Fata Morgana Studios & Apartments

I visited Fata Morgana for 4 nights in late September 2026 on a solo backpacking trip and it was the perfect place to escape for a few days and unwind. Eleni and her family were so helpful and accommodating with check-in, serving breakfast and organising travel arrangements, always with a smile! They are doing an excellent job taking over the hotel which their parents have been running for many years. Note: It can be confusing looking at the listing because some of the photos were taken before the glorious new building and swimming pool were built. I can assure you it is not an AI picture and the new building and pool are just as luxurious and spotless as in the most recent photos! Since I have mobility needs I requested a ground floor apartment with a lovely sea view balcony looking out over the quaint lawn and olive grove. The linens were changed every day and I loved being visited by the friendly hotel cat who took to sleeping on my lap! Breakfast is excellent- buffet style in the new building with free tea and coffee refills all day, and I ate dinner almost every evening in the wonderful Akti Taverna right in front of the property, which the hotel also own. Prices were very reasonable and staff friendly. The only other dinner I spot I tried was was the charming Argilos tavern (5 mins walk along the cliffs) and it is also owned by their cousins : ) Orthi Ammos beach is down the cliffs directly in front of Fata Morgana, and is spotless with a mixture of pebbles and sand, clear water and virtually no waves, with a nudist section at the far eastern end. Unlike the hideous all-inclusive commercial resorts on the north coast around Chania (around Agia Marina), Fata Morgana is nested into the unspoiled nature of the rugged south coast and offers a tranquility you will thank yourself for trekking across the mountains to reach. 10/10, cannot wait to visit again.

Although Orthi Ammos Beach is stunning, the staircase down the cliffs is quite steep and not easy for someone with mobility issues. You'd be better off using the main beach at Frangokastello which is more accessible and has sunbeds and toilet access. I was visiting Crete without a car and found the walk to the supermarket and beach at Frangokastello each day a bit too far (due to my mobility issues). I had hoped the Quad/ATV hire nearby would solve my problems but it does not offer unaccompanied day hire. Fata Morgana have complimentary mountain bikes for hotel guests if you can ride a bike. The local bus will take you to the bus station at Chora Sfakia but if you wish to travel further along the coast towards Plakia you will need to hire a car or scooters. Taxis in Crete are hard to come by and pricey. I was visiting in September 2026 and unfortunately Crete was experiencing terrible windstorms and floods at the time, which meant the beautiful swimming pool and sun loungers did not get much use. No reflection at all on the hotel but something to be aware of when you're making travel plans!

Charming property in a fascinating location. All perfect!

Nothing

We had an amazing and relaxing time staying here for 7 nights. The room itself was great with stunning views from the balconies. All the staff were super helpful, we also enjoyed the onsite "snack bar" which was perfect for lunch when you don't want to travel. The location is very beautiful, we were mostly happy to spend time at the closest beach (directly infront of Fata Morgana, we borrowed a sun umbrella from the hotel) but also enjoyed some days walking to Frangokastello beach to rent some sunbeds. Gorgeous clear water with views of the mountains in the background! Wish we could go back already, lots of thanks to the staff.

Very nice to have bikes available to borrow for free but most of them were not suitable for long journeys as they were not in a great condition. We eneded up walking more because of this, which wasnt really a problem but if you (like us) dont have a car it can be good to know.

posizione, disponibilità per late check in e check out

prezzo, camera caldissima al nostro arrivo (sarebbe bastato accendere un po’ l’aria condizionata), bagno e cucina vecchi, letto scomodissimo