Activities - Villa Athina

My recommendations for Chania! i hope you will enjoy it as much as i do!

In order to fully enjoy the experience in chania you should rent car because it has amasing locations to visit that you will miss if you don't have a car.

FOOD

For the city of Chania my 5 favorites:

1)Tamam: located in old town of Chania on the old harbor.

If you go on the weekend for lunch it has live music as well, the traditional ‘rebetika’. they should try for sure the below dishes:

Politiki pie (πίτα πολίτικη)

Giaourtlou (γιαουρτλού)

Courgette balls (κολοκυθοκεφτεδες)

2)Mesogiako: http://www.mesogiako.com/

I would recommend the syrian lamban salad , kalogeros of Naxos , volcano with all the greek cheese and the risoto with mushrooms and truffle.

This one is open only for dinner.

3)Glossitses: situated in the old harbor of chania

Very fresh fish and sea food at a very nice location for lunch and dinner

4)Thallasino Ageri ( Θαλασσινό αγέρι) : location: tabakaria, chalepa:

http://www.thalasino-ageri.gr/english/

Fantastic location, the best squid i have ever tried in my life!

5)Kouzina Epe: Daskalogianni road in the city centre.

Very casual restaurant , what we call ‘μαγειρίο’ where you can find very traditional greek food cooked like our mothers do! Very popular for students etc but very good traditional food.

Chania have amazing food as well a bit outside the city and i would totally recommend that you should visit at least one of those taverns in chania’s villages.

1) Dounias tavern: in Drakona village at Keramies ( 40min drive from city centre)

http://www.ntounias.gr/index-en.html

Unbelievable food!

The guy who owns the tavern uses wood oven which makes all the difference! All the products are local or from his garden..he has his own animals and vegetables so everything is very natural and super fresh. it is a must!

2) ‘Grambousa’ tavern at Kaliviani, it is good idea when you go at the Falasarna beach

http://gramvousarestaurant.com/

BEACH

1) Falassarna beach

My sister’s favourite. Just 40min from city centre, unlimited sand and fantastic blue waters

http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Beaches/Chania/falassarna-beach/

2)Elafonisi beach

It is a longer drive (around 2 hours) but it is something you won’t forget. There is also a bus going there every morning from the city centre

http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Beaches/Chania/elafonissi/

3) Kedrodasos : it is 1 km east of Elafonisi

Not that famous as elafonisi but very good choice for camping because it has trees in the sand all over the beach…it is very tropical and no touristic.

It is a bit tricky to find it, so it used to be only for people who knew where it was..now it is getting more popular but i still dont think there are signs on the street. Check the link below, it describes how you can get there.

http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Beaches/Chania/kedrodasos-beach/

4) Seitan Lemania: locates at Chordaki village just 20km from city centre, close to the airport.

It is the most beautiful beach near chania city centre. You can combine it with a very nice walk to Gouvenreto Monastery. Very very beautiful!

In order to get to Seitan Limania you have to drive towards the airport of Chania. Turn left right before the airport towards village Chordaki and then follow the signs to Rizoskloko. At some point you will start seeing small signs that will lead you to the beach. Don’t be surprised if you meet a closed door in the middle of the road; it has been put there to fence the goats of a shepherd and you are pleased to close it behind you as you go through! The asphalt road descends to where it seems to be the middle of nowhere and ends at a parking area that serves the beach. A steep but easy-to-walk path starts from there and within 15 minutes you are there! Two years ago only few people knew about that beach but unfortunately it is starting getting popular so it might be a bit busy.

5) If you like pebbles you should go to Sougia beach, very easy for children and there are restaurants around to eat.

http://www.sougia.info/beach.htm

6) if you have time to go out from chania , I would recommend two beaches in south Rethumno: Agios Pavlos and Ammoudi. Both from my favourites!

SIGHTSEEING & MUSEUMS

1)If you like Monasters you should go to Gouverneto Monastery and Agia Triada. It will be very nice to combine that walk with Seitan Lemania beach since they are pretty close.

http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-west/EN-Gouverneto-Monastery.html

2) Omalos mountain and Samaria Gorge.

If you have time I would definitely recommend to go to Omalos mountain and explore the Samaria Gorge if you like hiking. Be careful you need good shoes!:)

http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/nature/canyons/samaria_gorge

3) If you like museums you can visit the archaelpgoval museum of chania but I think they are relocating it so it might be closed.

4) Chania Municipality Art Gallery

https://pinakothiki-chania.gr/

5) Aptera archeological site

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptera,_Greece

6)Museum of Ancient Eleutherna

http://www.mae.com.gr/

7)Knossos

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knossos