specifically for families. It has a Montessori-inspired kids’ club and family bungalows with private pools.
  • Best Luxury Resort (Elounda): Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort. Part of a massive complex with the best kids’ club on the island (“Kid’s Ark”), a soccer school, and a private sandy beach.
  • Best City Hotel (Heraklion): Aquila Atlantis Hotel. Modern, clean, and it has a pool (rare for the city center). Perfect for a 1-night stay before a ferry or flight.
  • Best Beach Hotel (Rethymno): Atlantis Beach Hotel. Located directly on the endless sandy beach of Rethymno, yet an easy walk along the promenade to the Old Town.
• Best Cheap/Value Hotels:
  • Sea & City Apartments (Chania): Huge, modern suites with kitchens. It’s in the Nea Chora neighborhood, meaning you are steps from a sandy beach and a 15-minute walk to the Venetian Harbor.
  • Mantraki Hotel Apartments (Agios Nikolaos): A fantastic budget option. Large family apartments right in the center of town near the lake.
• Beach Strategy (Elafonisi vs. Falassarna):
  • Elafonisi: The famous “pink sand” beach. It is stunning and shallow (great for toddlers), but it gets insanely crowded by 11:00 am. Go at 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm.
  • Falassarna: A better alternative for families who hate crowds. It is a massive, wide sandy beach on the west coast with waves that older kids love, and it rarely feels packed.
  • Balos Lagoon: Beautiful but difficult with kids. Requires a rough drive and steep hike, or a long (but fun) day trip on a boat.
• Knossos & History:
  The Palace of Knossos is the #1 sight, but it has zero shade and long lines.
  • Tip: Pre-book a “Skip the Line” ticket.
  • Tip: Go at 8:00 am sharp or after 5:00 pm to avoid the tour buses and heat.
  • Must-Do: Combine it with the Cretaquarium (near Heraklion), which is world-class and indoors (air-conditioned).
• Water Parks:
  Crete has excellent water parks. WaterCity (Heraklion) is the largest and best for all ages. Limnoupolis (Chania) is smaller but fun and lush. Star Beach (Hersonissos) is more of a party/beach club vibe but has slides and bungee jumping for teens.

The 19 Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Crete

1. Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 68000
Home to both the largest beachfront pool in Crete and the largest kids’ club in Crete, Porto Elounda is a top destination for families. The kids’ club features indoor and outdoor playgrounds and 2 pools, with a program that includes painting, storytelling, and Greek cultural activities for young children, while older kids can enjoy a small water park, water sports, beach Olympics, movie nights, and mini discos, and teens can take lessons in sailing, tennis, or golf (there’s a 9-hole course onsite). Guests are served by no less than seven restaurants and five bars with 24-hour room service on offer. Rooms, suites, and villas are all spacious, ranging from 37 sq meters up to 120 sq meters of interior space, all with sea views and private balconies or terraces, most with an attached sharing pool or private pool. Beautiful location in an upscale resort complex about 2.5 km south of Elounda village and about 8 km south of Plaka Marina and Plaka Beach.

2. Domes Zeen – Chania

Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
Five-star, luxury resort on a private beach offering spacious suites, connecting rooms, and villas, all with private patios or terraces and walk-in showers (the presidential suite adds a bathtub) and many with sharing pools or private pools. The largest suites are the 2-Bedroom Villas for up to five guests (or six with an added baby cot) and the Grand Family Tropical Pavilion for up to six guests (or eight with an extra bed). Perks for families include kids’ menus in the restaurants, babysitting services, a baby club with activities for ages 4 months to 4 years, and a kids club for ages 4 to 12 with activities in the yard, garden, and pool. Facilities include a pool, a wellness center with a second pool, two restaurants, and a pool bar. Breakfast is complimentary and room service is available 24-hours. Wonderful location just 3 km from the Venetian harbor and Old Town of Chania – perfect for day trips to the city paired with a peaceful night’s sleep.

3. Amirandes, Grecotel Exclusive Resort – Gouves

Hotel Phone: +30 28970 41103
Upscale, opulent resort with an extensive accommodation range having comfortable family suites (up to four people) and Grand Beach Residences (group of eight people). Family suites have spaces separated by sliding doors, terraces, a garden, and a pool. The massive residence has two infinity pools, jacuzzis, and landscaped gardens. The hotel is built around a lagoon and has an Olympic-sized seawater pool.

4. Elounda Peninsula All Suites Hotel – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 68250
Luxury resort on a private, shallow, sandy beach with spacious suites and villas (1-3 bedrooms, sleeping 3 to 7 guests) and even larger residences (up to 7 bedrooms for up to 14 guests). All boast private terraces with outdoor pools, heated on request, plus marble bathrooms with separate showers and tubs, and sea views. Larger suites and villas add kitchenettes or full kitchens, gardens, jacuzzi tubs, and more. The beach is adjacent to the huge pool the resort shares with its sister property Porto Elounda, where families also have access to the comprehensive kids’ club with its own little water park, shallow pools, and guided activities for babies, children, and teens.

5. Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 63000
Spectacular waterfront hotel with lavish suites and rooms. The two-bedroom family suite is fantastic for large groups or families of 4 to 7.

6. Royal Senses Resort & Spa – Panormos

Hotel Phone: +30 28340 55002
Luxury, sea view resort with a water park, two saltwater pools, a freshwater kids’ pool, and kids’ menus in the restaurants. The active kids’ club includes workshops on pottery, dance, theater, and more. Family suites and villas are roomy, ranging from 40 sq meters (for four guests) up to 84 sq meters (sleeping up to five), all with king-sized beds, sofa beds, and about half with private pools. Extra beds can be added in the larger suites/villas. Casual dining with high-quality food is always on hand at the resort’s four restaurants and four bars. Guests of the Royal Senses have access (via the resort’s free shuttle) to the private beach and tennis courts of the hotel’s sister property across the road, the Royal Blue Resort. Located in a quiet stretch along Crete’s north-central coast, about 18 km from Rethymno.

7. Domes of Elounda – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 23108 10624
Set on the only natural (not manmade) beach in Elounda – private, sandy, and shaded with olive trees – Domes of Elounda offers a slew of amenities for families. Most notably, the resort offers a Montessori-style kids’ club with activities ranging from gardening to trekking to stargazing, plus a teen club, family yoga, movie nights, and more. Suites and villas (up to 4 bedrooms) offer balconies or terraces with private outdoor jacuzzis or pools. Other facilities include two pools (unheated adults-only pool and heated all-ages pool), eight restaurants serving a range of cuisines, 24-hour room service, and a wellness center. Well-located 1.5 km from pebbly Plaka Beach and 1 km from Plaka Marina, where the ferry to Spinalonga is caught.

8. Elounda Mare Hotel – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 68200
Vibrantly rustic, earth-toned, 2-bedroom bungalows with pools (family of five) having minibars, wooden floors, fireplaces, private balconies, and furnished gardens. The hotel has a Blue Flag awarded, private, sandy beach and an excellent Kid’s Ark (animal park-themed kid’s area), water park, dance lessons, soccer camp, and kid’s spa (some facilities are at the hotel’s sister property, Porto Elounda).

9. Royal Blue Resort – Panormos

Hotel Phone: +30 28340 55000
Family-owned luxury resort with two pools (one saltwater, one freshwater) set on a private sandy beach. Family, Luxury, Royal, and Presidential Suites and Luxury Villas all sleep up to four guests and range from 55 to 135 sq meters and offer one king or two twin beds and a sofabed, most with private pools, some spread over two floors, and a few with direct sea access. On-site activities include live music, Cretan nights with dancing, tennis, and a game room. Breakfast is always included. Guests of Royal Blue Resort have access to the supervised kids’ club (with activities including dance, drawing, theater, pottery workshops, and more) of the hotel’s sister property across the street, Royal Senses via the hotel’s free shuttle service. Idyllic location on a quiet beach within a short drive of Rethymno Town and the popular, public beaches of Spilies, Panormos, and Geropotamos.

10. Elounda Bay Palace – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 67000
Chic, beachfront hotel with breezy, 2-bedroom family suites and 3-bedroom penthouse suites (both sleep family of six). Family suites have sofa beds, bathtubs, and private balconies while the penthouse suite has a kitchen, jacuzzi and steam bath, and a spacious terrace. Free facilities include a gym, tennis courts, sauna, and hammam.

11. Minos Beach Art Hotel – Agios Nikolaos

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 22345
Delightful, artsy, tranquil, beachfront resort with a laidback vibe, set in lush gardens, featuring spacious 3-bedroom, seafront, whitewashed private villas (for up to six people) with home cinemas, dressing rooms, well-equipped kitchenettes, and direct sea access from the sun terraces with private pools. The resort has two private beaches and is within walking distance of the town.

12. St. Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas – Agios Nikolaos

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 90200
Appealing bungalow-style beach resort set in lovely gardens, overlooking the bay, featuring huge, airy 3-bedroom suites and villas (up to six people plus one infant/child) with minibars, bathtubs, and verandas. The high-end villas add heated private pools with sun decks, jacuzzi bathtubs, and private terraces. Note that there are lots of steps throughout the resort; ask for ground floor rooms if they’re an issue.

13. Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites – Elounda

Hotel Phone: +30 28102 27721
Boutique, luxury resort on a hillside overlooking the sea with a pool (heated seasonally), kids pool, playground, wellness center, and two Cretan restaurants on-site. The resort’s private beach is just a short, free shuttle ride away and is served all day by a laidback beach club. The kids’ club (for ages 4-12) and baby club (for ages 4 months to 4 years) offer plenty of hands-on activities like swim lessons, tennis lessons, and Greek cultural activities. Other family amenities include strollers, baby monitors, babysitting, and more. Family Suites, Pool Villas, and the Seafront Villa offer 100 to 250 sq meters, up to 4 bedrooms, and sleep 4 to 8 guests very comfortably. All have private terraces, most with private pools, and many with full kitchens. Quiet location about 3 km south of charming Elounda village.

14. Ostria Resort & Spa – Ierapetra

Hotel Phone: +30 28420 25711, +30 28420 25714
Ideal for active families with older kids, Ostria is a luxury, beachfront resort with six outdoor pools, a kids’ club, playground, babysitting services, a sports center with soccer, archery, and tennis, plus a water sports center with kayaking, jet-skiing, and diving. Family Junior Suites (up to 4 guests) and 2-bedroom Family Suites (up to 6 guests) offer bedrooms with one queen or two twin beds, living rooms with sofabeds, and private balconies or patios. Relaxed location on the southeastern side of the island near relaxed Ierapetra village and Koutsounari Long Beach.

15. Aquila Atlantis Hotel – Heraklion

Hotel Phone: +30 28102 29103
Within walking distance of the city center, ferry port, and waterfront restaurants, this well-located, good-value hotel has comfortable, roomy family rooms (up to 4 people) with coffee machines, minibars, and good-sized balconies. Nice rooftop pool and small indoor pool. Very close to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

16. Palazzo Duca – Chania

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 70460
Well-located in Chania old town, close to the Old Venetian Harbor, this charming hotel features quaint, spacious suites (family of 4) with parquet floors, wood beam ceilings, sofa beds, fridges, basic kitchenettes, and balconies. Has one top floor suite with a jacuzzi on the patio. Many restaurants, bars, and tavernas are a short stroll away.

17. Atlantis Beach Hotel – Rethymno

Hotel Phone: +30 28310 51002
Modern, bungalow-style hotel right across from the beach and just 1.6 km from town. Comfortable, good-sized, 2-room family suites (up to 4 guests) feature sofa beds, fridges, and furnished balconies/patios. The hotel has its own private sandy beach, and there’s a supermarket next door.

18. Mantraki Hotel Apartments – Agios Nikolaos

Hotel Phone: +30 28410 28880
Spacious, bright, traditional Greek-style apartments (family of 4) with sofabeds, fully equipped kitchens, and big balconies with marina views (some). Excellent central location, with the town center, lake, port, restaurants, and shopping within easy walking distance. Ideal for long stays.

19. Suites Pandora – Chania

Hotel Phone: +30 28210 43588, +30 28210 43589
Stylish, centrally located hotel, housed in a traditional 17th-century building with airy, elegant suites (family of 4) with high ceilings, antique furniture, kitchenettes (fridges and stoves), marble bathrooms, and balconies (some). Lacks a lift and while harbor view rooms have good views, there can be issues with loud music from nearby clubs. The hotel’s rooftop terrace offers splendid views over Old Town Chania.