Best Old Town Stays in Rethymno Town

Casa Moazzo Suites and Apartments occupies a renovated neoclassical building in the old town of Rethymno, with six suites that mix traditional style and modern elegance. The Venetian harbour is a short walk away and the beach is 200 metres off, so families can go to the sea and back without a car. Spa and wellness facilities are on site. With only six suites the stay feels personal. Rated 9.7 from 443 reviews, I would book it for the setting and the walkable old town.

Mythos Suites occupies a 16th-century Venetian building in Rethymno's old town, about 100 metres from the Venetian Harbour and a sandy beach. Families can walk to the sea and back for a swim in the courtyard pool. Studios and rooms have private balconies or terraces, and studios give a little extra room for a family. A spa and wellness area completes the picture. I would suggest it for families with older children who enjoy old streets as much as the beach.

Casa Dei Delfini is a traditional Venetian-Turkish mansion in the Old Town of Rethymno, and its self-catering units suit families who like space and independence. Units are air-conditioned, with beamed ceilings and stone walls, and some have separate seating and dining areas, which helps when children go to bed early. Free Wi-Fi is included and the Fortezza Castle is only 500 metres away. Rated 9.5 from 551 reviews, I would choose it for the authentic setting, not for hotel-style services.

Pepi Boutique Hotel is adults-only, so families travelling with children cannot book it; it suits couples and groups of adult relatives instead. It sits in Rethymno Old Town, surrounded by restaurants and bars, with easy access to the beach. An outdoor pool with sunbeds and showers gives a calm break between walks. Each room has a coffee corner with a fridge, free WiFi and a smart TV. I would choose it for an adults-only stay inside the Old Town.

Leo can work for families who want to be in the middle of Rethymno's old town and do everything on foot. The Venetian harbour is about 50 m away and the Fortezza about 300 m, two outings that school-age children usually take to easily. The constraints come from the building: a 15th-century house with no pool or play area, so beach and swimming time happens outside the hotel. Cars cannot reach the door in summer, which means a walk from the car park with luggage and children. With toddlers and a pushchair, I would look for a hotel outside the old town.

Iperion Beach Hotel is a family-friendly four-star hotel sitting directly on the beaches of Rethymno, with apartments and studios that have private balconies. It has a private pool, a restaurant with al-fresco dining and a beach bar, and some units have kitchenettes for self-catering. Breakfast and light Cretan lunches are served. Guests rate it 9.4 from 263 reviews. I would choose it for families who want the beach and a pool at the door.

Dyo Suites is on the beachfront in Rethymno Town, just steps from the sand and a short walk from the old town. Each suite is decorated differently and has sea views and a spa bath, which children tend to love after a day at the beach. A spa and wellness area gives parents a quiet hour, and smart room keys and a digital voice assistant make the rooms easy to use. I would book it for families who want the beach and the old town without a car.

Avli Lounge Apartments occupies a former Venetian lord's house in Rethymno's Old Town, a setting that turns a family stay into a small history lesson. Suites come with spa baths, a welcome soak after a day in the lanes, and the rooftop terrace has a hot tub. The fine dining restaurant and wine list are aimed at adults, so it suits families with older children who enjoy a long dinner. The Old Town location keeps everything within walking distance.

Pearl SeaBreeze Suites has beachfront apartments on Rethymno's Blue Flag beach, each with sea views and a veranda. Families get an organised beach area with sunbeds and umbrellas, a swimming pool for a change from the sea and a snack bar for quick lunches. Apartments give more room than a standard hotel room, which helps with children. A spa and wellness area is on site, and the historic town centre is close. I would book it for a beach-first family holiday.

Fortezza Hotel is a family-friendly three-star in Rethymno's Old Town, a handy base for families who want to explore the lanes on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned, with private balconies or windows, and there is free Wi-Fi. The on-site restaurant and two bars save evening searches, and the 24-hour reception helps with late arrivals. Private parking is a real plus for families with a car in the Old Town. I would book it for a walkable town stay.

Filoxenia Beach is a beachfront hotel on the west side of Rethymno Town, with rooms and suites whose furnished balconies look over the Cretan Sea. Children have their own seawater pool next to the main outdoor pool, and the private beach area has free sun loungers. Parents can use the spa and wellness facilities. Rated 8.6 from 733 reviews, I recommend it to families who want the beach, a kids' pool and sea views without leaving the hotel.

Aquila Porto Rethymno is a five-star beachfront resort on a sandy beach in Rethymno Town, with a private beach. Three freshwater pools give families plenty of water beyond the sea. Rooms have balconies with views of the Cretan Sea or the town, air conditioning, satellite TV and minibars. Two restaurants are on site, and the spa offers massage treatments and yoga lessons for adults. Ask for a sea-view balcony when booking.

Elina Hotel Apartments is a family-run property about 100 metres from Rethymno's sandy beach, so beach days with children need no car. The seasonal outdoor pool has a separate children's section. Studios and apartments are air-conditioned, with kitchenettes for simple meals and COCO-MAT mattresses. The Old Town and the Venetian Fortezza are within walking distance, with tavernas and cafes on the way. I would book it for families who want self-catering space between the beach and the Old Town.