Chania Old Town Private Tour with pick up (price per group of 6)
This is a private tour with a 7-seater van for a maximum 6 guests. Will pick up from Souda port or hotels near Chania west coast.
Chania’s Old Town is being inhabited since the ancient ages of the Minoan Civilization from 5000BC. Since then it has always been a vivid place of prosperity and growth, influenced through the ages by the various cultures, Romans, Arabs, Jews, Venetians and Ottoman Turks. We will stroll through the historic alleys and see the Byzantine and the Venetian/Ottoman Walls and Fortifications, then walk through the main streets and see the emergence of history from the archeological excavations of the Minoan era to the Medieval and Recent Ages through the old buildings, the churches, the synagogues and the mosques. Also we will visit the Orthodox, the Muslim and the Jewish Quarter and explore how people lived together through times with peace or turbulence. Optionally we could have lunch in a local restaurant after the end of the tour.
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Chania Town, Chania Town, Chania Prefecture, Crete
Tour Chania old town and visit various landmarks and historic sites
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Old Venetian Harbor, Agiou Markou 8 Akti Tompazi, Chania Town, Crete 731 32 Greece
Tour Chania old town for 3 hours, visit the landmarks and historic sites.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lighthouse of Chania, Old Market near Prince Bank,, Chania Town, Crete 731 32 Greece
Chania lighthouse is the oldest light house in the Mediterranean, built in 1864. The lighthouse is the main landmark of Chania. The tower is 21m high and is built on a stone base, located at the end of the old harbour's pier opposite to the fortress of Firkas. Visitors are not allowed to enter the lighthouse. Chania lighthouse was first constructed by the Venetians around 1600, destroyed in the siege of Chania and it took its final form, in the shape of a minaret, during the Egyptian occupation. It was restored in 1996.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Firkas Fortress, Old Harbor, Chania Town, Crete 731 31 Greece
The fortress of Firkas on the northwest side of the port of Chania was constructed between 1610 and 1645 to protect the Venetian harbour entrance from raiders. The fall of the city of Chania in the hands of the Turks in 1645, meant automatically that the fortress belonged to the new conquerors. That is when it got its current name, because “Firka” in Turkish means “barrack”. On the northern side of the Firka fortress were six consecutive domes, that sheltered the large cannons, so that they would face the entrance of the harbor and face any possible attacker. The Firka Fortress was used as a prison since then and up to the Greek civil war of the 20th century. During the Ottoman rule, the Firka Fortress constituted the seat of the military governor of the city. It is the place where the Greek flag was raised, in 1913, the year of the reunion of Crete with Greece. Today, at the entrance of the Fortress is situated the Maritime Museum.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Cathedral of Eisodion tis Theotokou, Pl. Athinagora, Chania Town, Crete Greece
The Orthodox Cathedral of Chania or church of Trimartiri is situated in Halidon street. The present temple was built on the place of an older church of Virgin Mary which dated back to the 14th century. In 1645, during the Ottoman occupation, the temple was converted into a soap factory , owned by the Turkish official Moustafa Pasha Giritli. The reconstruction of the church was completed in 1860 in the style of a three aisle Basilica, and was donated by the local pasha to the local community. On the northeast side of the temple there is the high bell-tower. The church features three aisles with the central one dedicated to the Virgin Mary (celebrated on November 21st), the north aisle one dedicated to Saint Nicholas and the southern one to the Three Hierarchs.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Par. Kondilaki, Chania Town, Crete 731 31 Greece
3 euro entrance fee per person. Etz Hayyim was converted into a Synagogue in the 17th century, when the Jewish community of Chania purchased the Church of St. Catherine, an empty 15th-century Venetian church. The synagogue, which suffered serious bombardment, was abandoned after the end of World War with the perishing of the Jewish community and reopened in 1999, with the support of the World Monument Fund (WMF), in co-operation with the Central Israeli Council of Greece. Nowdays the Etz Hayyim Synagogue is the only active synagogue that has survived on the island.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hassan Pascha Mosque, Tzami Kioutsouk Chasan, Chania Town, Crete Greece
One of the first Ottoman buildings of the island is Mosque of Hasan Kucuk or Yali Tzamisi. The mosque was built in honour of Kioutsouk Hassan Pasha, the first Ottoman military commander of Chania, while the Yali Tzamisi name translates as "mosque of the sea". The building is an example of Islamic architecture Renaissance designed form an Armenian architect, dating from mid 17th century. The mosque operated as a mosque until 1923. It is a cubic building covered by a large dome supported by four stone arches, while the west and north side is surrounded by an arcade roofed with seven small domes. In the southwest corner there was a minaret from which saved only the base. Today the building operates as an exhibition for cultural events and visual art exhibitions.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Venetian Neoria, Venetian Port of Chania, Chania Town, Crete Greece
During the Venetian occupation (1204-1669) Neoria, the shipyards were built. In 1467, Venice ordered the construction of 16 shipyards. During the Turkish occupation shipyards were converted in military warehouses. Today 7 shipyards survive, entrance is not allowed as they need repair.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Minoan Excavations, Kanevarou 34, Chania 731 32, Greece
Chania is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. The Minoan civilisation dates before 3000BC and it somehow violently ended in 1250BC when there was a destructive earthquake and Tsunami. Many researches believe that the Minoan civilisation was destroyed after the eruption of Santorini volcano. At Kasteli hill archaeological excavations the foundations of buildings, streets and sewage networks can be seen. The excavations are ongoing. Kydonia was the name of Chania during the Minoan era.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Souda, Souda, Chania Prefecture, Crete
Its a shore excursion tour, pick up and return to Souda port. Souda is 20-minute drive from Chania, one way.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Municipal Market of Chania, Pl. Agoras, Chania Town, Crete 731 32 Greece
The Municipal Market of Chania, is the "heart" of the city. Its foundation started on August 14, 1911, at the place that was the main rampart of the fortification during the Venetian period, and the construction of the building was completed during the second half of 1913. The Municipal Market is cross shaped and has four doors, one in each ward, that close to provide security at the shops that are hosted there. Today at the building of the Municipal Market are hosted many shops that sell local products and souvenirs. The Municipal Market constitutes an architectural jewel for Chania and is one of the most impressive markets in Balkans.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Church of Agios Nikolaos, 1821 Square, Chania Town, Crete Greece
The church of Agios Nikolaos, which was built around 1320, during the Venetian Period, was originally a part of the monastery of the Dominican Order. It is quite special as it is equipped with a tower as well as a minaret. During the Venetian period it constituted the most important church in the city. After the predominance of the Turks in Chania the temple was turned into a mosque and was named Hiougkar Tzamisi (mosque of the Emperor), in honor of the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Its importance is highlighted by the existence of two balconies instead of one on the minaret. In 1928, after being seized by the Christians orthodox, the mosque was once again turned into a church, dedicated to Agios Nikolaos.
Duration: 5 minutes
Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Near public transportation"
"Most travelers can participate"
"You must be able to get in and get out of the car. Some places are not wheelchair accessible and we have to follow different route"
"In case of traveller's serious health problems or other medical concerns please notify us"
"This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund"
"This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"
Start Time:
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Chania Old Town Private Tour with pick up (price per group of 6)
7/31/2019 - 2/22/2025| Monday - Sunday : | 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
Duration: 4 To 5 Hours
Start location: Traveler pickup is offered
Pick up and drop off at Souda port, your accommodation or any other convenient location in the greater Chania area. Please contact us regarding your pick up place for further information
Ports
Cancellations and refunds:
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
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