Ten days in Chania is enough to understand why people come once and then return every year. This is not just a beach destination. It is an old Venetian town with the White Mountains behind it, wild gorges to the south and some of the most dramatic coastline in the Mediterranean within an hour or two in every direction. Ten days lets you see it properly: not rushed, not crammed.
The plan below keeps Chania as your base for the whole trip, so you never waste a day packing and moving. If you would like to break up the long drives west, spending two nights in Kissamos around days 5 to 7 works well. You will need a car from day 2.
| Day 1 | Arrive, Old Town and harbour |
|---|---|
| Day 2 | Akrotiri: Gouverneto, Seitan Limania, Marathi |
| Day 3 | Samaria Gorge |
| Day 4 | Rest day in town: museums and Old Town |
| Day 5 | Falassarna |
| Day 6 | Balos and Gramvousa |
| Day 7 | Elafonisi and Kedrodasos |
| Day 8 | Sfakia and Loutro |
| Day 9 | Wine and villages |
| Day 10 | Lake Kournas, Georgioupolis, last evening |
Day 1: Arrive and Walk the Old Town
Arrive, check in, and do nothing ambitious. The airport is about 15km from town, around 20 minutes by taxi. In the evening, walk the Venetian harbour and out along the breakwater to the lighthouse as the light changes. Wander into Evraiki, the old Jewish quarter, and finish in Splantzia Square under the big plane tree, where the Old Town feels like a neighbourhood rather than a postcard. Eat a couple of streets back from the waterfront.
Day 2: The Akrotiri Peninsula
Pick up the car and head to the Akrotiri Peninsula, 20 to 30 minutes away. Start early at Gouverneto Monastery and walk down the stone path through the gorge to the Bear Cave and the abandoned monastery of Katholiko above a tiny cove. Allow about 90 minutes there and back; the climb up is steep, so bring water.
Then drive to Seitan Limania, a narrow inlet of turquoise water between white cliffs. The path down is steep and loose, so wear proper shoes. End the day at Marathi on Souda Bay: calm water, views of the White Mountains and fish tavernas by the sand.
Day 3: Samaria Gorge
Do the big hike early in the trip, while your legs are fresh. Samaria runs 16km downhill from Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau to the sea at Agia Roumeli, through forest, an abandoned village and the Iron Gates, where the walls close to three or four metres apart. Allow five to seven hours of walking. From Agia Roumeli you take the ferry to Chora Sfakion and a bus back to Chania.
The gorge is usually open from early May to the end of October. The ticket is €10, and under-18s and over-65s go free. The early KTEL bus gets you to the start before most tour coaches, which arrive from about 7:30am.
Warning: Between the hike, the ferry and the bus, this is a 10 to 12-hour day. Plan nothing for the evening. Check that the gorge is open the night before, and do not miss the last ferry, usually around 17:30, or you will be spending the night in Agia Roumeli.
Day 4: Rest Day in Town
Your legs will thank you for a slow day. Visit the Archaeological Museum, now in a modern building in Halepa, a short ride east of the Old Town, with finds from Neolithic to Roman western Crete. Nearby are the Venizelos Museum and, on the hill above, the Venizelos Tombs with the best view over the town. In the afternoon, trace what is left of the old walls through the Old Town, or simply swim at Nea Chora.
Note: Chania’s covered market, the Agora, is still closed for restoration. Older guides list it as a must-see, but for now you can only see it from outside.
Day 5: Falassarna
Falassarna, about an hour west, is a long, wide, west-facing beach with real swimming and the best sunset in Crete. It is open sea, so the waves can get big on windy afternoons: swim in the morning. At the northern end are the ruins of ancient Phalasarna, a Hellenistic city whose harbour now sits on dry land after the coast rose in an ancient earthquake. Stay for sunset.
Day 6: Balos and Gramvousa
Balos lives up to the photographs. The easiest way is the ferry from Kissamos port, which stops at Gramvousa island, where you can climb to a Venetian fortress, and gives you a couple of hours in the lagoon. Book ahead in high season. If you drive instead, it is 9km of dirt road from Kaliviani (check your rental insurance, as most does not cover unpaved roads), about €1 per person and €3 per car, and a 20 to 30-minute walk down.
Local tip: In July and August, the big ferries bring hundreds of people at once. A smaller private boat that leaves early can get you to Balos while the lagoon is still almost empty.
Day 7: Elafonisi and Kedrodasos
Elafonisi is about 90 minutes southwest: a shallow, warm lagoon you wade across to a small islet of dunes and cedars. Arrive early or come for the late afternoon, when the day-trippers leave. If you want quiet, walk along the coast path to Kedrodasos, a wild beach backed by cedar trees just east of Elafonisi, with no facilities at all.
Local tip: The road to Elafonisi runs through Topolia Gorge. Stop at the Agia Sofia cave chapel, up a flight of steps above the road. It is easy to miss and worth the stop.
Day 8: Sfakia and Loutro
Drive south through the White Mountains to Chora Sfakion, down the switchbacks with the Libyan Sea appearing below. Take the short ferry to Loutro, a white village on a curved bay with no road at all. Swim, eat lunch by the water and take the afternoon boat back. If you have energy, the Imbros Gorge is right on the road, a much quieter alternative to Samaria.
Day 9: Wine and Villages
Take a day off from driving. A wine tour from Chania visits local wineries working with Cretan grape varieties, with lunch and someone else at the wheel. If you prefer to go independently, drive up to Therisos, about 15km south of Chania through a narrow gorge: a small mountain village, a stronghold of the 1905 Therisos revolt, with a few tavernas for a long lunch.
Day 10: Lake Kournas and Georgioupolis
A gentle last day, about 40 minutes east. Lake Kournas is Crete’s only natural freshwater lake, set in a ring of mountains, where you can swim or rent a pedalo. Then go down to Georgioupolis, a small town at a river mouth with a long sandy beach and cafés under the trees. Drive back for a final walk around the harbour.
Where to Stay in Chania
For ten days, Chania town works well as a base for the whole trip. If you want to cut down the long drives to Balos, Falassarna and Elafonisi, add two nights in Kissamos in the middle of your stay.
The Honest Notes
- You need a car. There is no Uber or Bolt in Chania, and the KTEL buses miss most of the beaches and villages on this list. Book the car ahead for summer.
- Parking in the Old Town is hard. Choose accommodation with parking, or know where the nearest public car park is before you arrive.
- Dirt roads and insurance. Most rental agreements do not cover unpaved roads like the one to Balos. Read yours.
- Heat. In July and August, plan outdoor time for mornings and late afternoons.
- Cash. Useful for parking, beach toilets and small tavernas outside town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ten days too long for Chania?
No. Western Crete has enough beaches, gorges, villages and food for well over ten days. You will leave with a list for next time.
Can I do this with young children?
Most of it. Elafonisi, Balos, Falassarna on calm days, Lake Kournas and the Old Town are all great with children. Swap Samaria for an extra beach day or a short walk in Imbros if your children are small.
When is the best time to go?
May, June, September and October. Warm sea, everything open, and far fewer people than in July and August.
If You Have Even More Time
Rethymno, about an hour east, has its own Venetian old town and fortress. Preveli, on the south coast toward Rethymno, has a palm-lined river running into the sea, reached by a steep path. And Agia Triada on Akrotiri sells the monks’ own wine and olive oil, an easy addition to day 2.
Local tip: On the drive back from Sfakia, pull over at the top of the climb above Imbros and watch the light fade over the White Mountains, with the Libyan Sea behind you. It is the kind of view you do not plan for, and the one you remember.
