Located in Greece, to the west of Crete, the Chania region is a little paradise on earth! With its pink sandy beaches, Venetian-influenced town and excellent cuisine, Chania is a particularly pleasant destination.
What is a must-see in Chania? How long should you stay? Here’s a travel guide to help you prepare your discovery of Crete!
This article is the result of an invitation from Discover Greece. However, I reserve the right to make my own comments, so the opinions expressed here are entirely sincere.
Chania in brief
When to go ? With 300 days of sunshine a year, you’re likely to find sunshine all year round. However, avoid the months of July / August, which can be very hot (sometimes over 40 degrees !). Prefer the months of April to June and September-October when you’ll enjoy a milder climate while avoiding the crowds of tourists.
How long to stay At least 5 days, ideally a good week to have time to properly explore this region and continue on to Heraklion.
For whom ? For everyone, children and adults alike, as long as you like a bit of walking to get the most out of the destination.
How to get there ? Several airlines fly to Chania, either direct from France or with a stopover in Athens. During my stay, I flew there with Aegean Airlines, the main Greek airline.
How to get around ? Public transport is underdeveloped in Crete, so it’s best to book a hire car which will allow you to get around with complete freedom. I recommend Pancar, a local agency located just outside Chania airport.
How to communicate ? Don’t worry: most Cretans speak excellent English!
What to do in Chania? 5 must-sees
Visiting Chania
Chania is a charming town with a blend of Venetian, Ottoman and Greek influences. Its picturesque old port, dominated by an emblematic lighthouse, invites you to stroll around. Take your time wandering its cobbled streets and stop off at its cafés and restaurants for a gourmet break (see a selection of good addresses later in this article).
Not to be missed:
- The lighthouse
- The old Venetian port
- The Firka fortress
I’d also recommend a visit to the Archaeology Museum, which has been housed in a brand new building since 2022 and whose collections bear witness to Chania’s rich history.
If you go there, take a gourmet break at the museum café, which offers a beautiful view of the city.
Visit the most beautiful beaches and go for a swim
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Chania, but be warned: some are only accessible after a long walk, by boat or by 4×4. So don’t hesitate to book a boat or jeep trip to discover them.
Among the exceptional beaches I recommend Balos with its turquoise-coloured lagoon and Elafonisi renowned for its pink-sand beach.
Pink sand ?!
This is a pinkish shell which, when broken, gives the sand this pinkish colour. Unfortunately, in recent years many tourists have taken these shells and/or sand with them, making this pink effect less visible, especially during the summer when the first shells of the season have been collected.
Warning: taking these shells with you is punishable by a fine so think of future visitors and leave these pretty shells where they are ! 😉
To go and discover these beaches, you can request Uncharted Escapes which offers private escapades by boat or 4×4. These rides are also an opportunity to learn more about the region, its history and customs by chatting with your guide.
Take part in a cookery class
To discover typical dishes and meet the island’s inhabitants, I highly recommend taking part in a cookery class. This will give you a better understanding of the local way of life, as well as giving you the chance to share some tasty dishes.
This fabulous experience offered by Let’s Crete lasts between 4 and 6 hours and is organised in a small group at a farm that works with ” homemade ” products and will also offer you the opportunity to discover local fruit and rub shoulders with their animals. The price is €90 per person.
A stopover in Loutro
Loutro is a charming village on the southern shore but is inaccessible by car. It can only be reached on foot (approx. 2h walk) or by boat from Chora Sfakion. There are large ferries to the island (cost €12 one way) but smaller boats also make the trip for just €5.
This former fishing village is now a popular tourist destination, but access conditions limit the number of visitors.
Monasteries to visit
A number of monasteries can be visited in Chania. Some, like Agia Triada, also sell products created by the monks (wine, oil…).
I would also recommend visiting the ruins of the monastery of Katholiko, which are magnificent. They can only be reached on foot from Gouvernetó. Allow around 1.5 hours for the walk (outward and return), on a path with a steep gradient that faces beautiful scenery but has little shade. It is therefore advisable to be in good physical condition and to take water with you, especially in summer. Access to this path is subject to a charge (€5).
Taste the local cuisine
Greek gastronomy is particularly tasty, so be gourmand and dare to try everything! Here are a few typical dishes that I recommend you try :
- Dakos: often served as an aperitif, this is dried bread topped with tomatoes and cheese (often crumbled feta or mizithra).
- Moussaka: these are grilled aubergines accompanied by onions and tomatoes, sometimes also minced mutton, topped with a béchamel sauce.
- Opcup: served after being freshly caught, octopus is a must-try dish on Crete, served in a variety of ways. My favourite: grilled octopus, a real treat!
- The Cretan Salad: this salad is a concentration of colour and freshness. There are tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and a good dose of mizithra, the local cheese, all drizzled with a good dose of olive oil.
- Le Boureki:it’s a gratin of potatoes, courgettes and cheese.
And of course: olive oil
In Crete, we consume a huge amount of olive oil. Produced locally, it is the region’s treasure. Don’t hesitate to go and taste it, and pack some in your suitcase!
You can make a stop at Melissakis Olive Mill where you can find out how the oil is produced, taste several varieties of oil and do some shopping.
Good places to eat
Where to eat in Chania?
There’s no shortage of good restaurants, so here are a few favourites!
Chrisostomos, in Chania – €€
If you’re looking for local cuisine, this is the place to go. On the menu, a wide choice of typical dishes made with fresh local produce. Our favourite is the octopus, which is delicious grilled or served with pasta!
I also recommend the grilled mushrooms and ” dolmades “, vine leaves stuffed with rice. – https://chrisostomos.gr/en/
Salis, in Chania – €€
Located on the port of Chania, this restaurant offers a modern take on Greek cuisine, both in terms of presentation and flavour. The octopus carpaccio, the caramelised aubergines and – last but not least – the ” bueno ” mille-feuille are sure values! – https://www.salischania.com/
Apostolis, in Chania – €
A neighbour of Salis, the Apostolis restaurant is also located on the port of Chania. It serves typical dishes (Cretan salads, dakos, octopus…) at very reasonable prices. – https://apostolisrestaurants.com/
Periplous, in Chania – €€€
If you want to treat yourself to gourmet cuisine without breaking the bank, then head to Periplous. This seafront restaurant offers a magnificent view, especially at dinner time to enjoy the sunset. – https://periplousrestaurant.gr/
The dishes are as beautiful as they are delicious. You’ll be treated to wonderfully seasoned dishes from the sea and land, all in a very chic setting!
Wine lovers can put their trust in the sommelier, who will be able to advise you on a selection of excellent local wines.
Loukoulos, in Marathi – €€
Just 15 minutes from the airport, this restaurant on the edge of a beautiful beach offers local cuisine and a lovely view.
I particularly recommend the hearty and tasty Cretan salad. As for prices, despite its seafront location, the restaurant is affordable. Expect to pay around €12 for a salad.
Where to stay in Chania?
I stayed at the Atrion Resort Hotel located about 20 minutes from Chania town and close to a beach. Clean and modern, the hotel also has a swimming pool, which can be useful for cooling off in summer. The only downside is the breakfast, which consists almost exclusively of industrial products.
To see the list of available establishments and their prices, you can enter the dates of your stay here :
Affiliated link
Interactive map
Find all the addresses mentioned in this article on this map:
Happy travel to Chania!
This article follows an invitation from Discover Greece. However, I am free to make my own judgements, so the opinions expressed here are entirely sincere.
All photographs illustrating this article are the property of Culturez-vous and may not be reused without written permission.
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