Tella Thera, Crete, Greece
Tella Thera
A cliff carved sanctuary above the Aegean made for slow sunlit days
Set into the hillside above Kissamos, Tella Thera catches the kind of light that makes time feel elastic. The land drops away toward the Aegean, the air smells faintly of salt and warm stone, and everything is designed to pull you into a calmer gear from the first minute. It’s quietly romantic, naturally private, and still easy for families when you want to bring everyone along.
The architecture is part hideaway, part sculpture. Suites are carved and sketched into the slope with planted rooftops and arched windows that frame the sea like a living postcard. Inside, the mood is cool and cocooning, with stone textures and cave-like curves that feel made for hot days and slow mornings. Every suite faces the Aegean, and the most tempting ones add a garden-wrapped terrace with a pool that turns “just one more hour” into a daily habit. If you want maximum space, the Signature Villa comes with its own infinity pool and room to spread out properly.
Water is the centre of gravity here. The main pool is saltwater and infinity-edged, melting into its cliff setting so seamlessly it feels like the sea has climbed up to meet you. Cabana-dotted terraces keep the pace soft, whether you’re here for a full sun day or a quiet swim before dinner.
Photos
Hotel amenities
Good to know
- Sustainable design with local touches
- Fine dining restaurant
- Luxury spa and wellness
- Outdoor pool
Useful Information
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Additional Beds
Cots are available free of charge for babies, while guests aged two and over are charged at the adult rate. Each room includes a single sofa bed that can be set up on request; for larger families or groups, the villa and the two-bedroom suite are the most comfortable options.
Accessibility
Tella Thera is family-friendly and suitable for guests with mobility issues.
Directions
Kissamos, Crete
How to get there
A car is really handy for exploring this quieter side of Crete — you can dip into Kissamos, then make easy day trips to Balos Beach, Falassarna Beach, or Elafonissi Beach, and even swing by the ancient ruins of Polyrinia. Free private parking is available on site and reservation is not needed, and there’s an electric vehicle charging station.
62 kms from Chania international airport, 183 kms from Heraklion international airport.
What's around
Real places near the hotel. Tap one to see it on the map.
TheaSeasCafe · 810 mAn easy spot for coffee or breakfast.
Metochi farmhouseLandmark · 1.1 kmOne of the city's iconic sights.
Stelios and KatinaRestaurant · 1.4 kmA well-loved table close by.
Outdoor Camelot clubNightlife · 2.2 kmWhere the evening comes alive.
Platia TzanakakiPark · 2.3 kmA green escape within reach.
ΚΑΤΑΣΤΗΜΑ ΕΝΔΥΜΑΤΩΝ "ΙΡΙΔΕΣ"Shopping · 2.5 kmFor a little retail therapy nearby.Reviews
Amazing food. Great chefs doing fantastic job! We got here for the second year in a row. Also the place is very friendly to kids!
We spent a few nights here in July with my partner, and we can't recommend this hotel enough. We used it as our base to explore the western part of the island and its beaches, but honestly, we ended up wanting to spend most of our time right at the hotel. Every single detail has been thought through — the quality of the sheets, towels, and beds, and the food at breakfast and dinner was some of the best we had in Greece. The atmosphere felt so warm and familiar, and every time we came back we were greeted with genuine smiles and great recommendations for what to do and where to eat around the island — all of which we followed and loved. The hotel itself is beautiful. We'd absolutely come back again.
Here’s a polished review you can post: Tella Thera was absolutely amazing! The place was beautiful, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the views were breathtaking. Everything exceeded our expectations, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and unforgettable stay. I would thanks Irene, Jess from reception and Alex and Stratus from the services and also Marcos the Chief for for tasty and delicious dishes from restaurant.
We stayed at Tella Thera for 11 nights in July 2026 as a family of four and had a wonderful time. The service was fantastic from the moment we arrived - we were greeted and offered delicious lemonade, then taken to our fantastic 2 adjoining rooms with complimentary wine and nibbles before being left to settle in. We made good use of our outdoor private pool - which was a lovely temperature even though it was unheated. The front desk staff were incredibly helpful sorting out boat trips and fishing trips for us, booking beach clubs and restaurant. The service staff couldn’t do enough to help, even on the nights when the wine had been flowing too well and we were up late (after midnight) in the restaurant. The hotel opened up the conference room so we could watch the World Cup football play offs and final and offered service even then. The food and breakfasts(!) at the hotel were fantastic - but if I had one tiny gripe, it would be that the menu wasn’t changed often enough. Having said that the chefs were always accommodating to requests so we definitely didn’t go hungry. We had fabulous days by the beautiful pool and to top it off I had not one, but two incredible - best-ever(!) deep tissue massages from Asimina at the spa in the last week. My only disappointment was that i didn’t learn about the spa’s wonderful products until i actually ventured into the spa - if there had been info in the rooms, or they had been available at the reception shop, I would have purchased them earlier. We had the best time - and could not fault the hotel or its staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly and couldn’t do enough to help - even the guys on the golf carts who were always waiting in the car park to take you up the steep hill to the hotel. The hotel manager was always on site and was also incredibly friendly which gave the hotel a lovely welcoming feeling. I’ve seen the one horrible review someone else posted and honestly can’t understand why someone would be so nasty. It certainly bore no reflection to our stay. We would come back to Tella Thera in a heartbeat.
Opens our booking partners in a new window
- Hand-picked into the Top World Hotel network
- Booked securely on the partner site
Similar hotels
Uzenie All Suites Boutique Resort
- Safe Deposit Box
- Fast Check-in/out
- Private check-in and check-out