• The Old Town (stroll in the narrow alleys, smell and taste real Chania).
• Faros (the lighthouse, landmark of Chania).
• The museums (Naval museum, Archaeological museum, Cretan Culture museum, all of them are in old town, near the old port).
• Halidon street and Trimartiry cathedral.
• The hill at Kasteli, particularly Prytania (the headquarters of the University of Crete, with the best view of the old port).
• Agora (the indoor market in the shape of cross).
• Tabakaria (an area east of Chania, by the sea, close to Halepa, where the old tanneries used to be, spooky like going back in time, full of old buildings and factories).
• Halepa (an area east of Chania, close to Tabakaria, used to be aristocratic, with the houses of Venizelos, the ex-French school and other old mansions).

Food

Gyros: Many choices.

• Time Out (at 1866 square and near the stadium).
• O Koubes.
• Giaourtoplymyra.

Restaurants: Many choices, impossible to list or say one is better than the other. Warning: fish is expensive and sometimes frozen, and most places serve mainly meat (Greeks aren’t vegetarians). Go to eat out in a village, its best option. In Chania don’t eat anywhere in front the port, only at:

• Kouzina Epe (before Splantzia square, old cookery).
• To Stahy (vegetarian-organic restaurant, opposite Pili tis Amou, Defkalionos St).
• Monastiri, (near Gyali Tzami mosque, in old town, is very expensive).
• Tamam (in old town).
• Ela (in old town).
• The Turk’s well (in old town).
• Anything around Splantzia area (east of old town, a square where there is a minaret next to a church).
• For good fish, go to the tavernas at the east of the old port.
• Thalassino Ageri (Sea Breeze, in Tabakaria area, has good fish).

There are many places to go out in winter or summer. In the islands, summer places open around June, after the Greek easter, when the weather is warm enough (more than 25 degrees celcius), and there are tourists around. At winter places close down. Summer places close at end of September, depending on the weather and tourists. Winter places open beginning of October, depending on weather. The period around middle of May and at the end of September is the ‘black hole’ of entertainment, when not many places are open and they have few people. Cafes are open all year round. Most places to go out in winter are located in Chania. Summer places are mainly located in Platanias and Agia Marina, 10km west of Chania.

Cafes (winter/summer):

• Dio Lux (in old port, near fishing boats, alternative artistic student hang-out).
• Bororo (in old port, near fishing boats next to Dio Lux, alternative relaxed bar).
• To Monastiri tou Karolou (Carolos Monastery, in old town, alternative place, have exhibitions and sometimes live Greek music).
• Steki Metanaston (close to Monastiri tou Karolou, imigrants hang-out, in Chania old town, alternative hang-out, with free lectures, classes and music).
• Gonia ton Aggelon (Angels’ corner, in old town opposite naval museum).
• Many cafes in Koum Kapi area (in Chania, just outside the old town, one next to the other, commercial and fashionable).
• Mikro Cafe (in Chania, in Koum Kapi, alternative student hang-out, make the best Greek/Turkish coffee on fire).
• Il Nostro (in Koum-Kapi, student hang-out).
• O Asotos (in Koum Kapi, cafe and meze place).
• Koukoubagia Cafe (next to Venizelos tombs, in Acrotiri, between the airport and Chania, the best view of Chania town from above, best to go there during sunset, but go early).

Bars in winter:

Many bars and clubs open only on Friday and Saturday during winter.

• Apon (plays rock-electro, opposite the municipal garden Kipos, in a basement next to Elinis cinema).
• Gravity (plays rock-electro funk, in old town, near 1866 Square, next to Senso club).
• Zero Degree (high class bar-cafe, close to 1866 square).
• Apon (opposite municipal park, out of old town).
• See U (high class bar/restaurant, in Koum Kapi).
• Il Nostro (cafe-bar, student’s hang out, Koum Kapi).
• Praxis (alternative place, rock bar, in old town),
• Spirit Lounge (alternative place, expats hang-out, in old town, close to Trimartiri cathedral next to Ababa bar).
• Ababa (alternative place, expats hang-out, in old town, close to Trimartiri cathedral, next to Spirit Lounge bar).
• Fagotto (Jazz bar, in old town, close to Naval museum).
• Byraria tou Roudi (Rudy’s Ale House, in old town, behind Neoria, the old Venetian shipyards).
• El Mondo bar (in old town, was a place where military personnel used to go, now has many ex-pats).
• Few small bars for tourists mainly concentrated near the fountain in front of the old port, but are not really recommended.

Bars in the summer:

Most bars are located between Agia Marina and Platanias villages, close to the sea. The most important is

• Mambo (at Agia Marina).

Nevertheless, there are bars virtually in every village, beach, or close to hotels. In Chania town there are:

• Synagogi (next to the old Synagoge, open air with nice vibe and music).
• Spirit Lounge (alternative place, plays various music, expats hang-out, in old town, close to Trimartiri cathedral next to Ababa bar).
• Ababa (alternative place, plays various music, expats hang-out, in old town, close to Trimartiri cathedral, next to Spirit Lounge bar).
• Byraria tou Roudi (Rudy’s Ale House, in old town, behind Neoria, the old Venitian shipyards).
• Point (in old town, near the fountain).
• El Mondo bar (in old town, was a place where military personnel used to go, now has many ex-pats).

Clubs in winter:

• My (just out of old town, near 1866 Square, play Greek pop music or skyladika).
• Senso (in old town, near 1866 Square, next to Gravity bar).
• Cosmo (restaurant-bar-club, in old town, most people are over 30’s).

Clubs in the summer:

• In Platanias and Agia Marina villages you will find many bars and clubs by or close to the sea.
• Destijl (in Agia Marina, most famous and high class, plays all sort of music).
• Mylos (in Platanias, plays mainly house music).
• Mambo (in Agia Marina, good place to start for a first drink around 24:00, more of a bar than a club).

Beach bars in summer:

• Plenty along the Agia Marina and Platanias areas.
• Ilios ke Ammos (Agia Marina).
• Okeanos (2 minutes from Ilios ke Ammos, Agia Marina).
• Neromylos (next to Mylos club, Platanias).
• Mambo (in Agia Marina, same like the club).

Greek music in winter:

• Adespoto bar ( play Rembetiko music, in old town).
• Oktaba club (play Greek music, just out of old town, near 1866 square).
• Tabakaria club (Cretan music, fashionable place in Tabakaria area).
• My club (plays mainly Greek music, near 1866 square).
• Kriti bar (plays live Cretan music, in old port, behind Neoria, the Venetian shipyards, very small place, food and drink not good quality, but music is good).

Greek music in summer:

• Bareladiko club (in Platanias, 10km west of Chania, play Greek pop-belly dancing music, very commercial).
• Kriti (in Chania old port, Cretan music, behind Neoria, the Venitian shipyards, very small place, food and drink not good quality, but music is good).
• There are plenty of feasts celebrating name days, at churches in small villages, with good food and live music. Check the local press or ask locals to find out more.