Casa Delfino
A 17th-century Venetian mansion that has been in the same family for six generations is now the 24-room Casa Delfino, a local institution in Chania's Old Town. This year-round boutique hotel features amenities like an in-house spa and rooftop bar just steps from the waterfront of the Venetian Harbor.
The 24 rooms follow an elegant style of marble furnishings and handmade Italian furniture. The suites have different amenities, such as a private Ottoman-style hammam, a hot tub, and a veranda overlooking the sea and Old Town. The two-bedroom suite includes stained glass windows and two bathrooms, perfect for families or groups. The hotel does have an elevator, but various uneven surfaces make it unsuitable for those in wheelchairs.
What makes Casa Delfino most special is its hospitality and history. Manager Margarita treats her family home with a deep care that she also brings to her guests. Be sure to try her mother's mouth-watering homemade treats, check out the stone pattern in the courtyard that her father spent a year making, and ask Margarita about anecdotes of her family's life in this space.
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Domus Renier Boutique Hotel
The Renier family lived in this mansion in the 16th century, which you can discover firsthand by walking under the stone arch that bears the inscription for the Renier patriarch. Original ceramic and marble flower designs hang on the walls, and ancient documents are displayed in the lobby to bring history to life in this seasonal 10-room hotel on Chania's harbor.
Couples can indulge in the honeymoon suites, which include amenities like a hammam shower and a sun porch overlooking the Lighthouse of Chania. The two-bedroom master suite sleeps up to six. It is perfect for families, as kids will love its attic layout, and everyone can enjoy the balcony with a view of the harbor. Families or groups can also check in to the two-bedroom hideaway suite with a private courtyard across the street.
The Domus Renier has preserved its history with vintage furniture, marble furnishings, and unique details from the Reniers, like their family crest, now the hotel's logo. The location also puts you in the middle of Chania's history, as you can walk out the front entrance right on the waterfront or take the side entrance into Old Town.
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Chania Flair Deluxe Boutique Hotel
Located a 10-minute walk outside Old Town, the year-round Chania Flair offers modern luxury and sweeping sea views from its rooftop restaurant, hot tub, and gym. This adults-only hotel welcomes guests 16 and older to its 34 rooms that can comfortably accommodate couples, families, or groups of friends.
Larger parties can book interconnecting rooms, two-bedroom suites or get a hallway blocked off to enclose several rooms. Rooms offer city or partial sea views, and amenities can include Jacuzzis, bathtubs, and saunas. Don't worry if yours doesn't have one; you can head up to decompress in the rooftop's indoor hot tub and sauna with a panoramic sea view. Other amenities include a parking lot with valet service and an elevator, rare in the old town of Chania with its landmark buildings and no-car zone.
The Chania Flair is located at the start of Nea Chora Beach, where guests can relax on one of the hotel's sunbeds. Walk to the western part of the Venetian Harbor in 10 minutes and continue to the path of the lighthouse, which is just over 20 minutes away. If you're looking for a clean and quiet stay in a central location outside the hubbub of Old Town, the elegant and friendly Chania Flair is a great option.
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Ambassadors Residence Chania
As its name indicates, this was once the 19th-century home of German ambassador R. Krüger, whose contributions to Chania inspired the design of this modern boutique hotel. Located on the eastern side of the Venetian Harbor, the Ambassadors Residence features 13 rooms, each paying homage to a different material that Krüger imported to Chania, such as glass, paper, and wood.
The glass suite features wraparound windows with a panoramic view of the harbor, and the wood suite showcases intricate custom-made wooden furnishings. While most rooms feature steps to get into the bathroom or onto the bed, the level paper suite is outfitted for those with wheelchairs and mobility needs. Kids will love the fun and distinctive details of the rooms, while couples can immerse themselves in the hotel's romantic history.
The hotel works with a nearby restaurant to serve breakfast, or guests can explore the various eateries lining the waterfront outside before walking to the lighthouse path just five minutes away. Beachgoers can walk to Koum Kapi in 15 minutes or get the car from the nearest parking lot of Chania Port, 10 minutes away, to explore the island.
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Belmondo Hotel
Indulge in the old-world charm of the Belmondo Hotel, whose Venetian, Ottoman, and Cretan influences bring history to life to Chania's harbor. The 10 spacious rooms are designed with a traditional style of vintage furniture and original elements like wooden beams and stone arches that capture a sense of history in this building dating back to the 14th or 15th century.
Four rooms have a sea view, and those who want the ultimate view can book the deluxe suite with a terrace encompassing the entire roof. Larger groups have a connecting room option that sleeps up to five, while couples looking for some luxurious relaxation may be interested in the suites with sea-view terraces and private hammams. This landmark building doesn't have an elevator, and there are several sets of stairs to get to reception and the rooms, so it's not recommended for those with mobility issues.
Located nearly dead center in Chania's harbor, The Belmondo offers a prime location to explore the town. The Firka Fortress and parking lot of Talos Square are five minutes away, while the lighthouse walkway is 10. This central waterfront spot can get quite busy during the high season, so consider a room facing Old Town for something slightly quieter.
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SanSal Boutique Hotel
This modern year-round hotel offers sea views and stellar service on the outskirts of Chania's Old Town. While all 23 rooms have balconies and face the sea, only the rooms above the tree line have a proper sea view. Open to travelers over 11, the SanSal Boutique Hotel is ideal for couples and friends. It's also one of the few places in the area that has wheelchair accessibility in its common areas, as well as one room.
Its location, five minutes from the Venetian Harbor, makes this hotel perfect for those looking to be close to the action but not right in the middle of it. Leave your car in the free parking lot and stroll along the waterfront to reach the lighthouse walkway in 20 minutes or wander the streets of Old Town in five. Be sure to return for sunset, which you can watch from the bar or pool on the rooftop, whose panoramic sea view is one of the best.
The rooms are clean, light, minimalist, and most comfortably sleep up to two, although some suites have sofabeds for a third person. Amenities can include bathtubs, a private pool, and wraparound windows. While the SanSal may not have the historic charm of other hotels in Old Town, it offers a peaceful stay close to the sea that will appeal to anyone looking for a bit of luxury in Chania.
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Malmo Historic Hotel
Despite its Scandinavian design and name, the Malmo Hotel in Old Town has nothing to do with Sweden. Instead, it refers to Antonio Malmo, a local man who turned this 16th-century building into a library in the 1950s. This modern boutique hotel feels like a library, too, thanks to its mix of chic midcentury minimalism, history, and cozy aesthetic. The building is perched on a 15th-century arch, which is the dominant motif throughout, seen in the custom-made furniture and rounded doorjambs.
The hotel feels better suited for couples or friends, as its seven rooms don't include connecting family ones or two-bedroom suites. There is an elevator and one ADA-compatible room for those in wheelchairs. A few rooms have small balconies that look out onto one of Chania's two remaining Ottoman minarets, while the hotel's pleasant terrace is a great place to enjoy breakfast over Old Town.
When you're ready to explore the historic center, walk out the front door onto Chatzimichali Ntaliani, a popular pedestrian street filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. The Venetian harbor is 10 minutes away on foot, as is the parking lot on the eastern side of the waterfront. The lighthouse path starts 15 minutes away, while Chania's new city is just five.
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Residenza Vranas Boutique Hotel
Standing in the middle of Chania's harbor, the Residenza Vranas is a dreamy year-round hotel with four massive suites perfect for couples, families, and friends. While there aren't facilities like a restaurant or spa in this landmark building, the hotel's rooms are so peaceful that you may not want to leave them anyway.
For extra relaxation, book the suite with the indoor heated plunge pool and balcony overlooking the harbor or the two-bedroom penthouse with a perfect chill-out terrace. Whatever you pick, space and a view won't be an issue, as all the suites are a whopping 968 square feet (90 sqm) and face the sea. Larger groups can sleep comfortably in the two-bedroom options, but all the rooms include sofabeds for extra guests. The minimalist design has detailed custom wooden furnishings that add a modern twist to the building's original elements.
This is a historic building, so there's no elevator, which makes it unsuitable for those with accessibility needs. However, the hotel does have its own parking lot nearby, which is a significant plus in Chania, and the staff will help transfer your bags to your room. Step out the lobby door right onto the cobblestoned streets of Old Town to see the West Venetian Walls a few blocks away, or walk along the waterfront to reach the lighthouse path in 20 minutes.
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Porto Del Colombo
The former law office of retired Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, the "Maker of Modern Greece," is now a 10-room family-run boutique hotel in Old Town. Although Venizelos worked here in the 19th century, the building dates back 650 years, when it was used during the Ottoman occupation. The style of the Porto del Colombo follows a traditional 20th-century one of vintage wooden furniture and woven rugs that accentuate the building's original elements of stone arches, brass fixtures, and hammam ceilings.
Sea-view rooms have a romantic atmosphere enticing for couples, while the triple room includes a cavelike sleeping area that a kid or teenager will love. Maisonettes are split-level attic spaces with loft beds that are also great for families. The rooms look out over the harbor or Old Town, which can get quite loud in the summer, so light sleepers are better off with a higher-level room.
Enjoy homemade treats under the stone arches and high ceiling of the breakfast area before heading out to explore Old Town, just outside the front door. Walk to the waterfront in two minutes to explore nearby sites like Etz Hayyim Synagogue, the last remaining one in Crete, and the Küçük Hasan Mosque.
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Porto Veneziano
The family-run hotel has been a staple of Chania's harbor for 50 years thanks to its prime location on the waterfront just next to the start of the lighthouse path. Its 57 rooms are simple in style, but the hotel's location and sea-view rooms are where the Porto Veneziano shines. Facilities include a ground-floor restaurant and bar with stellar harbor views and a parking lot, which is reason enough to stay here during the high season when parking in Chania is a Sisyphean task.
Standard rooms feel tight since there's just space for the bed and a small desk, so check out the larger suites for more breathing room. All rooms have balconies and a view of the city or the sea. Triples with sofabeds are available, but overall, this hotel is ideal for business travelers, couples, or small groups of friends. The Porto Veneziano is a place without bells or whistles; it's a basic standard hotel in a fantastic location with a warm staff, where guests can comfortably crash for the night after exploring Crete all day.