Travel Answers for Chania Crete

Elafonisi and Balos Beaches in One Day?

by Bobbi
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Hi there, we would love to see both Elafonisi Beach and Balos Beach, but we only have one day to commit to this. Is it possible to both if we get started early (departing from Chania)?

Am I trying to plan too much? They both look incredible and I thought we could spend the morning at one, visit the monastery on the way to the other and grab lunch, then the afternoon at the other beach.

In my mind it sounds doable, but realistically...I'm not sure.

We don't mind driving the rocky roads or climbing down to get into Balos. If you do think we should only do one, which one do you recommend?

We are two active adults, no kids (so that does not need to be considered).

Balos Lagoon and Falasarna Beach

Yiasas Bobbi,

Well, technically it is possible, if you start really early and take a 4WD. It would be a rush, though. Best to slow down and enjoy Crete.

Swim and lie and laze about in the most crystalline waters you have ever seen in Balos Lagoon. Allow the wind in your hair, the salt on your skin and breathe...!

We suggest hiring a 4WD and visiting Balos Lagoon, then in the afternoon visit Falasarna Beach which has many options for swimming too... there are five beautiful coves to choose from and a lovely sandy beach.

Driving from Chania to Balos is 55 km, some of which is on a dirt road. From there to Falasarna is 18 km, so your return trip will be 125 km (78 miles) and achievable comfortably in one day.

You could have lunch in Kaliviani at Gramvousa Taverna (see below) to enjoy the day and make sure you take in the ancient ruins at Falasarna, just behind the beach. If you wanted to enjoy a seaside taverna try Vasillis, Spilios or Kyma at Falasarna.

Just a little south is Sunset Fish Taverna on Sfinari Beach. This is the true Greek dining experience by the sea.

The town of Kastelli-Kissamos is on your route, it is a very small, pleasant Greek town and good for a stop for morning coffee or supplies or even dinner by the sea – go to Papadakis Taverna on the sea front for fresh caught fish.

The details on how to get to Balos Lagoon by car are on the following page.

Balos Lagoon


More information for your trip on these pages.

Gramvousa

Kastelli Kissamos

Falasarna

Chania Town

Chania Region

Hire a Vehicle in Crete


Relax at a taverna for lunch: this is Gramvousa Taverna in Kaliviani Village, just inland from Balos Lagoon and Falasarna Beach

Kalo Taxidi! Bon Voyage!

Elafonisi, Balos, Falasarna, Chania and Lake Kournas in Crete

by Marlena
(Poland)

Hi,
My friend and myself are planning to visit Crete for a 5 full days and would like to ask for the best ideas how to organize it to make the most of it :-)

We will arrive in Chania on 24th of September and leave on the 30th. We would like to see Balos Lagoon, Elafonisi and Falasarna beaches as well as Chania itself and Kournas Lake, therefore we were thinking to stay 24-28th in Kissamos and the rest in Chania.

Do you think it is a good option? Also, can you recommend the best way to Balos Lagoon? I was told that the best option is a boat, but then you miss the view...

On the other hand there is an other option - a car trip, however it is very difficult and we are unfortunately not the best driver ;-)

Any advises and tips will be very much appreciated :-)

West Crete Beaches and Lake Kournas

Hi Marlena,

We think the best idea is for you to stay in Kissamos as planned, for the first part of your trip, from there you can take the local bus to see Elafonisi and Falasarna. These will need one full day each.

You can take a boat trip from Kissamos harbour to see Balos Lagoon – it is so beautiful. You will still get the opportunity to climb up Gramvousa Islet to see the view and the old castle. This is almost a full day tour, then you will get some time to relax on the beach by Kissamos.

Then you can stay in Chania town and take the local blue bus to Georgiopoulis and then you need to take a taxi (4 km) to Kournas Lake. Georgioupolis is a lovely beach with a little white chapel, so this will be a good day out. There are tavernas for lunch at the lake or at Georgioupoulis Beach too.

Tips for accommodation in Kissamos, we suggest Defini Apartments or Argo Rooms. They are both on this page:

Kastelli Kissamos Town & Hotels...

For accommodation in Chania, we suggest you stay within the walls of the old town, to soak up the atmosphere. Try Madonna Studios, Mama Nena Charming Hotel, Alcanea Boutique Hotel or Pension Eva. If you require a more budget option, try the Hotel Helena or Diporto. If you budget does not stretch that far, stay outside the old town walls.

Chania Hotels...




Bon Voyage! Kalo Taxidi!

Hiking Samaria Gorge and Staying in Agia Roumeli

by Corrie
(Canada)

Hello, I will be travelling in Crete 28 Sept-2 Oct and would prefer not to rent a car.

I am staying in Chania for the 28 and 29 before hiking Samaria Gorge on the 30th and spending two nights in Agia Roumeli.

I would like to take a bus from Chania to the gorge, finish in Agia Roumeli, spend two nights, catch the ferry to Sougia and then take the bus back to Chania.

Is this possible? Is there a public bus or do I have to arrange for an expensive charter? The charter could not guarantee I could return with them two days later and may have to take the public bus. I really want to relax in Agia Roumeli after the hike for a few days and hear the South of Crete is gorgeous.

The other challenge is what to do with my luggage. Are there lockers in bus stations? Would the hotel in Chania hold on to my luggage for three days? It seems crazy to rent a car just to hold my luggage for me. And I wouldn't know where to park it safely while I was in Agia Roumeli.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

How to Hike the Samaria Gorge Using Local Buses and Ferries

Hi Corrie,

You can do this trip on the local buses and ferries. As you will travel in autumn and shoulder season the services may not be as frequent as they are in summer, so you are doing the right thing in checking ahead to see if this is possible.

Your itinerary will look something like this, based on summer schedules. Please note you will need to contact the bus and ferry companies directly to get autumn schedules confirmed.

Mon 29 Sep
Stay Chania

Tues 30 Sep
Best to start really early and leave plenty of time
Depart Chania on local bus on 6.15am, 7.45am or 8.45am to Omalos (start of Samaria Gorge Walk). The bus trip takes 45 mins and costs about €7.
Walk the gorge – leave plenty of time and get through it early – allow 6 hours for the walk which is 13 km
Stay Agia Roumeli
Stay Gigilos Hotel

Wed 1 Oct
Stay in Agia Roumeli or walk to Loutro 13 km and stay in Loutro

Thurs 2 Oct
Morning ferry Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion 8.30am 11.30am and 5.30 (or ferry from Loutro to Chora Sfakion). Take the local bus from Chora Sfakion to Chania. These leave at 7.00am, 11am, 1.30pm and 6.30pm (the evening bus departs after the boat from Agia Roumeli arrives). The trip takes an hour and 40 mins and costs about €8.

From Agia Roumeli, in the south of Chania prefecture, ferries link to the beautiful coastal villages of Loutro, Sfakia, also known as Chora Sfakion, Sougia, and Palaiohora and the beach at Elafonisi. Sfakia can be reached by bus from Chania. See the KTEL Bus timetables for times and routes. Services are reduced in autumn and shoulder seasons such as September and October, so you need to work out the schedule in early October please email or phone KTEL directly.

Anendyk Maritime S.A. runs three ferries on the south coast of Chania and bookings are generally not required, but which you can do from ticket offices in Agia Roumeli. Services are reduced in autumn and shoulder seasons such as September and October, so you need to work out the schedule in early October, please email or phone Anendyk directly.

When travelling in Crete by ferry, remember that the sea has the final word on all ferry and boat departures and scheduled ferries may be cancelled due to weather conditions.

We would suggest you choose a small family run hotel in Chania and email them before booking to ask them if you could please leave your luggage whilst you do the gorge and south coast trip. We are sure this will be fine and many hotels will easily accommodate this request.

See our suggestions for small hotels here, the Madonna Studios will offer wonderful friendly service and they have a luggage storage option.

Bon Voyage! Kalo Taxidi!

Bus Chania Town to Airport

by Jake
(UK)

Hi, I would like to know if you have any map with bus stops for buses going from Chania town to the Chania airport?

Bus to Chania Airport

Yes – here is a route map for the bus from Chania town to Chania Airport, Crete



The bus stops as follows:

Central Chania Bus Station is at the corner of Kydonias and Kelaidias Streets, just off 1866 Square, in the centre of Chania town, not far from the old zone.

To get to the bus stop from the old zone, walk up Chalidon Street then across 1866 Square.

Kounoupidiana – the stop is at 17 Eleftherios Venizelou Avenue just before the service station and before the corner of Aristotelous Street

Pithari - the next stop is at Pithari at 3 Ethniki Odos Aerodromeio Soudas, before the corner of Kato Horio St

Aroni – the next stop is at Aroni at Ethniki Odos Aerodromeio Soudas (opposite the pharmacy)

Pazinos – the stop is at the village of Pazinos just outside the airport

The timetables for the bus route from Chania to Chania Airport can be found on the Chania Rethymnon KTEL site e-ktel.com or on the regular Crete KTEL site. The times of the buses are in time for the flights and change depending on the season and the arriving and departing flights.

Generally there are buses from 5.00 in the morning until 11 at night and every hour or half hour during the day. It is best to check the timetables for exact times.

The fare costs around 2.30 Euro to the airport or from the airport to town, you can purchase a ticket on the bus.

To catch the bus from the airport, it is easy as the bus stop is right outside the door of the airport.


You are looking for the buses named KTEL and the sign will say XANIA.

The travel time is about 30 minutes.

See more on KTEL Crete here...

See more about Chania Airport here...

See more about Chania Town here...

The Chania region has plenty to explore...

More about Getting Around in Crete here...

The nicest part of Chania to stay in as a visitor is the old zone, there are lots of small pensions and boutique hotels here, but of course many of them are expensive. To get a real budget hotel, you might need to stay outside the old zone. Some cheaper ones inside the old town walls are 'Casa Latina' or 'Rooms 47' or you could try 'Diporto'.

Kalo Taxidi! Bon Voyage!