Enjoy the “Venice of the East”; its beauty, architecture, and amazing culinary scene comprising traditional Cretan and Eastern influences.
The town of Chania is built on the site of the ancient Kidonia, and according to Homer, is one of the most important cities of Crete. The surviving architectural remains of the city belong to large size buildings from the Mycenaean times, and during these times, the city flourished greatly. Many ancient towns and temples had been constructed in the region, such as the temple of Asklepios in Lissos. In 823 AC, the city was surrendered to the Saracens and in 828 AC, it was destroyed like many Cretan cities.
Chania has been voted one of CN Traveller’s top 10 places to visit in Europe in 2021. And we agree: Chania is a picturesque town which is absolutely worth getting to know!
It is sometimes called the “Venice of the East” because of its beauty and architecture, and its amazing culinary scene comprises traditional Cretan and Eastern recipes, influenced from the centuries when the city was under Ottoman rule.
While in Chania, make a visit to Elafonisi or, as it is also known, Pink Beach! It is a lovely beach – the shoreline is not crowded, it is right next to a National Park and the sand shimmers various tints of pastel pink.
For an off-the-beaten-path adventure, pay a visit to beautiful Balos Lagoon. Make sure you book to go on an organised tour or have your own 4WD because the road down is certainly not for the faint of heart!
The hike through Samaria Gorge National Park is truly epic. At 16 kilometres, Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe, is located in Crete’s only national park, and provides stunning views all day long.
We love Glossitses restaurant. It’s Greek food with a twist. Amazeballs seafood, lamb, dessert and super friendly staff. We’ve recommended this restaurant to everyone we know who goes to Chania and it hasn’t received a bad review yet..!
For the ultimate Cretan souvenir, head to Armenis where Michalis makes traditional Cretan knives with mantinades (small poems) engraved on their blades. They have expertly-crafted knives for all purposes: pocket knives, hunting knives, diving knives, decoration knives, and traditional Cretan knives. They even have a workshop where you can watch Michalis in action!
If you are looking for a lovely lunch, head to Kouzina. This place is a chain – in the sense that they have another restaurant in Athens – but it is always packed because the food is phenomenal. If pork ribs or panacea is on the menu, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed
Samaria National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the White Mountains of Crete, draws tens of thousands of visitors per year to hike the spectacular gorge at its center. While it’s not the only gorge in the area, Samaria Gorge is by far the biggest—in fact, it’s Europe’s second-largest canyon overall.
The ‘nightlife’ area in Chania is concentrated in Daliani street – lots of restaurants and bars and where the locals hang out. And as our cocktail bar pick, it would have to be Kibar, which is where you can get great cocktails and you sit in the courtyard of a former monastery, for a super unique experience.
What can be better than spending a warm late evening watching a movie under the stars?
Would you like to find out more about this destination or speak with one of our Epicureans about the best options in Greece? Reach out to one of our experts who can tailor an unforgettable experience that will be the envy of your friends.