Crete - Chania Area

Crete - Chania Area

The largest island in Greece, Crete is a feast for the senses: wild natural beauty and thousands of years of culture, history and exquisite cuisine.

On Crete, you’ll find some of the most significant attractions in Greece: famous archaeological sites such as the Minoan palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Kato Zakros. You’ll also visit important monasteries, some built in the 15th century or even earlier, including the Preveli Monastery in southern Rethymno.

A paradise for thrill-seekers, hikers and nature lovers
Crete is the ideal destination for all kinds of sports and activities in nature. For canyoning and hiking, the gorges offer unparalleled beauty. The largest and most famous is Samaria, with its world-renowned Portes (Iron Gates). Other noteworthy canyons are Amba, Tripiti, Kourtaliotiko, Kamaraiko (the longest), Ha (the so-called ‘king of Cretan gorges’), and Ethias and Eligas. You’ll hike across these landscapes of sublime beauty and diversity and, for off-road and 4x4, you’ll zig and zag along Crete’s dirt roads. Meanwhile, the cosmopolitan resorts in both the north and south of the island are ideal for water sports and scuba diving.

Chania is a riveting city full of intriguing contradictions and breadth of beauty. The architecture is a combination of archaeological, Venetian and modern buildings and it will win you over straight away. The captivating old Venetian harbour lines the coast of the town, adding romance to your walks up and down the promenade. The famous Egyptian lighthouse, which is located at the far end of the harbour, offers an endless vista of blue and is one of the most iconic spots to soak in the rich sunset. With numerous tavernas, restaurants, bars, shops and stores, the town is buzzing with life day and night. Greek gastronomy enthusiasts should also pay a visit to the Municipal Market of Chania, also known as Agora where you can find all sorts of local products and Cretan delicacies.

Imagine endless stretches of sandy beaches with crystal clear blue and turquoise waters extending all along Crete’s northern coast, from Platanias Village itself westwards right along the neighbouring villages.

The most iconic and most photographed beaches in the area, in fact the whole of Crete, renowned for their exotic beauty and majestic natural environment, are the heavenly lagoons of Balos at Gramvousa peninsula and Elafonissi, also at the southwestern edge of the island. Between them, lies the virgin beach of ancient Falassarna. And if you’re looking for seclusion, try the secret paradise of Kedrodasos and White Lake near Elafonissi and the African seascapes of Agiannis and Lavrakas on Gavdos island.

Rethymno town is a rare combination of history and modern-day luxury, with its Venetian-era Fortezza and old town, tropical beaches and exquisite Cretan cuisine.
The Fortezza (fortress) sits atop Rethymno’s magical old town like a crown. It’s like travelling back in time, to the period of the Venetians. You’ll climb to the fortress and hear the echoes of the sea. You’ll walk along the Venetian port with its old lighthouse and get lost in the maze of alleyways, admiring the ornate doorways and the Venetian crests that decorate them. You’ll visit the mosques with their minarets and hop between the dozens of shops, restaurants and cafes. And to the east, the longest beach in Crete (12km) awaits you.
The southern coast of Rethymno hosts some of the most beautiful, untouched exotic beaches of Crete. At Agios Pavlos, huge sand-hills descend steeply and vanish into the sea, forming a beach, where one may sense the most positive vibrations of the island. On the adjacent beaches of Ligres and Pahia Ammos by Kerames the scenery remains mysterious. However, the most brilliant turquoise waters in Rethymnon are found on the beaches of Skinaria, Ammoudi and Damnoni, all located near Plakias.

THINGS TO DO & SEE


Rethymno
Chania
Samaria Gorge

In a Nutshell


Western Crete is home to the attractive towns of Chania and Rethymno..

Getting Here


Fly to Chania - Approx. 60-90min transfer time to resort

Direct flights from London Heathrow with British Airways
Daily Direct flights from London Gatwick with Aegean
Daily Direct flights from London Gatwick with Easyjet
Direct flights from Manchester with Easyjet
Direct flights from Stansted with Jet2
Direct flights from Manchester with Jet2
Direct flights from Birmingham with Jet2
Direct flights from Leeds Bradford with Jet2


Our location maps are intended as a helpful guide but are by no means definitive.




 
OUR 22 CRETE - CHANIA AREA PROPERTIES

ASTERION DEEP BLUE VILLA - STAVROS

The Deep Blue Villa is a two-level maisonette that is situated next to the popular cove of Stavros Akrotiri and below the imposing mountain of Zorbas, where the famous "Zorba the Greek' movie was filmed. It is surrounded by a private, gated and ...

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SK PLACE SEAFRONT VILLAS - ALMYRIDA

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YOUPHORIA BEACH FRONT VILLAS - KISSAMOS BAY

The new Youphoria Beach Front Villas (Votsalo and Ammos ) are uniquely beautiful. Designed with luxury holiday living in mind - and with many fabulous and innovative features - the new villas enjoy a privileged beachfront position just a few ...

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YOUPHORIA SEA VIEW VILLAS - KISSAMOS BAY

Situated on the beautiful north-west coast of Crete in the village of Agios Georgios near the small town of Kissamos, the newly built Youphoria villas have been designed with luxury holiday living in mind and have many innovative architectural and ...

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AZADE BOUTIQUE HOTEL - CHANIA

AZADE is an iconic building dating back to 1400 that has been carefully restored and transformed into a luxury boutique Hotel consisting of 9 Residences & Suites. Enjoying a fantastic location in the heart of the old town, close to the ...

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HOLIWAYS VILLAS - CHANIA AREA

Holiways offers a selection of quality villas throughout the Chania area of Crete and ensures unique holiday experience. Fe3aturing a big variety of all types of villas with luxurious hotel services. When you stay at one of the Holiways Luxury ...

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OLEA CRETAN LUXURY VILLAS

Olea Villas is a small luxury villa estate complete with its own olive grove located in the tranquil Loutraki Bay near the picturesque town of Chania. Immersed in an air of tranquillity, Olea Villas is a contemporary estate of two properties with a ...

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CONSOLATO BOUTIQUE SUITES - CHANIA

Consolato Boutique Hotel is located in Theotokopoulou Street in Old Town for Chania. In a family owned 16th century building restored to luxury and classic elements of another er, Consolato boutique offers elegant suites and rooms right by the ...

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MOSSA HOTEL - CHANIA

The brand new Mossa well being Hotel, built in a wonderful natural environment at Agii Apostoli, next to the sea and just 5 km from the city of Chania, is waiting to lead you to unique well being experiences. The Hotel features 19 spacious, ...

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FILEAS ART HOTEL - CHANIA

Fileas Art Hotel is housed in a three-storey building, and comprises six modern Double Rooms, offering all modern comforts and amenities. This exclusive boutique hotel is ideal for couples, as well as for group of friends or families. All three ...

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KRITI HOTEL - CHANIA

Hotel Kriti is centrally located in Chania, at the meeting point of the famous old Venetian harbour and the commercial centre of the city. The 84 elegant, newly refurbished rooms are equipped with free wired and wireless internet access, air ...

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ALCANEA BOUTIQUE HOTEL - CHANIA

Welcome to Alcanea, a boutique Hotel in the Old Town of Chania on the beautiful island of Crete in the southern Aegean. Designed for travellers who wish to experience the authentic spirit of an ancient town in an environment that offers peace and ...

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SANSAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL - CHANIA

SanSal is a new boutique hotel located in Chania, a spectacular location on the northwest coast of the island of Crete. Modern, minimalistic yet luxurious, the hotel is nestled just a block away from San Salvador Bastion, part of a landmark deeply ...

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AVRA IMPERIAL HOTEL - KOLYMBARI

Built in 2011, Avra Imperial Hotel is a 5-star luxury hotel on the picturesque bay of Kolymbari, 23km west of Chania, in Crete. The state-of-the-art 5-star hotel, was created on the vision of becoming a milestone in modern luxury accommodation in ...

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ATHERMIGO VILLA - GAVALOHORI

Athermigo is a period villa in the picturesque village of Gavalohori outside the historic town of Chania. The fully-serviced villa can be rented as a whole to accommodate parties of up to 12 people or as individual self-contained Cottage Houses each ...

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AMBASSADORS RESIDENCE - CHANIA

Ambassadors Residence is located along the quay of the 700-year-old Venetian port of Chania and grants a sense of modern comfort and luxury to this historic, neoclassical building from the 1890s. The building was the private residence of German ...

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MR & MRS WHITE RESORT & SPA - STAVROS

Located on the marvellous west coast of the island and only 15 km from picturesque Chania Town, Mr and Mrs White Crete Resort and Spa stretches its excellence along 13 acres of pure and tranquil elegance with panoramic sea views of the Mediterranean ...

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PILOT AMPHORA - GEORGIOUPOLIS
Breakfast

Designed according to the modern standards of luxury and trends of upscale minimalism, Pilot Amphora is one of the best luxury hotels in Crete blending intimate hospitality with high-end service. Esteemed guests are welcome to experience ...

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SERENISSIMA BOUTIQUE HOTEL - CHANIA

Serenissima Boutique Hotel is committed to offer all guests a calm and luxurious environment in the heart of the charming Old City of Chania and is within walking distance to all of the major attractions. The building itself is a monument that ...

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DOMUS RENIER BOUTIQUE HOTEL - CHANIA

Domus Renier Boutique Hotel is a small yet impressive luxury boutique hotel in Chania, Crete. It consists of 9 rooms and suites, all different from one another, most with a sea view of Chania harbour and the Egyptian Lighthouse. All rooms and suites ...

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SCALA DE FARO - CHANIA

The Scala de Faro hotel is a part of a historical building that goes back to the 15th Century. In the year of 2017, it was fully renovated and brought to you the way you see it today, infused with the sense of luxury and style. The most demanding ...

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PILOT BEACH HOTEL - GEORGIOUPOLIS

On the northwest shoreline of Crete, in the bay of Almyros near the picturesque fishing village of Georgioupolis, halfway between Chania and Rethymno amongst scenery of unparalleled beauty, and near settlements that retain traditional Cretan ...

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