Things to Do in Chania, Greece

 The region of Chania(also known as Hania) is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating places in Crete. It’s a perfect place for a summer vacation, featuring amazing beaches, stunning mountains, imposing gorges, and some of the most refined and tasteful gastronomy in Greece.

Getting to know the area a little more every day has made me fall madly in love with Chania, its landscape, its culture, and its people. This is my list of the best things to do in the Chania Region.

1. Wander the Alleys of the Old Town

When visiting Crete, spend at least half a day exploring the Old Town of Chania, walk along the colourful cobble-stoned alleys, and admire the magnificent Turkish and Venetian buildings, the Egyptian Lighthouse, and the Jewish neighbourhood or the Mosque of the Janissaries.

2. Experience the Thrill of Kallikratis Road

Often counted among the most impressive roads in the world, the drive from Kallikratis to Kapsodasos is a sharply winding and precipitous zig-zag road with impressive views of the southern coast of Crete. 

The most challenging portion of the 11-kilometer-long road is a very narrow section long about 2 kilometers, with 7 super steep hairpin turns. In total, the route features 27 hairpin turns that will take you from a height of 800 meters to the level of the sea. Kallikratis is a small Cretan village that belongs to the municipality of Sfakia and is part of the Chania regional unit on the southern side of the island. A part of the E4 European path starts in Kallikratis plateau and travels south towards the village of Patsianos. In this route, you will cross through the gorge and be awarded beautiful views of the South Cretan Sea and the charming coastal town of Frangokastello. You can reach Kallikratis on the E4 trail from Argiroupoli to the north and Asi Gonia or you can simply drive. The distance from Argiroupoli is only 14 km.

2. Discover the Pink Sand Beach of Elafonisi

The region of Chania, in west Crete, hosts some of the most magnificent beaches on the island. Elafonisi Beach is probably the most popular of all.

Located about 70 km from the centre of town, it’s a great idea to take a day trip and discover this vast pink sand beach with incredible turquoise waters, which is included – every year – on many popular lists of Europe’s best beaches!

4. Explore the Fishing Village of Loutro

Also on the southern coast of Crete, this gorgeous fishing village has the typical Cycladic traits of white buildings with blue shutters amphitheatrically facing the tranquil bay of Loutro. 

This relaxing corner in the south of Crete can only be reached by boat or after walking along the coastal path. This gives the place a unique laid-back character.

If you’re wondering what to do in Loutro, there’s not much to do other than engage in a typical holiday mood: Swim, lazily lounge on the beach, sail to the nearby beaches, and splurge on delicious fresh fish dishes.

5. Walk Your Way to Balos Lagoon

Balos Lagoon.
Another spectacular beach one must visit when in Crete is Balos. This shallow lagoon formed at the very end of the Gramvousa peninsula is one of the most photographed places on the island.

The white sand beach contrasts with the reddish Cretan mountains and the impressive emerald green of the sea. To reach Balos you need to drive off-road, which is an essential part of the adventure, and then hike for about 20 minutes to discover the breathtakingly landscape of the lagoon.

6. Visit a Castle by the Sea

Head south to discover one of the nicest beaches on the island. Frangokastello is a very tranquil village on the Libyan coast. The beach here is wide and shallow, something quite unusual in the south. This makes it a great place for families with kids.

But the highlight of Frangokastello is the ancient Venetian fortress that lies meters from the sandy beach. The Venetians built the fortress between 1371 and 1374 to deter pirate attacks and to bring order to the area of Sfakia, whose inhabitants are known for their rebel spirit.

7. Watch the Sunset in Falasarna

Not far from Kissamos lies one of the nicest beaches of Chania, Falasarna (sometimes spelled Falassarna). Vast like no other, the beach is a great place to practice water sports on windy days. 

The sea in Falasarna is crystal blue and the beach wide and sandy. Falasarna, which directly faces the West, is probably the best place on Crete to admire the sunset.

And once the sun has gone down, climb up the mountains and reach one of the best tavernas in Crete for a restoring meal and a magnificent view of the coast.

8. Explore the Archaeological Site of Aptera

Right opposite the natural bay of Souda, close to the village of Megala Chorafia, follow the signs up the mountain to explore Ancient Aptera, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Chania region. Aptera remained one of Crete’s most important cities from the fifth century BC to early Christian times. At the site, check the impressive walls and archways that make the roofs of the underground Roman cisterns a fantastic work of fine engineering.

Once you’ve explored the site, take the North path toward the sea to admire the stunning Turkish castle overlooking Souda Bay in a defensive position. If you have extra time, you can also visit the unique Intzedin Fortress, a few minutes from Aptera’s main entrance. The fortress, which can only be visited on the 15th of December, dates back to 1872 when the island was still under Ottoman domination. The construction is in a strategic position, right on top of the port of Souda.

9. Swim at Stavros, the Beach of Zorbas

Always in the Akrotiri peninsula, you’ll be able to find one of the most famous beaches in West Crete, Stavros.

This wide emerald-green lagoon, with crystal clear waters, is a popular shore among locals and visitors alike. The famous mountain of Stavros gives shape to a magnificent landscape. The sea here is shallow, safe, and usually not hit by strong winds. There are a few good restaurants in the area you can visit.

One of my favorite places is Almiriki, just about the right place to relax after a day at the beach. I usually order their prawns in phyllo pastry with a glass of cold beer. No sunset time can get any better than this. For a more rustic feel and delicious homemade food, walk a few meters to Zorbas, a family taverna that serves exquisite goat, fried sardines, and spoon sweets under the shade of a vine producing some of the most impressive bunches of grapes I’ve ever seen.

10. Spend Quality Time in Sougia

Sougia is a pretty, forgotten village on Crete’s southwest coast that has been pretty immune to the massive growth of tourism on the island and in Chania in particular.

The main characteristic of Sougia is its long beach and the fantastic places to eat by the sea. Accommodation is pretty simple, while life is relaxed and slow-paced. All these make it a super destination for a no-frill holiday. There’s not much to be done in the village other than lazing on the beach for hours or exploring the surrounding region by choosing one of the many walking paths.

11. Visit the Kedrodasos beach

One more isolated place you can visit in south Chania is the overwhelmingly beautiful beach of Kedrodasos, not far from the pink sand beach of Elafonisi, and quite hard to access if you don’t set your GPS coordinates right.

Kedrodasos Beach is not organized and boasts some of the most spectacular sea colours you will ever see in Europe. The soft, white sand combines with rocky coves and a juniper forest, resulting in a dreamy landscape that’s nothing but a snapshot of heaven.

12. Explore the Solitary Rodopou Peninsula

Rodopou is the wildest and most solitary portion of Crete. An off-the-beaten-path peninsula, almost uninhabited, can offer a great driving opportunity to discover unique churches and solitary beaches. 

This harsh land is located west of Chania town, and among the places to see, don’t miss a swim in the crystalline waters of Afrata beach or a stop at the gorgeous Odigitria Monastery, one of Chania’s prettiest religious buildings.

13. Visit Vai Palm Beach

Vai Palm Beach is located in the region of Lasithi, on the remote easternmost coast of Crete and it is a peculiar place to check on the island. Vai Beach (Παραλία Βάι – Paralia Vai, in Greek) is one of the most beautiful and exotic beaches in Crete and a fantastic place to discover.

Most of the forest is enclosed by a fence, and visitors have access only to the palms located by the sea. However, if you reach the lookout point on one of the extreme ends of the beach (south), you can climb quite a few steps to get a great aerial view of the forest.

The best way to get there is by car from the closest bigger city, Sitia, which is 23 km (about 25 minutes) west of Vai Beach. The beach is about 15 minutes from Palekastro and one and a half to two hours from Ierapetra, depending on your chosen road.

Is Chania Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Visiting Chania ranks as one of the Top Things To Do in Crete, Greece. The city and surrounds offer something for every type of traveller.

Many of the top things to do in Chania, Crete are outdoors – so you want to plan your trip when the weather is optimal. Summertime is the most popular time to visit Chania. The weather is hot (which is perfect for beach days and sea swims) and it rarely rains. That said, summertime brings the most visitors – and the best places to visit in Chania, Crete can get very crowded during the summer months. I think it is best for travelers to get acquainted with the area before arriving.