Crete keeps winning people over, and it's not hard to see why. It's the largest Greek island, big enough that you can find genuine solitude as well as major historical sites, and unlike Santorini or Mykonos it has proper sandy beaches. The eastern side of the island is the current insider tip: long sandy stretches with barely anyone on them, plus a growing supply of quality Airbnbs. The food scene does the rest, with tavernas serving freshly caught seafood and simple local dishes.
A new editors' roundup of the island's top stays picks out 17 hotels, spanning romantic boutique boltholes, private villas for multigenerational groups and some of the best family resorts in Europe. The headline picks: Minos Beach Art Hotel for couples, The Reverey for wellness, Ikos Kissamoss for all-inclusive, Phāea Cretan Malia for families, and Numo Ierapetra for adults-only travellers.
Where should you base yourself? First-timers usually default to Chania in the northwest, and it's a solid call — hotels there, such as Domes Zeen Chania, cascade down the hillside with sea views, making it an easy spot to settle into for a week. But the eastern half rewards the curious. Near-deserted beaches and a slower rhythm make it the escapism pick, and the advice is to go before the area becomes better known.
Families are well catered for. Direct flights from London make the island an easy sell for a school-holiday trip, and Domes of Elounda is a standout: it looks out over Spinalonga, the UNESCO-protected former fortress island, and its self-catering set-ups work well for families with young children.
Timing matters here. The high season runs June to September, when it's hottest and busiest — and many hotels shut entirely over winter. Shoulder season is the connoisseur's choice: April, early May and October bring quieter beaches, lower-key tavernas and a better sense of everyday Cretan life, with the island's greenery and produce at their best.
Who is this for? Anyone weighing up the Greek islands and wondering whether Crete is too big or too built-up. The takeaway from this edit is the opposite: the island's size is the point. Whether you want a design-led couples' hideaway, an all-inclusive where nobody has to plan anything, or a villa base for three generations, there's a corner of Crete that fits — and the eastern beaches are the part to catch before the crowds do.
