CHANIA.

The prefecture Chania is for 60 % a mountainious area where hardly any people live. Most of the Chaniotes, over 93.000 inhabbitants, live in the capital and the suburbs. Another area where many locals live, is the Apokoronas, which is east of Chania, between Georgioupoli and Kalives. Here also many ex pats have settled down to live in their first or second house. There are already villages with more foreigners than locals. It’s a beautiful area with good walking possibilities through the traditional villages and the pine tree forrest. In the village Vamos is a tourist company founded by architects that rent out traditional holiday houses.

The Akrotiri is the peninsula in front of the City Chania and the Apokoronas. Here 2 interesting Monasteries, Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) and Gouvernetso or St.John the baptist. The apostle lived here for 1 winter in a cave nearby and when he continued his journey to Rome, he capsized enroute (say the stories). The beach at the village Stavros is a nice place to relax, it was here on the hill where Zorba the Greek (Anthony Quinn) danced the sirtaki with Alan Bates.

The area around the venetian Castle: Frangokastello in the south of the prefecture is probably the most remote area of this county, but there’s no reason not to visit it, since here we find not only the castle from the 14th century, but also some very good beaches. Accommodations are available, but remember, there’s not so much nightlife or shops.

Famous is Chania for the walking fans. Make a hike through the popular Samaria gorge, the easy Imbros gorge, the spectacular Aradena, or the green Irini gorge on the east & western slopes of the White Mountains. There are walks to the highest peaks of the Lefka Ori, up till 2453 Meter, but we advise you to go with a local guide. For more information see our walking page.

We come to the most western point of the prefecture, where we find the lovely fishermens village Paleochora and the lagune beaches from Elafonissi. The sand of the beach looks pink or rosa, because of the fine coral mixed by nature with the sand. Again a “lonely” area, with some houses offering studios and apartments. Visit the Monastery of Chrissokalitsa if you pass the last steps up to the central building and you notice that the last steps are turning into gold, than you are without sinns.... but this hardly happens.

Kissamos or Kastelli on the north is a well organized tourist destination but you don’t find it in many Tour operators brochures. Maybe that’s why the “Cretan insiders” choose this place for their holiday. Here good hotels, ussually the smaller ones and houses with studios & apartments. A tourist site worth a visit is the island of Gramvousa, (Balos) In the summer you can find transfer boats from the Kissamos harbour.

The City Chania is for many the most beautiful city of GREECE. The old center offers the biggest traditional harbour from our country and is surrounded by many small alleys with shops, for souvenirs, art, handicraft and also for your stomach, so if you are hungry you’ll find here always a good place to eat the Cretan and Greek dishes. In the heart of the city the daily open market where you can buy fresh spices, herbs, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, souvenirs etc.etc. A little outside the city, towards the Akrotiri you’ll find a memorial park for the great Statesmen of Crete, Eleftherios Venizelos. It was because of him that Crete was reunited with Greece in 1913 after centuries of occupation by strangers.

Generally the prefecture Chania is an area for people that look for relaxion, tradition, activity (walking) and the chance to get in touch with the local population.