Chania occupies the north-western corner of Crete and is served by Chania International Airport (CHQ) — a separate airport from Heraklion, approximately 15 kilometres east of the city. For guests flying directly into Chania, the transfer to the old town is around 20 minutes. The airport is small, manageable and considerably calmer than the larger Heraklion terminal.
The old town of Chania is built around a Venetian harbour that has been in continuous use since the 14th century. The lighthouse at the end of the breakwater, the domed mosque at the waterfront, the covered market in the centre of the town and the narrow lanes of the old Jewish quarter — Evraiki — create an atmosphere of layered history that is genuinely unlike anything else on the island. Walking the harbour at sunset, with the mountains of the White Mountains visible above the rooftops and the water catching the last light, is one of those experiences that Eleni mentions consistently when guests ask her what Crete genuinely has to offer beyond its beaches.
The hotel offer in Chania divides into two distinct categories. The old town itself has a growing collection of boutique hotels — restored Venetian mansions, traditional stone buildings with internal courtyards, small luxury properties with harbour views. These are not the large all inclusive resorts of the north coast; they are intimate, characterful and often exceptional in terms of design and service quality. For couples and guests who want to be immersed in the atmosphere of a genuine Cretan town, staying within the old town walls is an experience that the beach resort areas cannot replicate.
The second category is the beach hotels along the coast immediately west and east of Chania town — properties in Platanias, Agia Marina, Stalos and Gerani that combine easy access to the old town with proper beach facilities and, in some cases, all inclusive board. Eleni recommends this option for guests who want the Chania atmosphere alongside the practical benefits of a beach resort — a short taxi or bus ride connects the coastal hotels to the old town throughout the day and evening.
The food in the Chania area is, in Eleni’s view, the finest in Crete — which is saying something, given that Crete has the strongest food culture of any Greek island. The covered market in the centre of the old town is a destination in its own right: Cretan olive oil, fresh herbs, local cheeses, honey from the White Mountains and seafood from that morning’s boats. The harbour restaurants, despite their tourist facing position, generally maintain high standards. Eleni’s advice: walk two streets back from the harbour to find the restaurants that the local Chanians actually use.
One honest point: Chania is not the right base for guests whose primary holiday requirement is a large, well-equipped all inclusive resort with waterpark, multiple pools and an entertainment programme running seven nights a week. Those guests will find Hersonissos or Rethymno more suitable. Chania is for guests who want Crete at its most beautiful, most atmospheric and most genuinely Greek. It suits couples, cultural travellers, repeat visitors to Crete and anyone who has already done the standard north coast resort and wants something more interesting on their next trip.
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