Chania
Travel Guide
Welcome to our Chania travel guide, where we explore this picturesque historical city on the island of Crete, Greece. Chania is blessed with a beautiful old town, a sweeping Venetian Harbour, sandy beaches and fantastic food, making it a great destination for just about anyone.
The small old streets of Chania’s old town, adorned with creeping plants and vivid flowers, are also home to a large selection of good restaurants, providing thirsty and hungry visitors with delicious Greek meze and Raki. The impressive food selection alongside sandy beaches, historical attractions and the ease of getting to the city, firmly put Chania, as well as Crete, on the map as a destination suitable for solo travellers, couples, families and those looking for something special.
Chania Travel Guide Contents
Check out our other Greece Travel Guides:
Rhodes Travel Guide | Athens Travel Guide | Heraklion Travel Guide | Santorini Travel Guide | Naxos Travel Guide
Chania Travel Guide
How to get to Chania
Chania International Airport (CHQ) is located 14km northeast of Chania city and is the second busiest airport on the island of Crete. The airport is reasonably small, with one terminal, and caters mostly to seasonal flights for tourists in the summer months. There is a small selection of cafes, restaurants and shops available. We have also noted how to get to Chania from Heraklion, as this is also a common route into Chania for visitors. Here are the best options for getting to Chania:
Bus – KTEL, the main public bus company in Greece runs a service connecting the airport to Chania bus station from 06:00 to 22:45. The service departs sporadically throughout the day, making it slightly inconvenient as there can be 2-hour gaps between buses at times. Tickets cost €2.50 ($3) one way and can be purchased from the driver, while the actual journey time is 25min
Taxi – Taxis are readily available outside arrivals and will take around 20min to get into the city centre. The charges are a flat rate, so provided your final destination is within the city centre of Chania, your journey will cost no more than €30 ($36)
Private transfer – If you would prefer to book a transfer in advance, we recommend Welcome Pickups. Transfers can be booked via their website and will cost €24 ($28) from the airport to Chania city centre, taking around 20min
Ferry – The closest ferry port to Chania is Souda port, located around 6km from Chania. The only ferries from other Greek islands that arrive at Souda port are from Milos and Piraeus (Athens). More ferries depart and arrive from Heraklion port. Taxi’s from Souda port into the city centre cost approx €15 ($17). There is also a bus available, which departs according to ferry arrival times, and costs €1.50 ($2) from the port into Chania city centre. To book ferry tickets, book via Ferryhopper, which is a convenient website and app which caters to all ferry networks across Greece
From Heraklion – By public transport, the only way to get from Heraklion to Chania by public transport is by KTEL bus which takes approx. 2-3hr, and costs €13.80 ($16) per person, the bus departs from Heraklion bus station. A taxi from Heraklion to Chania will cost in the region of €150-€200 ($175-$230)
Areas to stay in Chania
Chania is a fairly compact city, meaning you’ll always feel reasonably central and connected no matter which area you choose to stay in. However, areas throughout the city can feel quite different and have varying features. Here’s a brief summary of areas of the city so you can decide where to stay in Chania:
Old Town – This is our recommended area to stay in the city, Chania’s old town is not only the most beautiful part of the city but also where the majority of the restaurants, shops and attractions are
Neo Chora – Covering both the beach and the area further behind this, Neo Chora is the most popular beach in the city with it’s fine sand and clear waters. There are a good selection of restaurants here alongside hotels and a growing number of apartments. The old town is around a 10-15min walk
Chania Centre – This area is the other side of the main shopping street, further into the city and offers, in some cases, more affordable accommodation options as well as some larger hotels. The area is generally more residential but the old town is only 10 minute walk so it’s well connected to shops and restaurants
Halepa – Located east of the city, Halepa is a quieter area that is more suited to families and those looking for more space, greenery and villas. However, the old town is around 30min walk or a 10min drive
Accommodation in Chania
Chania is abundant in accommodation options, from luxury hotels and apartments to hostels, budget hotels and villas. These options are also spread out across the central part of the city. Being a popular tourist destination, the prices in Chania can go up considerably in the peak season, particularly in July and August. However, accommodation is still considerably more affordable in Chania, and Greece as a whole, than in many of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. As always, booking in advance will usually save money and offer the widest choice of accommodation options. Some of our favourite accommodation in Chania is:
Budget Option | Cocoon city hostel – located just outside Chania old town, Cocoon city hostel is within walking distance to the beach, old town and bus station. Rooms are modern and well equipped and a shared kitchen is available for guest use
Mid-range hotel option | Hotel Amphora – An exceptionally affordable mid-range hotel, Hotel Amphora offers modern styled rooms in an old building overlooking the Venetian Harbour
Mid-range hotel option | Porto Veneziano – Overlooking the Venetian Harbour, Porto Veneziano has clean, contemporary rooms and an excellent breakfast offering. A solid mid-range option for any visitor to Chania
Luxury hotel option | Casa Delfino hotel and bar – For luxury, look no further than Casa Delfino, located in the heart of the Old Town in a 17th-century mansion. Rooms are modern with traditional architecture, a fantastic breakfast is included and an on-site spa offers relaxation
How to get around Chania
Being a compact city, most of Chania can be accessed by foot within 30min, so using transport to get around isn’t really necessary. However, if you do need an alternative to walking then here are the options for how to get around Chania:
Bus – Chania has its own urban bus network which operates in Chania and the surrounding area. These buses generally run from 06:00 to 22:30, but this largely depends on which route you’re on. The urban bus network fares are split into zone A and zone B. Zone A tickets cost €2.00 ($2.30) if bought on the bus and €1.10 ($1.30) if bought outside the bus. Zone B tickets cost €2.50 ($3) if bought inside the bus and €1.50 ($1.75) if bought outside the bus. Check at bus stops, online and ask locals/your accommodation provider for help on where to catch the correct bus. KTEL buses also operate further afield across Crete and Greece in general. You can book tickets for KTEL buses online or buy them at the KTEL bus station, a 5min walk from the old town. For Heraklion, Rethymno or other destinations across Crete, check the KTEL routes online
Taxi – available throughout Chania and Crete, taxi’s are an affordable way to get around and are the only way to get to destinations that the buses don’t stop at via public transport. Taxi’s in Chania generally charge a flat start rate of €1.30 ($1.50)and charge €0.75 ($0.09) for every km thereon, €1.3o ($1.50) every km thereon outside of the city. However, sometimes a fixed fare is also agreed
Things to do in Chania
Chania is blessed with a great range of things to see and do, whether you’re looking to explore Greek history, taste the best Greek food or relax by the beach, Chania has it all. We’ve put together a compact list of the top 5 things to do in Chania to help you plan your trip:
Venetian Harbour – Built in the early to mid 1300s by the Venetians, Chania’s Venetian Harbour is one of the most popular sights in the city and home to an old fortress and the lighthouse
Neo Chora Beach – Located to the west of Chania’s old town, Neo Chora Beach is essentially the city beach and is very nice with good sand, clear waters and a small fishing harbour to one side. Some of the best fish restaurants in the city are also located along here
Chania Old Town – The real centrepiece of Chania is the beautiful old town, formed of wider streets, small narrow alleys and an aray of coloured old buildings and planted walls. Exploring the streets, shops and restaurants is one of the best ways to spend a day in the city
Maritime Museum of Crete – Located next to Firka fortress, the Maritime Museum, also known as the naval museum is home to around 2500 objects including relics, maps and items from ships and Crete’s maritime history. Entry is €3 ($3.50)
Lighthouse – Located on Chania’s harbourfront, the Venetian Lighthouse was built in the late 16th century and modified by the Egyptians in the 1800s. Access inside is no longer allowed but walking up to the Lighthouse is worth it to see and get views over the harbour
What to eat in Chania
Greek food is comforting, hearty, delicious and varied, as well as feeling somewhat healthy at the same time. There’s much more to Greek food than the staples that many of us see and hear about regularly, and finding great Greek food while in Greece is easy. Meze is one of the most common types of Greek cuisine, which is a selection of small plates but there is also a range of great larger fish and meat dishes, but these are generally all shared between a table. With just under 400 restaurants in Chania city, there is a fantastic selection of food to try including traditional Greek, high-end restaurants, Turkish, Japanese and Italian. Here are our top picks of what to eat in Chania, Greece while you’re there:
Cretan salad – Similar to a classic Greek salad, a Cretan salad is tomatoes, cucumber and onion with soft cheese. Common additions are green pepper, egg and olives
Fava – A dip or side dish made with yellow split peas, onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon, and pureed
Apákia (smoked pork) – smoked pork made from cured pork loin which is commonly served on bread or as part of meze and is delicious!
Rabbit Stifado – A traditional Greek stew made with rabbit, tomatoes and onion
Raki – An alcoholic drink that is commonly served after meals, usually for free in restaurants. It is made from twice-distilled grapes and anise and is the national drink of Crete
Money - Chania Travel Costs
The currency in Greece is the Euro(€). Credit & Debit cards are widely accepted throughout Greece, including Chania, and there are plenty of ATM’s which accept foreign cards. A service charge is rarely added to the bill in Chania, but a tip is often given. For budget or mid-range meals, a tip of up to €5 ($6) is generally normal, if you are happy with the service. For high-end restaurants, a tip of up to 10% is average. For taxi’s, you can round up the fare. Greece as a whole is an affordable destination and accommodation and food is more reasonably priced than in most popular European destinations. Here’s a guide for what you can expect to pay (per person) for:
A local draught beer – $3.50-€5 ($4-$6)
A coffee – €2-€3.50 ($2.50-$4)
Gyros (Greek pita wrap with meat) – €3 ($3.70)
Budget restaurant meal – €10-€15 ($12-$18)
Mid-range restaurant meal – €20-€25 ($25-$30)
High-end restaurant meal – €30 ($35+)
When to go to Chania and for how long
The best time to visit Chania is in May and June or September to the end of October. The peak months of July and August can get very busy and the weather can get very hot, so it’s best to avoid these months if possible. The southern location of Greece means that the weather is generally quite good and warm from the beginning of May to the end of October, but April can even be nice, as well as November. In popular tourist destinations on the Greek islands, including Chania, some of the shops and restaurants catering to tourists will be closed from mid-November to March, although there are usually still places available and open. Chania is a small city but can cater to a range of needs from sightseeing to relaxing on the beach. A visit of at least 2-3 days is recommended to cover the main sights but with day trips and some beach time, Chania can easily suit a week holiday.
Local language and phrases
When in Greece, speak Greek. Well, try to, but English is widely spoken in Crete and Greece. We’ve covered some key Greek words and phrases in our Greece travel tips section which you can use on your travels
Chania travel tips
– Chania is a safe city and is safe for lone travellers, including lone females
– There are a range of places to eat including those specialising in vegetarian diets
– The tap water is safe to drink in Crete
Chania travel guide written in October 2021
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Chania Travel Articles
Chania Walking Tour Videos And Maps
Check out our Youtube Channel for more Chania walking tours, and tours for other destinations too.
Chania Old Town Route
A walking tour video highlighting the sights of Chania Old Town, and accompanying map showing the route we walked
Chania Harbour Route
A walking tour video highlighting the sights and sounds of Chania Venetian Harbourside, and an accompanying map showing our walking route
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