• Old Venetian Harbor - Explore Chania’s old town for three hours, visiting its landmarks and historic sites.
• Chania Old Town - Stroll through Chania’s old town, discovering various landmarks along the way.
• Lighthouse of Chania - The Chania lighthouse, the oldest in the Mediterranean, was built in 1864. It stands as Chania’s main landmark, with a 21-meter high tower on a stone base, located at the end of the old harbor’s pier opposite the Firkas fortress. Visitors cannot enter the lighthouse. Originally constructed by the Venetians around 1600, it was destroyed during the siege of Chania and took its final form, resembling a minaret, during the Egyptian occupation. It was restored in 1996.
• Etz Hayyim Synagogue - Converted into a synagogue in the 17th century, Etz Hayyim was originally the Church of St. Catherine, a vacant 15th-century Venetian church purchased by Chania’s Jewish community. After suffering severe bombardment, it was abandoned following World War II with the loss of the Jewish community. It reopened in 1999 with support from the World Monument Fund (WMF) and the Central Israeli Council of Greece. Today, Etz Hayyim is the only active synagogue remaining on the island.
• Cathedral of Eisodion tis Theotokou - The Orthodox Cathedral of Chania, or Church of Trimartiri, is located on Halidon Street. The current temple was built on the site of an older church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, dating back to the 14th century. In 1645, during the Ottoman occupation, it was converted into a soap factory by Turkish official Moustafa Pasha Giritli. The church was reconstructed in 1860 in the style of a three-aisle Basilica and was donated by the local pasha to the community. The high bell tower is on the northeast side of the temple. The church features three aisles: the central one dedicated to the Virgin Mary (celebrated on November 21st), the north aisle to Saint Nicholas, and the southern one to the Three Hierarchs.
• Minoan Palace ruins - Chania is Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city. The Minoan civilization, which dates back to before 3000 BC, ended violently in 1250 BC due to a destructive earthquake and tsunami. Many researchers believe the Minoan civilization was destroyed after the Santorini volcano eruption. At Kasteli Hill, archaeological excavations reveal the foundations of buildings, streets, and sewage networks. These excavations are ongoing. During the Minoan era, Chania was known as Kydonia.
• Municipal Market of Chania - The Municipal Market of Chania is the city’s “heart.” Its foundation began in 1911 on the site of the main rampart of the Venetian fortifications, and construction was completed in the second half of 1913. The cross-shaped market has four doors, one in each ward, which close to secure the shops within. Today, the market hosts many shops selling local products and souvenirs. It is an architectural jewel for Chania and one of the most impressive markets in the Balkans. Currently, it is under renovation, expected to be completed in 2026.

• Private licensed guide

• Lunch
• Private transportation

Chania since ancient times was a melting pot of civilizations and cultures, each invader and new town resident leaving its mark on history, architecture, and culture. Chania is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe dating back to Minoan civilization around 3000BC.

In this tour, we will try to trace the remains of civilizations, in the buildings and monuments. By doing so we will go through the waterfront, alleyways, fortifications, viewpoints, and marks of the past. We will see how Chania has changed over time, the buildings added and destroyed. The city was divided into Christian, Muslim, and Jewish quarters. We will go through them where I will show historical points of interest not so obvious to the average visitor.

Although the tour focuses on history, we will explore the culture and traditions of Chania and how they have merged to form the modern-day city of Chania.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.