Making the most of Chania Crete
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Chania, a Greek city and seaport in northwestern Crete (Kríti), is the island's second-largest city and one of the country's most picturesque. It is arranged around an old Venetian Port and Castle, with newer districts beyond providing parks and wide streets.
Ships dock at Souda Port, around 4km from Chania. The Souda–Chania Central stop is about 50 meters from the port, with a 30-minute service frequency when ships arrive. Usually bus 13, it costs €2.50 one way; bus 14 is the €15 express. Port authorities may instead organise a shuttle to the covered Marketplace for €2 one way.
The bus journey is about 10 minutes, setting down beside Chania's Market building.
Highlights include the Mosque of Djamissi; Venetian "arsenali" shipbuilding and repair remains; St. Nicholas Orthodox Church; the vast Municipal Market linking to the new town at its opposite entrance; the Archaeological Museum in a 16th Century Venetian church; and attractive side streets of shops, craftspeople and architecture.
Centred on the harbour, the old town is a maze of alleyways and houses rebuilt, ruined and rebuilt again over many hundred years, carrying details from different eras. It has souvenir, art and craft shops; newer quarters have ordinary stores for hiking and other-adventure needs. Beaches begin within the city, not far from the old town; Nea Hora is the nearest, 1 km. west from the Old Town's end.
Near the water, the former Mosque in the old town is now an art gallery with no entry charge.
Getting around
Buses serve all of Chania. Bus 23 makes 25 stops along resort beach areas and can take up to one hour for the full route. As with many Greek buses, the fare is the same for a partial or complete journey: €3.50 each trip, payable with cash, credit card or google pay electronically.
Glass-Bottom Boat tours let you see Greece's sea life, visit both Thodorou and Lazareta, and cost €38 for the outing.
Horse-and-cart operators are available for local transport, charging about €20 for each 15 minutes.
Money
Agia Marina and Platanias are 2 beaches considered safe for families and children. Private operators lease beaches with sun chairs and umbrellas from the government; some charge a daily sunchair fee, while others give free sun chairs with food or beverage purchases.
Greece uses the Euro as its currency.
Staying connected
Souda terminal now provides a decent wifi service.
Opening Hours and
Public Services open Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 2.00pm. Retail Stores & Specialty Shops operate Monday to Friday, 9am – 1.30pm, then 5pm – 9pm, and Saturdays 9am – 2pm. Supermarkets trade Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and Saturdays, 9am – 6pm. Tourist Shops and Convenience Stores generally have no official hours and in summer are usually open from dawn until well after midnight.