Vacation Packages to Chania

General Information of Chania

The municipality of Chania (from the Greek, Ta Janiá) is located in the northwest of the island of Crete, in the south of mainland Greece. It has approximately 180,000 inhabitants (2011) and its homonymous city is the second most important in the region.

Various architectural remains indicate that the Mycenaean civilization flourished there. In turn, during the Middle Ages, peoples such as the Saracens, Venetians, Ottomans and Turks took over the city, traces of which can be seen today in the buildings.

Already in the Modern Age, the relevance of Chania led it to be temporarily the capital of the Cretan State, although it later became Heraklion.

Today, the proximity to other countries (particularly Turkey) and the historical legacy have made Chania a perfect space for the coexistence of different customs and cultures.

How to Get to Chania

If you are wondering how to travel to Chania, we can tell you that it is a city with multiple connections to different places in Greece, especially Athens.

It is very common to go from the port of Piraeus to Chania. Its most important port is 7 km from the center, located in the town of Suda. You can travel to or from it by public transport, taxi or private transfer.

You can also arrive in the city by plane, as it has the Chania International Airport (CHQ). Although it is an international airport, domestic flights to Athens usually prevail and you will have to make a stopover in the latter city.

If you are wondering how to get to Chania from the airport, you should keep in mind that it is a 20-minute drive from the center and it is best to take a taxi or transfer from there.

Eating Out in Chania

Chania offers all kinds of variety of food, especially related to fishing and olive harvesting.

If you are wondering what to eat in Chania, you should bear in mind that this city stands out for its diversity of cultures in coexistence, mainly Greek and Turkish.

Some of the best restaurants in Chania are AntaMa and Oinohoos, both with unmissable views of the natural landscape.

Most Popular Attractions of Chania

Surely you want to know what to see and do in Chania, so here we tell you about the most important places of interest in the city. Undoubtedly, it is a location with many things to appreciate.

Chania Old Town

Here you can appreciate all the influence of the different civilizations that passed through the city, with the buildings in multiple architectural styles. It is surrounded by large Byzantine walls from the 6th century, in a very good state of preservation.

This gives the guideline that warrior peoples settled in this location. Especially pay attention to the coexistence between Venetian and Turkish buildings, which together make up the identity of Chania.

The main square in this area is called Eleftherios Venizelos (also known by its old name, Santrivani). There you will see a beautiful fountain where tourists come to make wishes.

This last attraction is located within the Kasteli neighborhood, southeast of the port. It is an area where you will find bars and restaurants to eat something on the go or sit down to rest and enjoy intercultural gastronomy.

Venetian Port

It is a historically important port on the Mediterranean Sea, which was used during the Venetian occupation in the 14th century. This gave Chania the nickname "the Venice of the East".

At its entrance you can see one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, the Egyptian lighthouse, which represents one of the symbols of the city and of Crete itself. It is 21 meters high and dates from the 16th century.

In front of it you will see the famous Firkas Fortress, which is dated 1629 and served to protect the city from Turkish domination. In addition, it housed the Greek inhabitants during this time.

Inside you can find the Naval Museum, where you can see different elements of ancient and medieval navigation, as well as a theater and a display of the Battle of Crete.

The Mosque of the Janissaries

It is the oldest mosque in Crete and is known worldwide as Yali Tzamisi or the Mosque of Chania. It dates from the year 1645 and is the emblem of Turkish domination over the island.

Today it does not function as a religious center, but rather as a museum and exhibition center. Turkish troops are buried in its courtyard.

This building stands out not only for its imposing architecture, but also for the contrast it produces in front of the sea.

Archaeological Museum of Chania

It is a museum located inside the Franciscan Monastery of Agios Fragkiskos, a Venetian building whose date of construction is unknown.

This museum functioned as a mosque during the Ottoman occupation and also as a military warehouse in World War II.

Today it has multiple exhibition areas among which you can see objects from the Neolithic period and, in turn, from civilizations such as the Minoan or Roman. Among them, you will find vessels, sculptures, tablets, coins and jewelry from the Ancient Age.

Lake Kournas

Lake Kournas is the only natural lake in Crete. It is located in the village of Vrises, in the Apokóronas region (just outside the city of Chania).

There you will contemplate the beauty of nature in all its splendor and the distinctive vegetation of the area.

The distance from the city of Chania to Lake Kournas is approximately 44 km and to get there, you will need to travel by car and it will take around 40 minutes.

Samaria National Park

It is a park located 50 km from the city of Chania, which can be easily accessed by tour or car. It is one of the places most chosen by tourists for hiking in Crete, as you will find long forest paths, crystal clear streams, hills and, of course, the Samaria Gorge, the largest natural gorge on the European continent (13 kilometers in length).

The walk is of low difficulty and the path is perfectly marked. You can even find rest areas and bathrooms. It usually takes about 5 hours to go through it in its entirety.

Beaches of Chania

The beaches of Chania offer tourists incomparable landscapes with transparent and extremely clean waters.

They also stand out for being golden or white sand beaches, ideal for beautiful photos with the hills and vegetation in the background.

In addition, they have small bays where small boats and boats are parked, as well as being perfect for snorkeling or taking a bath in peace.

The beaches usually have a low and weak tide, so it is not a problem to get your feet wet if you do not know how to swim.

The most important beaches in Chania are, among others, Elafonissi Beach and Balos Beach. Both have easy access and are less than an hour's drive from the city center. Without a doubt, you will love visiting them, so do not hesitate to take them into account during your visit to the island of Crete.