The first walk which you should do in Chania, is visiting the Venetian harbour which was used for commerce and also to control the sea of Crete against pirates. The Venetian harbor was built by the Venetians between 1320 and 1356 and had room for 40 galleys but it constantly sited up and was never very deep, so it kept having to be dredged, a difficult job with the equipment of the time. If you see the north side of the harbour, you will find a breakwater which the harbor protected from that. Near the middle of this, is a small bulwark like a gun emplacement and the tiny chapel of Saint Nikolas where the Venetians and Turks executed condemned prisoners. Here you can see that the city of Chania has an also huge story which never ends. Anyway, let’s talk about the Venetian harbor in our days! Today, the harbor offers moorage for fishing boats and of course other small crafts.

Lighthouse of the port of Chania is one of the most picturesque and amazing views of this city. The lighthouse always fascinates visitors and, some things of its history, the lighthouse was built at the harbor entrance by the Venetians and restored in its present form by the Egyptians.

If you are facing the sea, to the right (east) of Eleftherios Venizelos Square is Kastelli Hill, the area of Chania which was first inhabited in the Neolithic period and the site of the Minoan city of Cydonia. On your right there is also the Turkish mosque and, past it, the shipyards where the Venetians repaired their galleys. On your left you can see Firkas Fortress, with the Maritime Museum of Crete next to it.

Of course, do not forget that you are able to have your romantic lunch or dinner at the several restaurants and tavernas by the sea with their amazing view and also, you can have your coffee at the cafes with a view of the lighthouse. When the night falls, the harbor remains busy and the glimmer of the lighthouse reflected in the dark waters charms every visitor. The dark is magical there because it is something like magic for your eyes, soul and of course, your nose! Really, the ouzo shops and the tavernas having amazing smells when they prepare the food of the day! You will create unforgettable memories and images on your mind!

Something else for Chania is the Maritime Museum which includes models of various vessels, wreck finds, documents on the Greek Navy, navigational instruments, audiovisual material and, of course, a library of maritime books. Maritime Museum also includes important researches such as the reconstruction of the Minoan ship by scientists of the Ancient Shipbuilding and technology research institute. The Maritime Museum of Chania, Crete, housed in Forks fortress. If you want to find it, look for the huge anchor just outside the building!

Anywhere in Greece, you will find Archaeological Museums. Chania’s history dates millennia back around 2200 BC, when the Minoans founded the ancient city - state of Kydonia on this same spot. Archaeological Museum housed in the Gothic Church of San Francesco, a sight and airy vaulted space, which is built by the Venetians and later used as a mosque by Turks. You can find there many archaeological finds from Western Crete which are dating from the Neolithic times through to the Roman era. The archaeological museum, also, includes a wealth of Minoan ceramics, painted burial urns, gold jewelry, and clay tablets with inscriptions. Finally, other exhibits which are include at the Museum are peculiar clay figurines of bird-faced women, votive ceramic bulls, a third-century Roman mosaic floor and, of course, an impressive marble bust of Roman Emperor Hadrian.

There are many interesting places in Chania, like the previous sights which you already read. Also, worth noting sights, are the Botanic Park & Gardens of Crete which are warm, with sunny climate and rich fertile soils like Crete olives and grapes and even farms tropical fruits such as avocados and bananas. At the Botanic Park & Gardens, you can find exotic flowers and fruit trees from all over the world. Also, there are plenty of fragrant herbs such as sage, mint and thyme. Original greek smells, right? If you want to stay there, without walking, just to watch the view and feel the smells of the Botanic Park, you are able to stay at the coffee - restaurant which is serving traditional Cretan dishes prepared from the park’s own seasonal products.

Secret thing to do in Chania: Learn to cook real Cretan food. If you are a “master chef” and you want to learn how traditional Cretan food is prepared, you are able to cook in the kitchen of one of Chania’s locals, who are always willing to show you their culinary secrets!