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Chania is the second largest city in Crete after Heraklion, on the northern coast of the island, and it is the capital of the Chania regional unit. Chania carries a history reaching back to the Minoan civilisation. The Ottomans, Greeks, and Venetians each ruled the city in turn, which gave it the mixed culture it holds today.
Those same rulers left Chania a mix of Ottoman, Greek, and Venetian architecture. The city holds shops, narrow streets, cafes, restaurants, and a picturesque harbour, along with museums such as the Maritime Museum of Crete and the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
Chania sits beside some of the most striking beaches in Crete, such as Balos Beach and Elafonisi Beach. Historic and archaeological sites draw visitors from around the world, among them the Samaria Gorge and the ancient city of Aptera.
Getting around Chania relies on 6 transport options, which are listed below with the fare each one carries.
Chania's public buses are run by KTEL and carry locals and visitors around the city and the surrounding villages all year. KTEL buses reach the nearby coast and countryside without a large fare. The main bus station, KTEL Chania, is in the eastern part of the city at Kydonias 73, where you buy a ticket at the counter and board.
Bus fares run from €1.20 to €2.5, the lowest of any option in Chania. The service also sells daily and weekly passes, which cost less per trip if you travel often. Buses run throughout the day with padded seats and friendly staff, and some carry Wi-Fi. During peak tourist season the buses fill up, so travel outside the middle of the day if you prefer a quieter journey.
Local buses cover the city on a broad network, where KTEL covers the city and the villages beyond it. The routes are numbered and the number is displayed on the screen at the front of the bus, so you can tell where each one is heading. The vehicles are painted bright green and white, which makes them recognisable from a distance.
A regular local fare costs €1.20 to €2.5, and an all-day ticket costs €5. The service runs from early morning until late at night. Tickets are sold at the bus station. Every bus has air conditioning and padded seats, and some carry Wi-Fi.
Hop-on hop-off tours cover Chania's archaeological and historic sites on a fixed loop, and several companies run them. The route takes in the Venetian Harbour, the Old Town, the Archaeological Museum, the Municipal Market of Chania, and the Maritime Museum. The double-decker buses also run to nearby beaches, so the same ticket reaches the coast.
The tour works as a loop, with buses circling a set route through the day. Get off wherever you choose, spend as long as you want at that stop, then board the next bus to continue. A standard Chania bus tour costs around €15 to €20, and the ticket stays valid for 24 to 48 hours depending on the operator.
Chania transfers are private services that carry you around the city and the surrounding villages and towns at a fare agreed in advance. Transfers cost more than a bus fare, and they suit groups of friends or family who want privacy and a set pick-up time. The 2 transfer types used most often in Chania are described below, with the fare each one carries.
A taxi gives you comfort and privacy, and it suits travellers who would rather not share a vehicle. A private taxi lets you move around the city on your own terms and stop where you choose. Several firms run a Crete taxi service across the island.
Cretan Bay Transfer runs vehicles carrying 4 to 8 people with luggage, so the car matches the size of your group. Call or book online and the vehicle is assigned to you. Fares depend on the route, the time of year, and the distance. A taxi from Chania airport to Chania port costs €31 to €56.
Cretan Bay Transfer hires local drivers who know every route on the island, so you reach your destination without detours or delays.
Chania airport transfers run at any hour, covering late-night arrivals and early-morning departures alike. Your hotel can book a taxi for you, and you can also arrange a Chania airport transfer yourself through the Cretan Bay Transfer website. The drivers are Cretan locals who know every turn and street in the city, so an unfamiliar route is not a risk.
Cretan Bay Transfer runs a background check on every driver before hiring them, which covers passenger safety. The staff are approachable, so ask them where to find good souvlaki or which beach is worth the drive. Fares depend on the vehicle you select. A ride from Chania to Chania Airport, or the reverse, costs around €32 to €80.
Chania has no metro, and neither does anywhere else in Crete. Travel around the city therefore relies on buses, taxis, transfers, and rental cars.
Uber and Lyft do not operate in Chania or anywhere in Crete. Booking a taxi or an airport transfer replaces them, and you can arrange either here.
Renting a car suits drivers who want to set their own route and timing, with no dependence on a timetable. A rental covers the wider island rather than the city alone. Driving in Greece requires a valid international driving licence and a working credit card, and it requires knowing the local traffic rules before you set off.
Rental depots sit near the airport and in the city itself. A Chania car rental can be collected from any of them. Rates vary by vehicle, by the number of passengers, and by the number of days you keep the car. A car rented for 7 days costs around €189 to €1499, depending on the group of car you choose.
#Also interesting to read
ᐅ Transportation Guide for Heraklion
ᐅ Best Ways to Get from Heraklion to Chania and Vice Versa
ᐅ Things to Do in Crete with a Private Driver