Chania

Chania is a historic port city on Crete's northwest coast, about 70 kilometres west of Rethymno, with a municipal population of 111,375 at the 2021 census. It stands on the site of the Minoan settlement of Kydonia, one of the island's most important Bronze Age towns, and its long history is still visible in layers across the modern city, from Roman remains to Venetian and Ottoman architecture.

The Venetians took control of the town in the 13th century and fortified it heavily from 1538 onward, building the walls and harbour structures that still frame the old town today. The Ottomans captured Chania after a two-month siege in the 1640s and held it until the late 19th century, leaving behind mosques, including the Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque on the harbourfront, alongside the earlier Venetian buildings. The distinctive lighthouse marking the harbour entrance dates to 1864, built during this later period of rule.

The old Venetian harbour remains Chania's centrepiece, while the larger port of Souda, seven kilometres to the east, handles most ferry and shipping traffic today. Between the two, the city offers safe anchorage and easy access to the old town's museums, markets, and waterfront restaurants, making Chania a popular stop for gulet charter guests exploring Greece along Crete's northern coast.