Balos Lagoon
Balos Lagoon is a shallow turquoise lagoon on the Gramvousa peninsula, one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. Reachable by boat from Kissamos (paid, seasonal) or by dirt road and a 20-minute hike down.
Gorge in Chania
Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is a 16-kilometer hiking trail through Europe’s longest gorge, running from the Omalos plateau down to the Libyan Sea at Agia Roumeli. Entry is paid at a modest price. The gorge narrows to just 3 meters wide at the “Iron Gates.” The hike takes 5-7 hours downhill. A ferry from Agia Roumeli to Hora Sfakion (cheap) connects to buses back to Chania. Budget travelers take the early bus from Chania to Omalos and hike one of the most dramatic gorges in Europe for the price of a park ticket and a ferry ride.
Practical
Before you go
- Address
- Samaria Gorge, Municipality of Sfakia
- Good to know
Nearby
More in Chania
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Chania Old Harbor
The Venetian Harbor of Chania is a horseshoe-shaped waterfront of pastel-colored buildings, a Venetian lighthouse, and a former mosque, all surrounding a calm inner harbor. Free to walk.
Chania Venetian Quarter
The Venetian Quarter (Topanas) is the old neighborhood behind the harbor, a maze of narrow alleys, Ottoman and Venetian buildings, leather shops, and small restaurants. Free to wander.
Working out what Chania costs?
The whole of Chania