Crete is rather more than a seaside vacation vacation spot in Europe. There’s tradition, foodie delights, historic sights and family-friendly sights. We spent per week in Chania in West Crete within the Spring. I had been hoping for seven days of sunshine. The fact was that we had half as many. However we weren’t caught for issues to do in Chania with youngsters.
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In actual fact, I felt like a child in a candy store once I was flicking via our Lonely Planet information ebook for issues to do throughout our keep at Kiani Seashore Resort – an all inclusive household resort in Crete.
I quickly reigned in my concepts once I began figuring out how massive the island was and the way lengthy it could take to see all of the must-see sights. We would want greater than seven days to discover Chania not to mention the entire of Crete.
Check out extra ideas for planning a household holiday in Crete.
Is Chania value visiting?
For sure, sure! It’s one of many greatest locations to remain in Crete for households.
Chania is known for its Venetian harbour and outdated city the place you’ll discover winding alleys formed by historical past.
Issues to do within the city itself embrace strolling the harbour wall to the picturesque lighthouse, enjoyable in on of the water aspect eating places and visits to the market and museums.
Shut by you possibly can discover the traditional metropolis of Aptera which was as soon as the industrial centre of Crete. Additional afield there’s the turquoise waters of Lake Kournas in addition to the world famend Palace of Knosses.
Chania can also be the best base for a visit to Elafonissi seaside with its curious pink sands and the lagoon seaside of Balos.
Learn on to search out out about all these locations and extra issues to do in Chania.
Issues to do in Chania with youngsters
Right here’s our prime suggestions on issues to do in Chania for households:
1. Discover Chania Previous City
Chania Previous City has fascinating structure, formed by a historical past of occupation, rise up and independence over the previous 800 years.
Influences have come from Venetian merchants and the Ottoman Empire, which each conquered huge swathes of the island over the centuries.
Bombing in World Struggle II additionally made its mark on a number of the Venetian structure across the harbour.
We took an organised tour of Chania Previous City. We climbed onboard a mini bus at our resort and inside half-hour have been in Chania.
As this was a bunch tour with different lodge friends I knew it wouldn’t essentially be child-friendly. So, I primed the women with a listing of issues to identify throughout our two hour journey.
The Venetian influences in Chania made it simple to remind them of issues we’d seen throughout our day journey from Lake Garda to Venice the earlier summer time.
They ticked off brightly colored mansions, the harbour with its spectacular lighthouse, and a Venetian lion proudly sat above the Firka Fortress barracks.
Chania Previous City is tremendous simple to discover on foot and covers a comparatively small space.
Should sees are the 2 Cathedrals – one Greek Othedox and the opposite Roman Catholic – and the municipal market.
You may also stroll alongside the harbour wall to the minaret-style lighthouse or decide a vantage level from one other of the town’s waterfront fortifications.
This is among the oldest lighthouses in Europe, though it has been modified because the authentic Venetian construction was constructed within the late sixteenth Century.
2. Wander the aspect streets of Chania
Within the fairly little aspect streets you’ll discover a thoroughfare dedicated to leather-based and Greek boot making. There’s additionally a avenue the place conventional Cretan knives have been made.
The ladies had just lately began admiring the rings I put on on my fingers and have been amused to be taught that fairly than an engagement ring Cretan suiters would supply their betrothed a knife for cover.
On the finish of our tour we had an hour and a half to discover by ourselves and circled again to locations that had caught our eye, in addition to stopping for a nicely deserved gelato for my mini explorers.
There’s additionally numerous family-friendly locations to remain in Chania and the encompassing space.
3. Discover museums in Chania Previous City
We solely had half a day exploring the outdated city however had we had longer we’d have visited a few of Chania’s museums and household sights. They’re superb do you have to be caught out by a moist day in Crete!
One other tip for visiting Chania: I can advocate visiting Chania Previous City within the morning should you’d prefer to keep away from the crowds, even within the off season.
Issues to do close to Chania, Crete
There’s tons extra to do in West Crete. Right here’s some locations to discover near Chania:
4. Uncover historical Aptera
Only a quick taxi journey from the place we have been staying in Kalyves is the traditional metropolis of Aptera. This was as soon as the industrial centre of Crete, due to its commanding place over two vital sea ports: Minoa and Kissamos.
The town was at its strongest within the 4th Century BC and, after a interval of civil struggle, thrived once more underneath Roman rule within the 1st to 2nd Centuries AD.
A devastating earthquake in 365 AD marked the start of the town’s decline and eventual abandonment in ninth Century following Saracen invasion.
As we speak you pay just some Euros per individual to stroll across the stays of the town and it’s value each cent. The archeological website covers the entire hill prime.
We discovered the simplest components to discover with younger youngsters have been the centre of the town. Right here yow will discover a bunch of buildings together with the extra fashionable monastery of John the Theologian, the Roman constructed cisterns that collected rain water for his or her baths, and the amphitheatre which dates from the 2nd Century BC.
This was have been we noticed lizards sunning themselves, a whole lot of mountain blooms, and butterfly chrysalises hanging from the stonework.
You may also see the skin of Koules of Aptera – a fort constructed a lot later through the Ottoman occupation of Crete. This sits a bit additional down the hill and overlooks Souda Bay.
I’d advise carrying flat, closed toe footwear for this tour as a number of the paths are uneven. In case you have a child or toddler carry them fairly than bringing a pushchair.
5. Calm down in Lake Kournas close to Chania
From Historic Aptera we continued our taxi tour inland to Lake Kournas. That is Crete’s largest contemporary water lake and is fed by pure springs operating off the Lefka Ori mountains.
The water is 22m at its deepest half, and is a shocking turquoise color within the sunshine. We visited on a boring afternoon nevertheless it was nonetheless attainable to understand the color.
We employed a pedalo and paddled out into the lake in direction of cloud topped mountains. The water was excessive after a moist winter so the sandy white seaside that you simply often discover on the water’s edge was largely submerged.
We noticed numerous geese on the shore. Apparently, if you’re fortunate, you may also spot terrapins bobbing round.
Subsequent to the lake there are many tavernas the place you possibly can seize a chew to eat and benefit from the views. We picked Omorfi Limni the place we discovered moderately priced meals and a play park for the women.
6. Aqua Creta Limoupolis Water Park
One other watery journey to have close to Chania is a time out at Aqua Create Limoupolis.
This water park is 7km from the town and comes with a black gap, a lazy river every kind of slides. There’s additionally an space devoted to younger youngsters.
Discover out extra about this water park close to Chania.
7. Go to an Olive Oil Manufacturing unit close to Chania
You may’t drive for lengthy in Crete with out recognizing an olive tree. Nevertheless, I had no thought about how olive oil was produced till we visited Kanakis Olive Mill on the street to Chania.
As soon as the summer time tourism season ends the olive oil makers spring into motion, harvesting and producing this Mediterranean staple in its purest kind.
We arrived after manufacturing had completed for the 12 months so the manufacturing unit was quiet. However it’s nonetheless attainable to have a tour of the equipment to grasp the method of turning the fruit into further virgin oil. We have been additionally impressed to be taught that the byproducts are used as a biofuel on the island.
After all, the mill has a store the place you possibly can style the oil for your self and decide up some souvenirs. Don’t overlook to have an image with the two,000-year-old olive tree outdoors.
8. Botanical Park of Crete
Someplace to attach with nature and wildlife is the Botanical Park of Crete which is 18km southwest of Chania.
In addition to the chance to admire the gorgeous flowers, you’ll discover that it attracts a wealth of butterflies and migrating birds. You may also stroll round a lake and meet a few of Crete’s well-known goats who’ve made the park their residence.
Count on numerous hills. Bear in mind that you’re not permitted to deliver your personal picnic however there’s a restaurant.
Discover out extra about visiting the Botanical Park.
9. Hike Samaria Gorge
The we arrived in Crete the very last item I anticipated to see from the airplane window was snow caped mountains. However there they have been – the White Mountains, also called the Lefka Ori, that are the spectacular again drop to the Chania area.
From these peaks, which soar greater than 2,000m over the seashores and cliffs of the Cretan shoreline, emerges the well-known Samaria Gorge. It’s one in every of Europe’s longest gorges and a part of a community of rocky mountaineering trails that weave in direction of the south coast.
We didn’t try this hike as we have been visiting out of the primary season when the gorge is open and the women have been a bit younger.
Nevertheless, if you’re visiting Western Crete with youngsters who’re used to mountaineering then this needs to be excessive up on the listing of the greatest issues to do in Chania.
It will possibly take as much as seven hours to trek the gorge so come nicely ready with the correct footwear, and sufficient water and meals to your journey.
Right here’s some useful details about mountaineering Samaria Gorge.
10. Rent a automotive in Chania and go on a Crete street journey
Hiring a automotive in Crete is straightforward. We had a VW Polo delivered to our lodge by Kalives Journey.
For our street journey we determined to go to the south coast. This takes about one and a half hours to achieve from Kalyves or two hours from Chania.
Our route from the north to south coast
From Chania you be part of the Greek Nationwide Highway 90 or A90 that runs alongside the highest of the island. Journey alongside this for 35 minutes and switch proper in direction of Vrisses or Vryses.
From right here you possibly can drive 37km alongside the sting of the Lefka Ori mountain vary, previous the Askifou plateau and Imbros Gorge to the rugged shoreline and turquoise coves surrounding the port of Hora Sfakion.
If you happen to fancy a cease Imbros Gorge is supposed to be rather more manageable for youngsters to hike than Samaria Gorge, and there are wonderful vantage factors at Askifou.
Total, the journey via the mountains is spectacular; even on a moist day.
If the climate had been higher we’d have stopped at Imbros however as a substitute we drove on south to a piece of street that had caught Mr Tin Field’s eye.
Between Hora Sfakion and the mountain village of Anopoli, the street weaves steeply upwards for 12km with hair pin turns and dramatic views. Mr Tin Field loved imagining he was a Prime Gear presenter, for a short while not less than!
Check out my information to driving in Crete.
11. Have lunch within the mountains
Once we reached the furthest level in our street journey we stopped lunch on the Platanos taverna in Anopolis. Right here we have been handled to native dishes in entrance of a roaring hearth.
Whereas we sat and loved our lunch the clouds descended making the situation really feel much more secluded.
Anopoli is a distant village that proved inaccessible to the Venetians and the Turks throughout each occupations, making it a powerful maintain for the Cretan resistance. And with the mountainous panorama it’s not exhausting to grasp why.
Within the village sq. there’s a statue commemorating the resistance fighters who held this place.
Borrowing a automotive was a good way to discover Crete independently with youngsters. If we have been on the island for longer we’d positively rent a automotive for a number of days to search out all these hidden seashores and fairly Greek villages which can be off the overwhelmed observe.
Verify automotive rent choices in Crete and should you’ve acquired any questions do learn my information to driving in Crete.
12. Seashore hop with a ship journey from Chania
One thing that we didn’t have time for, however would have cherished to do within the hotter summer time season, was to take a ship journey.
From Kiani Akti, the seaside on the entrance of our family-friendly Crete resort, you possibly can take a ship journey alongside the coast together with wildlife recognizing and snorkelling.
The Instagram above is by @mamanvoyage who was visiting Crete the identical week as us in April.
There are additionally boat journeys from Chania itself.
13. Step again in time at Knosses Palace
It’s nicely outdoors Chania however, having pushed alongside the primary street operating alongside the north aspect of the island, I want we had fitted in a go to to the Minoan Palace of Knosses. It will have been very easy as a day journey from Chania.
The positioning of Knosses is named Europe’s first metropolis and dates from the Bronze Age. Historical past buffs and any younger individual learning Greek mythology could have a area day right here.
There’s an entry price for adults however underneath 18-years-old are freed from cost. It’s advocate that you simply additionally go to the archaeological museum of Heraklion so you possibly can see artefacts from Knosses up shut.
Check out extra ideas for planning a household vacation in Crete.
Seashores close to Chania, Crete
Crete is known for its seashores and a pair close to Chania which can be among the many greatest:
14. Go to the pink sands of Elafonissi
On the south west of Crete is one in every of its most image good seashores: Elafonissi. It’s well-known for its pink sand, distant location and a shallow stroll out to the island of Elafonissi.
It takes about two hours to drive there from Chania and I’ve been instructed a number of the roads are difficult. Nevertheless, you may also take a guided day journey that features a picnic and loads of time on the seaside to take the the exhausting work out of the day.
15. Go to Balos Seashore
This unique lagoon might have been plucked straight out of the Caribbean. You’ll discover Balos 56km northwest of Chania.
It’s an awesome place for snorkelling and superb for younger youngsters as its good a shallow.
Like Elafonissi you possibly can count on this lovely seaside close to Chania to get very busy through the summer time months. Arrive early to expertise it at its greatest.
Discover out extra about visiting Balos.
If need to discover extra additional, right here’s a number of the greatest locations to go to in Greece.
Right here’s what we managed to do in Western Crete in per week and some extra concepts for issues to do in Chania with youngsters that we’d make some extent of doing subsequent time we go to.
Learn extra about our household vacation in Crete at Kiani Seashore Resort.
Extra studying about household holidays in Crete
Right here’s some extra guides that you simply may discover useful whereas planning your vacation in Crete:
Disclosure: our excisions and automotive rent in Crete have been complimentary in alternate for protection on my weblog and social media. This was a part of our keep at Kiani Seashore Resort, which was an unpaid press journey.
In case you are planning a household vacation to Crete why not use Pinterest to avoid wasting this publish about the perfect issues to do in Chania and days out in Western Crete with youngsters.
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