The beautiful city of Chania, Crete

The city of Chania is located on the north-east part of the Prefecture of Chania. It is the capital of the prefecture and its administrative, economic, commercial and transportation center. It has a population of over 60.000 residents and is built over the ruins of the ancient city of Kydonia. Since the ancient times, the city of Chania has faced many conquerors and the influences of many civilizations through time, evident on the city monuments. The beautiful city of Chania managed to preserve its original colors and historical character, despite the fast-growing tourist industry. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cities of Greece and the most picturesque city of Crete. The city of Chania is also characterized by a rich cultural life. A variety of cultural events are organized every year
(exhibitions, festivals, theatrical and musical performances, ect.)

Crete

The City

Agora - Centre of Chania

The Municipal Market is one of the most central spots in the city, hosted in a 1913 building. In a short distance from the center, there is the Municipal Garden and next to it, the park "Eirinis kai Filias" (meaning, the "park of peace and friendship). The Municipal Garden is one of the most beautiful in Crete, and it also includes a small zoo with animals of the Cretan flora.

The Venetian port provides pleasant promenades through picturesque streets and attracts many visitors throughout the year. There are also many bars and restaurants by the seaside for every taste. The districts of the city outside the walls still preserve their Venetian nobility. Narrow passages surrounded by elegant houses built in different historical periods offer visitors pleasant routes to discover. Many neoclassic buildings are also preserved in neighboring districts, such as in "Halepa".

The Hospitality

We invite you to experience the genuine Cretan hospitality in Chania. 

Share your table with the local people and listen to their stories. Get to know their customs and their ethics. Embrace their warm hospitality, sometimes expressed by a treat of raki, wine or "mezze" and sometimes by a lavish meal in humble households. The people of Chania will welcome you with love, they will share their lives with you and they will make you feel right at home.

 

The Cretan hospitality is not a way to show off, it is not pretentious or a matter of habit. It is simply part of the Cretan lifestyle and an expression of soul.  Besides, nothing belongs to the Cretan people. The Cretan land is their homeland, and this land cannot be owned. With joy and pride, Cretan people accept the fact that they are nothing more than guests in the great palace of their generous father, the Cretan-born Xenios Zeus.

The Municipality of Chania is an ideal tourist destination that offers more than the dazzling sun and the blue sea. It offers a beautiful natural environment, a unique culture and history, wonderful cuisine, fresh products and a high quality of life. Chania is truly blessed by nature, God and our ancestors.

How to get here

The city has an airport and the port of Souda, the largest natural port of the Mediterranean.

                                                                            

See Also:

• Samaria Gorge, Chania, Crete
• Cretan Mysteries, Drosoulites