Why it made the list
The pool
The main outdoor pool runs along the edge of Ierapetra's seafront, with the Libyan Sea just beyond the railing and rows of thatched umbrellas on the sand below. It's a saltwater pool with its own pool bar, and next to it a separate kids' pool is built around a pirate ship with water slides. Down in the spa there's also an indoor pool, alongside a sauna, a hammam and a hot tub.
Sun loungers, umbrellas and pool towels are free, and the animation team runs aqua-aerobics and games through the day, so this is a lively pool rather than a silent one. Here's the thing: winter opening for the outdoor pools isn't confirmed, so treat them as a warm-season swim and check with the hotel before a cold-month trip. Families with young children get the most out of it.
Checked against the property's official facilities on 20 Oct 2026. We re-check monthly.
The stay
Petra Mare sits right on the seafront of Ierapetra, on Crete's south coast, with its own beach area of umbrellas and sunbeds below the hotel. The town centre, with its bars and cafés, is about 800 metres away, Agios Nikolaos is around 35 km north and Heraklion airport is about 90 km away.
Most suites and apartments look out over the Libyan Sea, and all have air conditioning, satellite TV and a fridge. Meals are in the hotel restaurant, whose terrace faces the water, and in the evening the bar puts on live entertainment shows. Families are well covered: there's a kids' club, a playground, an indoor play area and kids' meals at the buffet, plus a fitness centre and massages in the spa.
Worth knowing: with an animation team and evening shows, this is a busy, family-focused hotel rather than a quiet retreat. Children from 12 are charged as adults, pets aren't allowed, and free public parking is available nearby.
Good to know
Yes: children of any age are welcome, and there's a separate kids' pool with slides, a kids' club and an animation team. Children from 12 are charged as adults.
Yes, the spa has an indoor pool alongside a sauna, a hammam and a hot tub.
Yes, sun loungers, umbrellas and pool towels are free for guests.
Nearby
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