Guides & tips
Plan your trip like a local
Honest answers to the questions travellers ask us most.
Balos and Gramvousa: Boat from Kissamos, Jeep Track or Catamaran – Which Way Suits Whom
Balos Lagoon is reached by boat, by 4x4 or on your own wheels, and the price gap between the options comes down to what is included. Six ways compared, from the €19 coach with the boat ticket extra to the sunset catamaran.
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Boat Trips from Chania's Old Port: Sunset, Swim Stop, Sailing and Snorkelling Compared
From a 75-minute sunset cruise at €20 to a small-group sailing day with a meal at €75: ten boat and water trips around Chania compared, and the ones that do not actually start at the Venetian harbour.
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Chania With Kids: Which Boat Trips and Tours Work, and the Age Rules on the Booking Pages
Short boat trips from €19, catamarans with a children's menu, a 35-minute semi-submarine, a buggy safari from age 4 and the tours that exclude small children. What the booking pages actually say about ages, strollers and seasickness, and which days are too long.
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Cooking Class in the White Mountains: What the €110 Evening Is Really Like and Which Class to Pick
A six-hour class in a mountain family home with pickup, dinner and wine at €110, a four-hour class in Chania at the same price, a sourdough class at €90 and a short olive mill visit at €42. What each one includes, how long the evening runs, and who should skip the long one.
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Elafonissi Pink Beach: Day Tour or Rental Car, and the Hours That Make the Difference
Elafonissi is about 76 km and an hour and a half to two hours from Chania, free to enter and busiest in the middle of the day. What a day tour really gives you, what driving yourself costs, and why the pink is subtler than the photos.
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Imbros Gorge: The Shorter Alternative to Samaria, and Which Tour to Book
About half the length of Samaria, no ferry and a few euros at the gate. What the Imbros walk is like, how it compares with Samaria, and four guided tours from Chania compared on price, length and what the day ends with.
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Chania Old Town on Foot: The €90 Street Food Tour Against the Cheaper Walks
A four-hour guided walk with street food tastings at €90, a two-hour storytelling walk at €35 and five other guided options from €53 to €100. What you see in the Venetian harbour and the old streets, what each tour includes, who is excluded, and when to walk it yourself.
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Olive Oil, Wine, Cheese and Honey Around Chania: Which Tasting Tour Is Worth It
A seven-hour all-round tasting day at €42, a six-hour wine-and-oil tour at €120 and shorter village tastings from €30. What the descriptions actually promise, how to read the price gap, and why a tour beats driving after the wine.
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Sailing to Agioi Theodoroi: The €75 Small-Group Yacht, Where It Really Starts and How It Compares
A yacht with at most 14 guests, a five-hour day with lunch and unlimited drinks at €75, starting at Kolymvari rather than Chania. Who it does not suit, what the booking page says about weather and ID, and how it compares with the €38 cruise and the two catamarans from the old port.
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Samaria Gorge from Chania: Guided Tour, Ferry Back and How Fit You Really Need to Be
Sixteen kilometres down to the sea, a ferry you cannot skip and a day that starts before dawn. What the guided Samaria tours from Chania include, what to check before booking, and who should choose a shorter gorge instead.
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