Skoufon 6, Chania
73100 – Crete (Greece)
NG 173665758000
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Welcome to Chania, a city steeped in history, culture, and natural beauty, where every corner tells a story waiting to be discovered. As proud owners of Qualia Boutique Hotel, we are delighted to share our local expertise and insider recommendations to make your visit to Chania truly unforgettable.
Elafonisi Beach
Samaria Gorge
Kournas Lake
Drakona
Sfakia
Falasarna
According to religious tradition, the one of the 90 steps, which is dug in the rock, leading to the top, is made of gold, but this gold step can be seen only by the sinless!
In case Elafonisi is too crowded and you want to run away from it after you see it! It takes up to 15 minutes driving (and 15minutes more walking from the parking) to get from Elafonisi to Kedrodasos! This is my favourite beach all around Chania personally!
The beach of Kedrodasos is like a hidden gem – away from tourists and with wide beach area. The sand is really fine and nice. The unique combination of coniferous forest, fine sand and turquoise sea makes the experience unforgettable.
One of the most unique natural beauties of Chania. The Lake of Kournas in Apokoronas is the most … “alternative” beach you can choose on your holiday in Chania. It is about 45 km from the city, next to the village of Kournas, and is the only natural freshwater lake in Crete.
As the summer waters recede slightly, several small beaches are formed on the shore! There are umbrellas and sun beds available, small cafes to provide you with the necessary, but also the possibility to rent marine bicycle and admire the unique landscape in the green lake.
On your return, visit Georgioupolis, a very popular tourist resort, for a walk by the seaside, in an exceptionally beautiful landscape. Other options in the area are the villages Vrisses, Vamos, but also the tourist village Almyrida.
Forget for a while the dreamy beaches with the fine sand and the crystal clear waters and make a day trip at the mountainous areas of the island.
Especially for your winter holidays, Crete has to offer unique places with breathtaking views of Cretan mountains and Cretan nature!
So if you find yourself in Chania, mainly in Autumn or Winter, one of the closest destinations to the city is Therisso village in Chania, located 12 km. from the center of Chania.
The path through the gorge, which is about 6 km., will totally respond to your expectations. The route will surely enchant you: high planes in the lush green landscape of the gorge, imposing rocky cliffs and Kladissos stream flowing next to the gorge.
After you walk around this historic village keep going towards Drakona village where you can enjoy more nature and at the end eat at the most traditional Cretan tavern of Ntounias and even take a tour around his farm! This is my favorite hidden gem for the most authentic food experience!
Askyfou
The plateau of Askyfou is located at an altitude of 700m about half way between the north and south coast, on the road to Hora Sfakion. It consists of a few small villages and a fertile plain where wheat, potatoes and vine are grown. There is also a Turkish fortress set up on a hill. When you are there don’t miss to eat at Nektarios kafeneion for the most authentic food experience!
Hora Sfakion
The capital of the Sfakia region is the small village of Hora Sfakion (or Chora Sfakion). It has a population of less than 400. From there you can also take ferry boats along the coast of West Crete to explore areas which are not accessible by road.
Agia Roumeli
The small village of Agia Roumeli is mainly known as the place where people arrive after hiking through the gorge of Samaria but has much more to offer than just a refreshment stop. Set in a dramatic landscape Agia Roumeli also has some great beaches which are almost deserted and whilst being filled with hikers in the afternoon, as soon as the last boat has left in the evening the village becomes very quiet again.
Loutro
The main attraction of Loutro is that it can only be reached by boat (regular connections from Hora Sfakion) or on foot. Loutro is also well protected from bad weather and is an ideal place to spend a few quiet days. Having said this, Loutro can become crowded and cramped in the summer months. The small pebble beach is right in the village and many people chose to walk an hour to the beautiful Sweet Water beach, east of Loutro, for more privacy.
Loutro is also a good base to explore the region on foot.
Anopolis, Aradena
Located between the sea and the southern slopes of the White Mountains at an altitude of 600 – 700m, the plateau of Anopolis can be regarded as the heartland of the Sfakia region. A fertile plain, it has been inhabited since Neolithic times and its natural setting has protected it from outside influences, particularly from the Turkish occupants.
The most notable place of interest is the abandoned village of Aradena which is set on the edge of the gorge of Aradena and offers superb examples of traditional Cretan architecture.
Frangokastello
Frangokastello, located about 12 km to the east of Hora Sfakion, used to consist only of the 14th century Venetian fortress and the ruins of a monastery. The nice sandy beach has since attracted considerable tourist developments but Frangokastello remains a sleepy little resort.
KASTELI Kissamos, later named Kasteli after its Venetian Castle, preserved in full the pre-Hellenistic name of a very ancient settlement, which was situated on the same site. Plinios (4, 12, 20) refers to it as Cisamon and Ptolemeus (3, 8, 17) as Kissamos Polis (Kissamos City). Kissamos used to be a large, organized town, haven of Polyrthenia, but autonomous and independent, with its own currency. On the one side of its coins is Hermes’ head with a broadbrimmed cap was depicted while on the other side there was a dolphin and the following letters Κ Σ Ι Ω (Svoronos, Numismatique, etc. p. 55).
GRAMVOUSSA by boat from Kasteli is a must. On Tame Gramvousa there is a castle on the top of a steep rockat an altitude of 140 m that is still in good condition. It was built during
the Venetian occupation to offer protection
BALOS
to the ships that arrived from Venice. High walls surrounded it and its construction was completed in 1582. The lagoon of BALOS, with its beautiful water is a place of unique interest and beauty. Local plants and rare birds have found a sanctuary here. It is accessible only by foot from the village of Kaliviani (approximately 45 minutes) or by boat from Kasteli.
FALASSARNA
An ancient seaside naval town, Port of Polirrhinia. Falassarna was built during
the historical period, but its name is pre-Hellenic, which it took from the nymph Falassarna. It was more important than Polirrhinia and it had its own currency, which on the one side depicted the head of a woman with earrings and on the other the letters FA, between a
trident. We can still see standing – supporting walls, parts of walls of the acropolisa,
many foundations of houses, many ancient graves, also a stone throne that
probably was consecrated to Poseidon, as Falassarna had been a naval town. It
has been recently discovered and its ancient harbor is being excavated.
Skoufon 6, Chania
73100 – Crete (Greece)
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