The Ultimate Guide to Chania – What to do in Chania
Category: MagazineBy Costa & Anita – 15 Years of Life in Crete
If you’re reading this guide, you’re probably already in Chania or planning your visit soon.
Before we tell you about our favorite things to do in Chania, we’d like to share a little story.
Costa was born and raised in Chania.
Anita grew up in Australia, thousands of miles away from Crete.
Neither of us could have imagined that one day our paths would cross and that this place would become our shared home.
We met, fell in love, and began a journey together that eventually brought us here.
Today, this is where we are raising our children.
And after all these years, we still feel incredibly lucky to call Chania home.
Over the years, there’s one question we’ve heard time and time again from visitors:
“What is it really like to live here?”
And that’s exactly how this guide was born.
Not simply to show you what to see.
But to help you understand why so many people return to Chania again and again.
And why some eventually decide never to leave.
If You Only Have 4 Days in Chania, What Is Really Worth Doing?
The most common mistake we see visitors make is trying to fit everything into a few days.
Many visitors arrive with a long Chania itinerary that includes Balos, Elafonissi, Falassarna, and Chania Old Town.
All squeezed into a short holiday.
By the end, they have seen a lot, but experienced very little.
Crete is not a destination you simply check off a list.
It is a destination you experience.
Our advice is simple:
Don’t try to see everything.
So, if you’re wondering what to do in Chania, here are four unique experiences that we genuinely recommend to friends and family when they visit us in Crete.
A Private Boat Tour in Apokoronas & Lunch in Almyrida
If a friend were visiting Chania for the first time and asked us which experience they should book before anything else, our answer would be immediate:
Spend a day discovering the Apokoronas coast on a private boat tour.
Not because it’s the most famous option.
But because it’s one of the most authentic.
Most visitors come to Chania searching for the island’s famous beaches and that’s completely understandable. But there is another side of Crete that doesn’t appear in the typical photographs and cannot be discovered by simply driving from one beach to another.
That side of Crete begins in Almyrida. From here starts an experience that, for us, represents Crete exactly as we love it.
We’d start the day slowly. Find a comfortable sunbed on the sandy beach, order a coffee, and enjoy the crystal-clear waters that make Almyrida so special. There is no rush here. Swim, relax, read a book, or simply watch the fishing boats come and go.
One of our favorite ways to discover Apokoronas is by boat. The coastline reveals a completely different side of Crete, with hidden coves, sea caves, dramatic cliffs, and turquoise waters that are impossible to fully appreciate from the road. For those who prefer a slower pace, we’d recommend waiting until the evening and choosing a sunset boat tour in Apokoronas instead. With a glass of local wine in hand, the sea reflecting shades of gold and orange, and the White Mountains in the distance, it’s one of those moments that captures the essence of Crete perfectly.
And then comes our favorite part of any day on the island. After the sea, the sunshine, and the sunset, enjoy lunch at one of Almyrida’s waterfront restaurants. From freshly caught seafood to traditional Cretan dishes, every plate reflects the island’s rich culinary heritage and warm hospitality.
It’s one of the reasons so many visitors looking for a great lunch near Chania find themselves returning to Almyrida.
Let’s Plan Your Perfect Day on the Cretan Coast
Whether you’re looking for a private boat trip, a romantic sunset cruise, or a relaxing day by the sea, we’d be happy to help you plan it.
Samaria Gorge Hike
If there is one experience that captures the wild beauty of Crete, it is the Samaria Gorge.
Many visitors ask us whether it’s really worth dedicating an entire day to crossing it.
Our answer is always the same:
Yes. And it will probably become one of the most memorable experiences of your trip.
The day begins early in the morning as the first sunlight reaches the peaks of the White Mountains. As you arrive at Xyloskalo, the entrance to the gorge, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale of the landscape surrounding you.
You are standing in the heart of one of Europe’s most spectacular natural environments. Ahead of you lies a 16-kilometer route through a protected national park known for its unique flora and fauna. Along the way, you’ll pass the abandoned village of Samaria, once a thriving settlement and today a reminder of how closely people were connected to this rugged landscape. No photograph can truly capture the scale and grandeur of this place.
As the journey continues, fatigue naturally begins to set in, which is why we always advise proper hiking shoes, enough water, and respect for the challenge ahead. And then comes the moment everyone waits for: after hours of hiking, the gorge opens up, revealing Agia Roumeli, a small seaside village on the shores of the Libyan Sea. It’s one of those travel moments that stays with you long after your holiday has ended.
White Mountains Safari
If you asked us which excursion best reveals the real Crete beyond its beaches, we would recommend the White Mountains Safari without hesitation. Most visitors know Crete through places like Balos, Elafonissi, or Chania’s Old Town—wonderful destinations, but not enough to understand how the island truly lives.
The day begins by leaving the city behind and heading into the countryside, passing small villages, orange groves, avocado farms, and areas most travelers would never discover on their own. What makes this experience so special is that it reveals a quieter, more authentic side of Crete that feels closer to everyday local life. As you climb higher into the White Mountains, the views become spectacular, stretching from the peaks all the way to the sea, moments that make you stop and simply take it all in. One of the highlights is visiting a traditional mitato, the stone shelters used by shepherds, where you learn about their way of life, traditional cheese-making, and customs preserved for generations. If you’re lucky, you may spot eagles above the peaks or goats moving across the rugged slopes. For a few hours, you forget you are in one of Europe’s most popular destinations—and instead feel like you’ve discovered a side of Crete that has remained unchanged for decades.
Wine Tasting & Olive Oil Tour in Chania
If you asked us which experience surprises visitors to Chania the most, our answer would be a wine tasting and olive oil tour in the Cretan countryside. The reason is simple: if you’re looking for authentic things to do in Chania, this experience offers a completely different perspective of the island. Here, olive oil is much more than a product, it’s not something you simply buy from a supermarket shelf, but a part of everyday life. Almost every family has its own olive trees, children grow up watching their parents and grandparents take part in the harvest, and conversations around the dinner table often revolve around that year’s olive production.
The experience continues among the vineyards of the region.
A place where the story of Cretan winemaking began thousands of years ago. As you walk through the vines, you’ll learn how Crete’s unique climate and soil shape the character of its wines, discover local grape varieties rarely found outside the island, and hear stories from people who continue traditions passed down through generations. Somewhere along the way, you’ll begin to understand that in Crete, food and wine are not simply part of a holiday—they are a way of life. But our favorite part always comes at the end, when everyone gathers around a large table, sharing stories, food, wine, and laughter. And that, more than anything else, is the experience that brings so many visitors back to Crete again and again.
The Biggest Mistake Tourists Make
They spend their holidays chasing photos, seeing a video on social media, a stunning picture or a viral reel, and planning their entire trip around it. But Crete is not a photograph, it’s an experience. Some of the best moments of our lives here didn’t happen at a famous landmark, but in a small unknown village, at a family-run café, during a conversation with an elderly local, or while watching a sunset we discovered completely by chance. Those are the moments that stay with you long after the holiday ends.
Can Someone Really Live in Chania?
This is probably the question we hear most often from our visitors.
And the answer is simple:
Yes.
Many of the people we know first came to Chania for a short holiday. They returned again and again, discovered more sides of Crete, and eventually made the decision to turn it into their permanent home.
Chania offers a lifestyle that combines natural beauty, safety, and an exceptional quality of everyday life. There are wonderful areas for families, as well as for retirees looking for a quieter and more balanced way of living. International communities, quality schools, modern services, and a pleasant climate throughout the year make it surprisingly easy for many people from around the world to settle here.
But above all, what truly makes Chania special is its people and its pace of life.
It is a way of living that places greater value on time, relationships, and the simple moments of each day, something that is becoming increasingly rare in many parts of Europe. Perhaps that’s why we’re still here, fifteen years later. And perhaps that’s why so many visitors leave with the same thought in mind:
“What would it be like to live in Crete permanently?”
We hope this guide helps you discover not only the places worth visiting in Chania, but also the spirit of this remarkable corner of Crete.
Whether you’re here for a few days, a few weeks, or perhaps considering a more permanent move, we encourage you to slow down, explore beyond the obvious, and embrace the island the way locals do.
You may arrive as a visitor.
But don’t be surprised if you leave feeling a little bit at home.
How Costa & Anita Can Help You Make Crete Your Home
Over the years, many of the people we have met arrived in Chania as visitors.
They came for the beaches, the sunshine, and the relaxed lifestyle.
But somewhere along the way, their plans changed.
What started as a holiday became a dream of owning a home in Crete and creating a new chapter of their lives here.
Having gone through a similar journey ourselves, we understand both the excitement and the challenges that come with such a decision.
Costa brings a lifetime of local knowledge, construction expertise, and a deep understanding of the Chania property market. Having grown up in the area and spent years building and renovating homes, he can help clients identify the right locations, understand local regulations, and turn ideas into reality.
Anita understands the experience from an international perspective. Having moved from Australia and built a life in Crete herself, she knows the questions, concerns, and practical considerations that many overseas buyers face when relocating to a new country.
Together, we help people navigate the entire journey of making Crete their home.
Because for us, this is more than real estate.
It’s about helping people create the lifestyle they have always dreamed of.
Whether you’re looking for real estate in Chania, planning to build a villa in Crete, or simply exploring the possibility of moving to Crete one day, we’d be delighted to share our knowledge and help you take the next step.
After all, that’s exactly how our own journey began.
And perhaps yours is just beginning too.
Let’s Turn Your Dream of Living in Crete into Reality
From finding the perfect property to designing and building your ideal home, we’ll help you through every stage of the journey.
Get in touch with Costa & Anita today.
+30 698 101 2141
CostaAnita Villas