Exploring Chania Old Town - 19 Photos Of The Most Beautiful City In Crete

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.

Image of Chania harbour with a lamp in the foreground Crete Greece — 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 – it’s one of the most important Minoan sites in Crete. 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 Old Town Tours

This Chania Old Town tour explores the historic area while also giving you a chance to sample some local street food

This Chania sunset boat cruise takes you out to sea for the magical sunset behind the mountains, before returning to Chania harbour for twilight and the city’s twinkling lights

This Chania guided bike tour takes you around the harbour, Old Town, fortress and Byzantine walls off the city

And another great way to see Chania is on this guided sea kayak tour around the harbour and nearby coastline

Where To Stay In Chania Old Town

***** – Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor – stunning 16th-century setting, with original Turkish hammam

**** – Belmondo Hotel – possibly our favourite Chania hotel, with outstanding harbour views from the front rooms

** – Creta Elena – highly-rated self-catering studios half a mile from the Old Town and Chania Market

Chania Old Town – In Pictures

Image of bars and restaurants on Chania harbour at dusk — Chania’s busy nightlife on the harbour on a glorious summer’s evening

Image of Chania lighthouse at dusk Crete Greece — The view from the harbour to Chania lighthouse

Image of a stepped street in old town Chania Greece — A steep stepped street above the old harbour in Chania

Image of a window surrounded by bougainvillea flowers Chania Crete Greece — Glorious summer with bougainvillea in full flower

Image of a blackboard with Greek phrases translated into English Chania Crete Greece — A few helpful Greek words and phrases to help you get by

Image of a dog walking up a stepped street in Chania Greece — A dog heads off for an early morning stroll around Chania Old Town

Image of Plaka cafe in Chania with a colourful doll at the entrance — Plaka cafe is a great place for an early-morning Greek coffee

Image of an art gallery and craft shop in Chania Crete Greece — One of several art galleries around Old Town Chania

Image of a house with a staircase outside in Chania's Old Town Greece — There are so many pretty houses around the Old Town

Image of a traditional house and flowerpots Chania Greece — Another typical house in Chania Old Town, with gorgeous flower pots

Image of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Chania Greece — Chania’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Image of bougainvillea flowers against a yellow wall background in Chania — You can’t miss the bougainvillea flowers in the Old Town of Chania

Image of wine bottles and a vase of flowers outside a restaurant in Chania Greece — Try out some Cretan vintages at one of the Chania Old Town restaurants

Image of Chania harbour Crete Greece — Back to the harbour, an early morning view looking across a cruise boat deck

Image of souvenirs made from sea shells in Chania harbour Crete Greece — She sells sea shells from a boat on Chania harbour

Image of a street in Old Town Chania framed by an archway — Underneath the arch – another cobbled medieval street in the Old Town

Image of a horse at Chania harbour — Horse rides are one way of seeing parts of the Old Town

Image of the Mosque of the Janissaries on the harbour in Chania — The Mosque of the Janissaries at dusk

Image of the Venetian harbour and White Mountains Chania Crete Greece — And finally: the White Mountains from across the Venetian harbour

Chania Old Town – Final Words

I hope you have enjoyed my photo guide to Chania Old Town. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, a mixture of ancient, Venetian and Ottoman architecture in a magnificent setting.

Check out my guide to the best things to do in Chania to find out more.

Find out about some amazing places to visit near Chania in my guide to the best Day Trips From Chania.

Chania is very close to some of the best beaches in Crete. Take a look at my guide to Balos Beach Crete, a sublime tropical lagoon beach beneath dramatic mountain peaks.

And don’t miss my guide to Elafonissi Beach, the remarkable remote pink sand beach in the southwest corner of Crete.

For another of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, take a look at my guide to stunning Falassarna Beach.

And finally, here are some more articles on Crete that I’ve written. Hopefully they’ll inspire you to seek out even more of the island:

Our Greece Travel Guide

Best Beaches in Crete

Malia Beaches

Voulisma Beach

Things To Do In Chania – discover the most beautiful city in Crete, indeed, perhaps, Greece

Pink Beaches In Crete – the 3 stunning pink sand beaches to visit on Crete

Famous Landmarks In Crete To Visit – from Knossos to its most famous beaches, gorges and more

Castles in Crete – Venetian and Ottoman castles and town walls across the island

Kedrodasos Beach – glorious pristine beach and coves in a grove of rare juniper trees

Things To Do In Rethymno – discovering Crete’s enchanting third city

Rethymno Beaches – 20 of the best beaches in Rethymno province in central and western Crete

Bali Crete Beaches – guide to all 5 beaches in this beautiful north coast village

Things To Do In Heraklion – discover the greatly underrated capital of Crete

Visiting Knossos Palace Crete – the foremost ancient Minoan site in the world

Panormos Crete – complete guide to this charming fishing village on Crete’s north coast

Arkadi Monastery Crete – fascinating monastery and church, site of infamous massacre during the Cretan Revolt

Kalypso Beach Crete – a fjord, of all things, in Crete – and one of the best places to swim and snorkel in Greece

David Angel

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.