Where to Stay in Chania, Crete [the best area for YOU!]

Where to Stay in Chania for YOU

Keep reading to get more insights about each of these best places to stay Chania Crete has to offer, along with hotel recommendations. 

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Chania – Pros & Cons

Chania is one of the most iconic cities on the island of Crete, in the Cyclades. It is pretty, historic, and coveted by tourists from all around the globe.

However, not each neighborhood would be best suited for your trip, depending on what your needs are. So, here are the best places to stay in Chania for you. 

Prefer checking hotels over neighborhoods? Read this list of the best hotels in Chania, all districts combined.

THE BEST Place to Stay in Chania Crete: Kastelli

Kastelli is the oldest neighborhood of Chania, and it is, according to me, the best compromise for where to stay in the town, since you will be close to absolutely anything you could ever need there.

Also, while it is not the best place for nightlife, it is pretty renowned amongst tourists for its active scene thanks to its multitudes of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Interestingly enough, the historic part is what stands out in Kastelli: while you will be close to the wonderful beach, you might want to take a peek at the past of the island.

What I love most about Kastelli is that it is ideally located, but still offers a genuine and authentic experience. Overall, the best area to stay in Chania Crete!

Where to Stay in Kastelli

Kastelli is one of the most tourist parts of Chania, and that means that the competition with the other travelers will be fierce. So if you want to be ahead of the curve, you can already book one of these 3 hotels:

 ✅ Best Hotel: Malmo Historic Hotel

If you are looking for the best overall compromise in terms of value for money, location, service quality, and comfort in Kastelli, simply book a room at the Malmo Historic Hotel. This place is simply wonderful, offering incredibly great services, a tasty breakfast, and spacious and comfy rooms.

✨ Luxury Choice: Serenissima Boutique Hotel

For the fanciest and most luxurious experiences right inside Chania, this place will guarantee you’ll spend a memorable stay in Crete. This 5-star hotel has traditional furniture and is perfectly located, right next to both the harbor and the Chani archeological museum. All in all, it is a peaceful haven in a paradisiacal area.

💰 Budget Pick: Porto Chania

Were it not for Porto Chania, you could’ve been in trouble finding a decently comfortable and yet budget-friendly hotel in Chania’s Old Town, but you’re in luck. Right next to the harbor, you will have everything you need, from towels to coffee and water, all of this thanks to an absolutely lovely host!

Best Area to Stay in Chania for First-Timers: Splantzia

Splantzia is the Bohemian neighborhood of Chania. I believe it is the ideal area to stay as a first-timer in Crete.

Similarly to Kastelli, it is located close to everything you could ever need, but the vibe there is a bit more peaceful and the atmosphere is laid-back.

If this is your first time in Crete or even the rest of the Cyclades, you will love spending a relaxing stay in such an authentic area as Splantzia. It is renowned for its amazing food, so you should definitely try that out.

Besides, Splantzia is so popular that most of its best cafés and restaurants are often packed, so make sure to book in advance!

Where to Stay in Splantzia

Splantzia is small and lovely, and you will love it if you like wandering around traditional, narrow streets and discovering hidden gems.

If you want to stay there, you should book one of these 3 accommodations:

✅ Best Hotel: Porto Veneziano Hotel

The rooms at this place are particularly lovely. They also directly gaze at the sea, making it the perfect place for a peaceful retreat from the crowds. If you decide to stay there, you will enjoy comfortable beds, varied and tasty breakfasts, and outstanding service.

✨ Luxury Choice: Ambassadors Residence Boutique Hotel

This boutique hotel is absolutely stunning. Overlooking the sea, you will have access to your own jacuzzi, located in a lovely and spacious outdoor area, and will live in a very modern and tastefully decorated interior.

💰 Budget Pick: Minaret Suites and Apartments

Despite their name, these suites are very affordable and will definitely offer the best value for your money, believe me. This hotel is minimally decorated, but very stylish, tidy, and clean.

Best Area in Chania to Stay for Families: Halepa

If you are headed to Chania alongside your loved ones, I am guessing that what you are looking for the most is a more peaceful area for everyone to relax, as well as large accommodations and access to the beach. And well, if that is what you want indeed, you should for sure consider Halepa.

This neighborhood is ideal for families, as it is filled with multitudes of historical sites, is pretty quiet, and is close to the seashore. From there, you will be ideally located to start any kind of activity, and there will be something for anyone, no matter their age and interests.

Unfortunately, Halepa is the area where the richest people in the city live, and while you may be in awe when looking at their villas and mansions, you will also be living in a pretty expensive area.

Where to Stay in Halepa

Although Halepa is considerably more expensive than some of the neighboring areas, I have compiled very affordable accommodations which, I hope, will fulfill you and your family’s wishes:

✅ Best Hotel: Hyperion City Hotel & Spa

A 4-star hotel, for such an affordable price, with an incredible location right next to center Chania, and kind staff sounds like a dream, but at the Hyperion City Hotel & Spa, it will quickly come true! The decoration is top-notch, the breakfasts are wonderful and the interior is overall spotlessly clean.

✨ Luxury Choice: Riviera Suites

In this luxurious hotel, you will enjoy an absolutely splendid view of the sea from the comfort of your sunny balcony and will have plenty of space for everyone to feel comfortable enough, no matter the size of your family.

💰 Budget Pick: Royal Sun

The name of this place is particularly fitting, as all of its rooms have very sunny balconies, and you will love resting and sunbathing there, especially for such affordable pricing!

Best Location in Chania to Enjoy the Beach: Nea Chora

For those of you traveling to the island of Crete and almost only thinking about spending some quality time at the beach, my favorite location is definitely Nea Chora.

There, not only will you be perfectly located on the beachfront, but you will also live in one of the more affordable areas of Chania. Pretty convenient if you are spending most of your time on the sand anyway, right?

Of course, that’s not all there is to this area, as it offers fantastic accommodations for every kind of budget, and it remains relatively close to everything, even the city center.

However, it is very crowded in the warm months of the year, be careful!

Where to Stay in Nea Chora

As I have already said, Nea Chora is a more affordable neighborhood, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have different options depending on your budget range. In fact, here are my 3 personal favorite ones:

✅ Best Hotel: Erasmion

In my humble opinion, there is no better compromise in all of Nea Chora than the Erasmion. This hotel has every piece of equipment you could require, but most importantly, it is absolutely stunning with its typically Greek stone walls: you will feel like you are living in a castle!

✨ Luxury Choice: SanSal Boutique Hotel

To take your stay in Nea Chora to the next level, book a room at this place, a jaw-dropping, 4-star hotel with a lit-up, wide outdoor swimming pool gazing at the sea. From here, you will witness the most beautiful sunsets of your life, all of this while relaxing in a very modern hotel.

💰 Budget Pick: Alcanea Boutique Hotel

I know you won’t believe me at first, but trust me, this place is a budget pick, compared to other accommodations in the area. And it will offer amazing value for money! Staying there, in such lovely and intimate scenery is very romantic, and you will love gazing at the sea while staying near the old town.

Discover in this post more amazing hotels on the beach in Chania.

Where to Stay in Chania for Nightlife: Agia Marina

This list of the best areas to stay in Chania wouldn’t be complete without mentioning nightlife, one of the main points of interest for most tourists not only in Crete but also in the rest of the Cyclades.

And actually, while Kastelli is pretty good at it, the award for the best area for nightlife goes to Agia Marina!

Agia Marina is situated a couple of minutes away from Chania, and it will be the perfect place to disconnect from anything and fully focus on your night out.

Also, it has absolutely stunning beaches, which is always great for a fun time.

Where to Stay in Agia Marina

If you love going out at night and surfing waves during the day, you are in for a treat at Agia Marina. But don’t forget that you first need to find a hotel! Don’t worry, these 3 are overall solid choices:

✅ Best Hotel: Elia Agia Marina Hotel

This place is the absolute best compromise between nightlife, beaches, value for money, and location. And it looks absolutely luxurious, without being too expensive! Your room will be right next to the sea, and it will be fully equipped, so you will only need to find the best nearby club and go have fun!

✨ Luxury Choice: Atlantica Amalthia Beach Hotel – Adults Only

Suited for adults only, you will have the time of your life, partying in an incredibly beautiful and bright accommodation, and having everything you could wish for, such as a fitness center, a free parking spot, and a garden.

💰 Budget Pick: Kalimera Hotel

This 2-star accommodation is great and will offer you the best of basic services, thanks to its great staff and ideal location. Also, the view of the sea and the swimming pool are awesome for such a low price!

More Hotels in Crete

Couldn’t find the right place to stay in Chania for you through this post?

Then you should check out this hotel guide to book the perfect hotel 👉 The 20 Best Hotels in Chania, Crete 👈

Or these other Chania pieces arranged by travel style: 

• Best Boutique Hotels in Chania
• Best All-Inclusive Hotels in Chania
• Best Chania Hotels with Pools
• Best Beach Hotels in Chania
• Best Luxury Hotels in Chania
• Best Luxury Villas in Chania
• Best Villas in Chania
• Best Hotels in Chania Old Town

In case you’re not sure whether you are staying in Chania or not, check out this region guide to find the best location for you in all of Crete: 👉 The Best Areas to Stay in Crete 👈

Or, here are other Crete region guides arranged by travel purposes:

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

And finally, if you don’t mind about the area but more about the hotel, check out this overall hotel guide 👉 The 25 Best Hotels in Crete 👈

Final Thoughts

If you are still unsure about where to stay when heading to Chania, just pick a hotel somewhere in Kastelli, you simply cannot go wrong with this perfectly located and cute neighborhood. Also, it is great for nightlife!

There you go, these were my best places to stay in Chania Crete! I hope you found your best fit, and that you will have a wonderful trip to the Cyclades!

Hope you could’ve found where to go in Chania thanks to this guide. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback. 😁