Best family hotels in Crete, as recommended by parents

Atlantica Caldera Palace is a magical place to stay in northern Crete. It's located in Analipsi, a traditional village overlooking the golden sands and crystal-clear waters of Lyttos Beach.

With six pools, including a kids’ pool with slides and splash areas, seven restaurants, a spa, and an industry-leading kids' club, it's designed for family fun and caters to children of all ages.

If you’re holidaying with young children, there's a sensory nursery and playhouse with supervised sessions for three to 12-year-olds. There’s also an entertainment venue for all the family where you can enjoy live shows.

Large family rooms can accommodate up to four, with a double bed, sofa beds and sliding doors. For larger families, you'll also find a choice of suites that can sleep up to five. These feature a separate bedroom with double bed and a living area with extra fold out beds. Fancy a dip? You'll be pleased to know that most room types are available as swim-up or have access to private pools.

Designed to reflect a Cretan village, the budget-friendly Grecotel Club Marine Palace & Suites offers an excellent all-inclusive getaway with non-stop fun for all the family.

The beautiful beachfront complex is a firm favourite with children. They will love making a splash at the on-site waterpark, featuring heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping aqua towers, rides, water slides, and a splash park.

Adults can relax and indulge in spa treatments, or for the more active, pick one of the six swimming pools. The outstanding animation team is also on hand with an exceptional array of games, competitions, and classes throughout the day.

Traditional in style, rooms are spacious and well-equipped and there are numerous bars and restaurants throughout the property to satisfy all tastes.

A short stroll out of the hotel will bring you to the pretty fishing village of Panormos, where winding streets full of tavernas and bars come to life at night.

Overlooking eastern Crete’s spectacular Mirabello Bay, the luxury five* baby and toddler-friendly Domes of Elounda is set in a spectacular hillside location with stunning sea views.

The hotel boasts a private sandy beach with shallow waters ideal for little ones; along with a variety of family swimming pools, a deluxe spa and four gourmet restaurants.

If relaxation is high on your agenda, make the most of the onsite creche for babies aged four months to four years. There's also a kids club with a fun eco-playground, BMX park and climbing wall - a great place for your kids to make new friends. There’s a focus on sustainability, healthy eating, and gardening at this hotel, but best of all, two children can stay for free.

Lyttos Beach Hotel is directly situated on a blue flag beach in the village of Anissaras. Surrounded by a 150-acre park, it boasts two Olympic-sized pools, an aqua park with waterslides and no less than twenty-one tennis courts and a tennis academy for all ages. There’s also a brand-new outdoor basketball court, bike hire, as well as free coaching for young aspiring footballers.

If that's not enough to keep the children busy, the animation team organises pool activities and games, and themed parties during the day and night. Families will love the themed open-air theatre, while the outdoor disco is a great way to burn off any remaining energy before bed.

The recently refurbished Creta Maris Beach is set in a beautiful location in the popular resort of Hersonissos. The complex has an authentic Greek feel with white-washed buildings in a village-like setting.

Plenty is available to keep the kids entertained. There's an outdoor cinema and a room for babies up to age five, a kid’s club for ages four to eleven and another club for twelve to fifteen-year-olds. Plus, six kids pools, a splash park, and a water park. The entertainment team come highly rated, keeping guests entertained from morning until night.

Family suites are available and there are endless bars and restaurants around the resort, with an all-inclusive option. The Creta Maris Beach is a real hit with families as it has so much to offer children of all ages.

If you’re looking for a fantastic self-catering resort in Crete, then the Village Heights Resort is one to add to your Wishlist. This wonderful hotel is located just outside of Hersonissos and has its own beach area. An ideal place to stay with kids in Crete, you'll find tennis, mini-golf, basketball, two outdoor swimming pools and an indoor pool. Outside the hotel, you'll also find the CRETAquarium and the Labyrinth Theme Park nearby.

The apartments and villas have everything you need to enjoy self-catering, but there are also two handy restaurants on-site. They also have a mini kid’s club for three to twelve years olds, a playground and welcoming staff that will make you feel like family.

The self-catered apartments are spacious and comfortable, featuring one, two or three bedrooms, All have fully equipped kitchenettes with a stunning view of the sea, well maintained resort gardens or mountains.

Travelling with sporty kids? Love sampling a bunch of different activities on holiday? A Neilson break could be just what you're looking for.

A Neilson package at Messini Beachclub includes flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals and a range of fun activities including yoga, mountain biking, tennis, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and waterskiing. You'll also get access to on-site kid's clubs for children 2-17.

The resort sits on a huge, unspoilt beach and features sleek contemporary accommodation set around a pool and a bar. You'll likely spend most of your time in and out of the sea trying your hand at instructor-led activities, but there are rural villages at the Taygetus Mountains to explore nearby.

Kiani Beach Resort is a popular 5* family hotel perched on the award-winning blue flag beach of Kiani Akti, just outside of Kalyves village in Crete. This stunning retreat is ideal for families with young children as it has been specially designed to comfortably accommodate adults and younger guests.

The hotel offers all that you may need for a stress-free holiday with a toddler in tow, such as strollers, highchairs, walkie-talkies, a baby bath, a baby cot, and sterilisers.

The complex features sports facilities, two outdoor swimming pools, one specially for children and an extensive entertainment program, including plenty of activities to keep the little ones amused.

Toddlers will love the pirate ship-themed playground, the inflatable jumping castle and the kid's pool complete with slides and a fountain. There are loads of family-friendly activities, and a packed entertainment programme running throughout the day. During the evening, the hotel offers entertainment including a Greek night, karaoke night, DJ nights, quizzes, live music and shows.

The hotel offers a convenient all-inclusive option and rooms are ideal for families as they can hold between six to eight guests.

Located on the edge of the traditional village of Xirosterni in the Cretan countryside, Villa Amaltheia is completely secluded. The villa has glorious panoramic sea and mountain views which can be enjoyed from all its terraces and balconies. The layout has been very thoughtfully planned, and the villa is fully equipped so you have everything your family could need for a comfortable stay.

The villa has three double bedrooms, a private outdoor pool, BBQ, a games room with table football and an air hockey table, a full-size outdoor table tennis table, a cot and a high chair.

It is glorious to relax watching the sun go down over Souda Bay with the White Mountains to one side, and the sparkling lights of the Akrotiri peninsula to the other side. If a villa holiday that meets the needs of your family, Villa Amaltheia is a perfect choice.

Stella village offers the ultimate holiday experience. Whether you have babies, toddlers, small children or teenagers, family fun and entertainment never stop.

The resort combines a group of four hotels (two child-friendly, two adults only), and is a 5* upscale hotel that offers chic relaxation, magnificent family rooms and top-notch restaurants. For families, the resort’s bungalows offer more simplistic accommodation to cover the needs of families who are looking for apartments to stay in.

You'll love the brand-new Aqua Park with waterslides, splash pools, circular tubes, aqua towers, and activity stations. The Stella Kids Club, the pirate pool and kids’ playground, along with football, tennis, water polo, table tennis, volleyball, and mini golf are guaranteed to keep the kids amused. When the sun goes down, evening entertainment is held at the open-air amphitheatre, featuring a mini-disco, kids cinema, and thematic shows.

Whichever option you choose for your stay, you can benefit from all the amenities at Stella Village, and you will be sure to have a fun holiday for all the family.

At Daios Cove, you'll all have a holiday experience you'll never forget!

The sophisticated Daios Cove Resort & Villas is a 5* beach hotel in Agios Nikolaos situated in the North-East of Crete. The hotel is set in a prime location, set on the hillside above its own child-friendly, private sandy beach with shallow waters ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

The family-friendly atmosphere at Daios Cove offers children an entertaining and safe environment to play, have fun, and let off steam. It’s a paradise for families, there’s an on-site crèche with British and local staff, a kids club, along with excellent and varied restaurants that cater well for children and private pools with sea views at each villa, add to that the ease of transfer from Crete’s main airport.