13 of the Most Instagrammable Places in Chania, Crete

We adore Crete, but our first taste of the island was in Chania, so it will always hold a special place in our hearts. The city is charming, showing off its Venetian and Ottoman heritage in its architecture and its Cretan culture in its delicious food and wine. The city is simply beautiful, but there are some spots we love more than others. Here are our picks for the most Instagrammable places in Chania and the best Chania photography spots. 

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Where to Stay in Crete

The island of Crete is so big and diverse that it’s almost impossible to make everyone happy when It comes to deciding on the best areas to stay on the island. Since you will most probably be arriving at the capital, Heraklion, or spending some time in the wonderful western town of Chania, we have included here some of the top accommodations in both places. For more places to stay in Crete, check this site. Here are our top suggestions for where to stay in Crete. In most cases, budget means hotel stays for around $40 a night, mid-range is from about $50-80 per night, and luxury will cost over $100 per night. Budget: When it comes to Heraklion with a limited budget, check the great comfort of So Young Hostel. For Chania town, instead, we suggest Casa Latina, in the old town.   Mid-range: With a more generous budget, discover the comfortable Lato Annex Boutique Rooms in Heraklion and El Greco Hotel in Chania. Luxury: Want to splurge in Crete? We recommend a stay at the magnificent Artion City Boutique Hotel in Heraklion and Consolato Boutique in Chania.

The Most Instagrammable Places in Chania

From its lighthouse to its cliffside beaches to its hidden alleys, here are the most Instagrammable places in Crete. 

Old Venetian Harbor

Strolling around the harbor, the beautiful architecture unfolds in front of you. Yes, there are many important points of interest on the harbor (listed below), but when you get here don’t only get caught up in the landmarks. Enjoy the colorful architecture of the harbor front buildings, stroll along the path, and relax on one of the benches. The photos you get change depending on where you’re standing, so explore all the angles you can!

Location: Agiou Markou 8, Chania 731 32, Greece

Egyptian Lighthouse

Who doesn’t love lighthouses? Just as Rethymnon’s lighthouse is one of its most Instagrammable places, it would be crazy to come to Chania and not get a pic of this beautiful and historic landmark. Built originally in the sixteenth century by the Venetians, it was rebuilt by the Egyptians during the nineteenth century, hence it is referred to as both the Egyptian and Venetian lighthouse. 

Location: Chania 731 32, Greece

Mosque of the Janissaries

This beautiful Ottoman Mosque is located right on the water and is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. Today it’s been turned into a place for art exhibitions, but almost everyone who comes to Chania snaps a pic of it from across the water. 

Location: Chania 731 32, Greece

The Well of the Turk

This popular Chania spot is famous both for its fantastic food and for its picturesque setting. While many restaurants in Chania have beautiful table setups, gorgeous flower archways, and colorful walls, there’s something special about how the Well of the Turk mixes traditional Chania decor with an eye for the photogenic. 

Location: Sarpaki 1, Chania 731 00, Greece

Pallas Restaurant at the Harbor

While most come here for the absurdly beautiful views from the terrace, don’t miss taking a peek inside. Pallas is famous for its window that perfectly frames the lighthouse, but I think the lush decor deserves to be photographed in its own right. 

Location: Akti Tompazi, Chania 731 00, Greece

Firka Fortress

The fifteenth-century fortress of Revellino del Porto protected Chania for hundreds of years, but tourists today come mainly to explore the history and beauty of the place. From here, you can get great pics of the lighthouse framed by fortress windows, but I also love pictures of the aging fortress itself. Location: Chania 731 31, Greece

Read also: 13 Perfect Instagrammable Places in Heraklion, Crete

Bohème

This new Chania restaurant has quickly become known as one of Chania’s best brunch spots, but it’s also got great design inside and a lovely courtyard outside. Wherever you sit, you can relax and enjoy your delicious meal (after getting that perfect dinner plate or wine glass shot, obvi). Can’t you just see yourself relaxing in this courtyard with a friend and a fabulous bottle of Cretan wine?

Location: Chalidon 26, Chania 731 32, Greece

Chania Old Town

If you’re an avid photographer, you can do wonders exploring Chania’s Old Town if you give yourself enough time to get lost. There are so many different colors, textures, and secret spots to enjoy, from the main streets to the back alleys.

Read also: Your Perfect 3 Day Eastern Crete Itinerary

Just keep your eyes open and your camera in your hands, and you’ll come away with some stunning pics.

Location: Theotokopoulou 57, Chania 731 31, Greece

Seitan Limania Beach

Our favorite beach in Crete, Seitan Limania is the perfect day trip from Chania for beach lovers and photographers alike. We love it so much that Allison wrote up a full guide to visiting Seitan Limania from Chania. 

Location: Seitan limania, Greece

ABABA

An iconic bar and cafe in Chania’s Ol Town, ABABA has an artistic vibe and is a great place to relax over a beer or raki. Just bring your camera, because no one can resist snapping the gorgeous colors of this place. 

Location: Isodion 12, Chania 731 00, Greece

Agia Triada Monastery

Agia Triada, or Holy Trinity Monastery, is about thirty minutes outside of the city by car. One of the most important Orthodox sites on the island, make sure to be respectful as you take your pictures and dress appropriately for the site – this is not the place for your backless maxi dress!

Location: Moni Agias Triados ton Tzagkarolon, Akrotiri Peninsula 731 00, Greece

Ginger Concept

Inspired by tropical motifs and European design, Ginger Concepts boasts a lush-meets-linear design and pizza (or risotto) that make the trip worth it. Of course, my knees go weak at the sight of a perfect charcuterie board, so this is my idea of heaven.

Location: Sarpaki 36, Chania 731 32, Greece

Delizia Gelato Italiano

If you love to get a dreamy dessert pic, come to Delizia. Located on the harbor, it’s one of the city’s most famous dessert spots and boats an amazing location.

Location: Chalidon 13, Chania 731 32, Greece

Love photography? Check out this Chania photography tour!

If you want to take unusual pictures of Chania with a completely different vibe, check this photographic walk of the abandoned neighborhood of the tanneries at sunset. Discover the magic atmosphere of the old times, and end with a glass of local beer by the beach. Book your photo tour today!

The Most Instagrammable Hotels in Chania

While accommodations in Chania are affordable compared to many resort towns in Greece, prices can vary greatly between the high season and off-season.

Read also Where to Stay in Chania: 13 Accommodations & Hotels We Love!

We’ve broken down where to stay in Chania according to a few different budget ranges. Here is a general range of what we mean by each budget category:

• Budget: A room in a hostel, usually $15-25 USD per night for a dorm bed or under $50 for a double.
• Mid-range: Around $60-$90
• Luxury: Around $100 per night or more

Budget: For a hostel budget that still has a bit of old-world Chania charm, book a stay at the Chania Hostel. Boasting a great location just ten minutes from the center of the old part of the city, it has got that rustic Cretan look that we love about the island. 

Click here to check Chania Hostel reviews, availability, and prices.

Mid-Range: Royal Sun offers resort luxury and style at mid-range prices. With views above Chania out to the Mediterranean, it’s impossible to forget that you’re on vacation. The hotel’s whitewashed terraces and pool both make for great vacation pic spots, but also, we kind of just want to lay by the pood here forever and forget social media even exists. I’m sure you get it. 

Click here to check Royal Sun reviews, availability, and prices.

Luxury: For a relaxing and exclusive experience in Chania, stay at the Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor, which has beautiful Ottoman architecture. The pool, located in the former Turkish bath, is one of the most charming hotel pools we’ve ever seen.

Click here to check Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor reviews, availability, and prices.

We love boutique hotels, and Chania has a few great ones to pick from, so we couldn’t settle on just one! Another great option is the Alcanea Boutique Hotel which has beautiful terraces and patios in one of the best locations in all of Crete – right on the Venetian harbor! We also love how the rooms are both cozy and modern at the same time, while the building itself is the perfect representation of historic Chania architecture in the old town. It’s a perfect place to stay while exploring the city.

Click here to check Alcanea Boutique Hotel reviews, availability, and prices.

  Pro Tip: the best Chania hotels and hostels sell out early, so don’t leave this step until the last minute!

5 Things to Bring with You to Crete

If you’re planning a trip to Crete, you’ll want to pack all the normal essentials, but here are a few things we strongly recommend bringing that may not have crossed your mind. For more packing tips, check out our complete Greece packing list. – A physical guidebook, on paper on Kindle. We love Lonely Planet Greece for this region and strongly recommend it to supplement blogs. Blogs are great, but a combination of a blog and a guidebook is key to having the best access to information easily at your fingertips. – A water bottle with a filter. While generally, the tap water in Crete is drinkable, we generally recommend using a water bottle with a purifying filter to reduce your plastic consumption and ensure you won’t drink any funny-tasting water on your stomach that could make your trip unpleasant! There are places on the island where the water tastes like minerals. We recommend the GRAYL water bottle – it filters water perfectly in an instant so that you can even drink from lakes, bad taps, etc. – Motion sickness pills. Crete roads are winding, especially around the coast. If you have a weak stomach as we do, save yourself and bring some non-drowsy motion sickness pills. – Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, TP & other Balkan transit needs. Bathrooms in the Balkans tend to be… how can we say it?… not so well-stocked. Save yourself the disappointment and bring a mini-rescue pack of wet wipes & hand sanitizer. – Travel safety items. We think Crete is very safe to travel to, but at the same time, it never hurts to be prepared! Some people like to carry money belts, but neither Stephanie nor I use these. Instead, we both carry the same PacSafe anti-theft backpack. It has locking zippers, slash-proof construction with metal mesh hidden in the fabric, and tons of other smart security features — all while being cute and stylish enough to be our everyday bag. We recommend it highly for both male and female travelers, as it’s neutral enough to be unisex. We also strongly recommend travel insurance! Our recommendation is at the bottom of the post.

Crete Travel Resources

Headed to Crete? We have some great travel resources to help you with your trip. First read our guide to planning a trip to Greece, which covers visas, budgets, vaccines, and much more. We also have a Balkan currency guide that explains how money works in Greece and local tipping customs.

If you’ll be spending a few days in Chania, here is our guide to visiting Seitan Limania from Chania (which is our favorite beach in Crete). 

If you’re a dedicated Instagrammer, you’ll probably want to check out our Insta guide to Rethymnon next, and perhaps our guide to things to do in Rethymnon and the best Rethymnon hotels. If you will also be spending time in Heraklion, check out our guides to the best Instagram spots in Heraklion and the city’s best restaurants and cafes.  If this will be one of your first trips to the Greek islands, check out our massive Greek Island hopping guide as well as our recommendations for where to go in Greece and when is the best time to visit.  We publish new content about the Balkans almost every day! For more information about traveling to Greece and the Balkans, bookmark our Greece and Balkan travel pages so you can find out what’s new before your trip.

Finally, Make Sure You Come to Crete with Travel Insurance

I’m sure you’re aware that travel insurance is essential for traveling in Greece, the Balkans, or anywhere in the world! Allison and I have both been paying customers of World Nomads for the last three years. We love the peace of mind it gives us in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption.

While Crete is perfectly safe to travel around, there’s always a risk inherent in everyday travel, so it’s better to play it safe. The saying goes “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel” is true!

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Pin this Useful Instagrammable Guide to Chania, Crete, for your Next Travels!