Chania

Chania (Χανιά) is the main city of western Crete. It lies on the north coast between the Akrotiri peninsula and the foothills of the Lefka Ori, the White Mountains. Its old town is among the best preserved on the island. Venetian walls, mansions and churches mix with Ottoman fountains, a domed mosque on the harbour and minarets. Excavations at Ancient Kydonia on Kastelli Hill reveal its Minoan roots.

The Venetian Harbour, framed by the Egyptian Lighthouse and the Firkas Fortress, is the focus of city life, with the Maritime Museum nearby. Behind it lie the lanes of Splantzia, Topanas and the former Jewish quarter with the Etz Hayyim Synagogue. The cross-shaped Municipal Market sits at the edge of the old town. Close by are the monasteries of the Akrotiri peninsula, Ancient Aptera and Lake Kournas. Chania is the base for Balos Lagoon and Elafonisi, where access depends on weather and sea, and for Falassarna. The Samaria Gorge is open in the warmer months only. Show more

Cretan cuisine is at its heart here, with olive oil, cheese pies, wild greens and raki. The city has an airport on Akrotiri and a ferry port at nearby Souda.