Where to Stay in Chania Old Town | The Mediterranean Traveller

Heading to Chania this year and want to stay right in the beautiful Old Town? Here’s a quick guide to the area and its best places to stay, including all the hotels along the harbour with waterfront views.

This guide will cover:

What you need to know
Shortlist – the Best Places to stay in Chania’s Old Town
Best Luxury and Boutique stays
Where to Stay with Views of the Venetian Harbour
Where to stay by the Old Town Marina
Best of the Backstreets
Best Budget Stays

Need to Know

Chania Old Town has lots of old buildings in tightly packed narrow medieval streets. The top end here consists mostly of luxury suites, often in immaculately converted historic buildings with few communal amenities. Breakfast is often delivered to your room unless the hotel has an attached restaurant.

Some suites do have private plunge pools, hot tubs, or courtyards. But you won’t find swimming pools, gyms, spas, conference suites, sports facilities, or even many bars or lounges.

For all of that you’ll need to look outside the Old Town – read The Best Beach Resorts in Chania for the nearest options.

The Old Town also has many pedestrianised streets so you might have to walk the final stretch to your hotel. Many buildings don’t have lifts. If you have a lot of luggage (or children) then bear this in mind when booking. Rooms (and particularly bathrooms) are often small compared to modern buildings.

Shortlist – The Best Places to Stay in Chania Old Town

Best Hotel with a Plunge Pool: Monastery Estate Venetian Harbour
Best Boutique Room with a Venetian Harbour View: Domus Renier, Casa Delfino
Best Budget Room with a Venetian Harbour View: Lucia (Loukia) Hotel
Best for Access: Porto Veneziano
Hidden Gem: Fagotto Art Residences

Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Chania Old Town

Only interested in the top end? Here are the best luxury and boutique stays:

Monastery Estate Venetian Harbour – stylish and contemporary with a small spa, hot tubs, and private plunge pools.
Serenissima – luxe backstreet boutique vibes.
La Maison Ottomane – for lovers of Ottoman antiques and heritage buildings.
Azade – small, intimate, stylish.
Domus Renier – relaxing rooms right by the Venetian Port.
Casa Delfino – boutique mansion on the Venetian Port.
Residenza Vranas – private plunge pools overlooking the Venetian Port.
Ambassador’s Residence Boutique Hotel – spacious renovation overlooking the marina.

Where to Stay in Chania’s Venetian Harbour

The most iconic part of Chania is its old Venetian Port, a U-shaped harbour lined with restaurants and hotels in colourful buildings overlooking the water. This is where the city congregates in the evening for a sunset stroll. A room here with a balcony is perfect for watching the world go by (and the sun go down).

It’s worth noting that the businesses on the ground level are a mix of restaurants and cafes/bars (including one or two of the karaoke variety). Whilst I wouldn’t call it rowdy, it’s one of the livelier spots at night. I haven’t had a problem with soundproofing (or with unwelcome restaurant smells wafting up) but experiences vary. If you’re looking for a quiet location then this might not be the best area for you.

On the plus side, it’s so beautifully quiet in the morning and you can simply nip downstairs to enjoy it.

The eateries here are geared towards tourists and generally aren’t the highest quality, although you’ll find some gems in the streets behind (such as Tamam and Enetikon which does a marvellous breakfast). It’s perfect for a coffee or an aperitivo though.

Here’s the list of waterfront hotels where you’ll find harbour views, from east to west:

East side (the buildings here are up on the hill overlooking the Kukuk Hasan mosque and harbour, it’s a short walk down the road to the water):

Pandora Suites – tasteful white rooms in a 17th-century building.
Domicile Chania – Venetian Residence – apartment blending old and new with a few grand touches.
Amphitrite – modern neutral rooms, not all have balconies/views.
Elia Estia Erato – basic modern rooms but one has huge windows with an excellent panorama over the harbour.

Central:

Belmondo – traditional Ottoman vibes in the perfect location right in the middle of the harbour.
Porto Antico – sea view rooms have traditional decor with four-poster beds.
Residenza Vranas – luxurious touches such as room-length windows and heated plunge pools in the bedroom.
Scala de Faro – immaculate modern rooms, 5-star service.
Mosaic Venetian Harbour Suites – basic but comfortable.
Elia Zampeliou – 3-star comfortable rooms in calming neutral.
Lucia (Loukia) Hotel – traditional pension-style rooms, good price.
Nostos Hotel – the entrance to this hotel is one of the most photographed spots in town. Traditional rooms, some family apartments available.
Villa Venezia – basic budget rooms, some with sea views but no balconies.
Domus Renier – 5-star suites in a beautiful renovation.

West side:

Casa Delfino – 5-star suites in a Venetian mansion with a small spa and courtyard for breakfast.
Erietta Suites – traditional small apartments with a kitchenette.
Alcanea Boutique – a 4-star hidden gem with a cosy courtyard and traditional touches but few balconies.
Helena – traditional pension-style rooms, no balconies.
Captain Vassilis small family-run hotel, one room has access to a large sea-view terrace.
Casa Leone – 3-star in a mansion with original features and arguably the best view in the harbour.
Cretan Renaissance – cosy boutique rooms with a historical flourish (and Cocomat mattresses).
Amphora – simple rooms with large tubs, breakfast served in the restaurant below.

Old Town Marina

The Venetian Port isn’t the only harbour area though – just a short walk away past the mosque is the Old Town Marina. You’ll still find plenty of old buildings here, including the Venetian Shipyards (pictured above) and large neoclassical mansions. There’s a busy modern marina too, which brings a pleasant buzz, especially in the early evenings.

The restaurants and bars here are of a much higher quality than the ones around the Venetian Port. There are several seafood restaurants including the upmarket Salis.

The only hotel directly on the water here is the excellent value 3-star Porto Veneziano. It has Coco-Mat mattresses and a pillow bar. It’s also one of the better hotels for access – cars can drive up (though there’s no parking) and there’s one fully accessible room, a rarity in the cramped Old Town.

In this area, you’ll also find the 5-star Monastery Estate Venetian Harbour which is the most stylish address in town, with modern interiors in a heritage building. It has a small spa with an original Turkish hammam and suites with plunge pools and/or indoor and outdoor hot tubs.

5-star Ambassador’s Residence Boutique Hotel has airy traditional rooms with bathtubs overlooking the marina or the old town. One suite has a rooftop terrace.

True to its name, La Maison Ottoman has sumptuous traditional interiors packed with antiques. No sea views but it does have a large peaceful courtyard.

Best of the Backstreets

If you don’t need a sea view then that opens up some great boutique options in the rest of the Old Town.

5-star Serenissima Boutique is a few blocks back from the Venetian Port and is in a lovingly converted 15th-century building. Calming neutrals, no spa.
The bright colours of 4-star Elia Fatma Boutique Hotel are ideal if you’re not a neutrals fan. Location is the same as Serenissimi.
Sette Venti Boutique Hotel is in a beautifulpink neoclassical building with modern coastal decor, deep in a quiet backstreet area.
Azade has modern neutral decor, is a stone’s throw from the port, and has an excellent breakfast. Some sea view rooms.
3-star Fortino is located near the marina and has a suite with a rooftop hot tub available.
Antica Casa Studios have apartments with small kitchenettes on a very pretty street, you might squeeze a sea view from some of the balconies.
Lignum Suites – modern rooms in a central location.

Best Budget Stays in Chania

The main commercial street in Chania Old Town is Chalidon which is pedestrianised and connects the Venetian Port with the bus stations just outside the Old Town. This is where you’ll find most of the fast food options, ice-cream, and ATMs. It’s busy with people strolling until the wee hours.

But the late bars are clustered a few blocks away on Potie, along the Venetian Port, and in a few narrow alleys behind the Old Town Marina. I wouldn’t choose accommodation around here if you’re a sleeper. There are no clubs in Chania’s Old Town but during the summer there are a few beach clubs open in some of Chania’s beach resorts along the coast.

I think one of the nicest parts of the Old Town is west of the Venetian Harbour, behind the Maritime Museum and Venetian Fortress, with Theotokopolou Street running along its western edge. There are some really pretty backstreets here which aren’t as busy as the more central part of town. Theotokopolou is lined with cute boutiques and some good cafes for breakfast.

One thing to note is that there’s a municipal car park at the top of the road (opposite the Byzantine Collection) which in the summer is sometimes used for local festivals and concerts which tend to be late and loud. Something worth checking if you’re thinking of staying in the area.

There are lots of 3-star rooms here, most are recently renovated in fresh neutrals with a modern design.

The eastern side of the Old Town has more of a residential and business feel, but there are a handful of places to stay such as the standout Antica Canea Luxury Rooms.

Friendly Odyssey Studios is tucked away in a charming part of the warren and apartments have either a courtyard, a balcony, or a rooftop terrace.