How to get around in Chania
..arriving with kids, looking around to find street signs, asking for the way to locals…..hands off from hustle and bustle………. Here is your Chania transportation guide.
As the time passes on, the distinction between being a traveler or being a tourist in a foreign country is becoming more & clearer in today’s world.
Having been an international traveler and expat myself with my family in very long time, smart phones & Wi-Fi were not an option, slowly & consistently I have created my own traveler status.
It is more about having daily experiences that you might carry back home.
Like when you are trying to communicate with people that have different culture, language, using the local means of transportation that they use, tasting the flavors they do, discovering cafés & restaurants or even watching the local sports team while trying to understand the local newspaper.
Connecting all the above with our beautiful city of Chania, we have created a handy guide of Chania Travelers’ Information; the ways to get around Chania & some local unwritten rules.
We hope that people who are looking for something beyond being around a swimming pool drinking all-inclusive beers & ouzo, will find this information useful.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN CHANIA
– Taxi
You may find several taxi terminals in Chania with plenty of vehicles available, so no worries. There might be some delays during the high season night time. The most popular taxi rides are priced on a board, just where the taxi terminal is. You’ll know in advance what you supposed to pay.
East side of the Central market, in front of 1st Chania High School
Opposite of the central Market, in front of National Bank of Greece .
1866 square, opposite of the public bus terminal
On Karaiskaki street at Kotzampasi square
– Radio Taxi Companies:
There are a couple Radio taxi companies in Chania, with good services. There is an extra service cost to cover just because of the call. During high season (July-September) make sure that you will not make last minute calls as you might be on the line waiting for an answer, for a long time.
Always ask for the estimated time of arrival & your taxi number.
Local Chania busses!!
– Local Public Busses (Blue & White colored)
This is a very popular for the locals mean of transportation, around & through Chania’s different neighborhoods. The urban busses. Some of them are old, noisy & create a lot of pollution. There are also drivers who do not speak much English and there are official reports that state, that some drivers have been unpolite.
So, come prepared!
Make sure you have your ticket ready when you get on board or some coins to buy it from the driver (alternatively, you can buy your bus tickets from the white kiosks or coin machines, if any, at the bigger bus terminals or from other random places like super markets, cigarette kiosks etc.).
Do not risk trying to get your ticket with a 20 EURO bill or bigger on the bus!
There are high chances that you will end up waiting for the next bus just because the driver hasn’t got any change left!
Big plus: there is Wi-Fi connection inside the busses.
A very popular line is the one connecting Chania City with Platanias village & every place between. This is usually a long double-bus which is super crowded during the high season months. *bus lines to the Hospital are # 17 & 24.
For full itineraries & information, visit their website: Chania Urban Bus .
– Intercity Public Busses they are green or grey colored or KTEL -for the locals
Better known as KTEL or Green Busses, these intercity busses connect Chania city with many destinations all around the island of Crete.
Routes to Heraklion, Rethymno, Georgioupoli, Apokoronas, Sfakia, Palaiochora or Kastelli are only some of the popular destinations. These busses connect Chania city with all the small villages or even carry the kids to school every day. However, during the summer season there are also busses or minibuses to famous destinations such as: Elafonissi, Falassarna or to the entrance of Samaria gorge. They keep updating their fleet & services and it is a nice way to travel on Crete.
They have an easy to navigate website: KTEL CHANIA-RETHYMNO.
– Public Chania Bicycles
A bike sharing system from the municipality of Chania, spreading the culture of pedals all around the city! New bicycle roads have been made downtown, making easier & safer, the transportation with a bicycle.
Easy to use, free for up to 3 hours of use. For instance there will be 1 EURO charge per hour till the first 24 hours of use, please keep in mind. For more, visit the webpage of Chania Municipality:
There are four bike terminals around the city. Before renting check them well before you start riding (tires, brakes etc.).
Chania Municipality Bicycle stations
1.East Terminal (Defkalion sq.)
2.West Termnial (Talos sq.)
3.Central South (Markopoulos sq.)
4.Central North (Katechaki sq.)
By presenting the most popular means of transportation in Chania, we completed our first chapter of our handy Chania Travel Information. Note that pedestrian streets in Chania city are getting bigger & spreading all the time, as a result making our city life more beautiful & accessible. As you already know, walking is the best way of moving around and discovering a city.
Car rentals in Chania, are getting more expensive every year, with limited availability & very high cost of gasoline.
