natural wonder
Samaria Gorge
Europe's longest gorge at 16 km on Crete, a dramatic hike through towering walls down to the Libyan Sea.
28 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeGreeceCrete
Chaniá
Crete, Greece · Europe
About Chaniá
Chaniá is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Mourniés, 28km from Samaria Gorge.
Chaniá is in Crete, Greece, with about 54,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Mourniés, about 4 km away.
Where to Stay in Chaniá
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Chaniá.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Chaniá.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Chaniá?
Within an hour or so of Chaniá: Samaria Gorge (28 km), Aradena Bridge (32 km), Balos Lagoon (41 km), Old Town of Rethymno (43 km).
Are there any good drives near Chaniá?
The nearest famous roads are Kourtaliotiko Gorge Road.
Where is Chaniá?
Chaniá is in Crete, Greece, about 4 km from Mourniés.
Road trip
Drive to Chaniá
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Chaniá. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 53,910
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Greece
- Region
- Crete
- Timezone
- Europe/Athens
- Coordinates
- 35.5112, 24.0292
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Greece
Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.
Full driving guide for GreeceTags
Worth the detour from Chaniá
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
bridge
Aradena Bridge
Vertigo-inducing steel Bailey bridge spanning the 138 m deep Aradena Gorge in Sfakia, southern Crete: planks rattle as you cross, and it doubles as one of Greece's highest bungee-jump sites.
32 km · about 35 min drive
beach
Balos Lagoon
A stunning shallow turquoise lagoon on Crete's northwestern tip where pink-white sand meets three shades of blue water.
41 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Old Town of Rethymno
A beautifully preserved Cretan old town with a Venetian harbor, Ottoman mosques, and the massive Fortezza fortress overlooking the sea.
43 km · about 50 min drive
beach
Elafonissi Beach
A dreamy Cretan beach famous for its pink-tinged sand created by crushed shells, with shallow warm waters ideal for wading.
52 km · about 60 min drive
famous road
Kourtaliotiko Gorge Road
Cliff-hugging Cretan road descending through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge toward Preveli, with vultures wheeling overhead, springs in the canyon floor and Libyan Sea views at the exit.
52 km · about 60 min drive
beach
Preveli Beach
A dramatic Cretan beach where a palm-lined river meets the Libyan Sea below a gorge, creating an almost tropical setting.
57 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Chaniá
- 32 kmAradena BridgeVertigo-inducing steel Bailey bridge spanning the 138 m deep Aradena Gorge in Sfakia, southern Crete: planks rattle as you cross, and it doubles as one of Greece's highest bungee-jump sites.
- 52 kmKourtaliotiko Gorge RoadCliff-hugging Cretan road descending through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge toward Preveli, with vultures wheeling overhead, springs in the canyon floor and Libyan Sea views at the exit.
Driving in Greece
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.88/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€7.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Chaniá.
Plan a trip around Chaniá
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Chaniá.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.