Crete/ Chania Hotels

The Prefecture of Chania offers an inspired combination and the quest of modern times. Its capital city full of the fascination of centuries gone by, a lush green interior of true beauty and ecological importance.
Enchanting beaches and fairy-tale castles. The White Mountains ranged along the endless horizon; proud, fiercely independent villages.

The Old town of Chania is an extraordinary setting, where the images, aromas and flavours dazzle the sense and reflect the town’s hundreds of years of colourful history. Every day is like festival, with crowds of people moving in and out of shops, gazing into the shop windows, packing the narrow cobbled streets.
The city has two entrances: the airport of Akrotiri, and the port of Souda (the largest in the Mediterranean). The public market holds a master place in the centre of the city, a brilliant cross-shaped building that was completed in 1913, and in proportion with the one in Marseilles.
The street that unlocks the beauty of the old town is Chalidon. Follow it into the heart of the port: Syntrivani Square. On your left is Akti Kountourioti, with its all-day cafes.Behind them is the old Christian quarter of Topanas with its tangle of picturesque narrow lanes, and further up the beautiful mansions of Ovraiki.
To the right of the port, Akti Tompazi and Akti Enoseos are synonymous with fish taverns and the cult atmosphere of the old Turkish quarter of Spalantzia. A little way beyond the Venetian walls is Koum Kapi, a neighbourhood famous for its bars.
Finish your tour with a stroll through the aristocratic quarter of Chalepa.

There are also some very popular places near Chania, such as: Platanias is a cosmopolitan tourist resort, one of the most famous in Crete. Platanias is 10 Km from Chania, on the highway to Kasteli.Agia Marina is 9 km away from Chania in the way to Castelli. It took its name from the church which is located on the small hill of the old village. The endless olive plantations, orangeroots and all kinds of fruit-bearing trees with the limpid seashores make Agia Marina a modern tourist resort.


Chora Sfakion is 74 km. south of Chania, an unusual village built in a rocky, barren area, difficult to reach whether by sea or overland. To get there one crosses the Askifou Mountains and the Nimbros gorge. You can visit the cave of Daskalogianis one of the several large caves in the cliffs to the west of Hora.
Gavdos is an island 24 nautical miles south of Sfakia (Chora Sfakion). There are scheduled boats from Sfakia to this virgin island which its spotless beaches and its cedar trees all year long.
The Therissos gorge is an impressive gorge, 6 km. long, running between Chania and the village of Therissos at the foothills of the White Mountains.rge.


Lake of Kournas is 48 km. east of Chania. A picturesque lake, the only one on the island. The mountains surrounding it are reflected in its calm waters. There are taverns in the area for a bite to eat.


Argiroupolis is 27 km. southwest of Rethimnon. A village nested among greenery, build on a knoll not far away from springs that feed some enormous cisterns. Lower down the springs push waterfalls that make small cataracts. There’s an interesting local festival, on April 23, when flocks of sheep are brought at dawn to the church to be milked, sheared and dedicated to Ayios Yioryios, their patron saint and protector.

Frangokastello lies 3km off the main road, just less than 10 km from the junction with the Hora-Vrisses road the castle makes an easy target to aim for. In 1828, Frangokastello was occupied by Hatzimihali Daliani a Greek adventurer attempting to spread the war of independence from the mainland to Crete .Instead of taking to the hills as all sensible rebels before and since have done, he and his tiny force attempted to make a stand in the castle. Predictably, they were massacred and their martyrdom became the fuel for yet more heroic legends of the pallikari. It is said that around of 17th of March the ghosts of Daliani and his army march from the castle: many of the local people believe that and they named this ''phenomenon'' DROSOULITES because of the time they appear: minutes before sun arises. (In Crete "drosoula" is the morning drop).


Elafonissos - In the south-west part of Crete (Prefecture of Chania) there lies one of the most beautiful beaches you could visit in Crete.
A 64 Km from Chania, there is the village of Vathi. After Vathi the road becomes poor, running south until, a total of 73 Km, it reaches the south coast at the Crysoskalitissa Convent.
The fortress-like convent is built high up on a steep cliff over a narrow bay, with a wonderful view south over the LIbyan Sea. (At least a remarkable sight)Continuing about 5 Km south west from the convent, we come to the beautiful islet of Elafonisi, which is joined to the body of Crete by a shallow reef some 800 metres long.
This is easy to cross when the weather is calm. The land-scape is warm and the welcoming, with brilliant white sand and the calm sea.

Imbros Gorge: 7 km, 2 hrs. The Sfakians say only one is the gorge and they are referring of course to
Samarias gorge which is Crete's pride, as no such other exists in Europe. They are right, but Imbros gorge is also well worth seeing. It may be small but it is most picturesque, full of wildness. In the county of Chania there are 10 larger gorges and another thirty smaller ones. Imbros gorge originates from the last houses of the village and eight kilometres it ends in the village Komitades. Apart from being so beautiful, Imbros gorge has many visitors every year because of the many useful a vantages it has to offer. Starting at the village of Imbros you will wend your way down the sculpted, pebble-strewn convolutions of the gorge through the conifers, herbs and flowers. Sheer cliffs tower above us and butterflies rise and fall in the currents of air. The Libyan Sea eventually opens out in mesmerise peacock colours before us and the mysterious island of Gavdos floats there, a stepping-stone to Africa.
The hotel destinations of Prefecture of Chania which we recommend:
- Chania
- Kisamos
- Agia Marina
- Platanias
- Georgioupoli
- Paleochora
- Vamos
- Milia