Self-catering holiday homes: Chania

Make a holiday rental villa or accommodation in Chania, Crete your home away from home

The town of Chania (Hania) is a beautiful settlement on the coast of northern Crete, famous primarily for the Venetian Harbour around which the town is built. Although it is most popular for beach holidays, Chania accommodation is also the perfect base for wine tasting holidays, historical interest holidays, sightseeing breaks or a combination of all of them. Chania is bursting with character emanating from the surprisingly seamless mix of Venetian, Mionian, Turkish, Byzantine and modern architecture.

Things to do on holiday in Chania, Crete

The old part of the town which is located around the edges of the Venetian Harbour is one of the nicest places to visit within the region. Not only have you got a range of old churches, museums and intriguing buildings to see, but there are also many delightful cafes and restaurants along the seafront from which to watch the world go by and the fishing vessels slowly come in and out of the picturesque harbour. The magnificent little Naval Museum behind the old walls of the harbour is a perfect place to start to understand a little about the history and culture of both Chania and Crete. Visitors can also find an archaeological museum, Byzantine museum and the historical archives of Crete in Chania.

Of course, many people take Chania accommodation for beach holidays. Chania is one of the prime beach holiday destinations in Crete, offering six large sandy beaches within 10km of any villa in Chania. The main beach in Chania, Golden Beach, is easily within walking distance of a self catering Chania property, and during the evening the bars, restaurants and pubs that line the back of the beach spring into life as revellers start their evening’s entertainment.

The archaeological remains of Kydonia have been partially excavated and the extensive remains can clearly be seen. There are some remarkable sights to be seen within the area, but archaeologists suggest that much of the original settlement is now buried under the modern day town, meaning that excavation is highly unlikely.

The dramatic Samaria Gorge which lies just outside the town is a famous place to walk, as the amazing scenery and shaded paths offer shade from the summer sun.

Places to holiday in Chania, Crete

At the other end of Souda Bay lies the old fishing village of Almirida, which has managed to retain much of its Cretan charm. Almirida is the best place from which to start your exploration of the Chania Caves from a Chania apartment too, and there are a handful of excellent little cafes and restaurants to choose from.

Weather in Chania, Crete

The year round climate is wonderfully constant, meaning that you can safely take a Chania villa or apartment without having to worry about the climate. The summer lasts from the beginning of June until the end of September, during which time Chania accommodation is filled with tourists enjoying beach holidays, when temperatures average around 29˚C. In winter, temperatures remain around 16˚C.

Flights to Chania, Crete

During the summer months, you can catch a direct flight to Chania’s Souda Airport (CHQ) from Birmingham (BHX), London, Manchester (MAN), Edinburgh (EDI) and Dublin (DUB). If you are hoping to take a Chania villa during the winter months, Heraklion Airport (HER) receives a range of flights provided by British Airways.

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