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EuropeGreeceCrete

Chaniá

Crete, Greece · Europe

About Chaniá

Chaniá is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Mourniés, 28km from Samaria Gorge.

Chaniá is a town located in Crete, Greece. With a population of 53,910, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Chaniá sits in Greece, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Athens time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Chaniá to your route.

About Chaniá

War Museum of Chania was an old museum in Chania, Crete, Greece that no longer exists. It was burnt down by fire in 2018. It was a branch of the War Museum of Athens. Part of the Firkas Fortress in Chania has been granted to the War Museum in Athens, for the development of a new Chania War Museum Branch. This was

Read more granted by Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture and Sports, and endorsed by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS). With the assistance of the Municipality of Chania, studies are being prepared and conversion of the space is forthcoming. The War Museum, located in Athens, is the largest museum of military history in Greece and one of the largest in southeastern Europe. The War Museum has multiple branches including in Nafplio, Thessaloniki and Tripoli. The previous location was founded in July 1995. The museum exhibited photographs, war artifacts and other items from the national wars and revolutions of the Greek History. It was housed in a building, built in 1870 and designed by the Italian architect Makouzo, which in the past had been used as barracks by the Italian Army during World War II. On 7 Oct. 2015 it was closed up and appeared to have been in this state for some time. There were no notices to say if the exhibitions had been moved elsewhere. On 22 July 2018, at 21:30 in the evening a fire broke out inside under unclear conditions. The building was completely destroyed, with no exhibits in place after being moved after an earthquake that had caused static problems in the building.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Chaniá

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Chaniá?

Chaniá offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Chaniá?

Plan your road trip to Chaniá with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Chaniá as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Chaniá located?

Chaniá is located in Crete, Greece, Europe. The coordinates are 35.5112 latitude, 24.0292 longitude.

What is the population of Chaniá?

Chaniá has a population of approximately 53,910 people, making it a town in Greece.

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Quick Information

Population
53,910
Continent
Europe
Country
Greece
Region
Crete
Timezone
Europe/Athens
Coordinates
35.5112, 24.0292

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Greece

Police
100
Ambulance
166
Fire
199
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.

Full driving guide for Greece

Tags

EuropeGreeceCreteTown

Worth the detour from Chaniá

7 notable places within an hour's drive.

natural wonder

Samaria Gorge

Europe's longest gorge at 16 km on Crete, a dramatic hike through towering walls down to the Libyan Sea.

28 km · about 30 min drive

bridge

Aradena Bridge

Vertigo-inducing steel Bailey bridge spanning the 138 m deep Aradena Gorge in Sfakia, southern Crete: planks rattle as you cross, and it doubles as one of Greece's highest bungee-jump sites.

32 km · about 35 min drive

beach

Balos Lagoon

A stunning shallow turquoise lagoon on Crete's northwestern tip where pink-white sand meets three shades of blue water.

41 km · about 45 min drive

landmark

Old Town of Rethymno

A beautifully preserved Cretan old town with a Venetian harbor, Ottoman mosques, and the massive Fortezza fortress overlooking the sea.

43 km · about 50 min drive

beach

Elafonissi Beach

A dreamy Cretan beach famous for its pink-tinged sand created by crushed shells, with shallow warm waters ideal for wading.

52 km · about 60 min drive

famous road

Kourtaliotiko Gorge Road

Cliff-hugging Cretan road descending through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge toward Preveli, with vultures wheeling overhead, springs in the canyon floor and Libyan Sea views at the exit.

52 km · about 60 min drive

beach

Preveli Beach

A dramatic Cretan beach where a palm-lined river meets the Libyan Sea below a gorge, creating an almost tropical setting.

57 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Chaniá

  • 32 kmAradena BridgeVertigo-inducing steel Bailey bridge spanning the 138 m deep Aradena Gorge in Sfakia, southern Crete: planks rattle as you cross, and it doubles as one of Greece's highest bungee-jump sites.
  • 52 kmKourtaliotiko Gorge RoadCliff-hugging Cretan road descending through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge toward Preveli, with vultures wheeling overhead, springs in the canyon floor and Libyan Sea views at the exit.

Driving in Greece

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.88/litre
Motorway tolls
~€7.00/100km

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Chaniá.

Mourniés

🇬🇷 Greece

4 km awayPop. 5,318

Nerokoúros

🇬🇷 Greece

4 km awayPop. 5,593

Perivólia

🇬🇷 Greece

4 km awayPop. 3,320

Soúda

🇬🇷 Greece

5 km awayPop. 6,729

Tsikalariá

🇬🇷 Greece

5 km awayPop. 1,545

Darátsos

🇬🇷 Greece

5 km awayPop. 4,732

Pithári

🇬🇷 Greece

5 km awayPop. 1,302

Galatás

🇬🇷 Greece

6 km awayPop. 3,166

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence