Chania With Kids: Which Boat Trips and Tours Work, and the Age Rules on the Booking Pages
Updated October 8, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer: for most families the best first outing in Chania is a short boat trip from the old port, because it is cheap, close and short enough for a child’s patience. The glass-bottom boat at €45 is the one aimed at children. Beyond that, the age rules differ a lot between tours, and the only place they are written down is the booking page. We list what those pages say and where they say nothing.
The boat trips from the old port
The glass-bottom boat cruise to Thodorou and Lazareta is €45 for 3.5 hours, with 4.8 stars from 330 reviews. The description says the captain looks after the children in particular, fetching starfish and octopus to show them, and one reviewer wrote that their kids loved it. The page lists people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users as groups it is not suitable for.
The short options are cheaper. The sunset boat cruise with a guide is €20 for 75 minutes, and the boat trip to Lazaretta with a swim stop is €19 for 2 hours; both have 4.9 stars. Their pages list pregnant women among those excluded and name no age limit. In our view, 75 minutes is the length to try first with a child who has not been on a boat before.
The two catamarans from the old port both mention children. The sunset catamaran cruise at €74.80 lists chicken bao buns prepared for children and a box of toys on request. The all-inclusive catamaran trip at €126.15 says its menu is adapted for children, and has the same toys. Both list life jackets and an onboard toilet. Both also carry a note from the operator: if you are travelling with a child under 2, are prone to seasickness or have health issues, check the forecast and speak to the crew before you go.
The small-group sailing yacht at €75 is the awkward one for families with a baby: it does not allow non-folding strollers, and it starts in Kolymvari, not Chania. Our guide to that trip has the details.
Seasickness
Several of these pages list people prone to seasickness among those the trip is not suitable for. For what to do about it with a child, ask a pharmacist or your paediatrician before the trip; we do not recommend any remedy. What needs no medicine is to choose a short trip in calm weather and a morning departure, and to see how the first one goes.
Indoors, on a hot day
The semi-submarine trip is 35 minutes and €22, with space for up to 12 passengers, and the page says it suits children and adults. Its rating is 3.4 stars from 195 reviews, lower than the others, and a reviewer warned that it was very hot inside even with air conditioning. Look at the recent comments before you book in July or August.
The Minoan World 9D experience is a 45-minute 3D museum and cinema at €18, with 4.1 stars from 169 reviews. A reviewer said it was a good way to get out of the heat and do something just for kids, and added that the special effects are a little dated. The page lists children under 3 as not suitable.
Off-road with children
The buggy safari with olive mill and ghost village is €65 for 3.5 hours, with 4.9 stars from 1,434 reviews. The page says passengers are welcome from age 4, drivers must be 18 with a licence held for at least a year, and it lists children under 3 and pregnant women as not suitable. The Balos jeep safari is €49 for 6 hours. Babies under 1 year are listed as not suitable, and children up to 3 travel free but must sit on a parent’s lap. Tell the operator in advance. More are on the jeep and buggy tours page.
Walks and days that are too long
The old town storytelling walk lists children under 18 among those it is not suitable for, which surprises people, so check a walking tour before you assume it will take the family. Our guide to the old town tours has the list.
The long days are the poor fit for small children: the Samaria, Balos and Elafonissi tours run from about 6 hours to a full day, with a coach in each direction. The one that works best with young children is Elafonissi, where travel guides describe shallow, warm water, but the day is still long and exposed to heat; our Elafonissi guide compares going by tour and by car. For Samaria, see the Samaria guide and the shorter Imbros gorge before you decide.
Which one
| Trip | Time | Price | Rating | The family detail on the page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass-bottom boat | 3.5 hours | €45 | 4.8 (330) | captain looks after the children |
| Sunset cruise | 75 min | €20 | 4.9 (995) | short; no age limit stated |
| Sunset catamaran | 3.5-4.5 hours | €74.80 | 4.9 (399) | children’s food, toys on request |
| Buggy safari | 3.5 hours | €65 | 4.9 (1,434) | passengers from age 4 |
Our pick
Start with the glass-bottom boat or the 75-minute sunset cruise, and keep the long coach days for when your children are older or you have a good reason. For everything not on this page, the things to do in Chania and boat trips pages list what is offered; always check the participation terms on the booking page for the age rule that applies on your date.
