Chania holidays
Harbour town base combining walkable Old Town with easy access to western Crete beaches and villages.
Prices on this page are shown from the UK. Change market
28°C SeptemberBest Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep3–7 nightsRecent nonstop return fare from London Gatwick
At a glance
- first-time Crete visitors
- walkable town plus beach
- couples and small groups
Trip cost
- Return flight
- ≈€197
- Stay
- ≈€672
- Food & local
- ≈€180
Includes the return fare from London Gatwick. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Prices shown on this page are indicative estimates in euros, not quotes. Every booking happens separately with its own supplier, at that supplier's own live price. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Chania
From €49/night · Typical €99 · 163 stays · 6-night stay assumed
- Best 3-starNIDRA VERANDA STUDIO with PRIVATE POOLKato Galatas · 17.8 km from the centre€150 a night (opens in a new tab)
See more 3-star options
- Best 4-starGREEN n' BLUE apartmentsKalamaki Chanion · 17.6 km from the centre€83 a night (opens in a new tab)
See more 4-star options
- Cheapestjenny's flat near the seaGalatás · 17.6 km from the centre€49 a night (opens in a new tab)
See more options, cheapest first
Map
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Self-catering
Prefer a place of your own? Browse holiday homes and apartments in Chania on Holidu.
Getting to Chania
- AirportChania International Airport (Daskalogiannis) (CHQ)
- Transfer optionsBus, taxi
Chania Airport is a short drive from Chania town, with KTEL buses and taxis linking the terminal to the centre.
Indicative, per traveller. You book with Aviasales.
Areas of Chania
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- Old Town / Venetian HarbourBest for first-time visitors wanting characterful lanes and harbour views, accepting higher prices and evening noise.
- Nea ChoraSuits families and beach-focused stays that still want a flat 15-20 minute walk into the Old Town.
- Koum KapiGood for mid-budget travellers wanting a quieter, local waterfront within walking distance of the harbour.
- HalepaWorks for longer stays and slower trips in a residential area slightly removed from the tourist centre.
- PlataniasAppeals to visitors wanting resort-style accommodation with pools and easy beach access west of town.
Chania weather by month
Chania is warmest in July, when daily highs average 31°C, and coolest in February at 16°C. December is the wettest month at about 81 mm, July the driest at 4 mm. Taking warmth and rainfall together, June, July, August, September score best for a trip.
- Best overall
- June · July · August · September
- Hottest
- July · 31°C
- Wettest
- December · 81mm
- January: average daily high 17°C, 69mm rainfall.
- February: average daily high 16°C, 51mm rainfall.
- March: average daily high 17°C, 58mm rainfall.
- April: average daily high 20°C, 30mm rainfall.
- May: average daily high 23°C, 36mm rainfall.
- June: average daily high 28°C, 9mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- July: average daily high 31°C, 4mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- August: average daily high 31°C, 7mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- September: average daily high 28°C, 24mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- October: average daily high 24°C, 34mm rainfall.
- November: average daily high 22°C, 40mm rainfall.
- December: average daily high 18°C, 81mm rainfall.
How these figures are worked out
Monthly averages — multi-year historical data, not a standard 30-year climate normal or a forecast. Gold months are the best weather fit: each month scores on how close its average daily high sits to about 27 °C, with heavy rainfall counting against it, and months far outside that range are not ranked at all.
What each season is like
- Spring
- Pleasant for harbour walks and first swims, but sea can feel cool and some smaller coastal businesses open gradually.
- Summer
- Harbour and beaches are busy, parking is difficult, and west-coast day trips need early starts to avoid crowds.
- Autumn
- Sea stays swimmable and crowds thin, though some beach facilities and smaller accommodations wind down after October.
- Winter
- Old Town feels local and many tourist-oriented shops and beach services close; limited flights reduce flexibility.
What’s on in Chania
Our sister site Wanderistan tracks what's on in Chania — gigs, festivals and tickets.
Compare Greece destinations
Still deciding? Other Greece destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.
| Destination | Aug | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | 34°C | 2–4 nights |
| Heraklion | 32°C | 2–4 nights |
| Mykonos | 29°C | 3–5 nights |
| Santorini | 30°C | 3–5 nights |
| Thessaloniki | 33°C | 2–4 nights |
More from the UK
Good to know about Chania
Why go
- Smaller-scale harbour base compared with Heraklion's larger port city feel.
- Walkable link between Old Town and nearby local beach areas such as Nea Chora instead of a resort strip.
- Better placed for day trips along Crete's west coast than more central Heraklion.
Worth knowing
- Public transport beyond the immediate area is limited, so many west-coast excursions need a hire car or organised tour.
- Old Town accommodation can be noisy at night and involves steps and cobbles that do not suit all mobility levels.
- Off-season flight schedules are reduced compared with Heraklion, so connections can be less flexible.
- Popular harbour-front areas book out early in peak summer, reducing last-minute choice.