In the hillside village of Koutouloufari, with views down to Crete’s busy north coast, Villa Ippocampi makes a surprisingly blissful retreat for a relaxed summer holiday or an off-season escape a deux. The owners are a Greek-Dutch couple: Nikos, who originates from the village, and his Dutch wife Lydia who has lived on the island since 1984.
Laid-back and restful, the white Cycladic-style building offers 13 simple but stylish suites of various sizes, each with a kitchenette. Set in a walled garden planted with lavender, bougainvillea, geraniums and a towering palm tree, it gives onto a lovely pool and poolside café serving coffee, juices and cocktails till sunset, after which peace reigns. Head out to explore the local villages, packed with small friendly tavernas and cafes, and the beaches within reach.
Highs
- Really personal service and friendly welcoming atmosphere – many guests are return visitors
- We loved the simple but attractive blue-white décor, pepped up with pink flowers, ceramic jars and flickering lanterns
- Very peaceful and private, thanks to the hedges and walled gardens, plus a lovely pool
- Lying between the sea and mountains, low-key Koutouloufari offers a handful of authentic eateries and informal cafes frequented by locals
- Excellent proximity to local shops and tavernas, as well as three lovely villages
Lows
- No restaurant – the poolside cafe only serves drinks, so unless you're self-catering, for all meals you’ll need walk to the nearby villages
- The commercialised resorts of Hersonissos, Malia and Stalida are only 5km away, but easily avoided
- The terraces of the ground-floor suites at the front look straight onto the pool area, so lack privacy
- No kids under 12 means maximum tranquillity for couples
- On our last visit, we noticed noise from passing mopeds
Best time to go
To avoid the crowds, try to visit in shoulder season (May-June or September-October) when the days are sunny but not too hot (ideal for hiking) and the sea still warm enough to swim. During high-season (July-August), the island swarms with visitors, while in low season (November-April) most tourist facilities close down completely. The hotel is closed from November-mid April every year.
Our top tips
Take The Island by Victoria Hislop with you. An award-winning novel based on the leper colony past of nearby Spinalonga, it sets the scene for your surroundings and is an excellent read. Also, let the family recommend nearby beaches, restaurants and places of interest.
Location
Villa Ippocampi lies in the peaceful hillside village of Koutouloufari, 1km above the busy north coast resort of Hersonissos, and the adjacent resorts of Malia and Stalis (Stalida). It is 30km east of Crete’s capital, Heraklion.
By Air
Heraklion airport (25km) is the nearest, served by daily flights from Athens throughout the year, and by charter flights from most European capitals in summer. Another option is Chania ins western Crete. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
We'd recommend hiring a car (see below).
By Sea
Heraklion port (30km west) is served by daily overnight ferries from Athens’ port, Piraeus, on the Greek mainland.
By Car
To explore the region better, you really need to hire a car - see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis 25.0 km HER
- Chania Souda 180.0 km CHQ
Other:
- Beach 1.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 9 independent reviews from i-escape guests
A totally relaxing place to stay. Everything has been done with real flare and style and to keep authenticity. We had a penthouse room with a large terrace which was well worth it. The pool area is so beautiful and peaceful. The village area outside the hotel is busy and can be a little bit noisy in the evening but the upside is there are lots of nearby restaurants- we liked Iokasti and Nicos The Fisherman (food excellent but on the evening we went we had a very long wait for it..).
We loved the location of Ippocampi and the privacy of the beautiful garden and the relaxed, intimate nature of the pool and cafe. Maria in the cafe was a genuine delight. It is great that it is adult only too. A must for us.
We recommend Iokasti as the best restaurant in the village. Although there are plenty of places to eat and drink too. However, we found the breakfast / cafe menu at Ippocampi extremely limited. The rooms were a bit disappointing in our opinion.
A lovely place, well designed and very well maintained, the rooms are very beautiful and decorated in a pleasant simplicity. The staff is very welcoming and friendly especially Maria and Sofia who gave great tips for good beaches and things to do that suited us. Highly recommend
Ippocampi is a delightful property in a great location. The airport is only 20 minutes away, there is a very handy supermarket and a good selection of great restaurants a short walk up the road. Maria’s hospitality is second to none and although the food selection is limited, it is delicious. The property is a delightful little oasis of calm and quiet, with a refreshing pool and pretty gardens. The apartments, (we had a penthouse), are pretty, simply furnished and have all you need for a relaxing break, with a small kitchenette and balcony. I would definitely recommend villa Ippocampi if you are looking for a quiet relaxed break. I would also suggest a car is useful to make the most of the area and see some of the island but not necessary as all your needs can be met locally.
We had a lovely time. The villa was just wonderful. 5 stars for all the categories and staff/owners so so welcoming . They were great with tips on eating well and to visiting places. The only down side was we hadn’t realised that the location was very built up so very touristy, definitely not what we were after but the villa was a peaceful, relaxing place so we were able it ignore it. No real walk to beaches which was a shame if that’s what you’d like, you have to drive to them. Thank you again we are always confident your accommodation finds are great.
A lovely oasis from the nearby tourist area with many restaurants. Excellent service offering many helpful ideas to visit in the vicinity. .
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape
More Feedback