What you need to know when you visit us

ELEMENTS

Chania Guide

Beaches
Things to do in Chania
Museums & Excursions
Shopping

Crete is a rich island which offers visitors almost everything through a wide range of daily choices.

Chania, more specifically, combines unique natural beauty with tradition, picturesque alleys with vibrant town life, culture with lacey beaches and emerald waters. Which means that each visitor at Chania has the choice of relaxing and going on romantic walks in the Old Town or explore the Cretan landscape through short excursions.

IF YOU ARE KEEN

on exploring & discovering

Or if you simply need to get closer to nature, then Crete is the place for you! In the prefecture of Chania, you can organize expeditions to one of the gorges (with careful organization and guidance by a local), enjoy swimming or diving in various beaches (you have a wide range to choose from) or visit the only natural fresh water lake on the island of Crete: Lake Kournas.

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BEACHES

Suggestions

Koum Kapi
(within walking distance)
Νea Chora
(within walking distance)
Agioi Apostoloi
(close to the town of Chania)
Chrissi Akti
(close to the town of Chania)
Loutraki
Machairidas
Seitan limania
(with the three entrances among the sheer cliffs of Hersonissos)

Kalathas
(with its characteristic green colour)
Kedrodasos
(a beach full of cedars)
Stavros
(where Zorbas danced the famous sirtaki!)
Elafonisi
(with the impressive pink sand)
Falasarna
Balos

IF YOU ARE

more into the vibrant town life

In that case, Chania is your destination! The Old Town of Chania stands out because of its characteristic Lighthouse and the Venetian port. Whichever time you find yourselves in these two sights, you’ll be enchanted by the view. The Chania town atmosphere will ‘warm’ your soul while a walk to the Municipal Market of Chania (commonly known as the ‘Agora’) will make you feel the Cretan hospitality.

In the traditional shops of Chania, you will find souvenirs for your beloved (a favourite holiday practice) as well as local natural beauty products or local food stuff which you can take with you on your return home.

IN TOWN

Suggestions

A walking guided tour of the Old Town
A walk to the aristocratic district of Halepa and a visit to the family home (now museum) of the famed Greek politician Eleftherios Venizelos
Enjoy the sunset over afternoon coffee at the Venetian Port
Evening walks through the picturesque alleys with the small taverns
Participate in any of the numerous cultural, artistic or gastronomic events which are organized by the Municipality of Chania and other town bodies
Try bougatsa at Iordanis, at the town centre
Try the famous ‘renowned’ (‘renowned’ being a giant syrupy chocolate pie) at café Koukouvagia, after enjoying the panoramic view of the town from the nearby site of the Venizelos family graves
Enjoy the Cretan cuisine at traditional taverns with traditional music which will put you in the atmospheric mood of the Old Town of Chania

FOR MUSEUM

and sightseeing enthusiasts

The truth is that museums bring us closer to an area’s civilization and culture. It is the history, food and various art forms that create a comprehensive picture of the place you are visiting.

MUSEUMS, SIGHTSEEING

Suggestions

Nautical Museum of Crete
(the history of Crete is indissolubly linked to the sea)
Archaeological Museum of Chania
(located at the place of the Venetian Monastery of Agios Fragiskos)
Folklore Museum of Chania
Cretan House (to become acquainted with local customs)
Center of Mediterranean Architecture
(for those who love art and visual art exhibitions)
Museum of Typography
(which is unique in Greece and is situated at the Industrial Park of Souda)
Samaria gorge for hiking
Significant churches and monasteries of Chania and Akrotiri
Beautiful villages and the countryside around the town of the prefecture of Chania, to be explored on daily excursions
The New Archaeological Museum of Chania is in Chalepa, a historic suburb in Chania, housed in an iconic building constituting a landmark for the whole city.