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Chania Attractions: Exploring Venetian Architecture, Maritime Museums, Traditional Markets & Scenic Beaches in Greece's Most Captivating City

Updated:

2024-12-29

Chania (in Greek, Χανιά) is a wonderfully captivating city with breathtaking architecture, located on the northern coast of the western part of Crete.

It is the island’s second-largest city and the capital of the Chania region. Up until 1971, Chania was also the capital of Crete. It’s impossible to capture the essence of this stunning place in just a few words.

Anyone who has been here even once could spend hours describing the vivid colors of Chania, its winding narrow streets, the unique architecture, the vibrant atmosphere, and the warm-hearted locals.

And though it’s hard to put the magic of this city into words, we’ll give it a try.

When is the best time to travel to Chania?

The beach season in Chania is long, as it is throughout Crete. The first sun lovers settle on the shores at the end of April, and the last ones roll up their mats in late October.

The best time to visit is May-June and September.

In July and August, the city and surrounding resorts are crowded with vacationers, and accordingly, the prices for holidays rise.

So, when is the best time to go to Chania to sunbathe, swim, explore the island, and still enjoy some tranquility? September offers all of this. While early in the month there are still many tourists at the resort, their numbers decrease rapidly in a couple of weeks.

Visiting Chania at the start of the season is ideal if you are more interested in sightseeing than beach holidays. In May, the sea is still a bit too cold for swimming, but the weather is perfect for exploring Crete.

The ideal time to visit Chania is May-June and September

Weather and Climate in Chania

The distance between Chania and Heraklion is less than 150 km, but the climate in these two resorts differs. Chania is slightly less hot in the summer and experiences more frequent rain during the winter.

The key thing tourists should know about Chania’s climate is that summer begins in late April and lasts until the end of October.

Families with children can start their vacations here as early as April. By this time, the winter rains have ended, and daytime temperatures reach around +20°C. However, nights remain relatively cool, with temperatures around +12-13°C.

This evening coolness is common even during the summer, as the heat of the day gives way to temperatures dropping to about +20-21°C.

Summer here starts at the end of April and lasts until the end of October

In May it gets even warmer, reaching up to +24°C. If the weather brings surprises, they are only pleasant, although the sea at the end of spring is still cool. May moderate warmth is favorable for rest with small children.

Heat and dryness come at the resort in June. The air temperature rises to +27-28°C, thanks to this the sea quickly warms up. In July-August thermometer columns reach +30-31°C.

In Chania, there are times of extreme heat, with temperatures rising to +35°C.

The relief from the summer heat comes only in September, when temperatures drop to a more comfortable +27-28°C, and the sea remains warm from the summer sun—ideal conditions for a family holiday with children. Sometimes, brief rains occur in September, but they rarely affect tourists’ plans.

October is still quite warm at the resort. The air cools down to about +23-24°C, aligning with the sea’s temperature. The only potential downside to an October vacation in Chania might be rain: though the stormiest period is yet to come, October can be both sunny or rainy.

Late autumn, winter, and early spring bring extended periods of rain to Chania. The air stays above +10-14°C, and after the heavy showers, the already green western part of Crete becomes even more vibrant, bursting with flowers.

Sea in Chania: water temperature, when to swim

The Cretan Sea, which washes the shores of Chania, warms up slightly earlier than the Mediterranean Sea along the Peloponnese or the Aegean Sea off the island of Kos.

However, in May, most vacationers stick to sunbathing, as the sea temperature is only around +19-20°C.

By early June, the water warms up to +22-23°C, and by July, the sea temperature in Chania reaches +25-26°C.

The water remains just as luxuriously warm in September. Even in October, despite the rains, the sea retains a temperature of +23-24°C for quite some time.

Agia Apostoli beach near Chania

Public Transport in Chania

City buses

Public transport within Chania is provided by KTEL buses. There are 14 routes around the city, covering the neighbouring areas as well.

For example, buses 15 and 21 go to Agia Apostoli, buses 13 and 25 go to Souda, from where ferries to Piraeus depart.

The fare depends on how far the destination is from Chania.

For example, the fare to Agia Apostoli costs €1.20 if you buy your ticket at the ticket office and €2 if you buy it from the driver.

Children under 6 years old travel free of charge, while tickets for children over 6 years old are the same price as for adults.

Intercity Buses

Intercity transport in Chania – KTEL green buses going to Rethymno, Heraklion, Ayios Nikolaos, nearby resorts and other destinations.

Timetables are published on the company’s website for the Chania-Rethymno and Heraklion-Lassithi regions.

A bus ticket to Agia Marina costs €1.80, to Platanias €2.10, to Georgioupolis €4.50, to Elafonisi €11, to Rethymno €6.80 and to Heraklion €15.10 (prices are as of June 2022).

Taxis in Chania

In some cases, it is more convenient to take a taxi. For example, instead of taking a bus with transfers from the airport to a resort, it’s better to take a taxi upon arrival.

From the airport to Kato Stalos and Agia Apostoli, a taxi will cost 35 euros, to Platanias and Agia Marina – 40 euros, to Georgioupolis – 55 euros.

A taxi from Chania to the airport will cost 18 euros, to Kato Stalos and Agia Apostoli – 7 euros, to Plataniás and Agia Marina – 13-15 euros, to Georgioupolis – 50 euros, and to Rethymno – 70 euros.

Trains for tourists

Tourist trains are launched in resort towns in summer. They play the role of excursion transport, taking holidaymakers to the main attractions.

For example, The Little Fun Train from Agia Marina and Platanias goes to monasteries, caves, waterfalls and traditional Cretan villages.

The three-hour excursion costs 19 euros for adults and 9 euros for children.

Often for travelling around Chania and its surroundings hire a car. This is justified if you intend to tour the whole of Crete, not limiting yourself to nearby attractions.

Chania Old Town and its attractions

At the moment, the city of Chania consists of the old part of the city and the new part (the latter, not much different from any modern European city).

It is a real miracle that during the bombings of World War II, the historic part of Chania remained largely intact and has survived to this day.

Streets of the Old Town

The historical part of the city is considered one of the most beautiful Old Towns in Crete. The Old Town is bordered by the Venetian fortress wall, with its heart being the Kastelli district, which has been inhabited since Neolithic times.

Perched on a hill overlooking the port, Kastelli once served as a key defensive stronghold for the entire city. Today, it remains one of the five districts of the Old Town, though, unfortunately, not much of its ancient architecture has survived.

West of Kastelli is Eleftherios Venizelos Square, located in the Splantzia district. This area is also home to the famous Janissaries Mosque, known as “Yali Tzamisi.”

Yali Dzamishi Mosque

In the western part of the Old Town is the Topanas district, where the atmosphere of Venetian rule is still very much alive. Here, the Venetian houses and narrow streets are the best preserved.

To the north of Topanas stands the Firka Fortress, built in 1629, which now houses a maritime museum.

At the beginning of Theotokopoulos Street, you’ll find a wooden house, a striking example of Ottoman architecture.

South of the Topanas district is the Jewish Quarter, where part of the fortress wall still stands, along with the Bastion of St. Dimitrios, also known as Schiavo (Coordinates: 35.514853, 24.016494).

East of Kastelli is the Splantzia district, which features the 15th-century Arsenals, the Church of St. Nicholas, and the Church of St. Rocco.

One of the must-visit sites in the city is the Venetian Firka Fortress, offering breathtaking views of Chania’s Old Port from its walls.

Firkas Fortress

Inside the fortress, you’ll find the Maritime Museum of Chania, which provides insight into the history of navigation, featuring ship models and naval weaponry. The museum includes a scale model of Chania from the 17th century, highlighting the architecture of that period. On the second floor, there is an extensive and impressive exhibition dedicated to the Battle for Crete.

Another must-visit is the Historical Museum located at 20 Sfakianakis Street. This museum honors the heroes who fought for the island’s liberation from Turkish occupiers, for the reunification of Crete with Greece, and those who resisted German forces during World War II.

The museum displays sabers and pistols belonging to Cretan warriors. One of the significant exhibits is a sideboard featuring intricately carved hunting scenes, dating back to the 16th century.

Strolling along Halidon Street, you can explore archaeological finds from the Chania area by visiting the Archaeological Museum, located in the 13th-century Church of St. Francis. The museum showcases artifacts from the Minoan civilization to the Roman period. Among the exhibits are figurines of fertility deities, Roman statues, mosaics—one of which dates to the 3rd century AD—stonework, and other valuable artifacts, though limited in number, that hold great historical significance.

Cathedral of the Three Martyrs

Directly across from the Archaeological Museum, on the opposite side of the street, is the Church of the Three Martyrs. Right behind the church stands a building with twelve circular domes, which used to house Turkish baths, and now part of the space is occupied by a foundry.

To fully immerse yourself in the era of Venetian rule, be sure to stroll along Zambeliou Street, which seamlessly flows into the alleyways of the Topanas district.

Zambeliu Street

This narrow street is characterized by old houses that nearly lean against one another, adorned with vibrant bougainvillea. It’s bustling with tables and filled with a unique atmosphere that transports you back to Venetian times.

If you continue south along Halidon Street, you’ll come to what is known as “Leather Street” (officially named Skrydlof). It got its nickname from the numerous shops selling leather goods found in this area.

A shoe shop in the Leather Street area (Skridlof)

On Skrydlof Street, you can buy anything from a wallet or sandals to authentic Cretan boots. There are even customised items available.

The ‘Leather Street’ itself continues with Tsouderou Street, passing by the entrance to Chania’s famous covered town market.

Municipal (Covered) Market in Chania

Interestingly, the market building, completed in 1913, is designed in the shape of a cross, aligned with the cardinal directions. In the early 20th century, an open market operated at this site, where vendors sold fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat. Unfortunately, there were no proper facilities for food storage, nor was there a designated area for disposing of spoiled goods.

To enhance the city’s appearance, the authorities of Chania initiated the construction of the Municipal Market in 1911. The market officially opened its doors on December 4, 1913.

In early January 2022, the market was closed for extensive renovations.

The Venetian Lighthouse is another large-scale historical landmark on the Old Town promenade

Of course, these are not all the sights of stunning Chania, there are sights, unknown pages of history, secrets that can be shared with us only by locals or good guides, who, by the way, conduct interesting excursions in the city and the surrounding area.

It is hard not to fall in love with the medieval harbour, around which various restaurants and unlike each other Venetian houses are scattered on the seafront.

Chania has been called for its beauty: the Pearl of Crete, the Venice of the South…. one can go on and on. From year to year Chania becomes a pilgrimage destination for thousands of artists, writers and poets who draw their inspiration here.

The seafront in the area of Chania Old Town

Modern part of Chania (New Town)

Halidon Street, stretching from the port through the heart of the Old Town, links it with modern Chania, which is quite different from the historic part of the city.

The newer part of Chania may not be as rich in landmarks as the Old Town, but it still has its share of attractions.

To the east of the Old Town is the Nea Chora district (Νέα Χώρα, meaning “New Country” in Greek), which came into existence in the early 18th century. This area is known for its narrow streets and a small fishing harbor. By the end of the 20th century, many of Nea Chora’s historic buildings had been abandoned and left to decay, but in recent years, they have started to be restored and reinhabited.

The sandy beach in the Nea Chora area is a favorite summer spot for both tourists and locals alike.

Another one of the oldest districts in modern Chania, which was among the first to be settled outside the eastern side of the fortress walls, is the Sabionara district, later known as Kum Kapi.

Now, Kum Kapi is a vibrant and fast-growing area of Chania, filled with the trendiest cafés and restaurants.

New Town Sightseeing

Chania, which began to be built up in the period of 50-70s of the last century, does not boast architectural delights. They are mostly colourless 3-5 storey houses.

Typical New Town landscape

But even in this “urban” area, you can find plenty of attractions. Among them:

The courthouse, built at the end of the 19th century;
the house of Manousos Koundouros, a well-known political figure in Crete;
the town garden, founded in 1870, in which a clock tower was later built;
the residence of Bishop Despotiko, dating from the early 19th century.

Outside the Old Town, you can visit interesting places such as

Church of Evangelistria and Church of Magdalini, dating from the early 20th century;
the old French School, which now houses the Department of Architecture.
and, of course, the House of Eleftherios Venizelos, built in 1880.

And to the east of the new town of Chania is the unique architectural complex of Tabakaria, built in the mid-19th century, where leather goods are still processed.

Clock tower in the old town garden, laid out in 1870

The new town also has the most important sports facilities: a swimming pool located in the Nea Chora neighbourhood and a large stadium whose floodlights are visible from almost anywhere in Chania.

Chania has many unspoilt urban parks, which are favourite recreational spots for locals and, less frequently, tourists. The most famous of them are:

the already mentioned City Garden, located right in front of the stadium;
the park next to ‘Square 1866’, which is located near the bus station (Chania bus station coordinates: 35.511978, 24.016721).

These parks offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and the midday heat, as well as ancient trees, fountains and monuments.

What to visit around Chania

The region of Chania has the best beaches of Crete and the most beautiful gorges. It is the place where the famous Cretan forests are still preserved in their original form.

Chania is located in the west of the island, covers an area of 2376 square kilometres and is the greenest area of Crete. It is washed by the Cretan Sea to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. In the east Chania borders with the region of Rethymno. The northern coastline is shaped by the promontories of Akrotiri, Rodopos and Gramvousa and the bays of Souda, Chania and Kissamos.

One of the most impressive sights is the Lefka Ori mountain range (Greek: Λευκό – white) – the White Mountains, which is a paradise for nature lovers.

Подпись: Znak z mapą i informacjami o drodze na Olimp

There are twelve gorges (the Samaria Gorge is the largest canyon in Europe, by the way), numerous plains, plateaus and rivers. Here you can find rare species of flora and fauna and, if you are lucky, you may even see the wild mountain goat Kri-Kri, which lives only in Crete.

To the south and south-east of the White Mountains lies the Sfakia region, with wild beaches, many picturesque plains and mountains. The Sfakia area is famous for its inaccessibility and the unruly locals. The highest point of the massif is Pakhnes (Greek: Πάχνες) at 2454 metres.

The south-west of Chania is the plain of Kandanos (Greek: Κάντανος) with many churches built during the Byzantine period and historical monuments that have survived to this day.

On the coast is the resort of Paleochora with its own fortress. The area is rich in archaeological sites and the most important ancient cities of Crete, such as Eliros, Lissos and Souia.

In the northwest of the region lies the area of Kissamos, with the peninsulas of Rodopos and Korikos, the island of Gramvousa, Elafonisi with its pink sand, the beautiful beaches of Falasarna and of course the unique archaeological sites of Diktina and Polirrhinia.

Hotels in Chania

Of course, to fully immerse yourself in the leisurely rhythm of this charming little town and to feel like a true local, it’s worth staying here for at least one night.

And for the guests of the city here are created all conditions so that everyone can choose an accommodation according to his taste and budget. Moreover, the choice of hotels here is really huge.

Coming to Crete for the first time, travelling from Heraklion to Balos, we decided to spend the night in Chania. Our choice was a small and very cosy hotel in the Old Town – Ifigenia Traditional Rooms & Maisonettes for a few rooms, located in an old mansion.

It was after this trip that we fell in love with Chania once and for all. On another trip, we stayed with the same hosts, but in Venetian harbour at the Ifigenia by Captain Vasilis, where we had stunning views of the Old Port and the seafront.

Our ranking of serviced apartments in Chania

Aside from the hotels mentioned earlier, here are some additional recommendations, depending on your travel goals and budget:

Top hostel in Chania: Cocoon City Hostel;
Best budget-friendly hotel: Theofilos City Hotel or Tellus City Hotel;
Best mid-range option: Hotel Off;
Top luxury hotel with views of the Venetian port and lighthouse: Alcanea Boutique Hotel.

Chania on the map (with interesting places and sights)

Chania is a resort in the north of Crete, the administrative centre of Chania dima, the second largest settlement on the island.

The distance from Chania to Heraklion is 142 km, to Rethymno is 60 km, and to Agios Nikolaos is 202 km. The distance to the nearest resorts is: Agii Apostoli – 5 km, Kato Stalos – 9 km, Agia Marina – 11 km, Platanias – 13 km, and Georgioupolis – 40 km.

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