Chania, Crete

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KDG

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Has anybody been before and have any recommendations?

Me and the Mrs are getting married in Crete next September. We are getting married in a town called Rethymon and once family and friends have left we are planning on heading over to Chania for 4 days.

We are planning on a boat trip to Santorini one of the days and will be hiring a car to visit some of the amazing beaches that side of island.

Any thoughts/advice/suggestions for other things we should see and do whilst there?
 
KDG said:
Has anybody been before and have any recommendations?

Me and the Mrs are getting married in Crete next September. We are getting married in a town called Rethymon and once family and friends have left we are planning on heading over to Chania for 4 days.

We are planning on a boat trip to Santorini one of the days and will be hiring a car to visit some of the amazing beaches that side of island.

Any thoughts/advice/suggestions for other things we should see and do whilst there?
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Yes I went last month for the first time. It's a lovely place, the harbour ,town walls and old town are stunning. Very cosmopolitan place, busy but never felt too crowded. Loads of great food at good prices, Greek and everything else. Weather was between 30-35 Deg C ands sunny all the time we were there.

Lots of choice for beaches, within 30 mins bus or taxi either side. Our favourite was Golden beach, but Nea Chora and Koum Kapi good also. Lots of smaller resorts within easy reach along one main road.

Boat trips are plenty and you can do some shorter trips like to Theodorou Island in half a day

Not been to Rethymnon but some friends went this summer and loved it. Enjoy (y)
 
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KDG said:
Has anybody been before and have any recommendations?

Me and the Mrs are getting married in Crete next September. We are getting married in a town called Rethymon and once family and friends have left we are planning on heading over to Chania for 4 days.

We are planning on a boat trip to Santorini one of the days and will be hiring a car to visit some of the amazing beaches that side of island.

Any thoughts/advice/suggestions for other things we should see and do whilst there?
Click to expand...
A boat trip to Santorini for the day is doable, but it would be a very early morning start. The fast ferries go from Heraklion which is a good drive from Chania. Another early morning start would be a trip to the Samaria Gorge which is a 10ish mile walk and a ferry and coach ride back. One of the best things I've done in Greece. If you're hiring a car Knossos is a great place to go as well, but definitely pay for the guided tour and it's probably better to do it while you're in Rethymnon. You will be spoilt for choice for fantastic beaches at that end of the Island, many of them you can get to by boat trips from Chania. Chania town itself is marvellous with some great bars and restaurants. Go one or two streets back from the harbour it can make a big difference to the prices you will pay.

Crete is a wonderful island, but it's big and the roads are not always of the best quality to drive on, so journeys tend to take longer than you might think.
 
We loved Chania. We had a couple of days on e-bikes. Once heading east and once west of the city. Some absolutely stunning landscapes, as we got lost in the hills towards Kissamos. We found a small “restaurant” and stopped for a drink. A guy came over to us, and asked in broken English, if we were hungry. I said yes, and asked for a menu. He shook his head and tutted, then for the next half an hour or so, he and his Mother brought lots of different and delicious homemade dishes to us, a jug of homemade red wine, and they gave us a litre of their olive oil to take home. I reckon the whole lot cost us €20.

The other way, we rode to Stavros beach, and back along the coast, which is truly beautiful.

The people are wonderful, and can’t do enough for you.

Rethymnon is very similar (Venetian harbour etc) but a little smaller.

I’d save your time and money, rather than doing Santorini. “Meh”, in my humble opinion
 
Yes its good, pretty, chilled out. I agree with what everyone says above, its a lovely island. Very green for Greece. Super people.
 
I went there in the late 80’s when on the Ark Royal. We were anchored in Souda Bay, and had a day in Chania. This was before it got too touristy, and I recall us spending about a fiver each in equivalent currency, got rat arsed, had a meal, got a taxi back to the liberty boat, and still had change! Cracking day out.
 
You can't do justice to Santorini on a day trip imho, hordes arrive every day doing that. I prefer the south coast of Crete and stayed in Plakias a few times and got the ferry over to the most Southern point of Europe - the island of Gavdos. Over to the west of Crete there's Agios Nikolaos that's ok for a day trip and nearby there is the former leper colony island of Spinalonga which is an interesting visit.
 
Borotommo said:
The other way, we rode to Stavros beach, and back along the coast, which is truly beautiful.
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I presume you mean Balos Beach ? (which is truly beautiful).

Chania is lovely, Rethymnon very similar. I've stayed at Georgioupolis a few times which is about equal distance from both. Also stayed at Kissamos and did some of the great beaches from there Balos, Elafonissi and Falassarna.
The Samaria George walk is great as well.

I love Crete and have been going for years. Now I prefer the Chania side of Crete to Heraklion but for Knossos and Spinalonga you probably need to be in the Heraklion area.
 
SpineyNorman said:
I presume you mean Balos Beach ? (which is truly beautiful).

Chania is lovely, Rethymnon very similar. I've stayed at Georgioupolis a few times which is about equal distance from both. Also stayed at Kissamos and did some of the great beaches from there Balos, Elafonissi and Falassarna.
The Samaria George walk is great as well.

I love Crete and have been going for years. Now I prefer the Chania side of Crete to Heraklion but for Knossos and Spinalonga you probably need to be in the Heraklion area.
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No, I think it was Stavros beach, on the big headland. Balos (and back) was a a bit too far for an e-bike ride
 
Love Crete and have been to Chania three times.
I took a bike and cycled up to Malmedy German war cemetery. Not something many would do I guess. Also the German victory war monument - suitably defaced these days. 👍

The bars and restaurants are great. The little shop and stalls around the port can get a bit samey. But still enjoyable.

Lovely beaches.
 
Thank you for the responses - all very positive which is great.

Now to explain to the other half why visiting a lepper island will be much more fun than Santorini. Wish me luck
 
KDG said:
Thank you for the responses - all very positive which is great.

Now to explain to the other half why visiting a lepper island will be much more fun than Santorini. Wish me luck
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I think the Leper island would be a trek from Chania, quite windy roads and a long day out. It's an eye opening trip but I would save it for your next visit to Crete. If you're going that way there is a beautiful finishing village called Malia you pass through on the way. Can get a good English in the redlion there.

I would probably stick to the west of the island and enjoy it's beauty. Knossos in Heraklion is definitely worth a visit for some history. Samaria Gorge is beautiful.

Never been to Santorini but I can imagine it being a long day too.
 
Cambsred said:
I think the Leper island would be a trek from Chania, quite windy roads and a long day out. It's an eye opening trip but I would save it for your next visit to Crete. If you're going that way there is a beautiful finishing village called Malia you pass through on the way. Can get a good English in the redlion there.

I would probably stick to the west of the island and enjoy it's beauty. Knossos in Heraklion is definitely worth a visit for some history. Samaria Gorge is beautiful.

Never been to Santorini but I can imagine it being a long day too.
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I went to Malia as a 21 year old back in 2009 - No idea it was a fishing village and not sure the other half needs to hear about my memories of that trip.

Hoping for a much different Crete experience this time round.
 
Had some great nights in Avalon bar in the harbour. The Serbian women who works in there used to give me pelters all the time because my name translates as d!ckhead in Serbian
 
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