Chania Travel Guide: Old Town, Beaches & Day Trips by Car

Chania is the most beautiful city in Crete, and one of the most beautiful in Greece — a Venetian harbour, a maze of ochre backstreets, and some of the finest beaches in the country all within reach. As a company based here, we're biased; we're also right. Here's how to make the most of it.

The Venetian Old Town

Start at the Venetian harbour, where the 16th-century Egyptian lighthouse guards a curve of pastel townhouses. Lose an afternoon in the backstreets behind it — leather workshops on Skrydlof Street, the covered Municipal Market, and quiet squares where cats outnumber tourists. Come back at sunset, when the harbour glows. Wander deeper in our Chania Old Town guide.

The best beaches

Western Crete's beaches are the reason many people come. Balos lagoon and pink-tinged Elafonissi are the headline acts; Falassarna delivers the sunsets and Seitan Limania the drama. Most are a drive from town — see our guide to the 5 best beaches in Chania for how to reach each one.

Day trips by car

Chania is the perfect base for western Crete. Hike the Samaria Gorge, chase mountain villages and hidden coves, or follow the coast toward Rethymno. Our 5 driving destinations around Chania maps out the best loops. Planning the big hike? See our Samaria Gorge guide.

Where to eat

Cretan food is a highlight in its own right: dakos (rusk with tomato and mizithra), boureki, slow-cooked lamb, and raki poured whether you ordered it or not. Skip the harbour-front tourist menus and head one street back. For the dishes to order and where to find them, see our Chania food guide.

Getting around — and why you'll want a car

Chania's Old Town is walkable, but the beaches, gorges and villages that make the region special are spread across western Crete with limited, infrequent buses. A rental car turns a fixed itinerary into a flexible one — chase the light to Balos, detour to a taverna, leave when you like. Pick up at Chania Airport (CHQ) or in town; compare local agencies on our Chania car rental page.

Best time to visit

May, June, September and October are ideal — warm sea, fewer crowds, lower rental prices. July and August are hot and busy but the islands' energy peaks; book the car early.

Plan your Chania trip: rent a car in Chania from a local, family-run agency and explore western Crete at your own pace.