Chania

The principal town of Western Crete is Chania, a Venetian port, whose attractive and lively harbour provides the perfect setting for an evening stroll before dinner at one of the many waterfront tavernas. Its perhaps one of Greece's most beautiful small towns. Behind the harbour a maze of narrow back streets links with a mixture of old Venetian and Turkish houses, often stunningly decorated with hanging flowers.

Much of what you will want to see is in the harbour area , old buildings, museums, temples, squares, churches and local handicraft shops provide a good place to find handmade leather goods,  jewellery, ceramics, rugs and lace. Chania has an atmosphere of  Italy combined with the charm and culture of Crete. Many Venetian houses have been restored to create beautiful boutique hotels, enabling you to immerse yourself and  get a real feel for the little harbour town. Chania is a foodies paradise with a wide choice of traditional tavernas, cafes and gourmet restaurants to cater for all tastes. There are numerous places to visit during your stay in Chania, the Venetian lighthouse at the end of the old harbour which  dominates the town and is Chania's main landmark . It’s well worth a walk round to, as the views are fabulous. Other sites of interest include the Maritime museum, the recently re-located state of the art Archaeological museum, Crete's only Synagogue, the Arsenals (old ship yard) , leather lane, and the  cathedral of  Eisodion tis Theotokou.