13 Wonderful Things to Do in Chania, Crete

Chania, in western Crete, is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. There’s something about the Old Town, the Venetian Harbour and the beauty of the wider region that keeps me coming back for more. To help plan your trip, I’ve pulled together my thoughts on the most wonderful things to do in Chania.

Chania, in western Crete, is in my opinion one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. That’s a bold claim I know, especially as places like Montenegro and Albania exist, but there’s something about the Old Town, the Venetian Harbour and the rolling olive-tree-covered hills of western Crete that is so easy to fall in love with.

When I first came to this area, back in 2016, I felt as though we had discovered a secret not yet known, a hidden gem of Europe that we had to enjoy ourselves. Whilst many do of course visit Chania and beyond, this is certainly not on the scale of the more popular Greek islands and it therefore remains a perfect destination to appreciate authentic Cretan and Greek culture.

Crete is widely known across the world as the home of the Minoan civilization (2600-1150BC) who built incredible palaces across the country including the famous Knossos Palace in the east. It wasn’t until 1897 that Crete gained its independence from Ottoman rule before uniting with Greece in 1913.

Crete is the largest of all of the Greek islands and is certainly one of my favourites (having visited a fair few during my childhood). You’ll find magnificent snow-topped mountains, a 650-mile coastline, incredible food and friendly locals. If you’re looking for somewhere new to visit, make sure its Crete and specifically Chania.

13 WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN CHANIA, CRETE

OLD TOWN

Without doubt, Chania’s main attractions lie within its Old Town. It’s a maze of narrow, cobbled streets full of traditional Greek tavernas, cafes and shops. Where morning light filters through vine covered alleyways and around each corner lies a glimpse of the stunning Venetian Harbour. One of the best things to do in Chania is quite simply to wander around these streets; stopping at a cafe that takes your fancy for your first of many frappes, admiring pastel-coloured buildings or buying souvenirs or local crafts at one of the many little shops.

For a more in-depth look at the Old Town in Chania, why not book a guided tour here which includes street food too?

VENETIAN HARBOUR

Chania’s 14th century Venetian Harbour is its crown jewel; there are few harbours in Europe as pretty as this. The harbour is lined with restaurants and bars and is definitely one of the most popular spots in Chania. With popularity comes, probably as no surprise, higher prices and so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend eating here but it’s a great place to grab a drink and watch the world go by.

Dominating the view out to sea is the Venetian Lighthouse, said to be one of the oldest in the world having been built in the late 16th century. Over the years, it has seen many renovations mostly during the reign of the Ottomans and even apparently by Egyptian troops stationed in Crete to support the Ottoman Empire.

Nowadays, the lighthouse marks the end of a peaceful walk past the Ottoman mosque and nine Venetian arsenals and along the breakwater that protects the harbour from the Mediterranean Sea. The lighthouse isn’t accessible but you’ll get stunning views back on Chania itself with the White Mountains behind.

Sunsets are best viewed either from the lighthouse itself with a bring your own beer or from a bar along the harbour front with the lighthouse perfectly silhouetted against the setting sun.

MUNICIPAL MARKET

Whenever I visit a new city or town, I love to visit the municipal market where the locals shop for their fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. That’s no different here when visiting Chania and I highly recommended visiting the Agora and exploring in detail. This market opened in 1911 and covers 4,000 square metres which is huge! As well as all of the expected stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, you’ll also find some selling herbs, honey, cheeses and olive oil! Perfect for taking back home with you.

KNIFE STREET / SIFAKAS STREET

This is one of the most unique areas of Chania, a street full of stores where ‘Mahairakida’ or knife craftsmen sell their handmade traditional Cretan knives; ones with a forked handle. Knives have long been associated with the Cretans and, since the Ottoman Empire occupied Crete, the craft of knife making in Chania flourished right here along this street. If you’re looking for a traditional Cretan knife, you have to purchase one here (not at a souvenir shop).

TRIMARTIRI CATHEDRAL

Now I’m not particularly religious nor do I spend much time hunting down the best churches or religious buildings in a new city but I do however have a keen eye for beautiful buildings and the Trimartiri Cathedral in Chania is certainly one of those. Not only is the architecture itself lovely, the plaza is a great place to relax too. There has been a church or temple in this approximate spot since the 11th century and construction of the cathedral we see now was finished in 1860. Inside the church are three aisles from which the name comes; “of the three martyrs” in Greek and is well worth a visit.

Trimartiri Cathedral is open daily and entry is free.

FIRKAS FORTRESS / MARITIME MUSEUM OF CRETE

Across the harbour entrance from the Venetian Lighthouse is the imposing Firkas Fortress; initially a military headquarters completed in the 17th century though the name comes from its use as barracks during Ottoman rule. Now however the fortress houses the Maritime Museum of Crete in which you can learn about the history of shipbuilding here in Chania and other maritime wonders across Crete.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 3:40pm
Cost: Adults €4, Children/Students €3

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FIND GREAT FOOD IN CHANIA

There are some absolutely brilliant places to eat in Chania that I am still working my way through but, as long as you perhaps stay away from the harbour front, you can find many wonderful tavernas and restaurants serving up traditional greek and middle eastern food. My favourite is Mesostrato where you can sit in a courtyard nestled between ruined walls; trust me the atmosphere is incredible. Other restaurants that come highly recommended are Tamam, The Well of the Turk and The Five Restaurant.

SIP A COLD ONE AT CRETAN BREWERY

The Cretan Brewery is a microbrewery (the first of its kind here in Chania) set in the hills above Maleme around 25km west of Chania. Whether you’re after a full guided tour experience or just fancy tasting excellent (and cold) beers on the taproom terrace, you really should plan a trip here. They also serve delicious food too such as the Tirokafteri (spicy cheese dip) and Beer Meze (2 cheeses, 2 types of meatballs, sausages, cheery tomatoes, olives and croutons).

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Opening Hours – 10:30am to 7:30pm / Restaurant 12pm to 7pm / 18th April to 1st November

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EAT TRADITIONAL GREEK FOOD AT FROSINIS GARDEN

Ok, I know there are excellent restaurants in Chania itself but, if you really want to experience authentic Cretan cuisine in a truly local setting, head out into the countryside to Frosinis Garden; not so much a restaurant as a Cretan family’s home and garden. Recommended to us by family that live in the area, expect truly exceptional homecooked food with their speciality being the pork ribs slow-cooked over an open fire daily. My favourites were obviously the ribs (though once they’re gone, they’re gone) but also the moussaka and feta cheese cooked in the oven. If you can get here (best with a hire car), don’t miss this one!

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ELAFONISSI BEACH / BALOS BEACH

Two of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean can be found in western Crete; Elafonissi and Balos. I’m talking pristine golden sand (slightly pink at Elafonissi!) and crystal clear lagoons which need to be seen to be believed. Elafonissi is around a 1 hour twenty minute drive from Chania and is best reached by car driving over slightly sketchy mountain roads. If you arrive early enough, you’re more likely to beat the crowds and have a few hours of relative peace in this piece of paradise. Balos Beach is closer to Chania, arguably the most beautiful of Crete’s beaches, and can be easily reached by a boat trip direct from Chania. If you do have a hire car, just be sure to check the terms and conditions as you’ll be driving on a dirt track for quite some time to reach the beach.

HIKE SAMARIA GORGE

Within the White Mountains National Park, the only national park in Crete, lies the stunning Samaria Gorge; the longest in the whole of Europe at 16km. Those with a keen interest in hiking can, can spend 6-8 hours walking all the way from its origins at Xyloskalo, altitude 1,230m, to the Mediterranean Sea at Agia Roumeli. The gorge at its widest measures around 150m though shrinks down to just 3m at some points!

A 16km hike is obviously not for the faint-hearted even if it is all downhill. You must carry water with you and fill up when you can at the springs inside the gorge. There are toilets along the hike and please put your litter either in the bins provided or just take it home with you! As always, when considering any physical exertion in places of extreme heat, try and do this as early as possible in the day and the shoulder seasons are best both in terms of temperatures and crowds.

Practically speaking, a one way hike is going to need some planning. The best way to hike the Samaria Gorge is either to book an excursion or take a public bus from Chania to Omalos/Xyloskalo where the hike begins. There are boat services from the end, Agia Roumeli, across to Chora Sfakion from where you can then catch a bus back to Chania. Bus timetables can be checked ahead of time here.

SPEND A DAY IN RETHYMNO

If you are to take a day trip anywhere from Chania, I would highly recommend making the trip west to Rethymno. This is perhaps an even more charming Venetian town than Chania; it has a compact Venetian harbour, a hill fortress and a beautifully preserved old town where you’ll find historic fountains, Byzantine churches and great gates from the 16th century. There is a modern side to Rethymno with bars, restaurants and upmarket hotels stretching over 20km to the east. We’ve visited here each time we’ve been to Chania and I could easily see us, as a family of three now, base ourselves in Rethymno.

LAKE KOURNAS

Around 45km east of Chania, not too far from Rethymno, is Crete’s only freshwater lake surrounded by green hills. Whilst here you can, and should, enjoy the crystal clear waters either by hiring a pedalo (€10) or taking a swim. If you’re lucky you’ll spot a rare species of turtle too! There are some nice tavernas around the shore too for a quick lunch; we had what can only be described as a lunch of champions at I Omorfi Limni – chips and strawberry milkshakes!

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this post and picked up a few tips as to the most wonderful things in Chania to help plan you’re trip. If you’ve any questions at all or want to know more, feel free to leave a comment below.