Small-Group Chania Old Town Walking Tour

Meet your guide near Chania Cathedral, and then set off on your 3-hour walking tour around the city’s elegant Old Town. Spread around the Venetian harbor, the Old Town was the hub around which the urban development of Crete took place. Hear of the Venetian fortifications that once surrounded the Old Town, and see how the city today blends old monuments with modern landmarks.

Wander along the scenic harbor to Plateia Venizelou, an open clearing that’s home to one of the city’s most beautiful fountains, and then pass the domed Mosque of Hassan Pasha that dominates Chania’s Venetian harbor. The beautiful structure, which is also known as the Mosque of Djamissis, was built just after the Ottoman Turks conquered the city in the 17th century.

Hear of the different rulers who fought over the city since Minoan times, such as the Venetians who built a large arsenal of battleships. See the old arsenal and pose for photos by a replica Minoan ship that was built to feature in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Continue walking along the breakwater to see Chania’s 19th-century lighthouse, and then admire Platia 1821, a central square that’s home to the Orthodox Church of St Nicholas. Learn how it was built as a Catholic monastery when the Venetians reigned, only to be converted to a mosque decades later by the Ottoman Turks. Gaze up at its bell tower and minarets, and then wander on to another Chania building of religious significance: Chania Cathedral. Marvel at the Greek Orthodox architecture and learn of the trimartyre (three martyrs) that the beautiful cathedral is dedicated to.

Head into the heart of the old Venetian quarter to take photos and ask your guide any questions about the city and its sights. Then, see your last two attractions of the tour: the 17th-century Etz Hayim Synagogue and elegant Renieri Gate that marks the ancient entranceway to the Old Town.