Hania
Hania is a Venetian harbor town for walking old lanes by day, and a base for the gorges and beaches of west Crete.
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Hania (also spelled Chania) is a town on Crete's northwest coast. Venetians ruled it from the 1200s until the 1600s, and their harbor still anchors the old town. Look for the arched shipyard, the lighthouse at the harbor mouth and the narrow lanes behind the waterfront. Ottoman rule later added a mosque with a minaret near the harbor, so the old town mixes both periods.
Hania works well as a base for western Crete. The Samaria Gorge, the Balos lagoon and the pink-sand beach at Elafonisi are day trips from town, and the drives are long enough that a car helps. It suits couples, drivers and travelers who want a walkable old town with easy access to nature. Spring and autumn are milder and less crowded than July and August. Plan three or four days, and more if you want to hike the gorge.
Hania in five
- Base in the old town or Nea ChoraThe old town and the Venetian harbor are the town's draw. Nea Chora, a 20-minute walk west, adds a city beach and quieter evenings.Where to stay in Hania
- Rent a car for Balos and ElafonisiBuses reach some beaches, but the far west is easier by car. Check whether your rental cover excludes unpaved roads, since the Balos track is rough.Balos and Elafonisi day trips
- Check the Samaria Gorge season and weatherThe gorge is open only in the warm months and closes in bad weather. Hikers need good shoes and an early start, and a bus or boat back from the south coast.Samaria Gorge
- Connecting through Athens? EES happens thereIf your long-haul flight lands in Athens, registration under the EES takes place at that first border. The flight to Hania is domestic and has no passport check.EES explained
- Book the overnight ferry or a flight from AthensFerries from Piraeus arrive at Souda port in the morning, and cabins fill in summer. Flights from Athens take about 45–60 minutes.Getting around Greece
Things to do in Hania
See all attractions in Hania
Need to know
- Airport
- Chania (CHQ), about 15 km east of the old town
- Getting there
- Flights from Athens and Europe; overnight ferry from Piraeus to Souda
- Getting around
- Walking in the old town; rental car for the west coast
- Best base
- Old town or Nea Chora; Platanias for resort beaches
- Time needed
- 3 days for the town; 5 with the west coast
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, showersJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Mild, showersFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Mild, flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Spring, EasterAprilClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm, gorge opensMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, gorge opens
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Warm, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, showersNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Mild, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Hania, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Hania
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 15%
Hania
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°15°15%Monday: Rain. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Tue22°14°5%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed22°15°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu18°14°22%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Fri16°12°25%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sat16°12°6%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sun17°13°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 10:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Hania, the full guide- Rethymnoabout 1 hour by road or busA smaller Venetian old town with a fortress and a long beach.Read the guide
- Samaria Gorgea full day by bus and boatThe famous walk from the plateau to the sea, in season.Read the guide
- Balos and Elafonisiabout 1.5–2 hours by car or boatA lagoon and a pink-tinged beach; go early or by sea.Read the guide
Before you go to Hania
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Hania, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors can be fingerprinted and have their photo taken at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Carry your passport or ID at all times. Police can ask to see it.
- Antiquities cannot leave Greece without an export permit. Check the customs rules on the Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue site (aade.gr) before you buy anything old.Source
Hania FAQ
How many days do you need in Hania?
Three days covers the old town, the harbor and one beach day. Five days lets you add Balos or Elafonisi and a gorge. A week works if you add the south coast villages.
Where should you stay in Hania?
The old town for atmosphere, Nea Chora for a beach with a short walk to town and Agia Marina or Platanias for resort beaches. Drivers can also base in Kalyves or villages in the hills.
Hania or Rethymno: which is better?
Hania has the prettier harbor and is better for the west coast. Rethymno is smaller and quieter, with an easier link to the center of Crete. See our guide to choosing between them.
Do you need a car in Hania?
Not for the old town and Nea Chora, which are walkable. You need a car or tours for Balos, Elafonisi, Falasarna and mountain villages, so rent for a few days if you want those.
When is the best time to visit Hania?
Late May to June and September to early October: warm sea, open gorges and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy; winter is mild but many beach businesses close.