Lato Boutique Hotel is a long-standing favourite in Heraklion and the best mid-range choice for harbour views. It stands on Epimenidou Street, on the slope above the old Venetian port, so the sea-facing rooms look straight down on the fishing boats, the arched shipyards and the Koules Fortress at the harbour mouth. Its seventy-nine rooms come in several categories, from compact Comfy Rooms and city-view Superior Rooms to Superior and Junior Suites with sea views, an Executive Suite and family rooms, with some rooms in an annex across the street. The style is contemporary and colourful, with good beds, air conditioning and workspaces. The hotel has a rooftop restaurant with a view across the harbour, a bar and the Aroma restaurant on the ground floor, where a buffet breakfast is served each morning. Importantly for winter travellers, Lato operates all year round, 365 days a year, which is not true of many hotels on the island, and its service is consistently praised by guests.
Location and getting around: Epimenidou Street runs between the old harbour and the centre, so Koules Fortress and the waterfront are a couple of minutes downhill, and the Archaeological Museum, Lions Square and the Loggia are within an easy walk. The ferry port is close, which makes Lato practical for arrivals and departures by sea. Knossos is a short taxi or bus ride away, and the hotel can arrange an airport shuttle for a fee and help with car hire.
The rooms: modern and comfortable. Pay the extra for a sea-view room or suite, because the view of the harbour and the fortress is the reason to stay here. City-view rooms are cheaper and quieter on the street side; family rooms suit parents with children.
Who it suits: couples, first-time visitors and families who want a central, well-run hotel with character at a fair price, and travellers coming in the off-season, when many resort hotels are closed.
Good to know: breakfast is served from early morning in the Aroma restaurant and may be charged separately on some rates. Parking is off-site and paid, so ask the hotel for details if you are driving. Small pets are accepted for a fee.
Why stay here
- ✓Open all year round
- ✓Sea-view rooms facing Koules Fortress
- ✓Rooftop restaurant
- ✓Aroma restaurant with buffet breakfast
- ✓Bar
- ✓Family rooms and suites
- ✓Airport shuttle for a fee
- ✓Pets accepted for a fee
Good questions
Is Lato Boutique Hotel open in winter?+
Yes, the hotel operates all year round, 365 days a year. That makes it a reliable choice for November and the winter months.
Do the rooms at Lato have sea views?+
The sea-view rooms and suites look over the old Venetian harbour and the Koules Fortress. City-view rooms are also available at lower rates.
Does Lato Boutique Hotel have parking?+
Parking is off-site and paid. Contact the hotel before you arrive if you are bringing a car.