Best Travel Guide Chania | ArrivalGuides.com

ChaniaGuide was updated: 2024-09-11

Chania (pronounced “Hanya”) is considered the loveliest port town in Greece. Swallows soar in sheer blue skies above the semicircle of tall Venetian houses around its picture-perfect Old Harbour. The tables of scores of bars and restaurants line the quayside. Behind the harbour front, narrow, traffic-free shopping lanes thread through the atmospheric Old Town. On either side of the town, sandy beaches stretch along the coast.

Do & See

Start with a stroll along the historic harbour, take a glass-bottom boat cruise or go diving to fully experience the magic of this coastal town. The Samaria Gorge trail is a definitive must-do for hikers, and culture vultures will have several small museums to choose from.

Venetian Harbor

The harbour is hard to miss. Historic buildings are repurposed as buzzing seafood restaurants and cafes, and a waterside promenade takes you on a journey through time - some parts of the fortifications date back to the 16th century.

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Firkas Fortress

The calm ruins of Venetian defence structures remain standing all around the Chania harbour. Its fascinating Naval Museum (next door) recalls Chania’s maritime tradition. The fortress is also where the Greek flag first was raised.

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Limnoupolis Water Park

Limnoupolis Water Park is a great choice for families with children - the park offers water slides of varying steepness, as well as a number of pools and a lazy river. For grown-ups there is a Jacuzzi and a pool bar. Shops and eateries add to the water park's attraction.

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Samaria Gorge

This famous 16 kilometre hiking trail down a spectacular mountain gorge runs all the way to the island's southern coast. You will need sturdy shoes, water and a hat to shield you from the blazing sun. Spending the night at the trail's end and catching a bus back to Chania the following day may be a good idea.

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Boat Trips

Glass-bottomed boats cross crystal waters to nearby St Theodore Island, while others sail to idyllic Stavros beach on the Akrotiri Peninsula. Check around before choosing a particular company, as prices and routes may vary.

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Diving

There are at least two scuba diving centers in Chania - Blue Adventures Diving and Omega Divers. They are both certified and have good reputation in the scuba business. Diving sessions are conducted under professional supervision, and enthusiasts of any proficiency level are welcome to join. Omega Divers +30 2 825 031 412 www.omegadivers.com info@omegadivers.com Blue Adventures Diving: Dive office: +30 2 821 040 608 Dive center: +30 2 821 087 047 www.blueadventures.gr

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