So many different civilizations have flourished in the city of Chania throughout the centuries making it a place with a very interesting history.
Up until 1972 it was the Capital of the island and it was built at the end of the homonym gulf between Akrotiti and Onicha peninsulas on the area of the Minoan Kidonia. Heraklion is today the capital city of the island making Chania the second largest city. You can get acquainted with the city of Chania by walking through its narrow streets and admiring all the Venetian architecture that is still in tact today. There is a plethora of different architectural styles that are prevalent in the city of Chania which you can enjoy just by wandering around the streets of the city.
The Harbour has a car free promenade and you will find a plethora of restaurants and cafes in addition to three museums, a large shipyard and a mosque. During the Venetian era galleys were build and repaired here making room for the vessels to be stored during the winter.
Nowadays cargo ships and ferries can no longer enter but there are a number of excursion boats, yachts and fishing boats that can be found there.
An old Catholic Church houses the Archaeological Museum in Chania and here you will also find the only church in the world that has both a Christian Bell tower as well as a Muslim Minaret.
So as to be able to protect the city, the Venetians from 1320 to 1356 built the old Venetian Port. At the end of the walls you will find the lighthouse that is visible from Akti Enoseos. Its original construction began in 1570 but the shape as we know it today was last reconstructed in 1830. The light of the lighthouse goes out for 7 miles and it is 21m tall. It is the oldest lighthouse in the Mediterranean. You can reach it by strolling along the walls of the east side of the old port but due to its sensitive structure entrance is not permitted. Watching the sunset by the lighthouse, makes for an unforgettable experience so make sure to add this on the list of things you must do when you are visiting Chania.
As you walk away from the lighthouse and into the old port, get lost in the heritage of all the conquerors that have passed through the island and left their mark. You can admire all the different buildings and the beautiful narrow streets which are filled with endless small shops with all sorts of souvenirs and gifts that you can take home with you.
The Big Arsenali is one of a handful of shipyards that is being preserved today and is located on the west. 17 shipyards were build between 1467 and 1599 but 9 were later demolished. Today The Center of Architecture of the Mediterranean is hosted in The Big Arsenali
One of the main attractions of the Chania prefecture is its beaches and endless coastline. Here you will find breathtaking beauty and dream like waters in almost all the beaches that are waiting to be discovered. From soft sand to colored pebbles, to stones to a mix of all of the above all beaches have something unique to offer.
A number of the beaches that can be found in Chania are among the best not only on the island and the Mediterranean but in the world in general such as Elafonissi, Falassarana and Balos. Most of the beaches are fully organized with sun beds and umbrellas but there are numerous beaches that are still completely unspoiled and you can find numerous deserted coves and lovely small hidden bays which can be totally empty.
Some of the popular beaches in Chania include:
Frangokastelo Beach, Pachia Ammos Beach, Sougia, Sfakia, Georgioupolis Beach, Agioi Aposoloi, Loutraki, Maleme Beach, Agia Marina beach, Drapanias Beach, Finikas Beach, Gialiskari Beach, Glyka Nera Beach, Golden Beach, Kalathas Beach, Kalamaki Beach, Kalyves Beach, Kiani Akti Beach, Kissamos Beach, Kolympari Beach, Koutelos Beach, Marathi Beach, Krios Beach, Nea Chora Beach, Sfinari Beach, Stalos Beach, Stavros Beach, Tavronitis Beach, Tripiti Beach, Platanias Beach and Kedrodasos Beach.
One of the most famous beaches on the island, a Natura 2000 protected area, Elafonisi is located about 75 km from Chania close to the southwestern corner of the Mediterranean. It is a truly breathtaking beach with pink and white sand and turquoise waters. Many people think it is an island and that you need a boat to reach it but this is not the case. It is an oblong peninsula that splits in two parts giving this impression. The water is shallow and you can walk across on foot. Having so shallow waters is very safe when visiting with small children.
It is a fully organized beach with sunbeds and umbrealls, there are lifeguards on duty, a number of canteens where you can get something to eat and drink, showers and toilets. Up the road when you leave Elafonisi there are also a number of great traditional Cretan tavernas with delicious food.
You can reach Elafonisi by car, boat, or on foot if you trek the E4 walkway from Krios Beach. If you do decide to walk/trekk the way make sure you avoid the summer months of July & August where it gets extrenmely hot and walking in those temperatures is not advised. Another great way to visit Elafonisi is by private boat or water taxi boat from Paleochora making the experience even more beautiful.
Voted many times as one of the best beaches in Europe , Falassarna is only 55 kms away from the city of Chania. It is a vast Sandy beach with crysrtal clear blue waters. It is easily accessible from the highroad. It makes for a great day excursions and the beach is fully organized with umbrellas and sunbesb. There are a number of restaurants there as well so no need to bring any food or drinks with you.
Gramvousa is the place where the idyllic scenery meets history. The island’s eminent castle was built at its highest point by the Venetians. In 1825 Gramvousa became the first area of Crete to be freed from the Turks.
Balos is considered by many as one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in Greece with its sparkling blue shallow waters. One can admire more than 400 different plants (of which 26 can only been seen here) and more than 98 bird species.
Additionally the loggerhead sea turtle (Careta Careta) and the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus Monachus) often seek refuge here as the area has been declared a protected nature reserve. You can reach Gramvousa and Balos either by boat from the port of Casteli or by car and then walk for about 15 minutes. Either way you choose to visit the view is spectacular.
This is the longest natural gorge in Europe and has been declared a National Park and a protected nature reserve. It stands between two mountains at an altitude of 2,000 and 2,500 meters. It is 18 kilometers long and the most famous part of it, is where the slides close in to a width of only three meters. The gorge starts at Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau and through a truly magical and amazing pathway runs down to the seaside village of Agia Roumeli, a beautiful beach with black sand in the Libyan sea. In the midst of the gorge stands the village of ‘Samaria’ which has a telephone, an area where a helicopter can land, a pharmacy and a police station. During the walk on the pathways, one cannot help but admire the rare plants and herbs – even used in modern pharmacology. Upon the rocks are the notorious wild goats of Crete, the so called ‘Kri-Kri’.
35 kilometers from Paleochora, floating in the Libyan sea, stands the island of Gavdos. It is 7,400 hectares in area and has less than 50 inhabitants. Castri is the name of the capital and Vatsiana and Ambelos are its two villages. Gavdos offers a vast variety of beaches to explore. The scheduled trips to Gavdos take place three times a week.
According to Homer’s Odyssey, Gavdos was the island where Odysseus was a cast away. Calypso in her attempt to lure Odysseus into living with her offered him immortality. Odysseus declined, longing only for his return to his wife Penelope. His prayers travelled to the mountain of the Gods, Olympus, and were heard by Zeus. Zeus sent the messenger God Hermes to order Calypso to free Odysseus and to help him on his journey. So Calypso helped Odysseus to build a boat of holy wood and also taught him to seek guidance from the stars and the moon.
For all the sport enthusiasts that wish to have a bit more fun while on the island there are numerous activities on offer such as surfing, scuba diving, horseback riding , windsurfing, paddle boarding , tennis, hiking, biking and canoeing. There are organized sports agencies that can assist in tailor making your holiday into a really fun adventure.
A window to the endless blue! The Pal Beach hotel is located in a unique position right in front of the exquisite beach of “Pachia Ammos” in Paleochora. The mesme rizing view to the sea literally takes your breath away and the sunset that dives into the Libyan sea will give you endless moments of relaxation. The hotel, built with traditional architecture challenges you to discover your new favorite destination.
