San Salvatore Monastery, Chania

Pros

• There's a mix of cultural and personal history, as it’s linked to the monastery and Byzantine collection next door and is run by the family that grew up here.
• The hotel is located on the west side of the harbor, just by Talos Square, which gives guests immediate access to Old Town and the Venetian port.
• The views of the upper level Superior Penthouse suite can’t be beat, while those in the Deluxe Michael room can enjoy a direct line of vision to the lighthouse from bed.
• Guests with cars can enjoy the hotel’s private parking spots or leave their cars in Talos Square, which is just a minute away.

Cons

• As a centuries’ old historic building, the hotel is not made for folks with mobility needs nor can it be changed to address them. A cobblestone path leads to the rooms, while the Penthouse has to be reached by a set of stairs and both rooms are split level with stairs leading up to the beds.
• There are only two rooms, which means it can get booked up quickly, so be sure to snag one before everyone else does.
• This is a standard hotel, which means there aren’t common facilities like a restaurant, bar, or spa, but the space and building make it much more than your typical standard fare.

Additional Notes

The San Salvatore feels more like an experience than a hotel. It’s ideal for those looking for something unexpected and historic, rather than all-inclusive or traditional. It has a sense of tranquility and peace characteristic of a monastery and is quite private. There’s no lobby, reception, or common breakfast area here to engage with others; it’s about feeling the history and space, which you can do in various ways through the building itself, panoramic views, or talking to Irene to get more context for the place itself.

Authenticity

It’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially Chania hotel than the San Salvatore. The building's history goes back to the 1300s and it retains the peace and quiet that one often finds in monasteries. Walk down the cobblestone path into the garden and feel the tranquility of the cloister where monks used to pray and tend to their plants.

Irene runs the hotel and her mother owns the building. In fact, they’re the first Greeks to have this property after the exchange of the Turkish and Greek populations in 1923, which led to Muslim-owned buildings in places like Chania being given to Greeks. Irene grew up here, specifically in the room that’s now the Penthouse. History buffs or anyone remotely curious about ancient and modern Greek will find more than enough to explore here.

Location

The San Salvatore is in one of the most convenient locations of Old Town. It’s located on the western edge of the harbor, just behind the Maritime Museum and right below Talos Square. Park in the hotel's private parking or grab a spot in Talos Square, which is a minute away. Those who want to get their steps in can walk out the door and be either at the harbor or in Old Town in the same amount of time. Nea Chora beach is a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive, while the new city of Chania is just 10 minutes away by foot. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

The San Salvatore currently has two rooms: the superior penthouse suite and the deluxe suite. Both are split-level, so folks with mobility issues or injuries may have trouble here, as you have to climb up steps to get to the loft-style beds. The penthouse suite includes a large terrace overlooking the lighthouse and harbor, while the deluxe suite has a view of the lighthouse directly from the loft bed.

The penthouse sleeps two and has a sofa bed, but it’s ideal for couples, who want to enjoy a romantic and private slice of history from the living room or terrace. The ground floor deluxe suite has two bedrooms and is great for families, as the second bedroom is under the loft and feels like a fun cave for kids. It also includes a bathtub, record player, and games, as well as a closed off tunnel that was once used to go into the city.