Deciding Between Chania and Rethymno: The Complete Guide For 2025

When it comes to deciding between two major travel towns in a region, I usually know where I stand. But between Chania and Rethymno, I’m genuinely torn.

Chania feels like the obvious choice. It has the international airport, quicker access to Crete’s western must-visit places like Balos, Elafonisi, and the Samaria Gorge, and even puts Rethymno within easy day-tripping distance.

If you’re picking a hub, pick Chania. You won’t regret it.

But here’s the curveball. Rethymno’s beach stretches uninterrupted for over 7 miles, starting right from the edge of its Venetian old town.

That was rationale for splitting my time between the two. Use Chania as a base of travel and then relax in Rethymno.

What I didn’t expect was how much more there was to consider once I got there. You may be thinking you have to choose. But maybe you don’t.

Same Same, But Different…Harbor

Venetian walls. An old harbor with a lighthouse. Ottoman-influenced architecture. Cobbled lanes that twist and narrow like a riddle with cute shops selling things you want to buy, but don’t need. On the surface, Chania and Rethymno appear to be quite similar – and they are, but also not so much.

Chania’s harbor is grand. It’s easy to imagine old merchant ships returning here with cargo from far and wide, the feeling of home once the lighthouse is within reach. That lighthouse is still there, a beautiful beacon and landmark. The waterfront has been replaced with restaurants and cafes, but that energy is still there and it’s equally buzzing during the day and in the evenings.

Rethymno’s harbor is smaller and more humble. And so is the 17th century lighthouse that still stands watch. Wooden fishing boats bob in the water in front of a handful of restaurants. It feels so much more contained.

Both harbors are dramatically beautiful at sunset, but there’s more to see and do in Chania’s harbor.

Beach Access And Activities

From the old town’s eastern edge, a sandy coastline stretches more than 7.5 miles to the Venetian harbor. It’s walkable and lined with hotels, tavernas, and beach clubs where you can pay €5-10 for a sunbed and work on your tan.

This is where Rethymno clearly wins.

If you want to swim in the sea, you can go on a luxury catamaran cruise along the coast to Georgioupoli Bay.

Here is a FULL LIST OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES from rethymno.

Chania doesn’t have a beach in town, but Nea Chora is a decent city beach within walking distance. If you a car, or don’t mind the bus, you can access Agii Apostoli and Marathi.

Seitan Limania is about 45 minutes away, near the airport, and getting to this tucked away beach requires a bit of an adventurous hike, adding to the payoff at the end. There’s an option to go canyoning and rappelling through the rocky landscapes to get to the beach.

If you just want to get in the sea, there’s no shortage of activities from here.

Here is a full list of outdoor activities from Chania.

There are better beaches on Crete, but they’re definitely more remote. If you want a few days of beaching around while still being in a city, Rethymno is the better choice.

Top Day Trips From Chania Ranked

Ultimately, I think your choice of activities will influence where you want to base. Even though Chania and Rethymno are not too far apart, some places are easier to access from one or the other. Chania has better access to some of the most popular Crete activities on the western side.

1. Balos Lagoon. Crystal clear turquoise water and shallow water lagoon. Kissamos Port is 45 minutes away where you can take the cheap ferry option, fast speedboat, or a luxury catamaran cruise (what we did) to Balos and Gramvousa Island. You can also drive from Kissamos, but it’s a pretty rough road.
2. Samaria Gorge. A dramatic one way 16 km hike through a limestone gorge. Driving is not recommended unless you plan to hike 16km back where you started. Take the bus option. You finish at Agia Roumeli, take a ferry to Chora Sfakion, and take the return bus to Chania. If you plan ahead and pack light, you can combine this with a stay in Chora Sfakion before returning to Chania. This is what I’d do if I return.
3. Elafonisi Beach. Pale pink sand and clear waters. One of the best beaches on Crete. Easy to get there on a day trip with a stop in Elos.

Top Day Trips From Rethymno Ranked

Rethymno’s day trip options are more off-the-radar which means less crowd. Logistically more difficult to access, but worth it. For the adventurous, Rethymno might be a better base.

1. Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Possibly the coolest thing to do near Rethymno. Go off-path river trekking or on a canyoning expedition through this towering gorge that looks like it came straight out of Lord of the Rings.
2. Preveli Beach. A palm-fringed cove that feels like you’re in Thailand. Getting to Prevail and other beaches in this area requires both driving and short ferries. The best way is to do the inexpensive full day trip that stops at Kourtaliotiko Gorge for the falls and gives you time to swim and snorkel at Preveli Beach, Damnoni Beach and Plakias.
3. Arkadi Monastery. The oldest monastery on Crete. Combine the Arkadi Monastery with a visit to Melidoni Cave. Every Sunday, there’s a group trip that visits along with some other authentic Cretan spots. There’s also one on Wednesdays with a different company.

In Chania, it’s easier to get by without a car, but if you want to explore outside of Rethymno, it’s much better to rent a car.

Should You Rent A Car For Chania or Rethymno?

When we searched for cars from Chania airport, we found rentals for as low as €10/day with insurance, so it might be worth looking into.

In Crete, I learned the car rentals also includes free insurance, but you usually need to rent it for at least 3 days and as long as a week from some places. Keep that in mind. One day rentals are more expensive.

Except for Samaria Gorge, it would have been much more convenient and cheaper had we rented a car. One thing I regret not doing.

If you are flying in and out of the same airport and staying for longer than 3 days, I would lean towards renting a car.

Accommodations and Prices For Chania Vs Rethymno

In both towns, you’ll find charming apartments converted from centuries-old buildings down narrow alleys, and boutique hotels that belong in design magazines.

For Chania, I recommend staying in the Old Venetian Port area, which is the charming part you’re there to see and experience. You will find plenty of renovated apartments and boutique hotels that fall in the budget to mid-range prices.

For luxury stays and retreat, there are a couple of notable spots in the Old Town, but are located at nearby beaches a short drive away.

In Rethymno, the Old Town and Venetian Harbor is what you want to see, but you don’t necessarily have to stay there. You can find waterfront hotels and apartments alongthe beach for less than what you’d pay in Chania’s harbor. If you don’t have a car, stay on the western side of the beach, closer to the town.

In general, I found much better value when searching for accommodations in Rethymno over Chania.

Below’s my short list of places I considered in both as well as some options we loved but a bit over budget.

Chania Shortlist and Recommendations

1. Old Port Rooftop Apartment (Budget)*
2. Centro Storico (Budget)
3. Silde Apartments (Budget)
4. Lignum Suites (Budget)
5. Bozzali (Budget)*
6. Polixeny’s Suites (Mid-Range)
7. Veneri Boutique Suites (Mid-Range)*
8. Contessa Boutique (Mid-Range)
9. Samaria Hotel (Mid-Range)
10. Residenz Vranas Boutique (Luxury)*
11. The Tanneries (Luxury)*
12. Ambassadors Residence Boutique Hotel (Luxury)
13. Domes Zeen Chania (Luxury)
14. Noruz Chania (Luxury)
15. Chania Flair (Luxury)

Note: I linked to the site with best price. * denotes my favorites in the different price range.

Rethymno Shortlist and Recommendations

1. Savus Boutique Hotel (Budget)
2. La Montre Luxury Boutique (Budget)*
3. North Coast Seaside Suites (Budget)*
4. La Vie En Mer (Budget)
5. Phaedra Suites (Budget)
6. Dyo Beach Suites (Mid-Range)*
7. Dyo Suites (Mid-Range)*
8. Theartemis Palace (Mid-Range)
9. Amalen Suites (Luxury)*
10. Grecotel Luxe White (Luxury)

Note: I linked to the site with best price. * denotes my favorites in the different price range.

My Experience and Opinion Of Chania

It was only a 15-minute walk from the Chania bus station to our apartment in the Old Port, but I was already charmed as soon as we stepped into the narrow streets of Chania. The hanging lights overhead. People dining outdoors. The air buzzing with the sound and energy of clinking glasses and conversations. Cute boutique shops with hanging plants and color flowers pots against the stone walls. It was really that kind of ‘I’m in a Mediterranean seaside town’ feeling.

We dropped off our bags and headed out for a stroll. The alleyways opened onto a main thoroughfare alive and buzzing. It was touristy, but it didn’t matter. The harbor looked like something out of a movie. We found a little taverna, our table sharing the street with passerby’s and had a lovely dinner al fresco.

The next few days delivered on what we’d hope for. We hiked the Samaria Gorge, sailed to Balos Lagoon, and just enjoyed the slower mornings and glowing evenings in Chania. The shopfronts, the alleys where residents just set their chairs out to watch tv, and the Old Venetian Lighthouse all looked so different depending on the time of day. During golden hour, you were basically looking at a postcard.

We wanted to stay longer in Chania and wondered if splitting time with Rethymno was a mistake.

My Experience And Opinion Of Rethymno

When we arrived in Rethymno in the afternoon, the midday heat and 25-minute walk to our apartment almost made it feel that way. But the moment we stepped inside, the blast of cool AC air and a space that looked even better than the photos gave us that much-needed reset.

Right across the street was a wide stretch of sandy beach and a blue sea that seemed to got on forever in both directions. Downstairs, there was a restaurant with good prices and a little grocery market next door. Compared to Chania, it felt more open and less chaotic.

We walked back towards the town and harbor. If Chania had the shape of a round, compact filet mignon, Rethymno was more like a lamb chop with a long protruding rib bone. The waterfront stretches out with restaurants and shops before you reach the smaller harbor and cluster of alleyways behind it.

The smaller harbor has a more intimate and low-key kind of charm.

But the restaurants on the waterfront had a noticeably more upscale and commercial feel. At night, some transform into bars and full-blown clubs.

It 100% gave beach holiday vibe, for better and for worse.

And it was a bit of a gauntlet to walk past the touts trying to show you their menu. We mostly avoided these places and loved the rest of the old town, which has a more intimate vibe.

During the day, we chilled on the beach. In the evenings, we liked to wander the shops, grab an ice cream and just meander. We passed our time this way, enjoyed the place we rented, and don’t regret coming to Rethymno.

Updated on June 28, 2025