Overview

Chania is a town in western Crete. The town is the former capital city of Crete (from 1847 until 1972). It's most famous attraction is its Old Venetian Harbour (see separate review). It has a mainly pedestrian old town as well as a modern city centre.

Transport & Parking

Chania has its own airport. I had a very positive experience with special assistance arriving but on the way back they only took me as far as the gate in a wheelchair. When I asked where my support was they said that I had told them I could so stairs and they had taken me via wheelchair to the gate and only offered me the regular shuttle bus. I then had to walk down the stairs and join the speedy boarders on the shuttle and disembark. It was only after one of the other passengers complained that someone came to help me up the airplane steps. From the airport there are buses. However I took a taxi which took about 20 minutes and cost 25 euros, each way (March 2018). The taxi took me directly to my hotel and from there I was able to walk round the harbour and town centre.

Access

I was very pleasantly surprised. The Old Harbour and Old Town are adjacent to each other and the area is quite compact for a town centre. Old Venetian Harbour (see separate review) The harbour is very picturesque and romantic. It is flat and pedestrianised. Maritime Museum of Crete (see separate review) On the waterfront, fascinating display but limited accessibility. Old Town This is immediately behind is very charming and worth exploring the harbour and it consists of quite narrow, pedestrianised streets. In these streets are restaurants, café and tourist shops. From the harbour the roads slope upwards. the steepness of which depends on which roads you go down. I found Halidon, one of the main streets, wasn't too steep. In the Old Town is the Archaeology Museum (see separate review) which is step free. Also in the Old Town is Cathedral of Eisodion Tis Theotokou, a Greek Orthodox church, which is ornately decorated and is accessible via a ramp. The restaurants in the harbour and Old Town tend to have step free outdoor seat and indoor seating which usually involves one or two stairs without a handrail to enter. Modern Town Centre The Town Centre has lots of drop curbs. It's a busy modern town centre and where the bus station is located. There is a public market, which has food and gift stalls and a few cafes. It has a step free main entrance and there are small ramps into many of the individual shops. Public Gardens Still in the town centre but a little further out. The entrance I used had steps but I think there are other entrances which are step free, but you would need to check. In the Gardens are some swans and ducks. There is also the Kipos Café, part of the café is step free but the historic/ quirky part would involve 4 -5 steps. The café specialises in waffles.

Toilets

On Zampeliou, the street running parallel to the harbour I found a free public step free, accessible toilet with a single grab rail. If you exit the harbour at El Venizelou Square and turn into the side street next to Star Bucks, and then at the first left side turn you will find the public toilets on the corner. The toilets were clean. Since returning I saw on tripadvisor that someone had posted a photo of the front of another block of public toilets which are near to the Giali Tzamissi mosque and they have an accessible ramp and accessible toilet sign, however I didn't use these during my visit. There is also an accessible toilet in the Arachnology Museum (see separate review) but there is an admission charge. I didn't notice any in the restaurants I visited.

Staff

Overall I found people to be friendly and welcoming.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Chania is an ideal town to be based if you want a pottering around type of holiday, taking in a museum/ gallery/ church or two or three and enjoy eating out. There's lots of nice places to eat with step free outdoor seating. I enjoyed: Chrisostomos (Defkalionos ke Ikarou) is a small traditional taverna which serves delicious Cretan food, including fish and vegetarian dishes. They serve delicious home made bread. Step into main restaurant. Tamam (Zampeliou 49) in a narrow street in the Old Town. It stood out from the other places as people were queuing to get a table. The indoor part has a few steps or there's the option to sit outside. the food is excellent and they serve enormous individual cheesecakes. Boheme (26-28, Chalidon) is a charming, hidden away restaurant with courtyard, at night the garden is illuminated. Nice place for drinks or food. Salis (Akti Enoseos 3) waterfront restaurant on the Venetian Old Harbour, excellent quality food. Pasteleria de Dana (40, Isodion 2) wonderful cake place is tucked away in a little alleyway just off the cathedral square. There is an overwhelming selection of cake from traditional Greek desserts to French pastries. I stayed at the Porto Veneziano Hotel (separate review) on the Old Harbour with its accessible room with walk in shower was great, both in terms of facilities and location as I was never very far from anywhere.

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