Hersonissos, Crete, Greece

Creta Maris Resort

Seventeen pools, heated indoor and outdoor, on Hersonissos beach.

  • Indoor
  • Heated
  • Seasonal
1756 guest reviewsRated 9.1 out of 10 from 1756 reviews on Booking.com · checked 21 Oct 2026
Pool verified · checked 21 Oct 2026
Pool details
1 / 12

Why it made the list

Highlights

  • On the 250 m Blue Flag beach at Hersonissos
  • 4,000 m² waterpark; the main slides need a 1.20 m minimum height
  • Kids' club for ages 4 to 12, Monday to Saturday
  • All-inclusive until midnight: 7 restaurants and 9 bars
  • Heraklion airport 24 km
Aerial view of the beach with rows of umbrellas and turquoise water

The pool

Why this pool made the list

Seventeen freshwater pools spread through Creta Maris, from the big main pools above Hersonissos beach to five kids' pools and a 4,000 m² waterpark with slides, aqua tower pools and river rapids. The heated ones set the tone for spring and autumn: the indoor pool, the heated outdoor pools in the Terra family area, and three heated East Pools inside the Exclusive Adult Rooms area, kept for guests aged 16 and over who stay there.

Loungers, umbrellas, pool towels and the pool bars all come with the all-inclusive stay, and the heated indoor pool hosts aqua gym sessions as well as quiet laps. Here's the thing: not every pool is heated, so outside high summer the Terra pools and the indoor pool are the ones to head for.

Pool passportSWP pool check
Heated
Yes
Type
Shared, indoor
Pools
17
Open
Seasonal
Kids' pool
Yes
Pool access
Included in the rate

Checked against the property's official facilities on 21 Oct 2026. We re-check monthly.

The stay

Beyond the pool

Creta Maris runs along the Blue Flag beach at Hersonissos on Crete's north coast, with 250 metres of sand out front. Heraklion airport is 24 km away and an 18-hole golf course about 7 km. The resort is laid out like a village of whitewashed buildings, and every room has a balcony or veranda facing the mountains, the garden or the sea, with earthy tones and a Nespresso machine inside.

The stay is all-inclusive until midnight: seven restaurants, nine bars and six snack points, with Cretan, Mediterranean and international menus and theme nights. The Hammam Spa adds a sauna and hammam, and children have their own clubs, game rooms and playground. Couples can book the Exclusive Adult Rooms, with a separate 16+ area, and there's a two-bedroom villa with a private pool of its own.

Not for everyone: this is a big, lively family resort spread over a wide site, so expect busy pools in summer and some walking between them.

  • Resort
  • On the coast
  • Family-friendly
  • No pets
  • Beachfront
  • All-inclusive
  • Spa

Good to know

Questions people ask

Which pools are heated?

The indoor pool, the outdoor pools in the Terra family area and three East Pools in the adults-only area. The other outdoor pools aren't confirmed as heated.

Can everyone use the adults-only pools?

No: the three heated East Pools are for guests aged 16 and over staying in the Exclusive Adult Rooms.

Are the pools included in the rate?

Yes: pools, loungers, pool towels and the waterpark are part of the all-inclusive stay.

Nearby

When you get out of the water

Chania: Balos Lagoon Off-road 4x4 Jeep Safari from Kissamos 6 hours A small-group off-road drive to Balos lagoon from Kissamos, in the far west of the island. See on GetYourGuide Knossos: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour 1.5 hours A small-group guided walk round the Minoan palace near Heraklion, skipping the ticket queue. See on GetYourGuide Chania: Authentic Cooking Class in the White Mountains 6 hours Cook Cretan dishes in the White Mountains above Chania, then eat them; pickup available. See on GetYourGuide Chania: Elafonissi Beach, Free Umbrella, Honey & Wine Tasting 10 hours A full day from Chania to Elafonissi beach, with honey and wine tasting on the way. See on GetYourGuide

Similar stays

More pool stays in Crete.

All 20 Crete stays
Outdoor pool with loungers running towards the sea at Nautilux RethymnoAerial view of the spiral-shaped outdoor pools and sun terracesPalm island in the pool lit up at dusk in front of the hotelIndoor spa pool beneath a curving staircaseGuests in the indoor pool of the Coral Wellness spa
  • Indoor
  • Heated
Rethymno, Crete 9.4 · 900+

Nautilux Rethymno by Mage Hotels

Two outdoor pools curl through the gardens between the hotel and the beach, with the sea beyond the loungers. The White Sand Lagoon Spiral is 1.4 m deep, and the Tropical Green Lake, 1.55 m deep, is designed to be accessible for guests with reduced mobility. Both run with the hotel season, from 15 April to 9 November. Inside the Coral Wellness spa there's a heated indoor pool, 1.2 m deep, beside a hot tub.

Pool verified · checked 6 Oct 2026 Booking.comExpediaHotels.com
Pool terrace facing the island of Spinalonga across turquoise waterPools stepping down the hillside towards the bay at Domes of EloundaSuite terrace with a private pool, pergola and sea viewResidence terrace with a private pool, loungers and views over the bayOutdoor hot tub on a stone-walled terrace above the sea
  • Indoor
  • Heated
Elounda, Crete 9.3 · 100+

Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection

Spinalonga and its Venetian fortress sit just across the water, and the pools of Domes of Elounda step down the hillside towards the sandy beach of Driros. Families get their own outdoor pools with a shallow kids' pool, there's an adults-only pool, the 16+ Chora complex has a pool with the closest view of the island, and the spa has an indoor seawater pool. Many suites, residences and villas add a private pool; the rest have an outdoor hot tub.

Pool verified · checked 7 Oct 2026 Booking.comExpediaAgoda
Long curved pool between the hotel wings and the beach at Lyttos BeachGround-floor rooms with private pools lined up along the seafront lawnIndoor pool under a glass roof looking out onto palmsOutdoor lane pool with racing lines in front of the hotelGuests in a private pool steps from the beach and its palms
  • Indoor
  • Heated
Analipsi, Crete 9.0 · 1400+

Lyttos Beach

Water is everywhere at Lyttos Beach. A long, curving outdoor pool runs between the hotel wings and the sand, a lane-marked pool is there for proper lengths, and an indoor heated pool sits under glass for cooler days. Along the seafront, some ground-floor rooms and junior suites have a private pool of their own, a few steps from the beach.

Pool verified · checked 7 Oct 2026 Booking.comExpediaHotels.com