Find the BEST Place to Stay in Crete for Nightlife (the liveliest areas!)

Where to Stay in Crete for YOU

To choose the best place to party in Crete for YOU, keep scrolling to learn everything you need about each of these places and get hotel recommendations.  

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Crete – Pros & Cons

Generally speaking, the island of Crete is for sure a gorgeous travel destination. But the nightlife in Crete is particularly great, it is one of the wildest in the Cyclades. And there are plenty of good places for that.

However, you might feel lost because of the number of cities and options as the island is large, so here’s my personal list of the best places in Crete for nightlife purposes. 

THE BEST Place to Stay in Crete for Nightlife: Chania

Chania is a small, picturesque town situated on the western part of the island of Crete. It is a very interesting city to visit because it was governed by successive civilizations, the most memorable of them being the Venetians.

Actually, even now, you can still visit well-preserved monuments such as fountains, churches, and Venetian mansions, which I find particularly lovely. Believe it or not, it stayed the same throughout history and kept its original architecture.

It is really easy to stay in Chania because it is most likely one of the places you will end up in when arriving in Crete. Despite multiple disasters, the city never stops being raided by tourists during the summer, and it is for sure one of the more popular areas on the island.

I am convinced that Chania is the place to stay if you want to have a fun night out because it is overall the best compromise: not only there are tons of bars and clubs if you want to have fun, but there are also plenty of activities and interesting sights for the day. Also, the beaches there are splendid!

Where to Stay in Chania

If you are planning on heading out quite often, you will definitely need comfortable accommodation to recover your strength.

For you, here are my 3 personal favorite hotels in the area, depending on your needs:

✅ Best Hotel: Ciel Collection Suites

This gorgeous accommodation has spacious rooms with comfortable beds (which is exactly what you’ll need as a party-goer), as well as a Bluetooth speaker to start your night from the comfort of your room. Besides, it is ideally located right in the heart of Chania, and you will have everything you need in or near the hotel.

✨ Luxury Choice: Chania Flair Deluxe Boutique Hotel – Adults Only

Having some quality sleep means no noise disturbance, and that can easily be achieved in the Chania Flair Deluxe Boutique Hotel, which is dedicated to adults only. Nothing in Chania is fancier than this magnificent hotel: the rooms are tastefully decorated and they offer breathtaking views of the outdoor swimming pool area. Oh, and the staff is simply fantastic!

💰 Budget Pick: Cocoon City Hostel

Cocoon City Hostel is perfectly located, right in the middle of Chania. It is extremely cheap, but you will need to share a room with 8 beds.

For more hotel recommendations in Chania, check out this ranking. 

Runner up Best Place in Crete for Nightlife: Rethymnon

Rethymnon is another fantastic place for partying in Crete. It is located between Chania and Heraklion, which are my other 2 picks.

Its region is overall quaint and peaceful and features some magnificent medieval architecture, but it is still the 3rd-largest city on the island, so there are tons of activities and amenities, should you need anything.

Similarly to Chania, Rethymnon has become more and more popular amongst tourists over the past few years, and this trend only keeps growing. You will find a clear duality of architecture in this town, between Venetian and Ottoman styles, which is just lovely.

I believe that Rethymnon is perfect for a night out because it is filled with students (because it has a major university), as well as pubs, bars, and nightclubs. Also, most of them are situated next to the old Venetian port, and the city is even more beautiful at night.

Where to Stay in Rethymnon

You will have a great night out in Rethymnon, I can guarantee that, but I think it is even more important to first focus on finding good accommodation. The good news is that all of these 3 are great:

✅ Best Hotel: Menta City Boutique Hotel

This boutique hotel is absolutely incredible, not only in terms of high-standard equipment and ideal location but also when it comes to value for money. Overall, a fantastic pick.

✨ Luxury Choice: Dyo Suites

This accommodation is simply next level: the rooms are very spacious, the beds are of utmost comfort and the breakfast is unique, with dozens of options, all cooked by the on-site chef.

💰 Budget Pick: Olympic Palladium

Located right in the middle of the town, the Olympic Palladium is very affordable and has a kind staff. Also, breakfast is free!

If you’re not satisfied with any of these hotel recommendations, check this list of the best Rethymno hotels.

Alternative Area to Enjoy Crete Nightlife: Heraklion

Heraklion is the capital and largest city on the island of Crete. Situated on the northern coastline of the island, next to the Sea of Crete, it was named after the ancient Roman harbor of Heracleum.

This city is unique in many ways: it is particularly dynamic and cosmopolitan, even more so during the summer when it is raided by several thousands of tourists. There, you will find many facilities, no matter what you need most, and you can also enjoy plenty of events throughout the year.

The reason for it to be so adapted to nightlife is that the city is pretty huge, and there are so many options for you to choose from that anyone would be satisfied with there: I believe there is something for everyone, which is why it is such a good compromise. Also, both the harbor and the airport are close to the city, so that is another great and handy perk!

Where to Stay in Heraklion

There are for sure lots of hotel options in Heraklion, especially considering how buzzing the area as a whole is. Because of this, it can be nerve-wracking to find the accommodation you want most, but here are 3 picks that, I believe, are solid for anyone:

✅ Best Hotel: City Lion by Semavi

This accommodation is ideally situated, right in the heart of the town, and it will definitely offer amazing value for your money, since it is overall perfectly tidy and clean and has its own air-conditioning units. Don’t think twice, pick the City Lion!

✨ Luxury Choice: Porta Suites

The rooms there are fully equipped, the interior is of a very high standard and is tastefully decorated, and there is even a jacuzzi in a quaint outdoor area. The reception will take care of the transportation from the airport to your room, and the staff will assist you with anything you need, so just go for it.

💰 Budget Pick: Cozy apartment near the city centre

This lovely hotel is indeed situated right next to the heart of Heraklion, which is honestly already worth your money. Despite its prime location, trust me, even when compared to other hotels, it remains particularly affordable. Something very nice about it is that you won’t have to worry about the Greek heat since there is an air-conditioning unit!

Couldn’t find the right accommodation among these 3? Discover more top hotels in Heraklion in this post.

Is Crete Good for Nightlife?

On its own, Crete is very good for nightlife. There are lots of options in multitudes of areas, each of them being dreamier than the others. Whether you want a genuine, peaceful, or bustling lifestyle during your stay, you can find anything you want in Crete.

Plus, when you compare it to the rest of the Greek islands, the Cyclades, there is no doubt: it has for sure one of the best scenes for nightlife among all of them!

More Hotels in Crete

Couldn’t find the right area for you? Well, these other posts will certainly be helpful in that case:

Check out our main Crete district guide to find the best location for you: 👉 The Best Areas to Stay in Crete 👈

Or, here are other neighborhood guides for you to find the right location, depending on your travel style or location:

• Where to Stay in Crete for Beaches
• Where to Stay in Crete for Families
• Where to Stay in Crete for Couples
• Where to Stay in Crete Without a Car
• Where to Stay in Chania

If you have already chosen your area to stay in Crete, book the perfect hotel thanks to this overall guide 👉 The 25 Best Hotels in Crete 👈

Or this hotel guides by city:

• Best Hotels in Chania
• Best Hotels in Heraklion
• Best Hotels in Agios Nikolaos
• Best Hotels in Rethymnon

And finally, if you are looking for more specific hotels, here are other awesome pieces:

• Best Hotels on the Beach in Crete
• Best Hotels in Crete for Families
• Best Hotels in Crete for Couples
• Best Adult-Only Hotels in Crete
• Best Luxury Hotels in Crete
• Best Boutique Hotels in Crete
• Best Resorts in Crete
• Best Villas in Crete

Final Thoughts

Well, there you go, these were the best places where to stay in Crete for nightlife. I hope you enjoyed the list, and most importantly that you found something that suits your needs!

For those of you who are still hesitating, don’t waste more time: just go to Chania! There, you will live in a laid-back atmosphere, in a city with gorgeous views and tons of nightlife-related amenities.

Hope you could’ve found the best area in Crete for nightlife for you thanks to this guide. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback. 😁