Holiday villas in Chania, Crete
The west of the island and the widest choice we have, from a one bedroom hideaway above the old harbour to a house that sleeps twenty four, most of them a short drive from a beach worth the walk down.
103 villas in Chania
Popular areas in Chania
About villa holidays in Chania
Chania is where most people picture Crete before they arrive: a Venetian harbour you can walk end to end in an evening, mountains behind it that hold snow into May, and a west coast that keeps producing beaches people fly in specifically to see.
Our villas sit in a handful of areas that each give a different holiday. Akrotiri, the headland just past the town, is the closest thing to having both, ten minutes from dinner in the old town and ten from a quiet cove. Vamos and the villages inland from Souda hold the traditional stone houses, olive terraces and a slower pace. Kissamos and the far west, around Sfinari, put you within reach of Balos and Falasarna and a good distance from any crowd. And a few sit in the town itself, for anyone who would rather not drive.
The beaches are the reason the west fills first. Balos and Elafonisi are the photographs, both worth an early start. Falasarna takes the sunset. Seitan Limania on Akrotiri is a scramble down and a reward at the bottom. Marathi is the one to bring children to.
The airport is on Akrotiri, which means most of our villas are inside forty minutes of arrivals, and the villages in the far west closer to ninety. Hire a car. Nothing here works properly without one.
May, June, September and early October are the best weeks: warm sea, open tavernas, roads you can enjoy. July and August are hot and busy, and the larger houses go first, so plan those months well ahead.
Frequently asked
Which part of Chania should I stay in?
Akrotiri is the easy first choice, ten minutes from dinner in the old town and ten from a quiet cove. Vamos and the villages inland from Souda are stone houses and olive terraces at a slower pace. Kissamos and the far west put you near Balos and Falasarna and well away from any crowd. A few of our villas are in the town itself, which is the option that works without a car.
How far is Chania airport from the villas?
The airport sits on the Akrotiri peninsula, so most of our Chania villas are within about forty minutes of arrivals, and the ones in the far west closer to ninety. Heraklion airport is roughly two and a half hours away, which is worth knowing when a flight there looks cheaper.
Which beaches are worth the drive?
Balos and Elafonisi are the two people fly in for and both reward an early start. Falasarna is the one for sunset. Seitan Limania on Akrotiri is a steep scramble down to a narrow blue inlet. Marathi is the calm shallow one to take children to.
Do I need a car in Chania?
Yes, unless you are staying in Chania town itself. The west of the island is where the distances are, the best beaches are the ones without a bus route, and most of our villas sit in villages rather than resorts.
When is the best time to visit Chania?
May, June, September and early October: the sea is warm, the tavernas are open and the mountain roads are a pleasure to drive. July and August are the hottest and busiest weeks, and the larger houses go first, so book those well ahead.