A remnant of the Venetian rule in Crete, Old Venetian Harbor sits at the heart of Chania's old town. Although this part of the city suffered massive damage during the bombing raids of World War II, the medieval harbor remains one of the most picturesque urban districts on the island. This old waterfront neighborhood contains some of Crete's finest Venetian mansions, restored and upgraded in the last few decades to accommodate boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, and elegant bars. The remains of the Venetian city walls frame a network of narrow backstreets extending from the harbor, where you can often find local artisans selling handmade crafts. Using our custom trip planner, Chania Town attractions like Old Venetian Harbor can form part of a personalized travel itinerary.
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Old Venetian Harbor reviews
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If you’re lucky, like us, you can find sea turtles in the middle of the harbour! It’s a beautiful place and Chania is 100% worth to visit.
If you’re lucky, like us, you can find sea turtles in the middle of the harbour! It’s a beautiful place and Chania is 100% worth to visit. more »
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Really pretty town with usual tourist draws but somewhat spoiled by hawkers of rubbish (tissues!?), beggars (adult and child), live boa constrictor as a photographic attraction and the awful...
Really pretty town with usual tourist draws but somewhat spoiled by hawkers of rubbish (tissues!?), beggars (adult and child), live boa constrictor as a photographic attraction and the awful... more »
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If you're visiting Crete and you've never been before then I suggest you definitely visit Chania, especially the old town where the port is located. You can park 5 minutes away on the outskirts and walk into town if you don't want to pay for parking and that's not to say you can see everything in 5 minutes. You will need at least a full day to get the grasp of most of this beautiful town. The port is absolutely awe inspiring and surrounded by various cafes and restaurants with a few of them offering special seafood dishes which are reasonably priced but not cheap. If you decide to walk to the lighthouse and have a pram or have trouble walking you will find it tricky because it gets very narrow. At one point you have the choice of climbing down some building sand or up onto the wall but it is worth the effort. We had a pram and there was a man selling oil paintings, we bought a painting and when he saw us struggling he offered to look after the pram. I think he would have offered without us buying anything as the Greek people are so wonderfully kind. There's a car park right next to the port and some children will insist on helping you park your car if you use it, they will want a tip for this but it does not pay for parking. My wife thought it did and paid them €10 and she regrets it to this day. Parking is €3.50 for 3 hours but if I remember you can pay for 6 hours. We moved the car after 3 hours and parked just outside the car park for free but it does get busy around mid day.
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Chania is one of my favorite cities in Crete. It has beautiful, clean streets, awesome shops and restaurants, and one of the most picturesque harbors I have ever seen. Make sure you get a chance to walk the harbor at night, it is absolutely stunning. During the day the local beaches are very nice. If you are in Crete do your best to see Chania, you'll love it
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