The Best Day Trips from Chania

With its beautiful Venetian harbour, maze-like Old Town and waterfront packed with tavernas, it’s easy to stay put in Chania. But if you fancy exploring more of Crete, there are plenty of adventures to be had right on the city’s doorstep. From swimming at candy-coloured beaches to hiking through dramatic gorges and exploring quaint fishing villages, Chania makes an ideal base for day trips.

Balos Lagoon

Balos Lagoon, on Crete’s northwest coast, is one of the most popular day trips from Chania and, once you arrive, it’s easy to see why. Clear turquoise waters meet sparkling white sands and rugged mountains rise behind, creating the most incredible setting.

When you’re not swimming in the shallow lagoon or relaxing on the soft sands, make sure you take a walk up to the Balos viewpoint for an amazing view over the lagoon.

How to get to Balos Lagoon

There are a few different ways you can reach Balos Lagoon from Chania:

Organised tour:
This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a day trip to Balos. You'll be picked up from central Chania and taken by coach to Kissamos port, a journey which takes about 1.5 hours. From there, you'll hop aboard a ferry to Balos which takes just over 1 hour. Tours usually allow plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beach, and many also stop at Gramvousa Island, a small and uninhabited island where you can visit a 16th century Venetian fortress and an old shipwreck.

Public bus:
Taking the local KTEL bus is the cheapest option. You can catch a bus from Chania Central Bus Station to Kissamos and then take the ferry from Kissamos Port to Balos.

Driving:
Although driving gives you more flexibility, the journey can be a bit difficult once you reach the Balos area. After Kaliviani, the road becomes an unpaved gravel track, followed by a 30–45 minute walk down to the beach. Bear in mind that if you have a rental car, you may not be covered for any damages on the dirt road.

Elafonisi Beach

Not only is Elafonisi Beach one of the best beaches in Crete, it’s also regularly ranked amongst the best beaches in Europe. With shallow, crystal-clear waters, it feels more like a giant swimming pool than the Mediterranean, which makes it especially appealing for families with little ones wanting to splash around safely. The sand is another reason why this beach draws visitors from all over the world, with tiny fragments of crushed shells and coral creating a unique pinky coloured hue.

How to get to Elafonisi Beach

Public bus:
The local KTEL bus is the cheapest option, but it’s not the most flexible. There is currently just one bus a day, departing Chania at 9am and returning from Elafonissi at 4pm. The journey takes around 1 hour 40 minutes, so make sure you keep an eye on the time and don’t miss the return bus.

Organised tour:
If you'd rather leave the organising to someone else, there are also coach trips from Chania. Some include hotel pick-ups too, although these are usually more expensive than travelling by public bus.

Rental car:
Hiring a car gives you the most freedom, allowing you to set off early to beat the crowds and stop wherever you like along the way. The drive from Chania takes around 1.5-2 hours, with winding roads and beautiful scenery along the route.

Samaria Gorge

Day trips from Chania aren’t all about beaches. Samaria Gorge is the perfect day trip for adventure-seekers, with limestone cliffs, natural springs and pine forests lining a 10-mile long hiking route. It's not the easiest of hikes, taking around 5-7 hours to complete, so it's best suited to more experienced walkers. Make sure you bring a light bag with water, sun cream and snacks.

Good to know: Samaria Gorge is usually open from May until October, with entry from 7am. However, it’s always worth checking the latest opening information before setting off, as extreme weather conditions can affect access.

How to get to Samaria Gorge

There are two main ways to reach Samaria Gorge from Chania:

Public bus:
You can take a bus from Chania to Xyloskalo, where the entrance to the national park and the start of the hike are located. Once you’ve made it through the gorge, the route finishes at Agia Roumeli on the coast. From here, you’ll need to catch a ferry to Chora Sfakion, where you can then take a bus back to Chania.

Organised tour:
Organised tours are the easiest and most convenient option, with many including pick-up and drop-offs from central Chania or your hotel. It means you don't have to worry about booking different transport connections and tickets yourself.

Rethymno

Crete is packed with beautiful cities, towns and villages, and Rethymno is one of the best for a day out. Sitting between Chania and Heraklion on the island’s north coast, it’s easy to explore in a day. Wander through the Old Town’s narrow, winding alleys, where colourful buildings are draped in bougainvillea, stop for a traditional Cretan lunch by the Venetian Harbour, and climb Paleokastro Hill to see the Venetian fortress and soak up the sea views.

How to get to Rethymno

Rethymno is easy to reach from Chania either by bus or car:

By public bus:
Buses depart from Chania Central Bus Station around every hour. The journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, dropping you off just a short walk from the Old Town.

By car:
You can drive from Chania to Rethymno in around 1 hour, mainly along the E75/A90 coastal highway. Parking in the Old Town is limited, so it’s best to leave your car around the edge of the centre and explore on foot.

Loutro

If you fancy a relaxing day out, a day trip to Loutro is just what you need. On the southwest coast of Crete, this whitewashed village winds around a small bay and is the perfect place to unwind. The car-free village is only accessible by foot or boat, which is all part of its charm.

There’s not a huge amount to do here, which is what makes it so appealing - indulge in a long lunch at a waterfront taverna, admire the beautiful scenery and wander along the coast to stunning coves like Glyka Nera (Sweet Water Beach) or Marmara Beach, where you can cool off with a dip in the crystal-clear waters.

How to get to Loutro

The journey to Loutro from Chania is all part of the experience, as you pass through the White Mountains on your way to the coast.

By car and ferry:
You can drive from Chania to Chora Sfakion in around 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes. Once you reach the port, you can hop on a ferry to Loutro, which takes about 20 minutes.

By bus and ferry:
During the summer, there are also buses from Chania to Chora Sfakion. From there, you can catch the ferry to Loutro.

Fancy exploring more of the Greek islands? From Chania, you can catch a ferry to Piraeus in Athens, where you can go on to explore the Cyclades, Saronics and Dodecanese islands. You can also catch direct ferries from Heraklion to islands including Santorini, Mykonos and Paros, although routes are seasonal.

Check out our Greek island-hopping guide for more inspiration, along with our Greek island day-trip, 5-day and 10-day itineraries. And the best part? You can easily book all your ferry trips through Direct Ferries.