Chania (pronounced haa·nee·uh) was the first place I landed when I came to Greece for the first time! Chania holds one of the major airports on the island of Crete. It’s a charming city with cute little streets and a great port for walking around, but mostly it’s close to the infamous west coast beaches.

Chania can really be explored in a day or two, but if you prefer to stay in one place, like I did, (I hate dragging around my luggage and living in a suitcase), it’s about an hour drive from all of the best beaches on the West coast of Crete (see my recommendations for visiting those beaches at the end of this list).

1.Visit the Old Venetian Port & Wander the Streets of Old Town Chania

The Old Venetian port is definitely the highlight of Old Town Chania. It is a lively atmosphere and has some incredible restaurants! So much great seafood! Close to the port are all of the cute and charming little streets with beautifully colored buildings and an endless number of restaurants.

2. Take a Boat Ride to the Small Nearby Islands

Along the old Venetian port you’ll find there are a handful of stands where you can buy a ticket for a boat ride. There are short boat rides (an hour long) or some longer 3 hour boat rides you can take! I recommend the longer boat rides because you get to see more, but even the short ones are enjoyable. There’s nothing like being on the water, snapping some beautiful photos of the coast as you sail away, and a nice sea breeze. You might also see some flying fish and sea turtles, like I did. That was the highlight of the boat ride for me! You do have the option to sit on the boat or you can jump in and take a swim too.

3. Visit the Chania Archaeological Museum

The Chania Archaeological museum is a little ways away from the old Venetian port. It’s walkable, (I did), but it’s also easy to drive or catch a taxi cab. If you aren’t in great walking shape or you feel tired, I recommend the latter. You can walk along the coast almost the whole way there. I loved this museum! They had so many interesting artifacts in the museum and I learned so much about the history of Chania. Chania is an area with rich and ancient history. About 50 footprints were found in a rock that dates back 6.05 million years. The museum is full of ancient pottery, coins, jewelry, toys and other household items found in the area all the way from 1500 BC through 2nd century AD. The Mycenaean age was a time of great wealth so the artifacts are impressive!

4. Have Dinner on the Port at Sunset

This is a must! The port is so lively (at least during the summer seasons), with locals and tourists having dinner together. All of the restaurants overlook the Venetian port and the sunsets are magical. The orange, pink and purple skies over the water are the perfect way to spend an evening. There are tons of restaurants to choose from. From traditional Greek souvlaki and kebab to nouveau Greek cuisine; you won’t be disappointed with the number of available options. I’ll say it again, the seafood is amazing! I ate at a restaurant called Palazzo al Mare and had one of the best meals of my trip!

5. Visit the hammam

It wouldn’t be a wellness trip in the mediterranean without visiting a Hammam, the ancient tradition of a bath house. Going to a bathhouse is an ancient Roman and Byzantine tradition. You can find the ruins of ancient bath houses on the island of Crete dating back thousands of years. If you need an afternoon break or want a slow day (which I always recommend), you can go to relax and enjoy the indoor baths and get a massage or scrub treatment and they are usually much cheaper than getting a massage at a hotel! There are usually 3-4 different pools of different temperatures that you can enjoy for 30-40 minutes prior to your treatment.

6. Take a day trip to Balos Beach

Balos beach is definitely the most stunning beach in Crete. The crystal clear and brightly turquoise waters provide a feeling of absolute awe. I’ve heard the beaches can get crowded with visitors during high season, but there are plenty of places you can find that are a little more peaceful if you walk a little. There are two ways to get there. You can book a tour to take a boat from Chania and some of the other towns along the northern coast or you can drive. There are pros and cons to both. Taking a boat brings you right to the water and it’s easy to jump off and get to the beach, but you miss the stunning cliffside views from walking down the hill to the beach (the other way to get there). If you drive (about an hour and half from Chania), you park at the top of the hill and hike down to Balos Beach. It’s less than a mile, but it’s rocky and you have to walk back up it when you leave. I recommend tennis shoes or good sandals - mine broke that day. But it was also a good excuse to pick up some cute Greek sandals. Ha! You also have to drive on an unpaved road on your way there which is fun if you like that sort of thing, (I like the adventure), but can also be kind of scary or nerve wracking. I did see a bunch of cute little goats on the way there and the drive was absolutely beautiful along the water. So for me it was totally worth it, but if you’re looking for something more relaxing, I recommend booking the tour!

7. Visit the Agia Sofia Cave on Your way to Elafonissi Beach

Elafonissi beach is another beautiful beach on the southwest coast of Crete. Perhaps not quite as spectacular as Balos Beach, but beautiful and peaceful and much easier to get to! The sand is soft, white or pink and the water is warm, crystal clear, and beautifully colored. There are plenty of amenities; drinks, bathrooms, changing stations, showers, snacks etc. Also, make note that it’s useful to have a euro for the bathrooms. While it might seem strange to pay for the bathroom, it’s how they keep these bathrooms clean! I’ll take it! The drive to Elafonissi beach goes through the middle of the island. It’s a beautiful drive, but not for the faint of heart, there are plenty of turns, hills, one way roads and there aren't usually guardrails on the roads. Here are my driving tips for Crete. The Agia Sofia cave (Agia Sofia means “Wisdom of God”. Is an ancient cave that has been inhabited over the millennia. Pottery from the neolithic, minoan, classical, hellenistic and roman times have all been found in the cave. The cave is most well known for the story of Cretan soldiers who returned to Crete after fighting in Constantinople and (modern day Istanbul) with the Sofia Wisdom of God icon that was found in the cave. It doesn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to see and it’s pretty cool if you have time on your way to Elafonissi Beach!

8. Visit Falassarna beach

Falassarna beach is a long stretch of beach with lots of umbrellas for a good beach day! There are a couple of restaurants, umbrellas and chairs you can rent and a beautiful sandy beach with turquoise waters. If you’re looking to easily relax at a beautiful beach, Falassarna is it. There’s a close parking lot right in front of the beach so it makes it easy to visit!

9. Visit Ancient Aptera

Last on my list, but certainly not the least and mostly for history lovers; within a 30-40 minute drive from Chania is the site of Ancient Aptera. You’ll find here the ruins of an ancient theater, roman bath houses, an Ottoman fortress and ancient temples all built in the same place over the last millenia.

Those are my tips if you’re visiting Chania. I hope you enjoy your time there! For more tips about getting around in Crete in general, you can find those here.

xx, Marisa

9 things to do in Chania, Crete, Greece