If you have doubts about where you should stay in Crete to get the most out of the beauty, history and culture of this island, I hope my classification below can help you. It depends a lot on what you want from your vacation: AI hotels, Instagram beaches, nature, nightlife, history, archaeology, crowded vs quiet places, relax, food, etc or a combination of two or more. Remember that Crete is a very big island and one week vacation can only cover a small part. If you have two weeks or more, my advice would be to split the accommodation between two regions, rent a car and explore as much as possible 😊. So, here we go.

1. Chania and surroundings: Agia Marina, Platanias, Kolymvari, Kalives, Almyrida

· Instagram beaches – west and south-west: Balos, Elafonissi, Falassarna, Seitan Limani, Stavros (or Zorba’s beach), Loutro, Agios Pavlos (with the dunes), Agia Roumeli, Glyka Nera, Kedrodasos, Gavdos Island

· Nightlife and fun – Chania, Agia Marina

· Less crowded and relax – Kissamos, Almyrida, Georgioupoli, Marathi, Drapanias

· History – mostly WW2 memorials (Allied cemetery from Souda, WW2 bunkers), the Venetian architecture, streets and port from Chania City, Frangokastello

· Archaeology: Ancient Aptera, Ancient Falasarna 

· Nature: Ancient Olive tree from Ano Vouves, Botanical park & gardens of Crete, lake Kournas

o Gorges & canyons: Samaria (the longest in Europe, 16km), Imbros, Lissos, Anidri, Topolia, Kandanos, Mesaflion-Deliana, Agia Irini, Tripiti

o Mountains and Peaks: Lefka Ori, Anopolis

· 4* and 5* hotels: Agia Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Maleme, Kalyves, Almyrida

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2. Rethymno and surroundings: Gerani, Adelianos Kampos, Stavromenos, Panormos, Bali

· Instagram beaches -mostly in the south: Preveli, Damnoni, Triopetra, Katsouni, Ligres, Agia Irini, Skinaria, Ammoudi, Kalypso, Plakias, Bali, Apoplystra, Livadi

· Nightlife and fun – Rethymno

· Less crowded and relax – Gerani, Stavromenos, Bali, Agia Galini, Plakias

· History – venetian port and castle (Fortezza), Arkadi Monastery, Preveli Monastery, Military Museum

· Archaeology – Late Minoan Cemetery of Armeni, Ancient Eleftherna, Zominthos

· Traditional villages – Spili, Margarites

· Nature:

o Gorges: Kourtaliotiko (its end is at Preveli Beach), Patsos, Platania

o Mountains: Psiloritis

o Caves: Melidoni, Ideon Andron (where Zeus was raised/born), Sfendoni

· 4* and 5* hotels: Skaleta, Adelianos Kampos, Rethymno, Bali

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3. Heraklion and surroundings: Agia Pelagia, Ligaria, Ammoudara, Gouves, Gournes, Anissaras, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia

· Instagram beaches – Matala, Agia Pelagia, Mades, Kommos, Kokkini Amos, Psili Ammos, Limanaki, Potamos 

· Nightlife and fun – Hersonissos, Malia, Heraklion, Ammoudara

· Less crowded and relax – Agia Pelagia, Karteros-Amnissos, Kokkini Chani, Gouves, Gournes

· History: Heraklion, Agia Marina – Voni, Sfendyli (the sunken village), Fodele, Lychnostatis open air museum

· Archaeology – Knossos, Phaistos (Festos), Gortys (Gortyna), Malia, Agia Triada, Matala, Tylissos

· Traditional villages – Archanes, Piskopiano, Koutouloufari, Arolithos, Mochos, Fodele

· Nature:

o Gorges – Karteros, Martsalo Kefali, Agios Savvas, Trafoulas

o Mountains – Zaros Lake and Rouvas Forest

o Waterfalls – Nymphs, Aba

o Caves – Skotino, Astraki

· 4* and 5* hotels – Kokkini Chani, Gournes, Gouves, Analipsi and Anissaras (Adults only, AI and luxury hotels), Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia

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4. Agios Nikolaos & Lasithi: Sissi, Siteia, Elounda, Ierapetra, Zakros

· Instagram beaches – Voulisma, Vai, Plaka, Elounda, Koutsounari, Alona, Ammoudi, Itanos, Petras, Pachia Ammos, Almyros, Chrissi Island and Koufonissi island

· Nightlife and fun – Agios Nikolaos, Siteia, Elounda

· Less crowded and relax – Plaka, Sissi, Myrtos, Mochlos, Zakros

· History: Agios Nikolaos, Siteia, Spinalonga, Ierapetra, Moni Agios Giorgios Selinari, Toplou Monastery, Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, Vainia Tower

· Archaeology – Ancient Lato, Ancient Naxos, Gournia, Azoria, Minoan Palace of Zakros, Itanos, Pyrgos (near Myrtos), Makry-Gialos, Olous (sunken archaeological site), Tripitos

· Traditional villages – Sissi, Mochlos, Myrtos, Kritsa, Psichro, Tzermiado, Plaka

· Nature:

o Gorges – Richtis, Zakros (Gorge of the Dead), Ha, Havgas, Perivolakia

o Mountains – Dikti and Spathi + Lasithi Plateau

o Caves – Diktaeon Andron (Cave of Zeus), Kronio, Peristeras, Pelekita

o Waterfalls – Mylonas, Richtis

· 4* and 5* hotels – Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Siteia, Ierapetra