Sightseeing

A first-time visitor to Chania is surprised by the great number of buildings and monuments on which can be found traces of its great history and rich civilization. The old town, on and around the hill of Kasteli, was built upon the ruins of Minoan Kydonia and is surrounded by the Byzantine wall, the Venetian wall, and the sea.

The Minoan civilization left behind grand tombs, interesting ceramics, and objects. During its occupation by the Venetians and the Turks, people of different nationality, culture, and religion co-existed. Christians (Catholic and Orthodox), Jews and Muslims, have left discernible traces and produced particularly interesting creations.

There are many beautiful beaches available in the county of Chania (415 km coastline), many of which are organized for bathers and are combined with exceptional hotel units. The beaches of Nea Chora, Chrissi Akti, Ag. Apostoloi, Agia Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Kissamos, Balos, Falassarna, Elafonissi, Paleochora, Sougia, Loutro, Fragokastelo, Sfakia, Marathi, Kalives, Georgioupolis, Kavros, Almirida, are only a small selection of the most popular beaches of Chania.

Due to its special flora and fauna, a large part of the natural environment of Chania consists of protected areas for hunting, national parks and natural habitats (lake of Ayia, the lake of Kournas, islands of Gavdos and Gavdopoula, Elafonissi, etc.) which are protected by “Natura 2000”.

Chania is a blessed and privileged place with a mild climate during the whole year, countless beauties and all kinds of attractions.

Apart from its five hundred villages, the area counts more than 100 very clean beaches on the northern and southern coasts, a hundred mountain tops and 1500 caves, as well as countless monuments and gorges of incomparable wilderness and beauty in Europe. More than sixty small and bigger gorges, easy or difficult of access, are situated in the Prefecture of Chania, and that is why the city is often called “the Locus of Gorges”.

A priceless treasure in churches (over 300 Byzantine), mountain churches and important monasteries can be found scattered around the county of Chania. Here one can experience an unrepeatable religious experience or conduct research in relation to Byzantine art or religious architecture. Splendid churches with wonderful frescoes, partly by masters of Byzantine hagiography