Riviera Suites Chania – In My Opinion, the Best Stay on the Quieter Side of the Harbour
Greece, Chania
A Pleasure Advisor's honest review. Harbour views, local tips and why I keep coming back.
━23.6.2026
The Venetian harbour at golden hour. This is the view that made me come back.
If someone asks me where to stay in Chania, my answer is almost always the same: choose a place where you can experience the harbour even when you're not out exploring.
Riviera Suites Chania is exactly that kind of place. And honestly, it's my personal favourite, partly because the location sits a little quieter than some of the busiest spots around the harbour, without sacrificing anything.
A View Few Places in Chania Can Offer
Chania's old Venetian harbour is one of those places where you can spend hours doing absolutely nothing. Sit with a coffee, watch people go by, follow the movement of the boats, let the rhythm of the city do its thing.
The harbour was built in the 14th century during Venetian rule, its construction spanning several decades. Venetian architecture is still visible in the waterfront buildings, the narrow alleys, and the iconic lighthouse standing at the harbour entrance. The lighthouse was originally built between 1595 and 1601, and its original base structure is still visible today. The Egyptians added the minaret-shaped upper section in the early 19th century, during their brief rule over Crete.
Riviera Suites Chania sits right in the middle of all of this. A small, modern, and beautifully finished property where every room feels like its own space. But honestly, the biggest reason to choose this place isn't the interior design.
It's the view.
Some of the rooms open directly onto the harbour. In front of you: the old sea wall, the boats, the waterfront promenade, and that famous lighthouse. The morning atmosphere is something else, with cafés opening their doors and locals starting their day. In the evening, everything shifts. Restaurant lights come on, terraces fill up, and the harbour comes alive again. Watching the sunset behind the Venetian sea wall and the lighthouse is the kind of moment that stays with you.
A lot of travellers go looking for the best viewpoint in Chania. Here, you find it from your own room.
Every Room at Riviera Suites Chania Is Its Own World
One thing that sets Riviera Suites apart from a typical boutique hotel: no two rooms are the same.
Everything has been thought through individually, from the lighting and materials to the use of space. It really shows in the bathrooms. Some rooms have a beautiful hammam, others a shower with an overhead mist function. Small details that turn an ordinary shower into something else entirely.
The larger suites may have two balconies, one bigger and one smaller on the other side of the suite. It's a kind of luxury you don't find in many places.
And one more thing I have to mention: the beds. Pillows, duvet, mattress, all chosen with care. I slept like a baby, and that's worth saying out loud, because it's not a given in places that focus more on aesthetics than comfort. Here, they've nailed both.
I'd recommend looking closely at what each room offers when you book, precisely because the differences actually matter.
Take a look inside! I filmed a full walkthrough of the suite from the street all the way up to the harbour view bedroom.
Check availability and current prices at Riviera Suites Chania on Booking.com.
Everything Within Walking Distance of the Old Town
The moment you step outside, you're right in the heart of Chania's old town. Restaurants, tavernas, wine bars and cafés in every direction. Minimarkets for everyday essentials are also close by.
The small artisan shops along the old town alleys are worth taking time over. Leather goods, belts, jewellery and locally made products are far more personal than the usual tourist souvenirs.
My favourite thing is simply to wander without a destination, or grab a fresh orange juice or coffee and head down to the sea wall, where you can walk all the way towards the lighthouse. From there you get a completely different perspective on both the sea and the harbour. One tip about the orange juice: drink it immediately after it's squeezed. Vitamin C is sensitive to oxygen and light, and within just 15 to 20 minutes the juice loses a significant portion of its nutritional value.
Fresh really only means fresh when it's genuinely fresh.
The Saturday Farmers Market: Go in the Morning
If you want a glimpse of authentic local life away from the tourist buzz, the Saturday farmers market is absolutely worth the visit. It's an easy walk from Riviera Suites Chania.
The market opens at 8 in the morning and closes around 14:00. I'd recommend going around 9 or 10, by which point all the vendors are definitely set up and the produce is at its freshest. I personally buy cheese, honey, olive oil, mountain teas, herbs and pretty much all my vegetables for the whole week there. I eat them outside or back at the accommodation. It's one of those small rituals that makes a trip to Crete feel special.
One practical note: from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, parking is prohibited in the market area and cars may be towed. Worth moving yours elsewhere the night before.
There's Always Something to Watch at the Harbour
Chania's harbour isn't just a postcard scene. It's a living, breathing part of the city where something is always happening. Throughout the day you'll see fishing boats, sailing boats and day-trip vessels coming and going. You can join boat trips or explore the Cretan coastline from the sea.
Street musicians play along the waterfront, and the harbour area regularly hosts free cultural events. Last time I was there I stumbled into an open-air opera performance at the Grand Arsenal, one of the beautifully restored Venetian shipyard buildings right on the harbour. Three soloists and a pianist. Completely unexpected, completely unforgettable.
Even with no particular plans, the harbour will easily keep you entertained for hours.
Rent a Car and Explore the Rest of Crete
I almost always recommend renting a car for at least a few days. Mountain roads, small villages, secluded beaches and local tavernas are exactly the kind of things that stay with you longest. In Crete, it's worth getting deliberately lost sometimes.
Parking in the old town area is limited, but you can usually find a spot within about a 10-minute walk. Just remember that blue paving stones on the kerb mean paid parking.
Who Is Riviera Suites Chania For?
Riviera Suites Chania works especially well for travellers who value location, atmosphere and real experiences over resort amenities. It's a great fit for couples, solo travellers and groups of friends.
If you're looking for a large resort hotel with a pool, this probably isn't the right fit. But if you want to wake up in the middle of one of the most beautiful harbours in the Mediterranean and enjoy views that few places in Chania can match, this is my strongest recommendation as a Pleasure Advisor.
Ready to book? Check availability and current prices at Riviera Suites Chania on Booking.com.
This article contains an affiliate link to Booking.com. If you book through it, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's one of the ways I keep writing honest, independent travel content as a Pleasure Advisor.
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Samuli Makkonen — Pleasure Advisor
Live with more pleasure.
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