Chania, Crete’s former capital, is a distinctive and attractive location…
Chania (alternative spellings Hania, Xania), with its backdrop of the wonderful White Mountains (Lefka Ori), is a stunning town where modern, Venetian and Turkish traditional architecture are blended together making it a fabulous place to visit. The former capital of the Greek Island of Crete, it is now the capital of the prefecture of Chania and lies west of Heraklion.
If you are thinking about living in Crete, charismatic Chania is not only a tourist destination but also a lovely place to live. Venetian Harbour
Chania Market
Shopping Spree
Wander around the small streets of the old town of Hania and you will come across the famous Leather Lane, Skrydloff Street. The smell of leather fills the air and you will be stunned at the dazzling displays of locally-made leather goods, from belts, sandals, wallets, handbags to the traditional black boots named stivania worn by the men of Cretan villages.
Naval Museum Visit the wonderful Maritime Museum of Chania found on the Venetian Harbour as it unfolds a splendid introduction to the history of Crete. From ancient Greek mariners to World War Two heroes you will learn lots of interesting facts about the events that filled Crete's poignant past. Old Town of Chania
Getting there Chania is accessible from the mainland and the whole of Europe through Chania airport, and the many daily ferry services in Souda, Hania. Check out Flights to Crete. Car Hire around the area of Hania There are a number of really good car rental companies in and around the Hania area that can give you the freedom to explore west Crete. A brilliant and cheap bus service KTEL connects Chania with many of the villages and towns of western Crete including Kalyves, Almirida, Georgioupolis, Kissamos Kastelli and Paleohora. Staying in Chania
Don't forget to visit our Cretan Village Shop where you can buy a range of Crete books and maps of Crete. We stock a small handpicked collection of Crete books that are not available through Amazon and will be hard to find outside of Crete itself. They cover subjects such as Crete guide books and maps, the Samaria Gorge, Wild Flowers of Crete, Horta and the Cretan Diet cookery recipes. We ship anywhere in the world, direct from our little Crete Village Shop! Living in Crete If you are thinking about living in Crete and buying a property here, you will find some excellent real estate agencies to help you with your choice. Check out our Crete Property Guides for property throughout the island. Whether you are looking for a permanent home, thinking about buying a holiday home in Crete or an investment property there are some really good and inexpensive Crete properties for sale on this the biggest and best Greek Island.
Back to Crete Property Page
from Site Build It! - even with little or no web experience!
|
The Ottoman built Janissaries Mosque is a feature of the harbour front with its domed roof and arches. It sits amongst the water side bars and tavernas. The Turks built the Mosque as far back as 1645, but it's been renovated a few times since then! Another landmark building is the Naval Museum. Picture card perfect is the only way to describe this brilliant place.
The daily indoor 
Numerous restaurants along the harbour front will tempt you with their excellent menus, pristine white tablecloths and attentive waiters. But if you wander around the old town, up some of the winding back streets, you can be pleasantly surprised by the traditional tavernas, cosy restaurants and small cafes that you’ll discover. Eat there and you’re sure to have a delicious meal along with a glass or three of pleasant Cretan wine.
There are some excellent and varied choices of accommodation in and around Chania, which makes this stunning town an ideal place to stay for a holiday in Crete. You'll find a wide range of top luxury hotels, some by the waterside, there's suites and comfortable apartments available too, as well as smaller, well-priced studios. All in all, a big choice to suit most budgets!
