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Last minute switch -- Santorini to Chania

Posted by on

Finally decided I didn't have the stomach to keep my late-March plans in Santorini. It took me a while to pull the trigger, as I am not sure that Santorini will be at the top of my list for a return trip. As Chania is not covered in Rick's book, I am looking for any or all of the following:

  1. good guidebook
  2. general travel tips (like best way to take a private car/taxi from airport to old town, best way to get around in general without a rental)
  3. tour guide -- recs and/or whether needed at all
  4. hotel rec. I have a reservation at Casa Delfino bc my sister stayed there ten years ago and liked it. Am currently researching others.
  5. restaurants that will be open that time of year, especially if seafood-oriented. Pricey is fine!
  6. I have basically a day and a half. I will figure out the obvious things to do, but if there is anything more unusual that is attainable without a car, happy to hear about it.

Sorry if this seems like a low-effort post. I promise I am busily researching. I don't expect anyone to write me a novel, but if anything quickly comes to mind for any of these topics, please feel free to share!

Posted by
2208 posts

We have twice stayed at Elia Palazzo hotel, right on Theotokopoulou Street. It's a charming pedestrian street with shops, cafes and restaurants. Ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the street. I'm not familiar with Casa Delfino but it appears to be nearby.

Since taxis can't drive on Theotokopoulou, if you get a hotel on this street, I would suggest having the hotel arrange the airport transfer for you -- so the driver will be happy to point you to the hotel when he drops you off a block or so away.

Chania is a lovely place to just wander, but if you'd like, you can arrange a tour (a winery? the archeological site of Aptera?) for part of your full day there.

As for restaurants, here's what I just posted for another traveller:

We enjoyed a seafood dinner by the sea at Kertos in Neo Chora. but our favorite restaurant in Chania is Colombo's. Our worst meal in Chania was at Tamam's, which is highly recommended by some but we found both food and service lacking on our last visit in May 2024. You can check the websites to see if they're open in March.

I'm sorry you're missing Santorini but I think Chania is a great second choice.

Posted by
15806 posts

I loved Chania and would go back in a heartbeat. However, before I answer your questions, I have one of my own. How will you get there (from where) and leave (to where)? I just remember it taking a lot of time - I flew into Heraklion and ferried out of Heraklion.

  1. I was there for 5 nights. I used the Rough Guide to the Greek Isles. It was very useful, but for a day and a half, maybe just internet research is enough. There are a lot of sights, but I liked wandering the cobbled ways and exploring the shops most of all.
  2. Check with the hotel how close a car can get. My hotel wasn't far from yours and the area was almost entirely off-limits to vehicles.
  3. I didn't use one. I loved just wandering and the Rough Guide was a big help.
  4. I stayed at Hotel Elia Palatino. It was fine.
  5. There was a good restaurant just a few doors down on Zamoeliou St As near as I can tell, it's right around the corner from your hotel. There are plenty of places along the Venetian Harbour where you can enjoy a late afternoon aperitif and a nosh. Tons of seafood restaurants all along the waterfront - all seemed to be very similar.
Posted by
213 posts

@Chani. Thank you! I won’t have a car - I believe the hotel meets you with a golf cart. I won’t even have much luggage. I arranged to leave the suitcases at the Athens hotel so we will just have overnight bags.

I am really looking forward to this, however abbreviated it may be.

Posted by
1515 posts

Good responses so far. You really do not need a guide book to visit Chania for a day and a half. Your hotel is in the old town within the city wall where you will be spending all your time. Chania has a large permanent population shops and tavernas in the old town will be active in March.

You can easily get a taxi from the airport to the bottom of Theotokopolouo street where you can walk to your hotel.
Here are some images of old town.
Chania 2024 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720318408008/

Theotokopouluo Street https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632118491316

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