Top Sea-View Stays in Heraklio Town

Porta Suites gives families an aparthotel base in Heraklion with sea views from every unit. Fully equipped kitchens make it easy to prepare meals for children, and each unit has air conditioning, a private bathroom and a balcony. The terrace and hot tub add a pleasant extra after a day out, and parents can use the fitness centre. Free private parking is available off site, useful for families touring Crete by car. With a 9.5 score from more than 1,000 reviews, I would pick it for a self-catering family stay.

Capsis Astoria is a four-star hotel right next to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, so families can visit the Minoan finds and be back in minutes. The rooftop pool looks over the city and the old Venetian port, a good reward after sightseeing. Rooms are modern, decorated with black-and-white photos of old Heraklion. The Erofilli restaurant serves buffet meals, easy with children, and parents can use the spa. I would choose it as a central family base with a pool.

Metaxa Hotel Heraklion is a boutique hotel with just 12 uniquely designed suites, inspired by Heraklion's Venetian Walls. Some accommodations have sea views, and the design concept gives it a character that larger city hotels lack. It suits families and couples who want a welcoming urban base for exploring Heraklion and its surroundings. Rated 8.9 from 289 reviews, I would choose it for the design and the small scale, not for resort-style facilities.

A family-friendly city hotel in Heraklion with soundproofed, air-conditioned rooms and balconies, some with sea views. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is close by, which makes the Minoan collections an easy outing with children. Breakfast is varied and can be taken outdoors, and the spa and wellness facilities give adults a quiet hour after a day in town. It rates 8.5 from close to 800 reviews.

Kronos is a simple two-star hotel 200 metres from Heraklion's centre and 700 metres from the port, so families can walk to the old town and catch a ferry without a taxi. Many rooms have private balconies with sea views. The daily buffet breakfast is an easy start for children, and the lounge bar looks over the Cretan Sea in the evening. Rooms are plainly furnished, so I would choose it as a practical, well-placed family base.

Blue Pulse JR Villas - Korifi Suites is an adults-only aparthotel, so it is not a pick for families travelling with children. For couples or friends without kids, the format works well. Every unit has a kitchenette, a private bathroom and a balcony or terrace with a sea view, and the shared outdoor pool sits beside a sun terrace and a garden. I would book it as a quiet, self-catering base on Crete's north coast, with a bar and an outdoor fireplace for the evenings.