Things to do in Chania Prefecture

Top Things to Do in Chania Prefecture

Things to Do in Chania Prefecture


Book these experiences for a close-up look at Chania Prefecture.

Top Attractions in Chania Prefecture

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
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Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

What travellers are saying

  • Katie
    Richmond, VA50 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a must-do on Crete! We enjoyed the drive and had a great time at the beach, but please load up on SPF! We saw so many people burnt to a crisp and even got burnt ourselves despite using sunscreen. The sun is no joke here. The pink sand isn't as pink everywhere as social media portrays it to be -- but it's there! The water was clear and beautiful.
    Written 11 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Katie
    Richmond, VA50 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a view worth seeing! We had a rental car that we drove up to the parking area and it was a bumpy ride. Luckily, our rental car didn't get damaged and we didn't get charged any fees but I can see how that can happen often. I really enjoyed the view on the drive and seeing all of the goats! Just be careful of the bees on the way up and down -- there were quite a few swarming around our car.

    We're experienced hikers so we thought we would hike down from the parking area, but once we got to a good viewpoint we decided we would just stick with seeing the view from up top. I really don't recommend hiking up and down in the summer, it's just too steep and too hot and many people looked like they were going to faint. If we had more time I would have loved to take a boat to the lagoon, but even seeing it from up top was great!
    Written 11 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • db7477
    Carlsbad, CA2,502 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon at the Venetian Harbor. We loved strolling about and investigating the surrounding streets and shops.
    Written 30 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MillertimeUA
    Alpharetta, GA19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular beach with beautiful, clean water. Great big area with plenty of lounges for everyone. If you like sunsets. this is the place to be on Crete. We stayed in Chania and drove to the Falassarna Beach. Easy drive, good roads and they have refreshments and a restaurant right at the beach. A must see beach when you're on the island of Crete - definitely a top 10 beach in all of Greece.
    Written 20 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • JJJourneys
    Singapore, Singapore2,312 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I joined a guided tour to Europe’s second longest gorge hike, but I will mostly be talking about the gorge itself here. Do note that the hike is not for the faint-hearted; if you have existing health conditions, it is best not to risk attempting this hike. I am of average fitness, and managed to complete this hike in 6 hours, which is about the average time if you are a novice hiker like me. Having a hiking stick on hand could be quite helpful, especially since the terrain is very rocky, and in some cases, slippery too, and a wrong step can quickly put you in a bad ankle situation. The earlier part of the hike has a lot of steps going down as well, which can be steep, so be careful. There will also be certain points in the hike (middle and towards the end) where you have to do mini river crossings. Wear good walking/hiking shoes for this trail, and ensure that you have enough food too. There were a few rest stops along the way; there will be toilets there and spring water (safe to drink) to refill your bottles. Be sure to keep yourself hydrated and energised along the hike and you will be fine! Do not forget to enjoy the view along the way as well, everywhere you look is a postcard worthy scenery in itself! Definitely worth the tough terrain. Entry to the park was 5 euros; keep the ticket stub to show the staff at the end.

    If you are here on guided tour, note that it will be a very early start. I started the journey from Heraklion, so I had to get up at 5 am to make the meeting time at 6 am. The journey to Samaria takes about 4 hours (literally the other side of the island), and we only started the hike around 10 am or so, and ended at 4 pm. The guide will provide you a general time to meet for different rest stops, so if you stick to the times given, you should be fine. This is necessary because you have to make it to a town by the coast called Agia Roumeli (a 2km walk in itself) in order to catch a ferry ride to Hora Sfakion, where the buses will take you back to your accommodation. The ferry is typically the last ferry for the day, so you have to make it regardless in order to avoid additional costs of finding accommodations. All the best, and most importantly, enjoy this hike of a lifetime!
    Written 30 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • WYENOT9
    Swindon, UK8 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feels further than it is. Hilly.

    Nice day out. We used the local bus from near out hotel but there only 1 each way each day. Somewhat controls your time.

    Not spectacular but enjoyable.
    Written 22 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Simona T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see in Chania, very frendly host!! Knows so much about football. Our son was very impressed.
    Written 3 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Michael M
    Ipswich, UK612 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A good half day tour, plenty of gift shops with good quality items for sale. A row of nice restaurants so you can have a nice meal and drink reasonably priced. The lake is large and shallow with clear water with the mountains towering above. The main tourist trap is the pedal boat hire at 10 euro for an hour it is a fair price and its pretty much all there is to do. The boats are a bit ropey but you will see the Turtles or are they Terrapins. The lake edge is muddy and rocky, the sunbeds are old. There was also lots of Geese and birds about. Well worth a visit.
    Written 2 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Catalin H
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the most beautiful wild beaches in the Chania region.

    If you're thinking of checking it out, here are a few things to keep in mind:

    There are 3-4 regular bus trips daily from the central bus station in Chania. The drivers are pros who know the route well, and the price of one ticket won't break the bank.

    The last stretch of the road has some seriously steep turns. If you're not confident behind the wheel or if you've got a rental car you're not familiar with, it might be better to stick to public transport.

    The path down to the beach is rocky and gravelly, so proper hiking boots are a must. Don't attempt it in anything less.

    The swimming spot is fantastic, but if the weather is bad, it's safer to stay out of the water. Deceptive currents and strong waves can be a challenge, even for strong swimmers.

    Forget about finding restaurants or shops in the area, so grab your supplies before you head out.

    Last but not least, get ready to make some goat friends. They'll likely approach you looking for a snack. Consider bringing them a little something to munch on, or, even better, a container of fresh water.

    Enjoy your beach day!
    Written 13 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Monialeja01
    5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredibly natural and uncrowded by tourists. There is a fantastic location for camping. The trees in front of the beach provide the ideal shade for camping or enjoying a sunny day. On top of the mountain, parking is also free, after which you may follow the trail that leads to the beach.
    Written 8 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rick M
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We were told of this olive producer from the information centre in Kissamos and drove up to check it out. We were not disappointed. Katrina our guide was such a lovely lady who showed passion and a true interest for her companies story. She took us through the process of the olive to the finished product. Educated us on the difference between olive oils and other products produced from the simple olive. It was such a lovely afternoon. Thank you Katrina and you’re partner whom we didn’t get here name for making it such a fantastic visit. From you’re Canadian guests .
    Written 21 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • esf44
    London, UK132 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice beach, very sandy and clean. During our stay in September the water was quite calm but we did have a couple of days where it was very rough and we could not go in. The whole beach has lifeguards and if the red flag is showing they are very hot on stopping you going in the water.
    Beware the fish bite, lol!
    Written 8 October 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chania Prefecture


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