Self Catering Holidays to Greece

Our strongest self catering bases combine easy shopping, a good choice of tavernas and a comfortable stock of apartments and villas.

• Chania: Chania on western Crete suits self catering particularly well because the old town and its harbour sit close to a large covered market, several well-stocked supermarkets and a dense run of tavernas along the waterfront. Apartments in the town and nearby residential streets give you a kitchen while keeping dinner out a short stroll away. The trade-off is that town-centre parking is limited, so we recommend a base within walking distance of the harbour rather than a remote villa. For travellers who want local food and plenty of options on the doorstep, it is one of our most dependable choices. It is exactly the brief our Crete holidays deals are built around.
• Naxos Chora: Naxos Chora, the island capital on Naxos, offers a strong self catering setup with small grocery shops, a fish market near the harbour and a good spread of rental apartments within easy reach of the old quarter. Its tavernas serve Cycladic staples at reasonable prices, so evenings out feel relaxed rather than rushed. Beaches are a short drive away, and most rental properties come with a kitchen and balcony. The island is quieter than the other famous Aegean hotspots, which suits travellers who want local shopping and a calmer pace in equal measure. It is exactly the brief our Greece Last Minute Holidays deals are built around.
• Heraklion: Heraklion is Crete's largest city and works well for self catering because it has large supermarkets, a busy central market and a wide choice of apartments close to the port and the old town. Its restaurant scene is broad, so you can cook most days and still find dinner options without planning ahead, much like the flexible approach our Greece All Inclusive Holidays deals are built around. Traffic and city noise are the trade-offs compared with a village base, so we suggest choosing a quieter street away from the main roads. For visitors who want easy access to shops and a lively city feel, it is a practical base on the island.
• Rhodes Town: Rhodes Town combines a medieval old town with modern shops, a supermarket belt around the newer quarters and plenty of tavernas and cafés. Self catering apartments are spread across the town and along the coastal roads, giving you a kitchen and easy access to the harbour. Because the old town is largely pedestrian, you will carry shopping on foot for the short walk back from the larger stores, so choose a flat close to the centre. Overall it is a strong base for travellers who want history, shops and dining within reach. It is exactly the brief our Rhodes holidays deals are built around.
• Parikia: Parikia, the island's largest town, has a traditional harbour, a handy range of grocers and bakeries, and plenty of self catering apartments in the streets just behind it. Tavernas along the waterfront serve fresh fish and local dishes, and ferry links from Piraeus make it an easy place to base yourself. Compared with some neighbouring islands it feels less busy, although some shops keep shorter hours outside the summer months. We think Parikia suits couples and small groups who want a manageable town with everyday shopping close at hand.