Chania

You can get to Chania in several ways:

• by plane to Chania International Airport - then take a bus to the city of Chania. From its bus station, there are routes to villages and resort towns in the region;
• by plane to Heraklion airport - then take a bus to Heraklion and transfer to a route to Chania at the bus station. Buses depart several times a day. The travel time between Heraklion and Chania is about 2 hours (not including stops);
• by sea - the port of Chania is connected by ferry to the port of Piraeus in Athens;
• from other regions of Crete - the island has a well-established bus service. You can reach Chania without transfers from Rethymno and Heraklion.

The most budget-friendly way to travel around the region is by bus. From the city of Chania, you can reach practically any point in the region. If we are talking about a popular resort or beach, buses run 5-6 times a day, and if it's a remote mountain village, around 2-3 times.

But the most convenient way for independent exploration of the region of Chania is to take a trip in a rented car. You won't have to adjust to the transportation schedule, and you can plan your route independently. You can rent a car at the airport or at local rental offices, which are available in any resort town in Chania.

Sights

The region of Chania is a territory where epochs have converged. Its heritage is a mix of Greek, Turkish, Minoan, and Venetian influences. In addition to its history, the nature here is amazingly beautiful. What can you see in Chania?

Architecture and history:

• The old town of Chania is a concentration of historical houses, squares, and architectural treasures. Visit the port to see the Yanycharov Mosque, the Chania Lighthouse, and the Venetian Shipyards, then head to Mitropoleos Square dominated by the Cathedral of the Three Martyrs, and take a tour of the city's museums - archaeological, folklore, Byzantine, maritime, and historical.
• Ancient Aptera - the ruins of one of the most influential Minoan cities of Crete.
• Ancient Lissos - ruins of an ancient city located away from tourist paths. Here you can see house foundations, mosaic remains, the Asclepius, a Roman necropolis, and early Christian basilicas. Lissos is located on a hill with an impressive view of the sea.
• Ancient Diktynna - the ruins of another ancient city hidden in a secluded place above Menies Bay. Remnants of the once thriving city include the ruins of the temple of the goddess Diktynna, remains of an ancient water supply system, and public buildings.
• Ancient Elyros - once one of the most important cities in Western Crete. Within the excavation site, you can see Roman cisterns, part of an aqueduct and city wall, ruins of buildings, and an early Christian basilica with mosaic fragments.
• Frangokastello - a fortress built by the Venetians in the 14th century. It has a fairly simple rectangular shape with towers at the corners. However, Frangokastello looks impressive, especially against the backdrop of the azure sea.
• Gramvousa - an island visited as part of an excursion to Balos Bay. It is home to a Venetian fortress. By climbing to the top, you can touch the island's history and enjoy views of the sea expanses.

Religious landmarks:

• Holy Trinity Monastery - a quadrangular complex with a paved courtyard, monk cells, a cave, an old church school, a museum, and the main cathedral.
• Gouverneto Monastery - one of the oldest on the island. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century. From the outside, the monastery resembles a castle with towers: it often served to repel attacks by invaders. The main church of Gouverneto is adorned with sculptural images, and the entire complex is architecturally designed in the Baroque and Renaissance styles. There is a museum with relics near the monastery.
• Chryssoskalitissa - a monastery located 4 km from Elafonissi Beach. Perched on a rock, it resembles a fortress. In the main church of Chryssoskalitissa, there are two naves dedicated to the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary.

Nature:

• The Aradena Gorge is one of the most beautiful in Chania and at the same time not the most popular for hiking. Therefore, you can enjoy the pristine nature.
• The Samaria Gorge is a true place of pilgrimage. It is a National Park with rich flora and fauna. Throughout the journey, historical treasures will be encountered. For example, the ruins of the ancient city of Tara and the long-abandoned village of Samaria, built in its place.
• Omalos Plateau is located near the Samaria Gorge. Green expanses, mountains, and endemic tulips (in April-May) are what you can see here.
• Lake Kournas is the only freshwater lake in Crete, which attracts with its turquoise water surface and the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Climb the hill to overlook Kournas from above, take a catamaran to sail on the lake and feed the ducks, and swim in the refreshing waters of one of Chania's main natural attractions.
• Agia Irini Gorge is often compared in beauty and richness of flora to the Samaria Gorge. By the way, the famous endemic herb Dittany is found in the gorge. Agia Irini is well equipped for hiking.
• Imbros Gorge is an easy-to-hike gorge. 50 years ago, it was the only connection for the residents of the Sfakia region with the rest of Crete. Imbros is rich in greenery, and in some places, the rocks of the gorge are so close that you can reach out and touch them.
• Gavdos is an island 35 km from Crete, which belongs to the Chania region. It is worth coming here for those who are tired of the hustle and bustle. There are no more than 50 inhabitants on the island, and the wild cliffs and sandy dunes leave vivid impressions. Gavdos has an ancient lighthouse, Roman ruins, and the Venetian castle of Kefali.

Holidays and Events

In the events calendar of Chania, there are gastronomic and religious holidays, cultural festivals, and folklore events. Here are some occasions you can plan your trip around to better understand the region's history:

• Agios Ioannis Sfakion - traditional festival of Sfakia (May 8);
• Cultural Festival - events at various venues in the city of Chania: theatrical performances, concerts, photo exhibitions, sports competitions (from June to August);
• Assumption of the Virgin Mary - widely celebrated throughout Crete (August 15);
• Sardine Festival in Nea Chora and Souda (first week of September);
• Cicudi Festival dedicated to the traditional drink. Held in the port of Chania (October);
• Raki Festival - an opportunity to try the main Cretan drink from different producers. Held in Chania, Limni, and other villages in the region (November).

Excursions and Active Leisure

The first thing to do in the region is to explore its capital. In Crete, various excursions are offered in the city of Chania: sightseeing, gastronomic, and "Evening Chania".

For lovers of paradise beaches, excursions to the Elafonissi beach and the Balos Lagoon are a must. And for active travelers, a trip to the Samaria Gorge will impress with its abundance of endemic plants. Since the region has many other gorges, there are various trekking programs available for all levels of physical fitness.

Refreshing on a hot day is possible during a cruise around Suda Bay. This exciting sea trip lasts approximately 3-4 hours and is carried out on a pirate ship. There are also other types of sea excursions: for example, yacht trips to secluded and deserted bays.

Here are some other tour options available in Chania:

• wine tours with tastings;
• jeep safaris in the mountainous area of Chania with visits to remote villages;
• tours for divers and boat trips with a glass bottom;
• one-day sightseeing tours in Heraklion and Rethymno.

Pilgrimage

In Chania, there are many Orthodox shrines. As part of pilgrimage excursions, you can visit one or several of them. The region is home to some of the largest monasteries in Crete: Gouverneto on the Akrotiri Peninsula, founded in the 16th century, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, which must be seen not only by believers, Chrisopigi with a large number of shrines (founded during the Venetian period), and the city of Kandanos, where Byzantine churches with magnificent frescoes have been preserved.

Beach vacation

The beaches of Chania are among the best in Greece. It's no wonder that many of them make it into global rankings of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.

• Elafonissi — a legendary beach with white-pink sand and shallow clear sea. It is estimated that more than 3000 people visit it daily. Elafonissi is located in an ecologically clean area, but there is minimal infrastructure here.
• Balos — a beach in a lagoon where the waters of three seas merge. The water of Balos is "painted" in dozens of shades of blue, and combined with the white-pink sand, the landscapes are simply fantastic. By the way, the lagoon is among the top 5 most photographed places in Crete.
• Fragokastello — a beach on the southern coast of the region. It is covered with clean sand, and the sea here is shallow and almost always calm. The imposing backdrop for relaxation is provided by the Fragokastello fortress.
• Falassarna — one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. Just imagine: a wide and long coastline covered with light clean sand and bathed in calm azure sea. And if you add to this the seaside taverns where you can watch sunsets, the picture becomes truly perfect.
• Platanias — the wide coastline of the eponymous resort. The beach is well-equipped with beach bars, water activities, sun loungers, taverns, and beach parties are often held here.
• Kalafas — a sandy cove where the sea depth increases only 10 meters from the shore. There are few sun loungers here, but there are shower cabins and a tavern.
• Stavros — perhaps the best beach in Chania for families with children. The bay is almost completely protected from waves, and the depth is shallow. The sandy beach offers sun loungers, cafes, and changing cabins.
• Georgioupolis — a 9-kilometer sandy beach with all the necessary infrastructure nearby, from hotels to bars and taverns. Due to the length of the beach, it is never overcrowded even during peak season.
• Seitan Limania — an unusual beach in the form of a narrow cove surrounded by mountains on both sides. To reach the beach, you need to trek along a mountain path, there is no infrastructure here, and the sea depth is quite impressive close to the shore. Therefore, Seitan Limania is not suitable for families with children.

Family Vacation

Hania is a region for a peaceful family vacation. The beaches have playgrounds, and many hotels are geared towards guests with children. There are also plenty of entertainment options: during your stay, you can visit a botanical park with dozens of plant and animal species, spend a day at the Limnoupolis water park, hike through the Samaria Gorge (with teenagers), embark on an exciting cruise to Gramvousa-Balos, or take a boat ride with a glass bottom.

Youth Recreation

The best place for youth recreation is the city of Chania. Here, among Venetian streets, clubs and bars are "hidden" where life boils almost until morning. Many establishments are located near the port. If you want to combine beach relaxation with parties, it is worth choosing Platanias, Agia Marina, or Georgioupolis for your vacation. That's where the choice will please nightlife lovers: these resort towns have cocktail bars, clubs, rock pubs, and karaoke.

Shopping

Nobody leaves Crete empty-handed. And especially not from the region of Chania. The main trading center of all Western Crete is the city of Chania. There are literally shops at every step here, offering a wide selection of local products: from crafts (textiles, ceramics, wooden items) and jewelry to natural cosmetics and delicacies.

Take a walk through the streets of the Old Town, visit the central covered market Agora, and explore the shops on Skridlof Street – there are many high-quality leather goods stores here (shoes, wallets, handmade bags).

In any resort town in the region, there are shops selling clothing, souvenirs, and Cretan products. And when visiting the monasteries of Chania, it is worth buying honey, wine, and olive oil produced by the monks.

The choice of a hotel in the region completely depends on the type of vacation you prefer. In Chania, there are luxurious 5-star resorts with pools, entertainment, bars, and enhanced comfort. And there are small, but cozy apartments for rent - for those who do not want to overpay or do not need additional services.

One option is villas. They are suitable for those who are traveling with a large group or family. There is a wide selection of villas in the region.

Chania is like a gastronomic paradise. Only here Cretan and Greek cuisine mix with unique culinary traditions of the region. What to choose from the menu in taverns? Locals recommend trying kalitsounia pastries with herbs and mizithra cheese, snails with herbs, apaki pork, tsigaristo (wild goat meat) with soft staka cheese, traditional Sfakian pies, the typical Chania chocolate cake "Zumero," which has an incredibly delicate flavor and is well soaked in syrup.

Delicious impressions will be complemented by Cretan cheeses, wine, and juice made from the famous oranges of Chania - local orange groves are known throughout the island.

Although the city of Chania is filled with taverns, it is advisable to explore the cuisine of the region in the mountain villages. This is where truly authentic flavors await and prices are reasonable "as for locals".

• When preparing for a hike in one of the gorges of Chania, it is important to pay attention to the preparation stage. Choose a gorge that suits your level of difficulty. Bring water, a head covering, and sunscreen with you. Wear clothing made of natural materials and comfortable shoes.
• When choosing between the northern and southern coasts of Chania, consider that the northern coast has more sandy beaches. On the southern coast, they are either sandy-pebbly or pebbly. At the same time, the south is ideal for a secluded vacation, while the north has better infrastructure and entertainment options.
• While traveling in the region, it is advisable to have cash with you. If your journey takes you to a mountain village, there may not be an option to pay for lunch or souvenirs by card.