Situated a mere 15km along the coast, Chania’s 14th Century Venetian harbour is a historical gem. Enjoy the winding streets packed with pastry shops, art stores, bars, cafes, restaurants, gift shops and monuments. Head down to the harbour to admire the Venetian and Ottoman architecture and soak up the magical atmosphere. Visit the Maritime Museum of Crete to get a sense of the island’s storied history.
Elafonisi and Balos are the most iconic beaches on the island and are easily reachable from the hotel. Elafonisi is famous for its sparkling pink sand, and constitutes an ideal beach for a family visit, while Balos is a striking blue lagoon with exotic white sands and stunning turquoise waters.
Home to a number of Crete’s protected Kri-Kri (wild goats), this small inhabited island has been designated as a nature reserve. Used as a breeding ground since 1935, the island supplies Kri-Kri goats to zoos around the world. The island is closed to the public and only opens for one day a year (8th June) when visitors are allowed to visit, and a local celebration takes place.
Designated a National Park of Greece, the Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe, and is 12km in length. Walking through the entire gorge takes several hours to complete and although it isn’t overly arduous there are some tricky sections, so we recommend hiring a guide.
The loggerhead sea turtle (or Caretta Caretta) is the most famous sea turtle breed in Greece and is strictly protected under the law. Every year the sea turtles lay hundreds upon hundreds of eggs on the sandy beaches of Crete (including the one by our hotel), which is truly a spectacle to behold!
Saint John’s church and cave near Kissimos
This little church with two bell towers is located on the side of the road and is also renowned for its cave next door where you’ll find wooden icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and other saints. Afterwards, follow the path branching away from the site to discover the nearby beautiful pebble beach.
The Monastery of Gonia
The Monastery of Gonia was founded in the 9th century and was originally dedicated to Saint George. Located high on a hilltop looking out over the Cretan Sea, this monastery was built upon the ruins of an ancient temple. It has suffered many disasters over the years and has been rebuilt many times.
