Chania's accommodations are as diverse as its history, cuisine, and nature; some of its best mid-range hotels bring the city's Venetian, Ottoman, and Roman history to life in landmark buildings, others focus on the surrounding natural landscape, and several treat guests to tasty local cuisine. Regardless of their approach, these hotels all have one thing in common: a particular Cretan experience at a more affordable price.

Belmondo Hotel

Photo courtesy of the Belmondo Hotel.
Enjoy lighthouse views from historic rooms (photo courtesy of the Belmondo Hotel)

Venetian, Ottoman, and Cretan influences merge in this historic 10-room hotel on Chania's harbor. Relax in the old-world charm of this building that dates to the 14th or 15th century, where a traditional style of vintage furniture and original elements like stone arches transport you to another time and place. 

Couples will enjoy any of the four rooms with a sea view, and the ones with a private hammam offer something extra romantic. A connecting room option sleeps five, and larger parties can also check out the deluxe suite, which sleeps up to three and includes a fantastic rooftop terrace overlooking the harbor. There isn't an elevator in this landmark building, which has stairs to get up to reception and the rooms, so it's not recommended for folks with mobility concerns.

Whether you're interested in history, cuisine, or nature, the Belmondo Hotel is in a prime location to explore it all. Standing in the center of the Venetian Harbor, the hotel offers Old Town or waterfront access as soon as you step out the door. The closest parking lot of Talos Square is also five minutes away, so jump in the car and drive to Golden Beach in 15 minutes or Souda Bay in 25.

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Residenza Vranas Boutique Hotel

Photo courtesy of Residenza Vranas.
Decompress in an indoor plunge pool (photo courtesy of Residenza Vranas)

This year-round hotel blends the modern and historic in four massive suites ideal for couples, families, and friends. Located in the middle of Chania's harbor, the Residenza Vranas makes up for the lack of shared facilities with its large, atmospheric suites that all face the sea and channel the energy of Chania's unique history.

The rooms are 968 square feet (90 sq m) and have sea views, and two have a balcony or terrace to further your relaxation. Couples will love the suite with its indoor heated plunge pool that overlooks the harbor, while families or larger groups can comfortably spread out in the two-bedroom options. This landmark building still includes original features like stone walls, which the hotel's minimalist design highlights with intricate custom wooden furniture and furnishings.

Like many historic buildings in Old Town, this hotel does not have an elevator, so it's unsuitable for those with accessibility needs. Unlike other hotels in the area, however, it does have a parking lot, and staff will help transfer your bags to your room. If you're looking for a peaceful and spacious oasis in the middle of Chania's Old Town, the Residenza Vranas may be the perfect fit.

Read kimkim's review of Residenza Vranas Boutique Hotel

SanSal Boutique Hotel

Cool off in the rooftop pool or the sea below (photo courtesy of SanSal Boutique Hotel)

Standing on the water just on the outskirts of Old Town, the SanSal Boutique Hotel is a modern year-round hotel that offers sea views and clean comfort in its 23 rooms. Open to guests 11 and older, this hotel is ideal for couples and friends, and wheelchair-accessible rooms and common areas open it up to guests with mobility needs. 

The sea is the focus of this hotel, whose rooms all face the water just below, although only the ones above the tree line have a proper view. You can always head up to the rooftop bar and pool, which has one of the best panoramic vistas around. The rooms are minimalist and bright, with neutral tones that create a clean and comfortable space. Most sleep two people, but some suites have a sofa bed for a third. Amenities can include private pools and wraparound windows with sweeping views, and one ADA-compliant room is available for those in wheelchairs.

When you're ready to explore Chania, walk along the waterfront to Old Town and the Venetian Harbor in just five minutes. Hop in your car in the hotel's free parking lot to see some of Crete's most famous beaches, like Falassarna, an hour away, or Balos, an hour and 15 minutes away. The SanSal isn't a historic space like many of Chania's other accommodations, but it stands out as a peaceful, modern hotel where you can be close to the action of Old Town without being right in the middle of it.

Read kimkim's review of SanSal Boutique Hotel

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Malmo Historic Hotel

Photo courtesy of Malmo Hotel.
Custom furniture brings the arch into your room (photo courtesy of Malmo Hotel)

Perched atop a 15th-century arch in the heart of Old Town, the Malmo Hotel bridges centuries of history together in its seven stylish rooms. Despite the name and Scandinavian design, the hotel has nothing to do with Sweden. Rather, it refers to Antonio Malmo, a man from Chania who turned this 16th-century building into a library in the 1950s.

The hotel channels the feeling of a library with its warm, cozy aesthetic and energy while also paying homage to the arch that is its foundation. Bespoke furniture and rounded doorjambs all evoke that arch in midcentury modern rooms that are ideal for couples or friends. There's one ADA-compatible room for folks in wheelchairs, and several options have small balconies that look out onto one of Chania's two remaining Ottoman minarets. 

Shared facilities include a relaxing lounge in the reception area, an elevator, and an atmospheric terrace overlooking Old Town, where guests can enjoy homemade breakfast and coffee. The hotel's location puts you right in the middle of Chania's history: Walk under the arch to Chatzimichali Ntaliani, a pedestrian street filled with restaurants and shops, or head in the other direction and pass by ancient ruins, as you reach the Venetian Harbor in 10 minutes.

Read kimkim's review of Malmo Historic Hotel

San Salvatore Monastery

Photo courtesy of San Salvatore Monastery Hotel.
Relax in the tranquil courtyard of the monastery (photo courtesy of San Salvatore Monastery Hotel)

This hotel may only have two rooms, but it offers a lot of history. Centuries, in fact, as this landmark building goes back to the 1300s. Located on the harbor's western edge, the San Salvatore Monastery gives guests the chance to live in a monastery. You don't have to live like a monk here, but rather, you can enjoy a monastic type of tranquility and serenity in this place that's more like an experience than a traditional hotel.

Manager Irene grew up in this building, and her old living quarters are now the Penthouse suite, which is perfect for couples. A steep set of stairs leads to the split-level Penthouse, whose terrace and living room offer a picture-perfect view of the harbor and lighthouse just below. The two-bedroom Deluxe suite on the ground floor is great for families, as kids will love the cavelike bed under the loft, and there are games and a record player to bring some fun to your stay.

While there's a courtyard filled with fragrant herbs and flowers, there aren't any common facilities here, and overall, the uneven surfaces and steps to rooms make this inappropriate for those with mobility issues. Each room has a kitchen, but they're currently not fully furnished. The San Salvatore Monastery is about feeling and experiencing history. Ask Irene about details of the space or check out the Byzantine collection next door to get more context for this building complex.

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Porto Del Colombo Traditional Boutique Hotel

Experience a slice of modern Greek history in this landmark building (photo courtesy of Porto Del Colombo)

The former prime minister and the "maker of modern Greece," Eleftherios Venizelos, once used this 14th-century Ottoman building as his law office. Now, this boutique hotel offers 10 rooms that capture this mix of influences with a traditional style of vintage furniture and rugs, plus original elements of stone arches, brass fixtures, and hammam ceilings.

Situated in Old Town steps from the waterfront, the Porto Del Colombo combines the warmth of a family-run hotel with the living history of Chania in a space that's ideal for couples, families, and friends. Larger parties can enjoy the triple room, which includes a cavelike sleeping area that kids or teenagers will love. The split-level maisonettes with loft beds also have ample room for families. Sea-view rooms look out over the lighthouse to offer a romantic atmosphere for couples or honeymooners.

Begin your day with a tasty homemade breakfast in the stone-arched breakfast area before heading out to explore Old Town, just outside the front door. The closest parking lot of Talos Square is five minutes away, so those with cars can conveniently discover other areas of Crete. While there are many historic hotels in Chania, the Porto Del Colombo stands out with its intersection of significant moments of Greek history, from ancient to modern.

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Hotel Off

Marble floors mix with modern furniture to create an inviting space (photo courtesy of Hotel Off)

History is preserved and restored in the 10 rooms of this 12th-century former home in the heart of Old Town. Located two minutes from the parking area of Talos Square, Hotel Off provides a peaceful stay in its bright and minimalist rooms that incorporate original building elements.

Ancient stone walls integrate with clean, wooden furniture pieces and marble floors in these rooms that most comfortably sleep two people. Three include sofabeds to accommodate a third, but this hotel is best for couples or friends due to the size and absence of interconnecting options. Rooms overlooking the garden or Old Town and ones with a balcony or hammam add a nice atmospheric element to the hotel's history and surrounding buildings.

There isn't an elevator, so it's unsuitable for those with mobility issues. Guests can enjoy a homemade breakfast of local delicacies in the verdant courtyard before exploring nearby sites of Old Town, like the last remaining synagogue of Crete, Etz Hayimm, or the Küçük Hasan Mosque on the waterfront.

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