Chania holidays

Chania offers Venetian splendour, a pleasant harbour scene, authentic cuisine and a bevy of beautiful monuments...

For many, holidays in Greece are about relaxing in sleepy villages or partying in nightlife hotspots, with rarely a glance at cities other than Athens… But why not consider shaking up your holiday cocktail and spending some time in a buzzing urban area of Greece? It is in cities such as Chania that the heart and soul of everyday Greek life is laid out in all its magnificence. Expect historic architecture, cafes filled with elderly gents playing card games, fascinating museums, the bustling atmosphere of a working harbour, as well as tasty, traditional dishes from family-run restaurants where recipes have been handed down from one generation to the next.

Booking a Chania holiday certainly doesn’t mean giving up the pleasures of days spent at the beach. The town’s main beach is mere minutes on foot from the harbour, with a number of others a little further away. The wider region has some of the best beaches on the island - book car hire in Chania and you can pop to your favourite seaside paradise whenever you fancy.

The main season for tourism in Chania is between April and October. Find out what to expect of the weather during this time…

Average daytime temperatures begin to push past 20C in April, making it a perfect time of year for blazing a trail around the monuments of the city. They then stay above 20C until sometime in late October/early November thanks to the southerly position of Crete.

In the summer months of July and August, Chania sizzles with temperatures in the day hitting 30C and beyond. 

This Greek city has a lively, youthful soul, so expect plenty of good times and celebrations…

Battle of Crete celebrations; May: This battle took place on the island during the Second World War when Nazi forces invaded from the air, only to be repelled by the locals and the Allied forces. Starting on May 20 – the day of the initial invasion – a series of events take place to mark the momentous battle.

Chania Rock Festival; July/August: Heavy metal and rock come to Crete in summer for the biggest music festival on the island. Thousands flock here to rock out and there is high demand for hotels around Chania Town.

Summer Festival; July-September: A string of events is staged during the summer months, from art and theatre to music and dance.