Wandering Chania Old Town is one of the best things to do in
Crete. Chania has a stunning harbour, one of the most beautiful in Greece, with
magnificent sunsets out to sea in one direction and the imposing White
Mountains in the other. The Old Town is the area behind the harbour.
One of the best things to do in Chania is to set the alarm clock and walk the backstreets in the early morning. Very few people are around, but plenty of street cats are, planning their morning nap for when the sun rises.
Chania harbour in early morning light
It doesn’t take long to delve deep back in time. Chania
started out as the Minoan city of Kydonia, around 5,000 years ago. The Old Town
also has substantial remains of its Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman past, a
unique Cretan concoction that makes for such a compelling city.
It won’t take you long to see why Chania is one of the best
places to visit in Crete. The narrow,
tight streets are packed with lovely medieval houses, many with shuttered
windows and a display of flowerpots.
The streets and alleyways are filled with cafes, shops and
restaurants, which begin to open as the sun peers over into the hidden corners
of Old Town Chania. Bougainvillea drapes down over walls, its delicate scent
mingling with the Greek coffee that will be your reward for your early start.
Chania’s busy nightlife on the harbour on a glorious summer’s eveningThe view form the harbour to Chania lighthouseA steep stepped street above the old harbour in ChaniaGlorious summer with bougainvillea in full flowerA few helpful Greek words and phrases to help you get byA dog heads off for an early morning stroll around the Old TownPlaka cafe is a great place for an early morning Greek coffeeOne of several art galleries around Old Town ChaniaThere are so many pretty houses around the Old TownAnother typical house in Chania Old Town, with gorgeous flower potsChania’s Greek Orthodox CathedralYou can’t miss the bougainvillea flowers in the Old Town of ChaniaTry out some Cretan vintages at one of the Old Town restaurantsBack to the harbour, an early morning view looking across a cruise boat deckShe sells sea shells from a boat on Chania harbourUnderneath the arch – another cobbled medieval street in the Old TownHorse rides are one way of seeing parts of the Old TownThe Mosque of the Janissaries at duskAnd finally: the White Mountains from across the Venetian harbour
David Angel is a British writer and photographer who has been travelling and photographing Europe for over 25 years. His work is regularly featured in worldwide media including the BBC, the Guardian, the Times and the Sunday Times.