Crete, the largest island in Greece, has everything you could want for a summer escape. Sandy beaches—including a pink one that’s often ranked among the best in the country—surround rugged mountains and gorges, lush hiking trails, Venetian and Ottoman architecture, and neoclassical towns. There’s also a rich history here: this land was home to the Minoans, the first known advanced civilization in Europe, 5,000 years ago. You can still see traces of their culture in well-preserved palaces across the island. Honestly, it’s almost impossible to get bored in Crete. You could spend weeks here and still only scratch the surface. But you can try, and it starts with finding the right place to stay.
The Best Airbnbs in Crete, According to Vogue
– For old-world aristocracy: Grand 1930s Mansion, from $1,358 per night
– For living like a local: Lindas Convent Garden Home, from $236 per night
– For the island’s best sunsets: Villa Artemis, from $477 per night
– For family getaways: The Quintessential Cretan Villa, from $449 per night
– For being at one with nature: Harmony Cottage, from $134 per night
– For all-out maximalism: The Old Pomegranate House, from $146 per night
– For panoramic sea views: 180° Sea View Villa, from $280 per night
Getting to Crete is easy, thanks to not one but two major airports. Choosing where to stay once you arrive is harder. The island stretches 160 miles from east to west, so our advice is to make this a multi-stop trip. Maybe start in popular Chania or Heraklion, then road trip to quiet coastal spots, sleepy historic villages, and wide mountain valleys. Much of the best accommodation in Crete is remote—so you’ll need a car for day trips anyway—and often the drive is as enjoyable as the destination. You can stop at small beach coves to cool off and tiny tavernas for long lunches.
To kick off your big Greek road trip, we’ve put together a list of the best Airbnbs in Crete. Keep reading to bookmark our favorite stays.
Lemon Tree Eco-Retreat
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Natural stone, textured terracotta walls, and exposed wooden beams set the tone here. Sage-green paint on window shutters and doors leads to a peaceful outdoor space, where a leafy canopy covers a stone patio. The line between indoors and outdoors blurs. Spend time wandering the surrounding Mediterranean garden, filled with walnut, carob, orange, and olive trees, before taking the 40-minute coastal drive to Chania’s 14th-century Venetian harbor. That is, if you can tear yourself away from the calm, village-like lifestyle this home offers—you might find it harder than you think.
– Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
– Amenities: Kitchen, AC, outdoor dining area, on-site parking
– Location: Gavalochori
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180° Sea View Villa
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Checking in here feels like stepping back to a simpler time. Mornings start with the sunrise, days revolve around meals, and slow evening sunsets melt into the sea. Set on its own small peninsula on the Mirabello Gulf, this home’s panoramic sea views are the highlight. With four outdoor spaces, you have plenty of options for taking it all in—coffee on the terrace, breakfast on the balcony, lunch in the back garden, and dinner in the courtyard. The point is, you have choices. Inside this architect-designed home, your eyes are drawn to the grand fireplace, sweeping archways, zig-zag cut-stone floor, and teal-painted edges.
– Rooms: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
– Amenities: Sea view, kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, cot on request, on-site parking
– Location: Pacheia Ammos
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Villa Vido
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Grounded in island life, two-story Villa Vido offers the best of rustic countryside living—fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, outdoor dining surrounded by olive trees, visits from resident cats—without any sacrifice. It’s a 10-minute walk from the beach and a 10-minute drive from Heraklion.Just 20 minutes from the airport, you can enjoy a taste of rural life without giving up anything. Sea views stretch across to the uninhabited island of Dia, best enjoyed over long lunches and dinners cooked indoors or on the outdoor grill.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Sea view, kitchen, washer, outdoor dining space, grill, cot, on-site parking
Location: Heraklion
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Grand 1930s Mansion
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If walls could talk, this 1930s neoclassical mansion would have plenty to say. This family home was a hub of social and political life for many years before it was abandoned during World War II, later becoming a shelter for displaced people. Recently restored, 2026 is the first year it’s officially open to guests. You’ll understand why this light-filled space is so loved the moment you step inside: high ceilings, grand archways, and a sweeping marble staircase give off old-world elegance; framed paintings, bookshelves, and a mid-century piano add personal touches. French doors open onto balconies with views across Chania toward the sea, and the citrus- and olive-filled garden is partly bordered by the city’s ancient Venetian fortifications.
Rooms: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Amenities: Harbor view, kitchen, washer, AC, garden, travel cot on request
Location: Chania
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Linda’s Convent Garden Home
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In the heart of Chania’s Old Town—just 150 meters from its Venetian harbor—this stay is as close as you can get to living like a local. You enter through a vine-covered courtyard before stepping into a traditional two-story home with exposed stone, arched windows, and a classic corner fireplace. Inside, rustic decor—crochet curtains, woven rugs, wooden furniture—leads to an open-air patio perfect for morning coffee (or cooling off in the outdoor shower). Next door, there’s a lively residential square where Greeks gather as the sun cools down. A highlight here is the 17th-century minaret of the Church of Saint Nicholas, a 14th-century monastery turned Ottoman mosque turned Orthodox church.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining area, on-street parking, cot
Location: Chania
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Minimalist Stone Country House
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In an outdoor courtyard, climbing vines cover stone walls, aloe vera plants poke out of terracotta pots, and a colorful orange tree hangs over a table for four. Ideal for families or groups of friends, this country house invites you to live the Mediterranean way—slow and relaxed, with long lunches over a bottle of wine. Inside, there’s a Persian rug here, framed Byzantine icons there, but the overall feel is more modern and minimalist. Located in the 5,000-year-old village of Archenes, at the foot of Mount Juktas, this stay feels more remote than it actually is: it’s only a 15-minute drive to Heraklion and 10 minutes to the Minoan-era Knossos Palace.
Rooms: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, on-site parking
Location: Archenes, near Heraklion
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Villa Artemis
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Hilltop Villa Artemis embraces a slow way of life, one that comes naturally to its setting in peaceful Livadia. Blending rural living with high-end design, stone walls (inside and out) lead to a large terrace with an outdoor kitchen, a pergola-covered table, a sleek pool, and sweeping sea views that come alive at sunset, thanks to its location on Crete’s west coast. Nearby Elafonissi beach is one of the most beautiful in all of Greece—famous for its pink-tinted sand. It can get busy during peak summer months, but you’re only a 20-minute drive from home when it starts to feel like too much.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Sea view, swimming pool, kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, grill, cot, on-site parking
Location: Amygdalokefali
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The Quintessential Cretan Villa
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Harmony Cottage
With three bedrooms—one double and two twins—this place is perfect for families or groups of friends looking for a relaxing stay. There are no neighbors; instead, you’re surrounded by nature (cats, sheep, olive and pomegranate trees, to name a few). Days easily blend together, broken up by dips in the large pool or aperitifs beside it, bike rides through the nearby countryside, road trips to the beach, and visits to local villages like Margarites, famous for its pottery. Inside, exposed beams and traditional fireplaces keep the timeless Cretan charm, but with plenty of modern touches—ask your host about the outdoor projector for a movie night under the stars.
Rooms: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Swimming pool, kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, grill, cot, on-site parking
Location: Rethymno
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Harmony Cottage
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The Old Pomegranate House
A 16th-century earthen cottage in the sleepy village of Aspros Potamos, Harmony was restored by local craftsmen using stone and clay from a nearby gorge and wood from the surrounding forest. It fits naturally into its green surroundings, with whitewashed walls, stone-slab floors, and a cane-woven ceiling that feel as close to nature as possible. Outside, a small veranda with a table for two overlooks a lush forest of olive, pine, and carob trees, stretching all the way to the sea. Hiking Pefki Gorge is a must—this cottage is right on the trail.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Sea view, kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, travel cot, on-site parking
Location: Aspros Potamos
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The Old Pomegranate House
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The Arch House
In quiet Mirsini, The Old Pomegranate House takes inspiration from North African design—not surprising, since the first country south of Crete is Libya. It’s maximalist to the max: a kilim-woven sofa sits on sun-washed floors, an Arabic shisha is the centerpiece of the coffee table, and lantern pendants hang above the kitchen. But despite all that, it’s the outdoor space that steals the show (and where you’ll likely spend most of your time). Centered around a pomegranate tree, terracotta walls contrast with lots of greenery, and stone steps lead down to a sea view.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, travel cot, on-street parking
Location: Mirsini
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The Arch House
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Lithodia Guesthouse
Once upon a time, locals gathered at this historic home to bake bread for the village, and you’ll feel that friendly, old-fashioned spirit throughout your stay. Inside, the house is all stone, with a sweeping, exposed-stone archway that divides the living spaces (the name gives it away!). The whitewashed, sugar-cube exterior has the feel of a Cycladic home—something you’d expect to see in Mykonos. It’s located about as far east as you can go in Crete; nearby Zagros Gorge winds down to a sandy bay (passing a Minoan-era palace) and is a manageable eight-mile hike for active travelers.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, AC, outdoor dining space, on-street parking
Location: Kato Zakros
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Lithodia Guesthouse
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Lithodia Guesthouse
Estimated to have been built in the mid-18th century, Lithodia guesthouse might be the perfect example of restoration done right. The owners’ grandparents updated the stonework, and the interior design highlights traditional features with a modern twist. Original fireplaces, beamed ceilings, and stone walls—some whitewashed—are paired with a curated, modern heritage style: brass lamps on tree-trunk side tables, chunky coffee-table books next to textured walls. As inviting as the inside is, you’ll want to spend most of your time enjoying the outdoor space: a rustic, all-stone, Cretan-style terrace overlooking the sea.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Sea view, kitchen, ACOutdoor dining area, cot available on request, on-street parking.
Location: Monastiraki
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the 12 best Airbnbs in Crete covering everything from village stays to coastal villas
General Booking Questions
1 What makes these 12 Airbnbs the best in Crete
They were chosen for a mix of amazing locations unique design great reviews from past guests and excellent value
2 Are these Airbnbs spread all over Crete or just in one area
They are spread across the entire island Youll find options in the west the center and the east so you can pick based on where you want to explore
3 Is it better to stay in a tiny village or a coastal villa
It depends on your vibe A coastal villa is perfect for swimming sunsets and privacy A tiny village is better for authentic food hiking and meeting localsbut youll usually need a car to get to the beach
4 Do I need to rent a car for any of these Airbnbs
Yes for most of them Crete is large and public transport is limited If you stay in a remote village or a secluded villa a car is essential A few in larger towns are walkable
Specifics Amenities
5 Do these Airbnbs come with a pool
Many of the coastal villas do have private or shared pools The village houses and town apartments usually dont but they are often steps from the sea or a local beach
6 Are the tiny village Airbnbs modern or rustic
Both Youll often find a traditional stone exterior with a fully modern renovated interior The charm is in the old village setting
7 Can I book one of these for a large group or family
Yes several of the coastal villas sleep 610 people The village houses are usually smaller Always check the sleeps number and number of bathrooms before booking
8 Are these Airbnbs available yearround
Most coastal villas are busiest from May to October Village houses are often open yearround but some may