Must-see attractions in Hania Province

  • Elafonissi beach with pink sand on Crete.

    Elafonisi

    Hania Province

    Tucked into Crete’s southwestern corner, this symphony of fine pink-white sand, turquoise water and gentle rose dunes looks like a magical dreamscape. As…

  • Turkish medieval fortress at Ancient Aptera in Chania, Crete, Greece.; Shutterstock ID 1575956149; your: Barbara Di Castro; gl: 65050; netsuite: digital; full: poi
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    Aptera

    Hania Province

    The ruins of the ancient city of Aptera, about 13.5km east of Hania, spread over two hills that lord grandly over Souda Bay. Founded in the 7th century BC…

  • Chania, Greece - April 15, 2017: Exposition of Archaeological Museum of Chania, Greece.
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    Hania Archaeological Museum

    Hania

    The setting alone in the beautifully restored 16th-century Venetian Church of San Francisco is reason to visit this fine collection of artefacts from…

  • Chania, crete greece - 05 12 2022: Venetian harbour of the pittoresk cretan town with colorful old houses; Shutterstock ID 2227253445; your: Barbara Di Castro; gl: 65050; netsuite: digital; full: poi
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    Venetian Harbour

    Hania

    There are few places where Hania's historic charm and grandeur are more palpable than in the old Venetian Harbour. It's lined by pastel-coloured buildings…

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    Moni Agias Triadas

    Hania Province

    Akrotiri Peninsula’s major cultural site, the impressive and beautiful 17th-century Moni Agias Triadas, is an active monastery with a rich library and is…

  • Manousakis Winery

    Hania Province

    A family-run business for over 25 years, this pretty winery in the village of Vatolakkos – 16km southwest of the centre of Hania – is well worth a visit…

  • A man walks down to the water at Balos Lagoon.
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    Balos

    Hania Province

    The rugged Gramvousa Peninsula cradles the lagoon-like sandy beach of Balos, whose shallow, shimmering turquoise waters draw huge crowds in summer. This…

  • Beautiful Falassarna beach on Crete, Greece
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    Falasarna

    Hania Province

    This broad sweep of beach has magical-looking pink-cream sands and teal waters and is known for its stunning sunsets. Along with superb water clarity,…

  • Lissos

    Hania Province

    The ruins of ancient Lissos are a pleasant 3.5km hike from Sougia on the coastal (though not waterfront) path to Paleohora, which starts at the far end of…

  • Cretan Brewery

    Hania Province

    Established in 2007, Charma was the first beer to be produced in Hania and you can sample the excellent brews at the slick operation here, set up by a…

  • Firkas Fortress

    Hania

    The Firkas Fortress at the western tip of the harbour heads the best-preserved section of the massive fortifications that were built by the Venetians to…

  • Sweetwater Beach

    Hania Province

    West of Hora Sfakion, lovely Sweetwater Beach is accessible by a small daily ferry, by taxi boat (one way/return €25/50) or on foot via a stony and partly…

  • Polyrrinia

    Hania Province

    The wonderful mountaintop ruins of the ancient city of Polyrrinia lie about 7km south of Kissamos (Kastelli), above the village of the same name. Sea,…

  • 23 May 2016: Exterior of the historic mosque in the old port of Chania.
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    Mosque of Kioutsouk Hasan

    Hania

    One of the prettiest and most dominant vestiges of the Turkish era is this dusky-pink multidomed former mosque on the eastern side of the Venetian Harbour…

  • Diktynna

    Hania Province

    At the eastern tip of Rodopou Peninsula are the remains of a temple to Diktynna, Cretan goddess of hunting, who was worshipped fervently in the west of…

  • Moni Gonias

    Hania Province

    Founded in 1618, Moni Gonias was damaged by the Turks in 1645 but rebuilt in 1662 and extended in the 19th century. The monastery houses a unique…

  • Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete

    Hania Province

    On the main Hania–Omalos road south of Fournes, the excellent Botanical Park is well signposted about halfway between Fournes and Lakki. It was created by…

  • Byzantine & Post-Byzantine Collection

    Hania

    In the impressively restored Venetian Church of San Salvatore, this small but fascinating collection of artefacts, icons, jewellery and coins spans the…

  • Folklore Museum

    Hania Province

    In the town of Gavalohori, the Folklore Museum is located in a renovated building that was constructed during Venetian rule and then extended by the Turks…

  • Marathi Beach

    Hania Province

    On the eastern side of Akrotiri Peninsula the pleasant beach of Marathi is a lovely spot beyond the NATO base with two sandy coves and turquoise waters on…

  • Maritime Museum of Crete

    Hania

    Part of the hulking Venetian-built Firkas Fortress at the western port entrance, this museum celebrates Crete’s nautical tradition with model ships, naval…

  • Ancient Falasarna

    Hania Province

    Wander among Falasarna’s ancient ruins, reached via a 2km dirt road that starts where the paved road ends. The entrance is just past the ‘stone throne’…

  • Venetian Fortifications

    Hania

    Part of a defensive system begun in 1538 by Michele Sanmichele, who also designed Iraklio’s defences, Hania’s massive fortifications remain impressive…

  • Topolia Gorge

    Hania Province

    Three kilometres south of Voulgaro, the main road towards Elafonisi reaches Topolia, a lovely village clustered with whitewashed houses overhung with…

  • Askyfou War Museum

    Hania Province

    Signs along the way direct you to this small museum displaying the extensive gun and military odds-and-ends collection of the Hatzidakis family, who are…

  • Archaeological Museum of Kissamos

    Hania Province

    In an imposing two-level Venetian-Turkish building on the main square, this museum presents locally excavated treasure, including statues, jewellery,…

  • Kedrodasos Beach

    Hania Province

    If you’d like to get even more off the beaten track than gorgeous Elafonisi, head 1km east to similarly gorgeous Kedrodasos, a soft arc of sand favoured…

  • Seitan Limania

    Hania Province

    While it might be a white-knuckle drive down hairpin bends to get here, the incredibly vivid turquoise waters of this secret cove are more than worth it…

  • Orthi Ammos Beach

    Hania Province

    Adjoining the Frangokastello fortress is the stunning Orthi Ammos beach, a long stretch of fine sand with shallow, warm waters. It's blissful and child…

  • Pahia Ammos

    Hania Province

    Pahia Ammos, often simply called Sandy Beach, lives up to its name. When the winds kick up it's good for windsurfing, and it's got the best sunsets in…

  • Nea Hora Beach

    Hania

    Hania's in-town beach is only a 10-minute walk west of the Venetian Harbour. The 500m-long yellow-sand strip is backed by tavernas and holiday-apartment…

  • Moni Gouvernetou

    Hania Province

    The 16th-century Moni Gouvernetou, 4km north of Moni Agias Triadas, may date as far back as the 11th century, from a time when an inland sanctuary was an…

  • Frangokastello

    Hania Province

    Frangokastello is a ruined 14th-century fortress, constructed soon after the Fourth Crusade (1204) by the Venetians, who sought a stronghold against…

  • Moni Hrysoskalitissas Monastery

    Hania Province

    Four kilometres north of Elafonisi is this beautiful monastery perched on a rock high above the sea. The church is recent, but the monastery is allegedly…

  • Historical Museum & Archives

    Hania

    The Historical Museum & Archives of Hania, about a 1.5km walk southeast of the old harbour, traces Crete’s war-torn history with a series of exhibits…

  • Church of Agios Nikolaos

    Hania

    One of Hania’s most intriguing buildings is this Venetian-era church with both a bell tower and a double-balconied minaret – the latter replaced a second…

  • Moni Ioannou Erimiti

    Hania Province

    From Moni Gouvernetou it’s around a 2km (30-minute) walk (uphill on the way back) down to the coast to the ruins of Moni Ioannou Erimiti. In disuse for…

  • Elos

    Hania Province

    Elos, near the south of the Innahorion region, is the area’s largest town and the centre of the chestnut trade – hence the annual chestnut festival,…

  • Stavros Cove

    Hania Province

    Near Akrotiri Peninsula’s northern tip, Stavros’ sandy beach is covered with umbrellas and lines a cove dominated by a mammoth rock. It famously served as…

  • Agia Sofia Cave

    Hania Province

    Just south of the village Koutsomatados, and after a narrow tunnel on the way from Hania, the Agia Sofia cave contains evidence of settlement from as far…

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