The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is best known as the home of the legendary Minotaur, but it’s also one of the best places in Greece for a romantic getaway. Santorini and Mykonos get most of the attention, yet Crete offers what couples often want from a honeymoon or anniversary trip: space, privacy, and a lot more variety.

Think secluded beaches, mountain villages, and sunsets over the Libyan Sea, plus hotels with private pools, sea-view suites, and spas. Picture breakfast in bed, rose petals on the sheets, and the Cretan coastline stretching out beyond your balcony.

The hotels below are our favorite places to make that happen.

Paradise Island Villas

Paradise Island Villas is a boutique hotel with just 12 luxury villas, and it’s a lovely setting for a romantic escape. Every villa has its own swimming pool and garden, so you can have breakfast outside and take a morning dip without leaving your own private space. Inside, you’ll find a private bathroom, a balcony and modern amenities.

The service is world-class, and the hotel has a spa, a swimming pool and a fitness center for couples who want to unwind and book a treatment or two. The restaurant is excellent, with vegan and gluten-free options, and a continental breakfast is served every morning. The location makes arriving easy, too: you’re just 18 km from Heraklion airport, so the pool is never far after a long journey.

If you’re an adventurous couple, this is also a great base for discovering the island’s landscape and culture.

Rates start at €517 per night per couple (and may vary according to the season & availability).

Palazzo di Pietro

Palazzo di Pietro is a traditional-style hotel with just 7 rooms. It’s small enough to feel intimate and has a romantic atmosphere, with luxurious rooms and a quiet charm. It’s open year-round, so it works for a winter city break as well as a summer trip.

All the suites have air conditioning, TV, phone, fridge and kitchenette, and three of them also have their own balcony. The roof garden is the highlight: it has some of the best views of the Old Town of Chania, and it’s a lovely spot for an evening drink.

Rates start at €274 per night per couple (and may vary according to the season & availability), with a minimum stay of two nights.

Vilelmine Hotel

Vilelmine is another small hotel, with only 10 rooms, and it sits right in the heart of the Old Town. It’s a good choice for couples who want a luxurious stay with a touch of romance, without a big-hotel feel. The beach is just an 800 m stroll away, a pleasant walk after a lazy breakfast or at the end of the day.

All the rooms have air conditioning, a fridge and a TV, and there’s free internet access throughout. The hotel is open all year round, and it offers some of the loveliest views in Crete.

Rates start at €156 per night per couple (and may vary according to the season & availability).

Nymphes Luxury Apartments

Perched on top of a hill in Agia Pelagia, Nymphes is a small resort with only 10 luxury apartments. The setting does most of the romantic work: you look out over the bay and the Aegean Sea, and the evenings are quiet. Families are welcome here, but the size and the hilltop location keep it peaceful and private, which suits a couple just as well. On arrival, guests are greeted with a welcome gift of Cretan wine, a fruit basket and flowers.

There’s a swimming pool on site and all the suites have air conditioning. The studios are the natural choice for couples, while the apartments can accommodate up to 5 people, so you can bring friends or family along if you like.

Rates for a studio start at €184 per night for two adults, and an apartment starts from €210 per night for two adults. Prices may vary according to season & availability.

Deos Luxury Suites – Adults Only

Deos Luxury Suites is an elegant 4-star hotel in Petinaki, Hersonissos, 21 km from Heraklion International Airport. Garden access and suites with a private heated pool or jacuzzi make it a lovely place to slow down, and the romantic restaurant means a candlelit dinner is always close at hand. The beach and Aquaworld are not far away, and the nearby villages of Koutouloufari and Piskopiano are a short walk if you fancy an evening out.

Because it’s an adults-only hotel, you get the peace and quiet you’re after, whether it’s a honeymoon or a romantic escape.

Prices range between €500 and €800 for two nights for two adults.

Enorme Infinity Elounda – Adults Only

With views over the bay of Elounda, Enorme Infinity Elounda is an adults-only resort where you’re looked after from the moment you arrive. It’s a 4-star property with an outdoor pool, boats, two restaurants and two bars, so there’s no need to plan much beyond deciding where to have your next drink.

The resort is just 2 km from Plaka village, which makes it a good base for discovering what the island has to offer, and the island of Spinalonga is close by too. It’s 72 km from the airport, but the resort can arrange a transfer for you.

Prices start at €285 per couple per night for a sea view room, and €300 for a room with a jacuzzi or plunge pool. Depending on the room, they can go as high as €800.

Lenikos Resort

Lenikos Resort sits at the highest point of Agia Galini, on the south coast of Crete, with amazing views of the Libyan Sea, three swimming pools and plenty of sunshine. The resort offers several types of accommodation, some with kitchen facilities and some with fireplaces, which makes it a cozy retreat outside the summer months too.

It’s a more secluded place, 61 km south of Rethymnon and 68 km from Heraklion Airport, so it suits couples who want to switch off. The village of Agia Galini is only a short drive away when you feel like dinner out, and a continental breakfast is served at the resort every morning.

Prices start from €180 per night for a queen studio, and from €334 for a superior two-bedroom with private pool. Depending on your budge, there are other options to consider.

Altera Cave Villas

Another luxury stay in the south of Crete is Altera Cave Villas, in Agios Pavlos, only 100 m from the beachfront. The earth-sheltered “cave” design makes it feel secluded, and it’s an ideal place for a romantic escape. It’s an adults-only establishment with spas, pools, gardens and beautiful views.

You can join a yoga class, go for a swim or use the fitness room to get your daily movement. Breakfast comes either continental or à la carte. The villas are 94 km from Heraklion International Airport, a bit of a drive, but that’s part of what keeps this corner of the island so quiet.

Both the premium villa and the exclusive villa start from €1,000 per night (for two adults), with a minimum stay of 3 nights.

Corinna Mare

Corinna Mare is on the Old National Road of Kissamos, near Chania, right by Kalamaki Beach. It sits on a peninsula overlooking the island of Theodorou, only 5 km west of Chania and its Venetian harbour. It has been recently renovated, and most of the rooms face the sea, each with a spacious balcony. Rooms have air conditioning, TV, phone and a safe, and there are easily accessible, disabled-friendly rooms too.

The beach setting is the biggest draw for couples. The main beach is just 50 m away, and a small private beach sits right at the edge of the pool, so you can slip from sunbed to sea in a minute. The villages of Galatas, Daratsos and Stalos are all within 2 km, which makes it easy to spend an evening at a local taverna.

There’s a wide choice of rooms, ranging from studios (with either garden or sea view), suites (some right by the sea front), apartments, maisonettes, and even family apartments.

Prices start from €200 per night for two adults and may vary according to season & availability.

Aretaki Villas

Aretaki Villas is an elegant stay in the village of Astratigos, set among scenic gardens with views of the mountains. It’s secluded enough to promise real peace and quiet, and the only sounds you’re likely to hear are birds and the odd church bell from the village.

Each villa has a terrace, a kitchenette and air conditioning, so you can have breakfast outside and cook a simple dinner if you don’t feel like going out. The seasonal outdoor swimming pool is shared, there’s a hot tub for evenings, and a barbecue area for grilling under the stars. Free WiFi is included, and the hotel is pet-friendly, so you can bring a four-legged travel companion along if you like.

The location works well for exploring western Crete. The beach at Agia Marina is about 20 km away, the port of Kissamos 18 km, and Chania airport 43 km, so you can enjoy the quiet without being cut off from everything.

Prices start from €450 per night for two adults, for a minimum stay of 4 nights, and may vary according to season & availability.

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