Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania regional unit. The town is known for its romantic harbour, rich diversity of cuisine, churches and beautiful views. It rests along the north coast of the island, about 70 km west of Rethymno and 145 km west of Heraklion. (Copyright : Dziewul)
Chania, Crete – 23 Maj, 2016: View of the old port of Chania on Crete, Greece. Chania is the second largest city of Crete.
Chania, Crete – 25 Maj, 2016: Morning view of the old port in Chania, Greece. Chania is the second largest city of Crete
Chania, Crete – 23 Maj, 2016: View of the old harbor of Chania on Crete, Greece. Chania is the second largest city of Crete.
Horse carriage for transporting tourists in old port of Chania on Crete, Greece
Chania, Crete – 23 Maj, 2016: View of Mosque of the Janissaries or Giali Tzami Mosque in Chania on Crete, Greece. Chania is the second largest city of Crete.
Red cat sleeps on a bench in the early morning
Chania, Crete – 25 Maj, 2016: Morning view of the venetian architecture in old port in Chania, Greece. Chania is the second largest city of Crete
View of the old port and Lighthouse in Chania, Crete, Greece
View of the old port and Lighthouse in Chania, Crete, Greece
Aerial view of Chania, Crete, Greece
Top Sights to See in Chania, Crete
By Harry Anapliotis
Chania, the second largest city on the island, is often considered its most beautiful.
For many people visiting Crete, it makes perfect sense to base their holiday in the area, as there are many fascinating sights to see, both natural and cultural. Furthermore, by booking car hire in Chania, the perfect opportunity arises to thoroughly explore the location.
By investing in car hire in Chania, you can ensure that you can see all of the sights,without having to worry about walking long distances to get to out-of-the-way locations, or relying on the sometimes-overwhelmed public transport system.
Chania town itself contains a number of fascinating sights that each and every holidaymaker will find interesting to visit. One of the most famous landmarks is the Venetian Harbour of the town which, although busy in the day, is especially romantic at night-time for honeymooners and couples spending an intimate vacation together.
One of the most popular features of the port is the Venetian Lighthouse, which is situated at its entrance. Built by the Venetians in 1570, the lighthouse is not only a monument of historical significance but also a cultural one, as it considered to be the symbol of Chania. Visitors, however, are only permitted to view this building from the exterior.
Another place in Chania town that is popular with visitors is the Ottoman Baths, situated in the Zambeliou and Douka streets of the Old Town. Built in 1645 by the Ottoman Turks, these public baths are a remnant of the historical importance in Middle-Eastern culture that these places had as areas of social gathering as well as bodily cleaning.
There are many wonderful out-of-town places to visit too, so after booking your car hire in Chania, it is time to travel south to the gorge of Samaria, a wonderful national park that is popular with avid hikers and anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. At 16 km long, the Samaria Gorge is claimed to be the largest in Europe.
Hikers can plan on spending up to 7 hours trekking through the gorge, although even the less athletic may be convinced to embark on the journey due to the vast variety of rare species of plants and animals that flourish at Samaria. These include the Kri-Kri, an endangered Cretan wild goat.
After reserving car hire in Chania, it is also advised to take some time to visit the Castle of Gramvoussa, which is situated on the western side of Crete. This impressive structure dates back to 1579, when it was constructed by the Venetians. The castle’s intriguing and dramatic history is one that is sufficient to captivate all history buffs.
Those who are visiting Crete for the sun and the sand will be pleased to know that Gramvoussa is situated by the stunning beaches of Balos, complete with a breath-taking view of the Aegean Sea. There is truly something for everyone in this location, making it a must-see area.
The last place to visit after booking car hire in Chania is the Chrissoskalitissa Monastery, to the south-west of the town of Chania, a traditional settlement also constructed in Venetian times. Although still inhabited, the monastery is open to the general public who can enjoy the folklore museum featuring relics of the Cretan Revolution.
Chrissoskalitissa Monastery stands above the gorgeous Elafonisi beach and the charming Elafonisi village, making it another great place to visit for holidaymakers with a variety of different tastes and interests.
Booking car hire in Chania is one excellent way to see the most that the area has to offer, avoid the restrictions of public transport and large hoards of tourists. Both the town and its surrounding areas boast some truly memorable sights which are sure to take each and every visitor’s breath away.
Rental Center Crete is a specialist car hire company based in Heraklion, Crete. Since 1975 the company has offered car rental services in the major cities of Crete, as well as serving both Heraklion and Chania airports and the principal port of the island. Rental Center Crete strives to deliver a professional and affordable car hire service, and guarantees customer satisfaction with their fleet of the latest model cars and attractive prices. Rental Center Crete also provides All Risk Insurance without Self Risk, unlimited kilometers, theft insurance and much more, and assures all customers that there are no hidden extra costs added to their initial quote. Find out more by visiting: http://www.rental-center-crete.com/
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