Reviewed by
Emily Preece
It’s wonderful to see someone’s dream come true. The Dutch owners had always wanted to create a cool but comfortable adults-only retreat in Greece - and Galini Breeze is just that. Set 10 minutes' walk above a pretty fishing town and beach, their contemporary Cycladic buildings slope up the hill like giant sugar-cube steps. Each detached studio for 2 is minimalist and chic, cleverly designed with sleeping/living areas and abstract artwork dotting white-washed walls. Smart outdoor sofas are shaded by slatted roofs; stairs lead up to private roof terraces with striking views to the ocean. There's also a lovely shared swimming pool that feels like a swanky beach club.
Galini Breeze is just for grown-ups: those who like escaping the crowds, relaxing by the pool, taking boat trips to offshore islands or hiking through gorges to spectacular beaches. Supper is a stroll down to quaint Agia Galini and its abundant restaurants; nights end with stargazing and sipping homemade raki - your gift for booking through i-escape. Divine.
Highs
- Everything is within walking distance: the beach, bars, restaurants and shops, yet the location is wonderfully peaceful
- Each studio has 2 private terrace spaces; the patio is perfect for breakfast, while the roof terrace is ideal for a pre- or post-dinner drink
- A thoughtful assortment of snacks and a bottle of local wine are provided on arrival
- It's great to see that Erik and Julia, who took over in 2025, have maintained the passion, hospitality and local knowledge of the previous owners
- It's great value, and the views are astounding
Lows
- The walk back from Agia Galini is mostly uphill and could be a struggle for some - though you could easily walk down and taxi back
- No meals provided, but all studios have a basic kitchenette for light meals
- Though the pool is heated, it's not particularly warm
- Crete's south coast is further from the airports (1.5-2 hrs' drive), but wilder and more spectacular than the north
Best time to go
Southern Crete is perfectly warm in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) - a perfect time for a romantic holiday. The property is usually closed from mid-October to mid-April.
Our top tips
Friendly Agia Galini has a cultural association that organises summer festivals - foodies may want to check out the Fishermen’s Feast in June; for music-lovers, there's a folk dancing festival in July and loads of traditional Greek music concerts in the second week of August.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 9 independent reviews from i-escape guests
The booking process with i-escape went smoothly - we received a confirmation or our booking request within 24 hours and ongoing communication was very good with clear driving directions and other useful information. Hamza arrived within a few minutes of our arrival to show us our apartment and offer us a welcome drink. We stayed in a Studio Apartment in a lovely location with a superb sea view terrace overlooking Agia Galini. It's an easy walk down into the town and there are dozens of great restaurants and bars to choose from for lunch and dinner. The walk back is uphill all the way and a bit of a work out but it's easy to take a taxi if required although we didn't do this. The apartment was stylishly presented and everything felt of high quality with impressive attention to detail and all was very clean. Hamza and Serhat (aka Socrates!) were super hosts and made everything very relaxing for us. They hosted a drinks gathering twice a week which was a nice opportunity to meet some of the other guests. A lovely stay - highly recommended.
Terrific pool and viewing areas, good sized shower stalls. Helpful drives and walks in booklet form and - yeah - that trudge uphill from the town centre is an effort.
Lovely place to stay. Very private apartments with great views. Simple but all you need. Very easy to walk into town. Great recommendations and information provided by all the hosts who made the stay extra special.
Beautiful Gallini Breeze! Lovely sea and mountain views. Exceptional hosts. Very clean and welcoming. A nice walk down to Gallini, not so nice coming back up, as very steep but worth it for the views and you can always get a taxi or hire a car.
We loved our stay.
Serhat and Hamza were excellent, so nice and friendly, very informative and helpful. They also hosted really well a casual get together at the pool bar one evening which was as a chance to meet some of the other guests. The elevated location with dramatic views of mountain and sea is a plus. It felt near enough to the town for convenience and far enough for peace and quiet with a particularly good pool. Also great location for walking and a big choice of restaurants. The apartment was minimalist bordering on a little stark. There was a good private patio but we felt the small room was tight on space and storage.
Lovely clean and well appointed villa with absolutely amazing views! Our host was wonderful in every aspect of our stay. Very helpful with food and day trip recommendations. Very remote and so beautiful, would need a car to explore the surrounding areas. A very welcoming touch to have some groceries in the fridge for breakfast as we had a very late arrival. Serhat was there to greet us! Just an amazing time!
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