Explore Crete
Our tested list for western Crete: what to see, where to swim, and where to eat.
Start with the old town
Walk the narrow streets, poke into the shops, and look up a lot. The buildings are a mix of Venetian and Ottoman, and the Küçük Hasan Mosque on the harbour is now an art gallery worth a look inside and out.
For sunset, stand on the old harbour wall. Then walk the waterfront end to end, about 45 minutes, and finish with seafood.
Walkable from town: Nea Chora and Koum Kapi. A short drive or bus away: Golden Beach, Agii Apostoli, Iguana Beach, Yannis Beach, and Marathi Beach.
Western Crete, greatest hits
Hike
The trails here are some of the best in Greece. Get the AllTrails app and pick a route that suits your legs. There’s a pretty, easy walk just outside Chania to warm up on.
Drink the wine
Cretan wine is the real deal. Manousakis, Klados, Karavitakis, and Stemfilo all do tastings worth planning around.
Olive everything
Visit the ancient olive tree, said to be around 3,500 years old, then tour the Biolea Astrikas Estate to see how the oil gets made, taste included.
History
The Arkadi Monastery and its 16th-century church earn the drive, and the ancient site of Aptera comes with bay views the Romans clearly appreciated too.
Lake Kournas
Yes, Crete has a lake. People swim, paddle boats circle, and Taverna Kavalos feeds everyone. Bring cash, it’s cash only.
Botanical Gardens
Terraced gardens in the hills with a restaurant attached. Go for a wander, stay for lunch with a view.
Prefer a guide? GetYourGuide and Airbnb Experiences both run good tours out of Chania.
The Chania food list
Call ahead for dinner reservations. And if a place shows “temporarily closed” online right now, relax: Crete is seasonal and it will be open in September.
- Tamam · simple, local, and well priced
- Canale · upscale, right on the water
- Blue Restaurant · sea views, good food
- Chrisostomos · casual and always busy
- Salis · upscale with a huge wine list
- Ta Neoria · casual seafood, great views
- Kaiki · a bit farther out, worth the ride
- Kouzina · lunch spot, menu changes daily
- Pallas · drinks with a view
- Boheme · cocktails, big outdoor area
- Plaka · the beer stop
- Melodica · cocktails and beer, good music