Entertainment and culture meet in Chania

Chania are the center of attraction for countless visitors every year, especially during the summer months. People of all ages come from around the world to wander the enchanting alleys of Old Town, and track the marks left on the city’s architecture by all the different civilizations which flourished here.

Begin your day with a relaxed stroll across the picturesque quay of the Venetian port overlooking the Egyptian lighthouse; enjoy your coffee next to the sea; taste the famous Cretan delicacies in one of the hidden taverns of Old Town; or when night falls, barhop through the countless bars of the city and have fun until first light. If you wish to keep a memento of the abundance of the Cretan land, don’t forget to pass by the Municipal Market of Chania, where the Old Town meets the New City.

Then again, if you wish to chart the rich history, as well as the cultural side of Chania, your choices are many and exciting. Wander around Kasteli – Chania’s citadel, and then cross through Santrivani – the historical central square where Christians used to hang out during the Turkish rule, to reach the Jewish quarter, and from there Topana – the once aristocratic neighborhood of Chania. The present and the past coexist in Old Town, with Venetial estates, ruins of the ancient city of Cydonia, and Ottoma buildings standing side by side with shops, like the famous Stivanadika (traditional Cretan boot shops) of Skridlof street or the renowned Macheradika (traditional Cretan knife shops) of Sifaka street.

In order to delve deeper into the rich history of Chania, don’t forget to visit the Archaeological Museum which is located in an old Franciscan Monastery, and the Byzantine and Meta-Byzantine Collection of Chania, which is located in the old church of San Salvatore. In Chania you will also find the Nautical Museum of Crete – located in part within the Firka fortress – where you can explore the long nautical history of the Cretan people. Finally, in Chania there are numerous art and folk-art exhibitions, hosted in the Municipal Art Gallery, as well as in other historical building of Old Town.