Sea Queen Villa enjoys a lovely position just metres from Agii Apostoli Beach and its natural park. The beach extends to Kalamaki, a very friendly, laid-back resort just outside of Chania. You will enjoy gorgeous sandy beaches, amazing restaurants and tavernas and some useful shops. There is even a huge LIDL close by for supplies. The beach restaurants are wonderful and generally always offer a glass of raki and some fruit or a mini pudding as a treat afterwards. There is a good range of restaurants, some serving traditional Greek specialities and others offering fine dining such Corinna Star at Corinna Mare in Kalamaki and the restaurant at the Domes Noruz Chania Hotel. You are very spoilt for choice if you decide not to cook in the villa!
Known as the Venice of the East, Chania Old Town is magical with unique shops lining its cobbled streets, a brilliant dining scene, trendy waterfront bars serving delicious cocktails and its famous Venetian harbour and imposing lighthouse. The harbour was originally built by the Venetians between 1320 and 1356 and is now a vibrant, cosmopolitan spot. The Egyptian lighthouse is much photographed, especially at sunset. You can take a slow meander to the lighthouse to take in the stunning views of the harbour, the Old Town and the backdrop of the majestic White Mountains. On the waterfront, the Giali Tzamisi is the oldest Muslim building in Crete. The Turkish name is translated to ‘The Seaside Mosque’. It plays host to various cultural events and exhibitions. You will also enjoy many buskers on the streets playing a wonderful selection of music.
Following the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the second most visited tourist attraction in Crete is the dramatic and imposing Samaria Gorge. It sits at the foothills of the White Mountains and is the longest and most famous gorge in Europe. Within the White Mountain’s National Park, it rises to an altitude of 1,230m, is 150m at its widest point and 3m at its narrowest and continues down to Agia Roumeli on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The park and gorge offer protection to over four hundred and fifty species of plant and animal, of which seventy are endemic to Crete. This includes the rare kri-kri which are wild goats.
Though the four local beaches are wonderful, you may want to spend a day on the exotic, spectacular, famous beaches of Balos, Falasarna or Elafonissi. If you get time to visit Balos Beach, you will remember it forever. In the protected ‘NATURA’ area of Balos Bay, its glistening white sand and turquoise sea is incredible. Not far away is another Cretan wonder, Falasarna, another nestled lagoon with pool like waters and pink sand. It has been awarded the best beach of Crete and one of the top ten beaches in Europe. Elafonissi is equally wonderful and worth the drive.
The Region
Head to the West side of Crete to find some of the best beaches and most charming villages in the island. Indulge yourself by visiting the unique Balos lagoon and jumping into its turquoise waters, or have a truly Cretan dining experience in one of the many tavernas by the sea and taste the delicious seafood on offer.
Find more about Chania and the rest of the Southernmost island in Greece with our travel guide below
How to reach Chania
There are two ways to reach Chania: either by flight or by ferry.
By plane: Chania Airport (CHQ) is only a 20 minutes ride away from central Chania. During the summer months, frequents overseas and domestic flights are performed. In most of the cases, there are available buses that connect Chania city and most of the villas. You can also hire a car from one of the many rental companies at the airport, or alternatively get a taxi to bring you right to your doorstep.
By ferry: If you choose to do an island-hopping trip and use the ferry as a method of transportation, then the closest port is in Souda, only 8km from the centre of Chania. Only ferries from Piraeus in Athens or Heraklion in Crete. Heraklion port has a wider choice: you can also take a ferry from other Greek islands like Santorini, Mykonos or Paros, but you will have to take a longer bus ride to reach your villa. You can easily book your ferry tickets using the link below or the booking engine.
Book your ferry tickets to Crete here >>