Chania is a city in Greece and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island Crete. The city of Chania can be divided into two parts: the old town and the modern city which is the larger one. The old town is situated next to the old harbour and is the matrix around which the whole urban area was developed. It used to be surrounded by the old Venetian fortifications that started to be built in 1538. Of them, only the eastern and western parts have survived. From the south, the old town is continuous with the new, and from the north the physical border is the sea. The center of the modern city is the area extending next to the old town and especially towards the south.
Wandering around the port of Chania, you’ll encounter the Venetian lighthouse, the Grand Arsenal, Kum Kapi and Halepa. And beyond the town, you’ll find the famous beaches of Agia Marina, Stalos and Platanias. Go a little further still and you’ll reach exotic Balos and Falasarna, two of Greece’s pin-up beaches. And in southern Chania, the world-famous Samaria Gorge invites you to explore it.
Cretan cuisine has gained worldwide acclaim. In the fish tavernas, rakadika and historic cafes, the flavours of Crete will win you over. For a more innovative culinary experience, try Chania’s gourmet restaurants, where renowned chefs have elevated the island’s traditional cuisine.
AIRLINE CONNECTIVITY
The International Airport of Chania "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" is located in the peninsula of Akrotiri, near Souda Bay, 14km from the center of Chania Town. It serves domestic flights to/from Athens and Thessaloniki.
In the summer period, there are charter flight and low-cost flights from many European airports.
For more information about the city's airline connectivity, please visit: https://www.greeka.com/crete/chania/flights/
WHILE IN THE CITY
The plethora of points and landmarks of interest in Chania is vast and spread throughout the history of mankind. From the Minoan civilization to the Venetian era, the sociological and architectural heritage is vivid to this day.
• Transportation: The well-organized KTEL bus service of Chania transfers thousands of visitors and locals throughout the year to the most beautiful places of interest, inside and outside the prefecture. Buses run usual routes within the city limits, with direction to the nearby villages, as well as towards Rethymno, Lassithi, and Heraklion. You can get further information about urban routes on www.chaniabus.gr and about suburban routes on www.e-ktel.com
• Food: There are so many places to eat and drink in Chania that a drive or walk around will bring you to some fantastic choices. Restaurants and cafe by the sea, lounge bars or clubs with all-night parties are only a few alternatives for a lovely nightlife in Chania. Most of these alternatives are found in Chania Town, however, a lot of seaside taverns and cafes are also found in popular tourist places of the region, such as Georgioupolis, Kolymbari, Paleochora, Maleme, Platanias, Kissamos and more.
