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Old Venetian Harbor

Old Venetian Harbor

Old Venetian Harbor
4.5
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Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Springer114
    Herefordshire, United Kingdom590 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent to explore
    What a lovely place to spend a few days exploring the streets,buildings,alleyway’s ,restaurants,bars and small independent shops. Everywhere is very friendly and most very accessible. You can walk and explore and walk more and on the way you can refresh at so many lovely cafes and restaurants totally recommend to anyone who loves exploring city’s
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 12, 2023
  • good_ants
    Doha, Qatar660 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A quaint, cute lil' harbor!
    This harbor is a very pleasant place to stroll, grab food and/or a drink, or just gawk at the people - and other beings - that come around! There are countless places to stop for food and drink, plus some cool shops, and the alleys that flow off of the harbor are interesting. Definitely worth a visit, and you're almost certain to walk it at least once if in Chania, so enjoy!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 13, 2024
  • Travelwithliz
    Singapore1,764 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historic harbor, fun to explore
    During our stay in Chania we came here daily simply just strolling along the waterfront, or grab a bite and chill. The harbor is stunning especially at sunset or at night when the place is lit up. There are endless restaurants and cafes but I feel they are too touristy in their pricing. There are endless shopping at the many side streets. Overall, we enjoyed our times here.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 24, 2024
  • Jem
    17 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful place but please give the horse/carriage rides a miss
    Had a lovely relaxed week as a couple in Chania. The place is beautiful with amazing little buildings and quirky shops to browse around. Bars and restaurants line the harbourside which is a great place to stop and people watch. Lovely cool breeze too. We ate at Galileo restaurant along the harbour more than once as the food was good, reasonably priced and the waiters very friendly (they remembered us which was nice, not just another tourist!) The only thing that ruined things for me during my stay, was watching the horses pulling carriages around the town over and over again. These poor creatures were there everyday we went into town, no matter how hot the sun was and I guess they must have access to water but I couldn't see any?? We would not go near these things and I would encourage tourists to give them a miss. Unless they are properly regulated so horses only work certain times/shifts, I cannot see why anyone would get enjoyment from riding in these things. The horses are trotting on hard cobbled roads and I saw one carriage owner painting the hooves of his horse to cover up how shoddy they looked. We went in May which was very warm but I can't even bear the thought of what these horses have in store for them with a long hot summer up ahead. There are so many lovely things to do and see in Chania, that don't involve putting animals through stress.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 23, 2024
  • Sasha Marie
    2,021 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful must see place
    I think this was one of my favourite places in Crete. Love, love, love it here. The vibe is very calm and placid, slowing everything down as you walk along the old town stalls and markets, then leading on into the harbour. The view is stunning and gives a real cultured feel, whilst also reminding me of Game of Thrones with the sand colour walls and interesting buildings. Worth a trip here if in Crete. There are numerous restaurants and cafes close to the waters edge that won’t break the bank, however double check they accept card as a few only want cash. Also be mindful of personal belongings as there are a lot of tourists in this location and it can become heaving with people. Highly recommend.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 8, 2024
  • Jenny T
    United Kingdom5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    WOW
    What to say about Chania and Crete in general. The port is a place to stroll, eat, drink, drink, shop and romance. You can see the sunset and the sunset sun setting into the sea. One of the most beautiful places in Crete that you can simply gaze at for hours!!!!!!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 18, 2024
  • Jane N
    20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Charming Chania
    Wonderful trip into Chania from Agia Marina by bus. We looked around the Venetian Harbour, which was absolutely beautiful. Stunning scenery all along the walled harbour to the lighthouse. The whole place is buzzing and restaurants are all very busy. This is a perfect place to spend an evening, having a meal and watching all the boats in and out the harbour, horse drawn carriages for sightseeing around Chania. Definitely worth a visit as it’s really quite a special place
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 8, 2024
  • PelleasPhiladelphia
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1,118 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This harbor is not to be missed!
    The centerpiece of the old city. It’s a gorgeous area to stroll, shop and/or have a drink as the sun goes down. We recommend heading to a tavern with seats facing the harbor and enjoying a Greek spritz.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 19, 2024
  • CityGent
    East Molesey, United Kingdom305 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Harbour
    A beautiful harbour with some great restaurants around it. You do pay a bit more for the view, but, in our experience, they don't rip you off. The harbour looks different from all angles, so it is good to walk all the way round, and at different times of day with the light in different directions. It does get busy of an evening, but never too bad.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 15, 2024
  • Keith D
    Kilmaurs, United Kingdom50 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning harbour area, but think about driving
    General: Absolutely beautiful harbour and surrounding streets. We stayed in a Townhouse right next to the harbour for 2 weeks and really enjoyed the experience. The harbour is stunning and well worth spending the time walking around it and finding lots of different alleys and streets filled with a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Try the local gyros and bugatsa for cheaper but really tasty food, or the multitude of eat-in places. We will come back for sure. Driving: Warning - it does get very busy, especially at night when people come to have a sunset dinner or drinks. If you plan on hiring a car, be prepared for gridlock and spending a lot of time hunting for a parking space. There are a few car parks and on-road parking but it can take time to find a spot. We returned to Chania after day trips elsewhere a couple of times after 6/7pm and had up to an hour of driving around and around to find a spot. Consideration by other drivers and motorbike/scooter riders is poor at times. So you need to be somewhat assertive. But in the end it’s worth it to see the place, just give yourself time. Car advice: My advice is to rent the smallest car practicable for the majority of your holiday. Even if this means getting transfers to and from the airport for all your luggage and then picking up a car hire in town or close to your accommodation. That way you can fit into tighter spots. We used a Mitsubishi Space Star. Chania airport to Chania old town was around €40 for an exec E Class transfer for four people and large cases. Cheaper options might be available.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 28, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles6,636 reviews
Excellent
4,561
Very good
1,742
Average
278
Poor
37
Terrible
18

DDO
8 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
An interesting building but watch out for the miserable hag on the entry kiosk. She demanded passports for two children aged 10 and 14 even though the reduced ticket price is for those under 25’s, which they clearly are. There’s not much in it money wise so I paid for 4 adult tickets but it’s just the principle of dealing with such a miserable person. The interior exhibition was interesting nevertheless.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Keith D
Kilmaurs, UK50 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
General: Absolutely beautiful harbour and surrounding streets. We stayed in a Townhouse right next to the harbour for 2 weeks and really enjoyed the experience. The harbour is stunning and well worth spending the time walking around it and finding lots of different alleys and streets filled with a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Try the local gyros and bugatsa for cheaper but really tasty food, or the multitude of eat-in places. We will come back for sure.

Driving: Warning - it does get very busy, especially at night when people come to have a sunset dinner or drinks. If you plan on hiring a car, be prepared for gridlock and spending a lot of time hunting for a parking space. There are a few car parks and on-road parking but it can take time to find a spot. We returned to Chania after day trips elsewhere a couple of times after 6/7pm and had up to an hour of driving around and around to find a spot. Consideration by other drivers and motorbike/scooter riders is poor at times. So you need to be somewhat assertive. But in the end it’s worth it to see the place, just give yourself time.

Car advice: My advice is to rent the smallest car practicable for the majority of your holiday. Even if this means getting transfers to and from the airport for all your luggage and then picking up a car hire in town or close to your accommodation. That way you can fit into tighter spots. We used a Mitsubishi Space Star. Chania airport to Chania old town was around €40 for an exec E Class transfer for four people and large cases. Cheaper options might be available.
Written August 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Byron A
Rhondda, UK674 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
The Old Venetian Harbour is the iconic centrepiece of the beautiful city of Chania. If you are arriving by taxi you will be dropped off a short distance from the Harbour as there are no vehicles allowed in the old town. The Harbour is so picturesque and clean, surrounded by a good selection of lovely bars and restaurants where you can rest out of the sun and people watch. Behind the Bars and Restaurants are charming, narrow alleys with unique shops with local products for sale. Walk around the Harbour to the lighthouse and take in the Venetian architecture walking by the Vali Mosque and the Firka Venetian Fortress while soaking up the atmosphere. As you walk around the Harbour you’ll come across floating shops selling their produce. I found the prices of the Bars & Cafes on the front a little expensive but as you’d expect from a prime spot with a lovely view. If you don’t care for the ambiance you’ll find the prices cheaper as you move away from the tourist areas. Yes, as you’d expect it is touristy but it is a beautiful place and well worth the visit.
Written November 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jem
17 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
Had a lovely relaxed week as a couple in Chania. The place is beautiful with amazing little buildings and quirky shops to browse around. Bars and restaurants line the harbourside which is a great place to stop and people watch. Lovely cool breeze too.
We ate at Galileo restaurant along the harbour more than once as the food was good, reasonably priced and the waiters very friendly (they remembered us which was nice, not just another tourist!)
The only thing that ruined things for me during my stay, was watching the horses pulling carriages around the town over and over again. These poor creatures were there everyday we went into town, no matter how hot the sun was and I guess they must have access to water but I couldn't see any??
We would not go near these things and I would encourage tourists to give them a miss. Unless they are properly regulated so horses only work certain times/shifts, I cannot see why anyone would get enjoyment from riding in these things. The horses are trotting on hard cobbled roads and I saw one carriage owner painting the hooves of his horse to cover up how shoddy they looked.
We went in May which was very warm but I can't even bear the thought of what these horses have in store for them with a long hot summer up ahead. There are so many lovely things to do and see in Chania, that don't involve putting animals through stress.
Written May 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RandyRoss
Ridgetown, Canada12,815 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
This is a beautiful and romantic harbor. We took a buggy ride around the harbor and town with a wonderful, friendly driver and guide and stopped to enjoy the ambience (and great food) at a local waterfront cafe. There is also a lot of history displayed for all to see. Take in the The Lighthouse of Chania built by the Venetians, the Vali Mosque from the Ottoman period and the Firka Venetian Fortress.
Written December 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Catalin H
324 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
Normally I would have given three stars, because the view from the ancient sea wall is stunning, especially at night, but there are some downsides that shouldn't be overlooked.

The Venetian port gets overcrowded; there are moments, quite a few actually, when you feel suffocated by the crowds rushing around.

The whole area seems like a tourist trap; many items sold in the shops aren't related to the local culture.

There are plenty of restaurants around, but it's wise to check reviews from other tourists, especially those with three stars or less, to avoid unpleasant surprises. Most shoreline restaurants charge exorbitant prices (I once paid 45 euros for a palm-sized fish), serve frozen and reheated food (particularly seafood), and cleanliness can be an issue (we were shocked to find out we had to walk through a restaurant's kitchen to reach the restroom).

If you're keen on a sea excursion, it's better to head to one of the neighboring cities; most boats docked in the port charge very high prices (over 400 euros for a group trip of 4–5 people).

The port's highlight (the ancient sea wall) is poorly maintained and, in some spots, littered with garbage.

The last, but not the least, of the negative aspects: c'mon, people, please stop subjecting the poor horses to such a torment. There is nothing romantic or noble about strolling around the port in a carriage pulled by horses suffering from hunger, thirst and heat... not to mention the hustle and bustle of crowds, which alone is a significant source of stress for the poor animals.

Positive aspects:
Strolling on the old breakwater towards the lighthouse is really enjoyable. If you're lucky, you might even spot turtles swimming in the clear water.

PS: Be careful not to fall into the water, as some areas, covered with algae, can be very slippery, and the water is deep.
Written March 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

julie1653217
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, UK264 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
Chania Venetian harbour and old port area are lovely to wander around day or night the lighthouse and castle are all worth visiting Chania is a really nice place to visit this was out first time here and we were very impressed.
Plenty to see loads of places to eat and drink at more expensive on the port front but that's to be expected.
Easy to walk around as it's mainly flat.
Good transport to and from the airport €2 pp public bus
Each way takes about 20/30mins.
Nice walk to beaches either way from port.
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wookash Q
Wroclaw, Poland1,610 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Family
Everywhere I was reading that Rethymno is so nice and cosy in comparison to Chania that is much better and worth to see. I came with no expectations and I was really positively surprised. Plenty of restaurants along the bank and great atmosphere. Also mixture of architecture Venetian, Turkish and Jewish gives nice climate when you walk deeper from the coast. Highly recommended to spend few hours walking there!
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Springer114
Herefordshire, UK590 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
What a lovely place to spend a few days exploring the streets,buildings,alleyway’s ,restaurants,bars and small independent shops. Everywhere is very friendly and most very accessible. You can walk and explore and walk more and on the way you can refresh at so many lovely cafes and restaurants totally recommend to anyone who loves exploring city’s
Written October 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Off their P
Manchester, UK4,042 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Couples
This is the focal point of the town and is a stunning place to visit. We made a point of going there every night as you always see something new and it is often very beautiful.

History is all around you and from the Ottoman, Roman and Venetian empires each has left something special.I’m not sure that, in the future, people will look back at anything built around this time with the same amount of awe.

There is something for everyone here. Bars, restaurants and coffee shops. It can get busy so I would advise for visits to be as early in the day as possible.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Old Venetian Harbor - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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