Casa Delfino is the most romantic place to stay in Chania and the splurge pick on this list. It occupies a seventeenth-century Venetian mansion on Theofanous Street in Topanas, the old quarter just behind the harbour, which was the private home of the Delfino family and has stayed in the same family for six generations. The building has been carefully restored, with stone arches, high ceilings and a courtyard paved with a traditional pebble mosaic, where breakfast is served on mild mornings. Rooms and suites are individually decorated with antiques and Venetian touches, and the more spacious suites suit longer stays. Upstairs, a rooftop terrace looks over the tiled roofs to the harbour and the lighthouse, and the spa, housed in a historic part of the building, offers massages, aromatherapy and body treatments. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and guest reviews are consistently outstanding, especially for the service and the homemade breakfast.
Location and getting around: Theofanous Street is a quiet lane in Topanas, a couple of minutes on foot from the western side of the Venetian harbour and the Firkas Fortress. Everything in the old town is walkable, including the lighthouse breakwater, the Maritime Museum, Splantzia and the covered market. Cars cannot reach the door through the narrow lanes, so arrange your arrival with the hotel; there is no on-site parking, but free public parking is available nearby. Chania airport is around half an hour away by taxi, and the intercity bus station for Heraklion and the rest of the island is a short walk.
The rooms: historic and full of character, with stone walls, wooden ceilings and traditional furnishings combined with modern bathrooms and air conditioning. Suites are worth the upgrade for space and, in some cases, views. Rooms around the courtyard are especially quiet.
Who it suits: couples, honeymooners and anyone who wants a memorable historic stay in the heart of Chania. It is less suited to travellers who need a pool or easy car access.
Good to know: breakfast in the courtyard is a highlight. Book spa treatments in advance, and ask the hotel about its opening dates if you are travelling in deep winter, as old-town hotels sometimes adjust their season.
Why stay here
- ✓Seventeenth-century Venetian mansion
- ✓Pebble-mosaic courtyard
- ✓Rooftop terrace with harbour views
- ✓Spa with massage and body treatments
- ✓Homemade breakfast in the courtyard
- ✓Small Luxury Hotels of the World member
- ✓Free public parking nearby
- ✓Steps from the Venetian harbour
Good questions
Where is Casa Delfino in Chania?+
It is on Theofanous Street in Topanas, the old quarter right behind the Venetian harbour. The harbour and the Firkas Fortress are a couple of minutes on foot.
Does Casa Delfino have parking?+
There is no on-site parking because the lanes are pedestrian, but free public parking is available nearby. Contact the hotel before arrival for directions.
Is Casa Delfino good for couples?+
Very. The historic mansion, courtyard breakfasts, rooftop terrace and spa make it one of the most romantic stays on Crete.