beachesforyou.com — You can spend days strolling around Chania and still not see even half of what the city has to offer. To have a really great time you should plan well in advance. No matter what you do, do not skip the small alleys of the old town. Many very important monuments are lying next to each other, combining the old and new element in an astonishing way.
The absolute landmark of the city is the Venetian harbour. The heart of the city beats there, with numerous restaurants, taverns and bars all surrounded by the charming scenery. Nearby you can also find the “Sintrivani.” This is the central square of the old city with the stunning white marble fountain in the middle. There is the “Giali Tzamisi”, the “Great Arsenali” and the church of Saint Francis (the biggest Venetian church of the city where the Archaeological museum is now situated).
But the real gem of the old town is the 16th-century Egyptian Lighthouse. It stands 21-meters in height and its light covers a distance of seven miles. It is one of the oldest and most photographed lighthouses in the world.
Another must-visit spot is “Splantzia.” This is the old Turkish neighbourhood of Chania. Here you will find the churches of Saint Nicolas and Saint Rokkos. There is also the Turkish underground fountain and the enormous sycamore tree. During the Turkish occupation, many Christians were tortured under the tree. Nowadays, it is one of the liveliest neighbourhoods of the old city, packed with many taverns and “rakadika”.
Other sites include the municipal market, build in 1913 (be prepared to do a lot of “Cretan products” shopping there) and the municipal garden with the awesome garden clock.
Beaches
The main beach of Chania, located west of the Venetian harbour, unfortunately, doesn’t have much to say. The water is clear and the beach is fully organised. This makes it a nice alternative for an evening swim after a busy sightseeing day. But once you visit the other beaches in Chania, this one will not seem too appealing…
Elafonisi is regarded as one of the best beaches in the world. It is quite remote, but the experience will compensate you for the time you need to get there. It is a small island, 100 meters away from the shore and almost attached to it, as you can walk (yes, walk) in the sea to reach it.
In Elafonisi you can find white, pink and black sand, all on the same beach which is a Natura protected area.
Falasarna is located on a bay with endless sand and crystal blue water. It has been awarded as one of the best 10 beaches in Europe! You can only understand why when you visit.
Balos is another famous beach in Chania, with a mesmerising naturally formed lagoon and millions of tiny sea shells. You can reach Balos by car or by boat
The beach of lake Kourna is formed naturally every summer, and visitors can also rent a sea bike to admire the surroundings.
For less crowded options, you can try Gramvousa (accessible only by boat), Seitan Limania and Loutro Sfakion – the beach with the glowing white pebbles. Other interesting beaches are Pachia Ammos, Gerani, Ai Giannis (voted by Discovery Channel as the second best beach in the world!), Domata, Tripiti and Georgioupoli.
For full article with lots more information about Amazing Chania click here
