Chania (Greek Χανιά, also transliterated Hania or even Khania) is a beautiful port town on the northwest coast of Crete, with an atmosphere reflecting its Venetian and Turkish past. Highly livable spot.
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Chania and the long row of beach resorts stretching 20 km west along the beaches of the Chania Bay is a well visited destination for Scandinavian charter trips. Chania is an attractive destination for sightseeing and shopping for many tourists. There are plenty of opportunities for eating and drinking at Greek tavernas and modern cafés that are open into the night. The old town is centred around the harbour, a maze of alleys and houses that stood for hundreds of years, were rebuilt, ruined and rebuilt again with details from different epochs. Old Town is full of souvenir, art and crafts shops.
Chania is highly walkable. A car is not recommended for getting around town. Parking is difficult, and regulations are enforced with tickets. There are no cars permitted at all in much of the old town. The public bus is clean, efficient, frequent and cheap (€2 or less), and a great option to get to neighboring beaches other than Nea Chora. Card and phone taps accepted. If you are on Crete to see the 'real Crete', as opposed to the night clubs, then visiting the villages of the island is a must. All Cretan culture can be seen, heard and tasted in the villages. The Cretans at work or at leisure will always welcome visitors and show you how to do things the correct way.
1 Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Parados Kondylaki, 730 11, Hania, Crete, Hellas (GR) (The synagogue can be reached by walking up Kondylaki Street from the harbour and taking the second turn to the right (also check the map icon below). This street is only about 25 m long and leads to a cross street with no other exits. Upon reaching that intersection, the stone wall and entrance to the courtyard of the synagogue are directly in front of you.), ☏ +30 28210 862 86, info@etz-hayyim-hania.org. 10:00-18:00. Until 1999 Etz Hayyim was a house of prayer that remained the sole Jewish monument on Crete after the destruction of Crete's Jewish community in 1944.
The beautiful Elafonissi beach is reachable by bus (one per day, 09:00, €11 each way). KTEL company. Visit the beautiful Balos beach from the nearby town of Kissamos, which can be reached by bus.
As is the case throughout Greece, any food preference can be satisfied in Chania restaurants, which tend to have diverse, delicious options on most every menu. Mpourakis in Kounoupidiana presents delicious traditional cuisine. From Kounoupidiana centre take the road on the right go towards Stavros, 100 m on the right side. The Roadhouse Bar & Grill (Mike's Roadhouse), Kounoupidiana, Akrotiri (Go 7km east on Leoforos Venezelos (Main Road) out of Hania towards the Akrotiri Peninsula.), ☏ +30 28210 64072. Everyday 19:00. A bar & grill serving cheeseburgers and chili. The owners speak fluent English, Bulgarian and German. Has Karaoke. Mike's in Maleme, 17 km west from Chania.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Chania typically sees ~32°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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