18 Great Things To Do in Chania – Crete’s Most Charming City
Chania is Crete’s most picturesque and charming city. Located on the island’s western side, it’s the second largest city in Crete. Because Chania has its own international airport, it’s a common gateway city for visitors to Greece’s biggest island. I’ve previously compared and contrasted Chania with Crete’s capital city Heraklion on this blog. But in this post I want to focus specifically on Crete’s second city. We spent a week exploring Chania and loved every minute of our time there. Here’s a look at some of the very best things to do in Chania Crete.
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Stroll the Venetian Harbor
The centerpiece of Chania is its 14th century Venetian Harbor. The Venetians ruled Crete from 1205 to 1669, and Chania was a crucial port city. They built a beautiful harbor, surrounded it with defensive walls, and protected it from the waves of the Aegean Sea with a long sea wall.
Today this harbor features calm waters surrounded by colorful old buildings, a harborside promenade, and one perfectly located restaurant after another.
Strolling this scenic Venetian harbor is one of very best things to do in Chania. I personally visited the harbor every day. I would recommend that you choose accommodations within walking distance of Chania’s top site.
And yes, the restaurants situated on the harbor can be touristy. But the meals we ate harborside were still very good and not much more expensive than anywhere else in town. (I would recommend using Google Maps and checking ratings before sitting down – some restaurants here are definitely better than others.)
In addition to restaurants, you’ll find other impressive and historic buildings as you stroll along the harbor’s promenade. These include the Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque. This unique-looking building was constructed by the Ottomans in 1645 (they ruled Crete after the Venetians). It no longer functions as a mosque, but is now used as an exhibition center.
On the east side of this dog-leg shaped harbor is a modern boat marina, presided over by the decidedly not-modern Arsenali Veneziani. These are the 16th-century Venetian shipyard buildings where the Venetians built their fleet. Nowadays, several of these are also used as exhibition spaces.
Walk Atop the Old Sea Wall
As you stroll along the Venetian harbor, you can nearly circumnavigate the entire site by walking along the harbor’s sea wall. I highly recommend that you take the time – it’s another one of the great things to do in Chania.
As I mentioned earlier, the Venetian’s built this sea wall to create a calm harbor. As you walk along this wall, you have spectacular views out across the Aegean Sea on one side and Chania’s Old Town on the other. And up ahead, becoming more and more prominent as you walk, you’ll approach the Egyptian Lighthouse.
Admire the Egyptian Lighthouse
The Egyptian Lighthouse was originally built in the 1500s by the Venetians, making it one of the oldest lighthouses in the world. It fell into disrepair under Ottoman rule, but was eventually reconstructed by occupying Egyptian troops in 1864. Consequently it now carries the name The Egyptian Lighthouse, and it purposely resembles a minaret. This lighthouse is a prominent feature of the harbor and you will see it from many different angles as you stroll about.
But the very best view is from atop the sea wall. Visitors are not allowed inside. But hanging out at its base while taking in the 360 degree views is most definitely one of the top things to do in Chania.
Follow The Byzantine Wall
Another great wall you should discover in Chania is its historic Byzantine Wall. The Byzantine Empire ruled Chania before the Venetians (yes, Crete changed hands many times over the centuries). They started encircling the city with this wall in the 7th century. It was modified several times in the centuries that followed, before ultimately falling into ruins. But long stretches still cut through Old Town. I spent an hour one afternoon trying to trace as much of it as I could. This turned out to be one of my most favorite things to do in Chania.
And Also the Venetian Walls
The Venetians were well-known for building defensive walls throughout their empire (we’ve previously visited examples in Kotor Montenegro and Dubrovnik Croatia). So unsurprisingly, the entirety of what is now Old Town Chania was surrounded by a Venetian-built wall. Chania had grown by the time the Venetians took over, so the original Byzantine Wall sits well within the boundaries of the later Venetian fortifications.
The Venetian wall and fortifications are also better preserved, though no longer complete. Large sections were removed in more modern times as the city grew. However, one of the great things to do in Chania is discover those parts that still stand. These include a large stretch along the eastern edge of Old Town – where you’ll find a park sitting up on top, and a pleasant pathway running along its foundation.
Wander Old Town Neighborhoods
I loved Chania’s Old Town! Wandering through the alleys of its various neighborhoods was another of my favorite things to do in Chania.
Chania’s Old Town extends out in all directions from the harbor and is made up of several small but distinct neighborhoods. Neighborhoods that date back centuries. These include a Jewish Quarter (Evraiki), a Christian Quarter (Topanas), and a Turkish Quarter (Splantzia)
Each of these neighborhoods is small and each is very charming. You’ll discover a maze of picturesque alleyways, colorfully restored buildings, hidden shops and cafes, and even come across the minaret of a former Turkish mosque (the Ahmet Ağa Minaret)
Lunch in Spatzia Square
A popular local gathering place in the Turkish Quarter is Spatzia Square. This sits adjacent to the Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas). It dates to the year 1320, but during Ottoman rule, it was converted to a mosque and a minaret was added (which still stands opposite the bell tower.)
Everytime we walk through Spatzia Square, we were hit with delicious aromas wafting out of surrounding restaurants. All of these restaurants offer outdoor dining within the square itself. And so obviously lunch in Spatzia Square is one great mealtime things to do in Chania.
We ourselves dined at a highly rated Greek taverna called Kouzina. They offer a great selection of typical and high quality Greek favorites like the Stuffed Vegetables with Yogurt below (a dish called Gemista).
Enjoy a Gyro
And since we’re now talking about food, another of the great things to do in Chania is to eat the greatest of all Greek street foods – the Gyro.
You won’t have any problem finding gyros in Chania. They are sold throughout the city at a variety of gyro shops. They are typically huge and typically inexpensive – around 4-5 Euros. Note though that authentic Greek gyros do not come with the lamb/beef mix associated with gyros in the United States. Chicken and pork are the usual choices – along with onions, tomatoes, fries, and a yogurt sauce. The gyro pictured above is from a place called Grigoros, located on a corner next to Chania’s main city square – where I would then always find a park bench and enjoy.
Eat Fresh Fish At Neo Chora Marina
Let’s continue talking about food since eating is definitely one of the very best things to do in Chania. One of the most popular places to eat fresh fish in Chania is next to the Neo Chora Marina. This marina is smaller than the one located inside the Venetian harbor and was always filled with local fishing boats.
On the road across from the marina, you’ll find a row of restaurants specializing in fresh fish and other seafood.. And I would presume the fish comes straight off those boats. We ate one of our very best meals in Chania at a restaurant here called Kaiki. In fact, I chose my own catch of the day (grouper) from an iced cabinet in their kitchen. Plus the tourist-to-local ratio is much lower at these restaurants. So you know they’re good!
Go To The Beach
Visiting the beaches in this part of Crete is unquestionably one of the most popular things to do in Chania. Lots and lots of people come here for the beaches. And the easiest beach to visit in Chania happens to sit adjacent to the Neo Chora Marina. So it’s a very convenient beach for visitors who do not rent a car when they visit Chania.
If you do rent a car, then you can access many other great nearby beaches too. You will also want to be aware that Elafonissi Beach is an 80 minute drive from Chania. Why does that matter? Well, because Travel and Leisure Magazine recently named it the Best Beach in the World.
Visit the Folklore Museum
Since we visited Chania in April, we didn’t spend much time at the beach. But that didn’t bother us because there really are so many other things to do in Chania. A perfect example is the Folklore Museum of Chania. It’s located in a small house just off the main pedestrian street leading to the Venetian Harbor. And it shares a courtyard with Chania’s small Roman Catholic Church.
Inside you’ll find a loving re-creation of a typical old time Cretan home. Each room offers insight into typical Cretan life during the 18th and 19th centuries. It only takes about 30 minutes to walk through this museum and it only costs a few Euros. It’s well worth a visit!
Discover Ancient Tombs in A Gift Shop
In the photo below, you’ll see a very unusual site from Chania’s Old Town – ancient tombs on display through the floor of a gift shop. This is the Temple Gift Shop located in the Jewish Quarter. During Venetian times it was a small Catholic Church, and during renovations these tombs were discovered under the floor. They were preserved and are now on display under glass flooring.
And that’s not all that’s interesting about the Temple Gift Shop. Like many Christian churches in Chania, it was converted into a Mosque by the Ottomans. In the corner of the Temple Gift Shop you can still see the preserved mihrab – a highly decorated niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca (for prayer). Visiting here is certainly one of the more unique things to do in Chania.
Tour A Synagogue
Another important site in the Jewish Quarter is the Etz Hayyim Synagogue. Prior to WW2, Chania had the largest population of Jewish residents on the island of Crete. And this was their Synagogue. Tragically, all of the island’s Jews were deported during WW2 by the occupying Nazis. They all died when their ship was accidentally torpedoed by Allied forces as it left Heraklion.
Though there are no longer any Jewish people in Chania, the synagogue has been restored and functions as a museum and memorial. In order to visit, you will need to ring the doorbell during the visiting hours posted on the door. But then you will be welcomed inside and offered a guided tour. You’ll learn more about the synagogue itself and the Jewish history of Crete. This is definitely one of the more meaningful things to do in Chania. (The tour is free but donations are accepted.)
Examine 5000 Year Old Minoan Ruins
You cannot visit Crete without learning about the Minoans. The Minoan Civilization flourished on the island from about 3100 BC to 1100 BC. And it was the very first civilization in all of Europe after the Neolithic Period.
During Minoan times, Chania was the location of an important city called Kydonia. As you walk around Chania’s Old Town, you will come across several small sections of ruins from Kydonia. The largest of these is located only a few blocks from the harbor. These ruins are the foundation of a large house that was rebuilt over several centuries of Minoan settlement in Kydonia. These foundations range in age from 3000 BC – 1400 BC. So yes, they are four to five thousand years old! Looking down on these ruins is undeniably one of the coolest things to do in Chania
Visit an Archeological Museum
You can learn even more about the Minoans by visiting the Archeological Museum of Chania – located in one of Chania’s suburbs.
This archeological museum houses an impressive collection of Minoan, Greek, and Roman artifacts that have been discovered in and around Chania. As you examine these ancient artifacts, the educational displays will teach you quite a bit about the area’s history, dating back thousands of years. So if you love history, then visiting this museum is certainly one of the best things to do in Chania.
Lunch In the Mountains at Ntounias
When you visit Chania, I encourage you to rent a car and explore the surrounding area. One of the highlights of our entire time on the island was our lunch at Ntounias Educational Farm.
Ntounias is located 14 miles south of Chania. The journey will take you up through a mountain pass, through a quaint mountain village named Theriso, and ultimately to what will be one of your best meals in Crete.
Ntounias is a one-of-a-kind restaurant where all their food is cooked over wood fire. Either in clay pots or in wood-burning ovens and stoves. All the recipes are classically Cretan and all the food is sourced from their own farm or other local producers. I guarantee this as one of the most unforgettable things to do in Chania. If you want to learn more then I have a dedicated blog post to our experience eating at Ntounias.
Explore Ancient Aptera
An important archeological site near Chania that you shouldn’t miss is Ancient Aptera. These are the ruins of a great ancient city that reach its peak of power under Greek rule during the 4th-3rd centuries BC. It remained an important city during Roman times too. It takes about 20 minutes to reach Aptera from Chania via car (there aren’t any public transportation options.)
Ancient Aptera is a large site and it will take an hour or two to see its main features. These include an amphitheater (above) and its vaulted Roman cistern (below). It’s really quite an amazing place. You can read more about it in my post Ancient Aptera – Key Things To Know For A Great Visit.
Tour A Monastery
If you are putting a day trip together from Chania to Aptera then you should continue on to the St George Monastery. It’s located just south of the charming & popular little town of Vamos – only about 25 more minutes from Aptera.
This is a small functioning Greek Orthodox monastery. You will pay a few Euros to enter, but then you are allowed to roam the grounds and check out the small church. The nuns will even offer you some homemade raki and olive oil.
But the main reason this monastery makes the list of great things to do in Chania is because of its olive oil press. This is a centuries-old building towards the back of the monastery that has fallen into ruins. And it may be one of the most Instagrammable spots in all of Crete.
Getting Around Chania
So now that I’ve shown you 18 great things to do in Chania, let’s talk about how to get around town.
First of all, Chania is a very walkable city. Most of these sites and activities are within easy walking distance of the town center.
Uber or other ride share platforms are not available in Chania or anywhere else in Crete. However, you can find taxis if you wish. I arranged my airport transportation ahead of time on Booking.com (my favorite online platform for airport taxis).
Chania does have an excellent public bus system that can get you around town if needed. We only used it once – to get to the Archeological Museum. Routes and arrival times are listed in Google Maps. You can also find information regarding this bus network on the Chania Urban Bus website.
You can pay the driver directly or purchase your tickets ahead of time (cheaper) from this kiosk in Chania’s main central square…
Lastly, if you are leaving Chania to visit other cities by public transportation, then you’ll take one of the larger buses from Chania’s central bus station. Crete does not have a train system. We took the bus from Chania to Heraklion (click for my blog post with all the details), and it was a very comfortable journey.
What About Car Rental in Chania?
Yes, you should definitely consider renting a car in Chania! As I’ve outlined above, you’ll miss out on several great things to do in the area surrounding Chania if you don’t have a car.
Fortunately, if you choose the right company, car rental in Chania is inexpensive and easy. And you can rent for just part of your time in Chania if you wish (that’s what we did). I personally had a great experience renting from Go Car Rental in Chania.
And if you are concerned about driving in Crete, don’t be! I’ve written an entire blog post about my own experience driving in Crete that will give you all the advice you need.
Final Thoughts
Obviously, there are many many great things to do in Chania. It should now be clear why Chania is such a charming place and one of the essential places to visit in Crete. When you go, I’m sure you’ll love it as much as we did!
If you want to learn about another great place to visit in Crete, then check out this post:
Kritsa Crete – 5 Things You Shouldn’t Miss When Visiting
If you are looking for other Greek Island to visit, then check out these posts:
And if a stop in Athens is part of your Greece itinerary, then be sure to read this post: