Where to Stay in Heraklion: The 16 Best Hotels in Heraklion (+ coolest areas)

The Best Heraklion Hotel For YOU

You’ll find below the best place to stay in Heraklion for you, depending on your travel style.

Reviews of the Best Hotels in Heraklion

Situated on the north coast of Crete, Heraklion is often the entry point to the island. Particularly lively and popular with tourists, it can be challenging to choose the right hotel in the right area, hence this list.

Whatever your choice, relax: all the hotels listed here will offer you a quality stay.

THE BEST Hotel in Heraklion: GDM Megaron, Historical Monument Hotel

• Incredible views
• Tasty, local breakfast
• Free parking

There is no doubt in my mind that the GDM Megaron, Historical Monument Hotel is the best hotel Heraklion has to offer, and I have very good reasons to believe that.

First off, you will have access to a free parking spot, which is quite rare and most welcomed in such an expensive area as the center of Heraklion.

Then, the breakfasts there are absolutely lovely, traditional and varied: everyone will find what they like!

And last but not least, the views from the rooms or the terraces are absolutely jaw-dropping.

So, don’t wait too much and book a room there while you can, its staff is also awesome!

Runner up: Galaxy Iraklio Hotel

• Clean and large swimming pool
• Spacious and modern rooms
• Excellent restaurant

While it is not my #1 favorite hotel in the area, the Galaxy Iraklio Hotel is still absolutely amazing and is another very solid option if the GDM Megaron is already booked.

This hotel features a large, lovely outdoor swimming pool area, which is overall very clean, just like its interior. Its rooms are also well equipped with good amenities, and I’m sure you will feel most comfortable there.

Also, if you come to the swimming pool, you should eat at the restaurant, which is absolutely excellent: this way, you won’t even need to waste time or energy looking for a place to eat!

Best Boutique Hotel in Heraklion: DOM Boutique Hotel

• Magical atmosphere
• Perfect location
• Great value for money

When it comes to boutique hotels or hotels that offer you personalized, unique experiences, I am convinced that no other can compete with the DOM Boutique Hotel; and there are lots of reasons for me to believe that.

First off, if you decide to stay in this accommodation, you will have your own splendid, sunny terrace with a breathtaking view of the town and a jacuzzi.

Then, the overall atmosphere is overall just magical, which is exactly what you expect from the best boutique hotel.

And finally, you will be located right in the middle of Heraklion but will have access to a parking lot in the vicinity.

Check out this post for more boutique hotel options in Heraklion.

Best 5 star Hotel Heraklion Has to Offer: Dimargio Luxury Hotel & Spa

• Stone interior
• Bright and modern
• Fancy and comfortable

If you are interested in the most luxurious of all hotels, the 5-star accommodations, then you should consider the Dimargio Luxury Hotel & Spa, which is one step ahead of every other fancy hotel in the area. You will not regret staying there, even for a single night, because of how awesome it is.

The best thing about it is arguably its interior: made of magnificent stone walls, it is bright, modernly furnished, and squeaky clean. Also, the rooms are very comfy and fancy.

The rest of the hotel is also amazing, from the overall quality of equipment and the kindness of the staff to the location, the cleanliness, and the sunny terrace.

If you want more luxurious options in Heraklion, jump to this dedicated guide.

Best Budget Hotel in Heraklion: Rea Hotel

• Best value for money
• Quiet area
• Great location

I am betting that you will be very surprised to check the price of a room at the Rea Hotel: compared to how many perks it offers, its prices are incredibly low!

For instance, its staff is nice and responsive, and it is located in a quiet zone, which is no easy feat in Heraklion, especially for such low pricing. Plus, the atmosphere is very peaceful, laid-back, and calm, and the breakfasts are simple but nice.

You’ll also be overall ideally situated right next to the main points of interest of the town, so you’re guaranteed not to miss out on any of the action.

Best Family Hotel in Heraklion: Enorme Teatro Beach

• Quiet atmosphere
• Spacious rooms
• Particularly elegant

Traveling with your loved ones to a bustling area is tedious because of how difficult it can be to find a good place to stay. All of you will have different requirements and needs, but this hotel should convince anyone.

The Enorme Teatro Beach is a particularly cozy, elegant, and spacious resort that I think you and your family will absolutely love. It serves fantastic food, has an incredibly beautiful swimming pool, and is also situated right by the beach, so all of you can have fun and relax in the water!

On top of that, the atmosphere is cozy and quiet and the rooms are spacious, which are both ideal for a lovely family stay.

Best Hotel in Heraklion for Couples: Artion Boutique by Enorme

• Uniquely romantic
• Caring and kind staff
• Modern interior

You are in for a treat if you pick the Artion Boutique by Enorme in Heraklion. Why? Because it is the best hotel if what you are looking for is a quaint retreat from the crowds in a peaceful, intimate, and modern place, with a romantic vibe to it.

This hotel is overall lovely and cozy, and its interior is comfortable and equipped with high-standard amenities.

Even better, the staff will go above and beyond to meet your expectations, and you won’t have anything to focus on other than to spend a magical stay with your special one.

Besides, it is located in a quiet, remote street and offers very tasty breakfasts!

Best Hotel in Heraklion Town: 3 Pines Design Living

• Very spacious rooms
• Brand new
• Modern design

The 3 Pines Design Living can wear its name proudly: its design is particularly stylish, modern, and fancy. The accommodation as a whole has splendid and bright rooms to offer, all of them being equipped with high-end equipment.

If you already checked and you found that this hotel is available for your dates, don’t think too much and definitely book a room! Since it is awesome and brand new, it is very demanded by other tourists.

When it comes to the interior, the 3 Pines Design Living has spotlessly clean rooms, and, despite its high pricing, will definitely offer great value out of your money. Definitely a 10 out of 10 in Heraklion Town!

Best Hotel Near Heraklion Airport Crete: Aquila Atlantis Hotel

• Luxurious accommodation
• Whitewashed walls
• Excellent location

Situated close to the main airport of Crete, the Aquila Atlantis Hotel is a particularly fancy and comfortable hotel in the capital of the island, and I can only recommend this splendid accommodation.

Located in the heart of Heraklion, you will be perfectly placed to explore all of the city, while still having easy access to the airport. Don’t worry about being bored in the evenings, as there are several events there.

The building itself is very luxurious, modern, and classy, and it has sumptuous whitewashed walls with stylish furniture. Besides, most of the rooms were recently renovated, so you are guaranteed a comfortable stay in Greece!

Best All Inclusive Hotel in Heraklion: Agapi Beach Resort Premium All Inclusive

• Relaxing atmosphere
• Plenty of equipment
• Magnificent beach

For those of you who are looking for the most complete of all experiences in Heraklion, I give you the Agapi Beach Resort Premium All Inclusive.

This resort is absolutely huge and has every facility you could ever wish for, from massage services and, of course, a swimming pool to a bar, a tavern, and even tennis courts!

Overall, everything at this hotel is of the highest of standards, whether it be its modern furniture or its services, thanks to its blameless staff. Also, it is ideally located with everything you need close by, but trust me, you won’t ever want to leave the complex.

Best Seaside Resort Heraklion Has to Offer: Unique Blue Resort Adults Only

• Dreamy swimming pool
• Tons of sun loungers
• Free pedal boats

Since Heraklion is located by the seaside, I’m guessing a lot of you would be interested to know about the best seaside resort the city has to offer. And well, it is, according to me, the Unique Blue Resort Adults Only!

Since it is also meant for adults, you will relax in a particularly peaceful atmosphere, in a hotel filled with tons of facilities. There are a seemingly infinite amount of sun loungers near the swimming pool and the sea, so you are guaranteed to find a spot somewhere.

Also, the swimming pool area is just paradisiacal, as it is spotlessly clean and lit up at night, and there are even free pedal boats for you to have fun in the sea!

More Best Hotels in Heraklion Crete

While the hotels listed above are truly the very best hotels Heraklion has to offer for each of the specific categories listed, they’re far from being the only great options.

Let’s see 5 more for you to choose from.

Olive Green Hotel

• Caring and warm staff
• Comfortable beds
• No noise at all

The Olive Green Hotel is a particularly memorable and great accommodation, even among boutique hotels, which are known for offering custom and unique experiences. Its staff is very welcoming, and they will go above and beyond to answer your every need, all the while they will be smiling at all times and taking good care of you, just like you’ve always wanted.

This accommodation is even a better pick if you usually have trouble sleeping, since it is very well sound-proofed, so you are guaranteed some quality sleep.

Oh and by the way, the beds there are of utmost comfort, so you will definitely rest well and be at peace during your entire stay.

Porta Medina Boutique Hotel

• Old family house
• One of the best views
• Lovely outdoor area

The Porta Medina Boutique Hotel is absolutely mesmerizing. Not only is it situated in the beating heart of Heraklion, but it also offers one of the best views of the Venetian harbor of the entire city!

Interestingly enough, this boutique hotel is run by a local family, and it is an ancient house, which makes it even more charming. The hosts are particularly lovely and caring, and they will cook your breakfasts and help you with anything you need.

On top of that, this hotel has its own, cozy outdoor area with a garden and a terrace, which is pretty luxurious in such a buzzing area!

Porta Suites

• Fantastic beds
• Awesome for exploration
• High-standard equipment

If you want a luxurious but not over-the-top accommodation like I usually do, the Porta Suites are a fantastic compromise between pricing and quality of service.

You will have everything you need in this hotel, from a perfect location to explore all of the main points of interest within and around the city, to the overall high-standard amenities (especially the bathroom, which is both bright and modernly furnished). Also, all of the furniture is of very good quality, and the beds are particularly comfortable.

On top of all of that, the hotel has a very polite staff, which will store your bikes for you, if you have any. Because it is centrally situated, you will also have lots of supermarkets in the close vicinity.

Legacy Gastro Suites

• Particularly nice staff
• Awesome location
• Tasty Greek breakfast

Despite being located pretty far down on this list, you will be surprised by how incredible the Legacy Gastro Suites are, and they are for sure worth a try.

This accommodation is ideally located, right in the middle of the city, and its staff is particularly nice and caring: they will help you with whatever you could want and answer your every need.

Besides, you will be served tasty, traditional Greek breakfasts every morning, which are famous across all of Europe for being some of the best you could ever eat. All of this with a splendid view of the harbor from the comfort of your own balcony, what more do you need?

Lavris City Suites

• Awesome use of glass
• Spacious rooms
• Very classy decoration

Last but definitely not least, the Lavris City Suites are your best bet if you are looking for a luxurious but contained little escape in the capital of Crete. Just like other luxury apartments, this hotel feels like it comes right out of a catalog, considering how magical and clean it is. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and have a quick glance at some pictures.

I really, really love the decoration of this hotel, and its hosts are nice enough to help you with recommendations about the area and the island as a whole, and they will make sure you won’t lack anything during your stay.

Lastly, glass is particularly well used in this accommodation, as it goes to show how clean and modern it is, from the tables to the mirrors, and makes it particularly bright.

Is it Worth Staying in Heraklion?

While a lot of people would tell you that you should definitely visit most of the island of Crete and not only stay in its biggest cities (and I do agree with this, by the way), Heraklion is definitely worth stay in.

The reason for that is that you will be able to access the rest of the island very easily from Heraklion, as well as the airport. Also, as the capital town of Crete, Heraklion offers tons of activities, great sights in the city, and of course pretty beaches in the surroundings. 

How Long to Stay in Heraklion?

If you are only planning on staying in Heraklion for a limited time before moving somewhere else in Crete, then I think 3 days are enough considering the city’s size and amount of attractions.

Within that time frame, you will have plenty of occasions to rest by the beach while visiting the old monuments and the ancient streets of the majestic town, as well as its harbor and its magnificent landscapes. So yeah, you won’t be able to explore all of the beaches around, but it’s definitely the best compromise! 

Where is the Best Place to Stay in Heraklion? 

For me, the best area to stay in Heraklion is the Old Town.

The whole area is filled with charming shops, markets, restaurants, bars, and cafés, and there are plenty of monuments and historic sites to discover. It’s impossible to get bored! It is also home to a plethora of hotels to suit all budgets and tastes.  

But the city also has other attractive neighborhoods to stay in: 

• Chanioporta: this district lies to the west of the old town, at the entrance to the old town. Accommodation here is less expensive, but closer to the beaches. 
• Kainourgia Porta: this quarter is also at the old town’s entrance but on the south side. Housing here is also more affordable, yet within walking distance of attractions.
• Karteros: this picturesque village is appreciated for its proximity to the airport, its tranquility, and its beautiful Amnissos beach. The area is poorly served by public transport though, so it’s not the best if you don’t have a car.
• Agia Marina: known for its beautiful beaches and seaside resort atmosphere, this district on the western side of the city is perfect for those who primarily want to enjoy the sea. 
• Agia Pelagia: 20 km away from the city center to the northwest, this charming fishing village is ideal if you are looking for peace and quiet, surrounded by beautiful beaches and coves. 

Other Hotels in Crete

Couldn’t find the perfect hotel through this post?

Or do you prefer doing further investigations before making a decision?

Then you should check out these specific guides to get more hotel options in Heraklion: 

• Best Boutique Hotels in Heraklion
• Best Luxury Hotels in Heraklion

To get even more recommendations on all the island of Crete, check out this complete hotel guide 👉 TOP 25 Best Hotels in Crete

And finally, if you’re still uncertain about staying in Heraklion, explore the other amazing regions to travel in Crete through this guide 👉 The Best Areas to Stay in Crete

Or these area 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

Final Thoughts

Well there you go, we are now done with my personal 16 best hotels in Heraklion Crete. If you are still hesitating, just go with GDM Megaron, Historical Monument Hotel, the best hotel in Heraklion. Why? Well, because of its amazing equipment, its tasty and local breakfast, and its breathtaking views!

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