Visiting Chania with kids

Located on the North coast to the West of the island of Crete is beautiful Chania. Full of history, great beaches and delicious food it makes a great base for a Greek family holiday. In this guide to visiting Chania with kids I’m going to take you through where to stay in Chania, what to do when you get there and even what to eat. I’ll also cover how to get to Chania, how to get around and suggest some great ideas for day trips from Chania.

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Where to stay in Chania with kids

Kiani Beach Resort

All inclusive hotels are very popular in Crete and wildly range in price. We found the Kiani Beach resort half an hour East of Chania old town to be really good. Read my review of the Kiani Beach resort to see more pictures of the hotel. It has heaps of entertainment for the kids, great dining options and a lovely little stretch of sand to play on. It has a good sized outdoor pool, kids play pool and if the weather is a little cool you can use the indoor pool in the sister hotel over the road.

Check prices and book your stay at the Kiani Beach Resort.

Minoa Palace Resort

Located just 20 minutes West of Chania this 5 star hotel really does scream luxury. It has its own private beach, 4 swimming pools (including one indoor pool) and is set in perfectly manicured gardens. Large bungalow rooms easily sleep a family of 3.

Check prices and book your stay at the Minoa Palace.

Kalyves Beach

Another 4 star all inclusive hotel 30 minutes from old town Chania is the Kalyves Beach resort. This one is extremely good value whilst still delivering on what you need for a great family holiday in Crete. We stayed here for a night when our flight home was cancelled and loved it’s proximity to the sea, beach bar overlooking the waves, the charming town of Kalyves and family friendly activities.

Check prices and book your stay at the Kalyves Beach Hotel.

Rentals in Chania

If you prefer having your own space, somewhere to prepare meals and separate bedrooms, then a rental apartment would be a good call. My favourite rental booking website VRBO has loads of apartments available in Chania Old Town. Evelyns’ House with its amazing views and hot tub particularly caught my eye!

Click to see all available apartments in Chania.

Things to do in Chania with kids

Head to the lighthouse

Who doesn’t love a lighthouse? The one in Chania is particularly pretty. Built in the 16th century it is one of the oldest light houses in Europe. Although it was rebuilt in the early 1800s when Chania was under Egyptian rule its base is still the original Venetian design. You can walk all the way along the sea wall to the light house although you cannot actually climb the tower.

Walk old town Chania and the Venetian Harbour

The Venetian Harbour is where it all happens. The atmosphere is lively whatever time you visit and the general joie de vivre is easy to pick up on, kids are sure to love the atmosphere. Spending time here will make up the bulk of your days in Chania. It should take you roughly twenty minutes to walk from one side of the harbour to the other.

You’ll find various street performers ready to entertain the kids and ice cream stands and food stalls for snacks as you go.

Pick up your Cretan souvenirs

Chania is a fantastic place for souvenir shopping. You’ll find heaps of ideas for gifts to take home. There’s a whole street of handmade leather goods and plenty of stores to pick up traditional knives. Pass the kids a few Euros and let them choose something to remember their holiday (not the knives obviously!). Just remember as a general rule – the closer you are to the port, the higher the prices will be.

Pop into one of Chania’s museums

Unlike many other cities in Crete, Chania is a dream for museum lovers. And these are always a good idea if you’re looking for things to do in Chania in the rain. Boat loving kids will enjoy a visit to the Maritime Museum of Crete. It’s located in an ancient Venetian Fort and covers the maritime history of the island, dating back to the Minoan rule and Greek revolution. You’ll find the museum at the West end of the harbour. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

You’ll also see plenty of amazing boats moored in the harbour.

Built during the Ottoman Empire in 1649 the Kucjk Hassan Mosque (Mosque of the Sea) was a place of Muslim worship for the people of Chania. The Mosque is currently being used as a space to display local artists work. The grandeur of the original building remains both inside and out. It should only take a few minutes to view the artwork inside, the real appeal here is the building itself.

If you’d like to learn more of the history of the island then a trip to the Archaeological museum of Chania is a must. Home to ancient pottery and mosaics dating all the way back to the neolithic period are housed in the new building in Chalepa District.

The Archaeological Museum of Chania is closed on Tuesdays. You can prebook your tickets online.

Chania has a rich and rather violent history, this is mirrored in many buildings dotted around town. Kids will love playing pirates and soldiers whilst you can soak up the history. Start with Firkas fortress which was built to protect the Venetian harbour in 1630. It was where the union of Crete and Greece was celebrated in 1913.

Old Town Chania

Head away from the old port through one of the many alleyways and you’ll enter Old Town Chania. There’s heavy influence from the Venetians and Ottomans and the beautiful architecture is apparent everywhere you look. The winding, often cobbled streets are full of colour with rust coloured walls providing the perfect backdrop to bright flowers and interesting street art.

The Old Town is also home to the Cathedral of Chania in Fountain square. A great place to sit and people watch with a strong Greek coffee.

Check out the white mountains

Make sure you take a moment to look behind the city and spot the white mountains known as Lefka Ori. When the sun shines in the Spring time and they are still covered in snow it is a stunning sight. Even during the summer months when the temperatures in Crete rocket, the sun reflects off their peaks making them appear white. If you fancy a trip out of the city, this is a great place for a hike. Samaria Gorge is a particularly popular (and challenging) place to trek.

Chania boat tours

A boat trip from Chania Harbour exploring more of Crete by sea is a real bucket list activity the whole family will love. This traditional boat cruise leaving from the port of Chania to Lazaretta island is a great choice. It includes stop offs at two historical islands, fruits, snacks and drinks and lasts for around four hours. Or you could try this sunset cruise which is only an hour long but allows you to watch the sunset behind the beautiful harbour from the sea.

Chania bike tours

Exploring Chania on two wheels is a fun way to get to grips of the city and I always find kids love the opportunity to jump on their bike. You can join a small bike tour of the city which takes in all the highlights and hidden gems you could possibly want. The actual tour will take around 2.5hrs and you can always pop back after to get a closer look at things you want to visit. Book your spot on Get your Guide. Kids need to be over 12 to take part in this tour.

Remember those lost at sea

The rather chilling “hand” sculpture just outside the city walls is a good reminder of the ferocity of the sea. It was created to remember over 200 lives lost when a Cretan ferry boat capsized in 1966. I feel it is important to share all sides of travel with my daughter but if you feel it would be too sad for your little ones you can just let them appreciate the art.

Chania city beaches

Of course if you’re visiting Chania with kids you’re likely to want to visit some beaches. There are several within walking distance to the town centre and plenty more a short drive away. Crete really does have some brilliant beaches!

Nea Chora Beach

This is a lovely sandy beach around 15 minutes walk from the city centre. It’s home to plenty of seafood restaurants so is our favourite to visit in the late afternoon.

Koum Kapi Beach

On the other side of town to the East of the harbour is Koum Kapi. It is only around ten minutes walk from the centre of Chania. Again it’s more sandy than pebbly making it a good place to bring the little ones.

Read next: Things to do in Crete with kids

Day trips from Chania

Heraklion

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and is another port city rich in history. It’s home to the fantastic 16th century Koules Fort which protects the city. There’s plenty to do in and around Heraklion and it has a lively atmosphere, especially around the main city square. It’s just over a two hour drive from Chania to Heraklion so be sure to give yourselves a full day to visit.

Read Next: Heraklion with kids

Olive Oil farms and Vineyards

Chania is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and they are hugely important to Cretes economy. It is believed that the oldest olive tree in the world is located in Crete, it’s over 3,000 years old! A tasting day trip is a really fun activity for the whole family although kids will need to replace the wine with juice!

Book your wine and olive oil tasting tour

Palace of Knossos

Located just outside of Heraklion is the fabulous Palace of Knossos. The palace was the centre of the Minoan civilisation on the island and is steeped in myth and legend. Read more about our Palace of Knossos visit to see what to expect when you arrive.

Book your skip the line ticket to Knossos

Cool down at Limnoupolis waterpark

Surely all kids love waterparks and the biggest on Crete is located just 20 minutes drive from Chania. Limnoupolis water park has a great mix of adrenaline slides and calmer areas for little kids. Plus plenty of space for the adults to relax.

Prebook your day trip to Limnoupolis Waterpark

Discover some off the beaten path villages

One of my favourite things to do wherever we visit is to get in the car with no fixed plan and explore off the grid. The coastline around Chania has loads of places you’ll want to stop off at. Aim for the coast road and pick a fishing village for coffee, lunch or a chilled wine. Some of our favourites were Kalyves, Akrotiri and Kissamos but I definitely encourage you to get out there and discover some for yourselves.

Take in the pink sand at Elafonissi

Elafonissi island and beach is located on the West coast of Crete and is home to stunning pink sand beaches and is a protected wildlife area. You access the island by walking through the warm shallow waters which just adds to the adventure. It’s a fantastic place to take the kids swimming in the sea and well worth the almost two hours drive from Chania.

Book your day trip to Elafonissi Beach

Where to eat in Chania with kids

Pick up a picnic in a local bakery

Greek baked goods and pastries are absolutely mouth watering so it’s well worth stocking up in a local independent bakery. Plus I think kids always love to eat bits and bobs of finger food. Make sure you try the salty spinach and feta pie, spanakopita and some sweet baklava dripping in honey for dessert. You’ll find plenty of bakeries all around the old town of Chania, just pick the one that smells the best!

Old Town and harbour Restaurants

Chania harbour is absolutely full of lively restaurants with tables spilling out onto the streets. It really is a case of pick one you fancy and pull up a chair. You may find greeters stood outside by the menus but they are no way near as pushy as in many other tourist areas. All seem very welcoming to children and most have recognisable dishes such as Spaghetti Bolognese and nuggets on their menu to keep the little ones happy. There are of course loads of places to eat further in land but I’m a sucker for a dinner with a view! Again, a good rule of thumb is that the closer to the sea – the higher the prices.

And for a drink

The Sailing Club Lounge was my favourite place in town for a cold glass of wine and a people watch, it’s very close to the lighthouse and has a few tables outside. The waves in the harbour can get really choppy so this is a great place to watch the little boats come in. But there are plenty of other great wine bars bordering the harbour.

And of course you can’t go wrong with an ice cream!

A kids book recommendation to get excited about Chania

If you’d like to get the kids something to read on the plane to get excited about their visit then we absolutely love So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in Ancient Greece from the British Museum. It’s funny, full of great illustrations and education – a win all round!

How to get to Chania with kids

Chania has one of two international airports on the island of Crete. Prices from most of Europe are pretty reasonable although the UK summer holidays sees a massive spike in flight (and accommodation) prices. The airport is located on a peninsula around twenty minutes drive from the centre of town. I always use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights. I love that you can see all the prices for each day so you can plan the best price for within a date range.

There are no direct flights to Chania from the US but many flights have just one change in Athens. Have a look at Wayaway for the best priced flights to Chania from the US.

You can also easily get a ferry to Chania either from the Greek mainland or other Greek Islands. Have a look at Ferryscanner to figure out the best routes for your dates.

Chania airport address

Chania International Airport
Odos Airodromio, Akrotiri
73100 Chania
Crete
Greece

Chania airport to Chania town

It should take you around twenty minutes to get from the airport into the town of Chania. We picked up a hire car from outside the airport and found the drive pretty simple – just follow the road signs.

The simplest way to get from the airport into town is by private transfer. You can prebook this online before you arrive or arrange it with your hotel. Or you can just wait in the taxi queue when you are through customs although this can take a long time during peak season. You’ll find the taxi rank opposite the Arrivals B area. Expect to pay around €25 for your trip.

Heraklion airport to Chania

The journey from Heraklion airport to Chania is a lot longer. If you have a car you need to factor in around two and a half hours. It’s pretty simple with an easy to navigate main road. A private taxi will take the same length of time but will cost around €100. The bonus of this is that the driver can take all the navigational pressure and you can enjoy the fabulous scenery. You could also hop on a bus to Heraklion from the airport then another bus from Heraklion centre to Chania. This is by far the cheapest option at around €15 euros but will take you over three and a half hours.

How to get around Chania with kids

As with most places we visit we find it easiest to hire a car. This gives us the freedom to explore as and when we choose and always works out cheaper than taxis. We pre-booked a small car to collect from Chania airport. The hire car zone at Chania airport is just over the road from arrivals. It will only take you a couple of minutes to walk to whichever supplier you choose.

If you don’t fancy a drive as soon as you land, or have included transportation to your accommodation, many providers will drop and collect a car from your hotel.

Have a look at Discover Cars to check the best prices for your dates.

Old town Chania is completely walkable, even for little legs so once you’re there there’s no need to worry about driving through the town. If you’re staying in the town centre you can easily walk to everything you need.

Where to park in Chania

We were quite lucky during our recent trip to Chania. We managed to find on street parking for free. These were always outside of the old city walls. Parking spots with white lines are free! If you find a spot with blue lines it means you need to pay at the nearest meter. Make sure you have some coins for this. There are also several car parks dotted around town so if you struggle to get somewhere on the street just pull into one of those. Whilst traffic can feel very heavy driving through Chania you should always be able to find a space. The further away from the old town, the easier it will be.

When to visit Chania

As with most Greek islands Chania gets very hot over the summer months and can be very busy during the European Summer holidays. It is also pretty cold over winter, you’ll see lots of the snow on the mountains which can be widespread across the island. High tourist season is June, July and August when prices skyrocket and you may struggle to find availability at hotels.

We have visited often in Easter which although lovely it is still really too cold to swim in outdoor pools or the sea. I recommend booking a hotel with an indoor pool if you have a water lover like I do! The May half term is a great time to book a trip, its pretty warm but not oppressively so. Although prices will be creeping up. September is also good if you’re not restricted to school holiday dates.

A lot of hotels and restaurants close over winter and reopen for the start of the season in April but don’t worry, not everything shuts.

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