Chania, The Western part of Crete Island, is a unique place with thousands of fans ready to visit the place again & again or even start a new life here, if given the chance.
I moved from Athens to Crete, back in 2005 & since then, I have been living in & exploring Chania & the island of Crete as a whole. My family, from my father's side, connects me with this beautiful island & I have been visiting Chania, since I was a small kid. Every year, it's getting clearer to me why Chania offers the fullest package among the cities of the island.
With a population of approximately 160.000 people, Chania has almost half of Heraklion’s population (the modern capital of the island). Yet, the Chania prefecture is only a touch smaller geographically than Heraklion ( 2.376 sq.km. vs 2.641 sq.km ). That means that in Heraklion, the population density is 121people/sq.km., while in Chania it is 67 people/sq.km. Fewer people & lower density mean smaller cities, more open spaces & natural areas.
The variety of landscapes in the Chania prefecture is impressively rich. Namely: a fertile mountain plateau, a massive mountain range with over 30 peaks over 2.000 meters altitude, several NATURA 2000 protected areas of great importance, one of the longest gorges in all Europe (Samaria Gorge), some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, underwater caves, holds the only freshwater lake of Crete & a palette of biodiversity that hosts some unique species of flora & fauna, found nowhere else in Crete.
Chania crete, has the full package.
1. Mountains, Gorges & Hiking paths
The White Mountains of Chania are a mountain range visible from almost everywhere in the province. It covers more than half the surface area of Chania perfecture & a part of Rethymno. Its highest peak (Pachnes) with elevation 2.453 meters is the second tallest in Crete, surpassed only by 3 meters in height, by Psiloritis Mountain in Rethymno.
There are plenty of mountain villages to explore, where time seems to have stopped back in the past.
There are dozens of Gorges in Chania of varying difficulty level, length or terrain, making the destination an absolute must for all hiking lovers.
The most famous among all is the Samaria Gorge. With 13kms. length from entrance to exit, it is one of the longest in all Europe and part of the National Park Of Samaria since 1962.
Thousands of people cross the gorge every year including many repeaters. The gorge opens its gates to visitors around the beginning of May, according to the weather conditions, and closes them at the end of October before the rainy season begins.
Other famour gorges are Imbros, Agia Irini, Aradena, Diktamos, amongst others.
Together, they create an impressive network that you simply can not miss discovering.
With its 10.450kms in length, the E4 Hike path
(11.773kms including detours & alternatives routes)
is the longest European trail.
In Crete, it starts from Kissamos (North West of Chania), follows the Western coastline to the South.
Then, it crosses the island all the way to the East. Many parts of the trail, especially along the south coast are very demanding, requiring a lot of experience in hiking and/or a local guide.
2. The Blue Sea Water & Amazing Beaches
We count over 100 beaches along the Chania coast line. From the North to the West coast & all the way down to the South coast, including the amazingly beautiful island of Gavdos, the southernmost point of Europe.
In Chania, there are some of the most beautiful, sensitive, famous & undiscovered beaches of the whole island. Many of them, thankfully, are already under the NATURA 2000 seal of protection - but this is not enough, as the over tourism phenomenon is more than visible and has it's harmful effects even in these areas.
Read about the problems that over tourism has create to our beaches here:
The crystal clear waters and the sea life (among them sea-turtles, seals, etc.), attract every year thousands of people who love swimming, beach life, free camping and water activities.
The South coast line (Libyan Sea) & the North coast line (Cretan Sea) have shores settled with the endemic Cretan Juniper, archaeological sites or hidden fjords accessible sometimes only by boat. These are only a few of the hidden gems that you'll uncover if you have enough time to explore the island, as plenty of time is needed for a proper discovery.
No matter if you travel alone, with friends, your family and kids, you like nudism or free camping under the night stars, the variety of Chania beaches will cover your needs.
3. The Mediterranean Diet and Cuisine
The Mediterranean Diet, the world’s healthiest according to scientists, is a nutritious eating plan. This diet is based on the traditional recipes of Greece, Italy & other countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Its biggest distinctions among other diets are the ingredients & the cooking methods used.
Plant-based foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices are the foundations of the diet.
Olive oil is the diet's King and the main source of added fat.
Fish, seafood, dairy & poultry are included in moderation.
Traditionally, red meat & sweets are eaten on occasion only, in social or religious celebrations. (However, this is no longer the case nowadays where meat is often consumed daily.)
Chania and Crete in large have a extensive production of virgin olive oil. Olive harvesting by whole families it is still a tradition in the Autumn - Winter seasons, just like the old days.
A couple of years ago, we released our:
A tour that we are really proud of!
It is an ode to the Cretan gastronomy, the local culture & the people still living in the villages. This a lifetime experience you'll never forget, not a plain touristy downtown food tour!
Last year, we launched our first seasonal hands-on experience:
We strive to keep the authenticity of Crete's culture and rituals proud and alive. In this unique experience of a lifetime, you become a part of a 1000's year old Cretan tradition, that has roots back to the Minoan years; Olive Harvesting.
4. Beer, Wine, Tsikoudia (Raki)
The tradition of making your own home alcoholic drink, wine or tsikoudia (the Cretan spirit also known as raki), has very deep roots in Crete.
For years now, home brewing is also becoming a newfound tradition for the younger generations, an activity which is getting bigger & more popular every year.
Home brewing and the growing love for quality beer, has made way today to count 6 breweries in Chania of different sizes: from a one-man-show operation to family breweries & a big scale brewery that produce enough beer to cover distribution throughout the whole island of Crete and not only.
You may find detailed information about
Chania Breweries on our blog:
Being travellers & beer lovers ourselves,
we created back in 2021 the first ever
Craft Beer Walking Tours of Greece.
They take place in Chania & Rethymno.
Craft beer community is growing in Chania. There are collaborations between brewers,
bottle shops who take craft beer seriously, beer pubs and a few restaurants with a
craft beer catalogue in their menu.
We, at Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours, are specialists in creating craft beer menus, according to the restaurant's profile, the clientele, the food menu or even train the staff about the secrets of beer and how to pair it with food.
Wine production in Chania is a big chapter.
There are many wineries to visit, like Karavitakis, Anoskeli, Dourakis , Pneumatikakis, Paterakis & Manousakis (let us know if we need to add another winery).
There must positively be dozens of smaller scale wineries and countless home winemakers all around the prefecture. Together, they make Chania, a serious destination for wine lovers.
Tsikoudia is a distilled spirit from grapes (also known as raki, a name given by the Ottomans during Crete's occupation) and a must-have in every home, tavern, restaurant or coffee shop. The distillation season begins late October and lasts about a month.
If you are lucky enough to be invited in a kazani (in Greek: the distilling boiler) gathering,
you will live a true mystagogy (like a local religion) and you'll eat and drink like never before. Spontaneous singing, music or dancing will makes the whole experience unforgettable!
5. Micro-Climates and Natural Beauties
The unique position of Crete's island, very close to Europe, Africa and Asia continents, the island's geographical orientation and shape, the high mountains, the exposure to sea & strong winds blowing all year round from every direction, all have created through centuries a rare & complicated system of different microclimates.
In a very short distance, the scenery can change drastically.
This phenomenon is more obvious on the Western & Eastern edges of the island, where the winds are stronger.
In Chania, there is thick snow & ice on the White Mountains range during Winter time, desert sandy beaches, trees by the sea, sensitive eco-systems, sea lagoons with shallow waters, gorges, rivers, a freshwater lake and rich flora of herbs, flowers, & wild mushrooms.
6. Cretan Hospitality: Part of the local's DNA (at least the elders)
In Chania (and Crete in general) you can still say “Γεια - Yeia - Hello!” or “Καλημέρα - Kalimera - Good morning” to local people (mostly in the villages) or share a big smile with them, which they will return wholeheartedly immediately.
Even though people are changing a lot year after year, especially now, Cretan hospitality has proven to have very deep roots.
To be offered wine, coffee or tsikoudia simply because you entered a coffee shop while the locals are there drinking or chatting, is just magical.
This generous habit is still alive mostly in the mountain villages & occasionally in the cities.
No need to mention the epic arguments in small coffee shops or country taverns when the bill comes, as everyone wants to pay for everybody else!
A visit to Crete will help you understand the true meaning of hospitality, even to this day.
if you're still wondering... “Why Chania?”
Irresistible natural beauties
Different micro-climates all around the island.
Delicious & healthy cuisine based on olive oil.
Local made craft beer, wine & tsikoudia.
Beaches that cover the whole palette of desires.
Hospitality.
Last but not least: the iconic Venetian Harbour of Chania, the icing on the cake.
In Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours we collaborate with local businesses & choose local products to offer to our guests (like the craft beers & the food during our tours) with eco-responsibility at the core, while creating memorable lifetime experiences.
Our Tours in Chania & Rethymno, always in small groups, are promoting a non-touristy way of travel - away from an out-of-date over tourism model, big scale Tour Operators & huge all-inclusive resorts.
By respecting the Earth & Sea which surround us and acting with sustainable criteria, we give ourselves the chance to live a quality life and rescue our planet landscape for the future generations. So what are you waiting for? Come on down, Chania Crete has the full package!
- Clyde
Must-visit island in Greece! sounds like the most amazing Greek island! would you recommend spending a whole week or more there?