Where to Stay in Central Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Central Crete including hotels in Matala, Ayia Galini, and Zaros.
The Armonia Hotel in Matala
Armonia Hotel
The delightful Armonia Hotel is a real find, off the main
road to the left as you approach Mátala. Look for the pool and the white
building with plenty of bougainvillaea around. Most of the 27 rooms are in
small blocks behind the hotel, with views of the unspoilt hill scenery behind.
It is in a quiet spot well outside the town, so a car would be needed, but it
is the perfect getaway for nature lovers and walkers.
Palazzo Greco Boutique Hotel in Ayia Galini
Palazzo Greco Boutique Hotel
The Palazzo Greco is an excellent and inexpensive hotel on the right of the main road as you first enter Ayía Galíni, and with its own parking lot opposite. The bright blue and white frontage is matched by the bright rooms, the ones at the back being slightly more expensive because of their balconies with great sea views. The buffet breakfast varies each day, and can be taken on the terrace at the back with more sea views. Ideally placed halfway between the town centre and the town beach.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Fevro Hotel
The small Fevro Hotel is on your right after the road into Ayía Galíni has descended almost to sea level, and where there is a sharp turn left towards the harbour – that's if you can see the hotel name as the entire building is almost obscured by the most wonderful bougainvillea plant. Some rooms have views of the town, and lower rooms have 'no views but not so many stairs!' The rooms are a reasonable size, clean and simple, with white walls and dark wood furniture.
The Idi Hotel in Zaros on Crete
Idi Hotel
On the edge of the mountain town of Zaros and popular with walkers, the Idi Hotel is an unexpected treat. With its swimming pool, tennis court, bar and adjoining restaurant, it represents excellent value for money. Some rooms are in the original small hotel block, while others are in separate buildings in the beautiful gardens. The smell of jasmine at night and the sight of roses and other flowers during the day is a bonus. Rooms are pine-panelled with telephones, air-conditioning and, unusual for Greece, are comfortably carpeted.
Keramos Studios
See our full review of this lovely place in Zaros here.
Hotel Zafiria in Matala
Hotel Zafiria
The main hotel in Mátala is the Zafiria, easily found on your left as the main road enters the town centre. The rooms are simple and clean in typical mid-range fashion, and all have shower, radio and balcony. Some look out towards the sea, others to the hills behind. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant, and also owns the mini-market across the street. It is nothing fancy but a good, reasonably-priced base.
Other Crete pages
Rethymnon is the third-largest city in Crete and has a Venetian fortress, Archaeological Museum, Old Town area and Venetian harbour,
Greece Travel Secrets goes hiking in southwest Crete with Ramblers Walking Holidays based in Paleohora and hiking the E4 footpath and to Anidri and Azogires.
Elounda on Crete's north coast is a popular holiday town with a pretty harbour, from where you can take day trips by boat to see the island of Spinalonga.
Studies have shown the Cretan Diet as one of the healthiest in the world, involving lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, and moderate amounts of wine.
Crete's capital and largest city is Irakleio, also called Iraklion or Heraklion, a large and busy place with good restaurants, museums and historical buildings.
Crete festivals and events include Carnival Easter, Whitsun, Christmas, many other religious feast days and public holidays.
Chania is the main city in Western Crete with a lovely setting and a beautiful harbour as well as several museums.
This Rouvas Gorge walk starts and ends in Zaros in southern Crete and should take three to four hours with a distance of eight kilometres or five miles.
The best things to do on Crete and top things to see include the Samaria Gorge, the Minoan Palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the towns of Chania and Rethymnon.
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
The largest of the Greek islands, Crete has four ENUESCO sites, which are Sitia, Psiloritis, Asterousia, and the Gorge of Samaria.
The Goules Taverna in Goulediana, south of Rethymnon, has been called one of the best tavernas on Crete and Greece Travel Secrets recently visited them.
Crete (Kriti) is the largest Greek island and its main attractions include the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Samarian Gorge, Chania and Rethymnon.
The Samaria Gorge is one the longest gorges in Europe and doing the hike is one of the best and most popular things to do on Crete.
These shopping tips for Crete include advice on buying souvenirs like ceramics, icons, jewellery, leather, weavings, wood carvings, and food and drink.
Matala Beach on Crete is a guest blog for Greece Travel Secrets from the We Love Crete website, inviting you to Awaken Your Inner Hippy in Matala, Crete.
Crete’s wildlife and landscape are two of the island’s attractions, including gorges for hiking, rare raptors like the lammergeier, wildcats and ancient trees.
This Amari Valley drive in southern Crete starts and ends in Ayia Galini, takes four to five hours and cover 100 kilometres or 62 miles.
The area east from Paleohora along the south-west coast of Crete includes resorts like Agia Galini, gorges like the Imbros Gorge and quieter towns like Sfakia.
This olive grove walk from Limnes to Vrises on Crete also takes you through orchards and gives close-up views of some of the island’s windmills.
How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.
This drive along the west coast of Crete and inland from there will take a whole day and starts and ends in Kastélli Kissámou, west of Chania.
Visiting Knossos near Iraklion is one of the best things to do on Crete, and this page has a history of the site with visitor information.
Greece Travel Secrets tours the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete and learns about Crete grape varieties such as plyto, dafni, vidiano, vilana, mandilari and kotsifali.
Hiking the Samaria Gorge on Crete, one of the best things to do on Crete, by Greece Travel Secrets.
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