Travel & Stay
Where to stay and what to do in Paleochora
General info
Here is some general must know info before coming to Crete:
It will be hot at about an average of 27 degrees but it can be very windy on some days so bring a light sweater for dinner so you can sit outside at all times
On very windy days it is recommended to go on one of the gorge walks or go shopping in the center as the sand can be painful at the beach. The Zephyros beach however does put up wind screens to stop as much of the sand as they can.
Parking: if you have a rental car there is free parking availability at the beach, at the harbor or at the Castello. If you are staying in the center then you can just park your car at the hotel.
Please be respectfull we love it here and would like to come back next year ;)
How to get to Paleochora
Fly into Chania
If you are planning to come straight to Paleohora then the closest nearby airport is Chania. If you want to do a road trip through Crete first then you could also fly into Heraklion.
Rent a car
We always rent cars to get from Chania to Paleochora as the car can be usefull once you are there as well (to go to different beaches or drive to different gorges or walks)
The drive is about 2 hours and depending what time you arrive we recommend a pit stop halfway in Kandanos for a drink or lunch or at Elaias Thea restaurant which has great food and beautiful views over the mountains.
Take the bus
The bus is a very cheap and effective way to get to Paleochora. Bram and I have done it a couple of times and it goes very smoothly.
The route takes about 2:30h for a total of 11 EUR.
You can buy tickets via this site or at the airport/ bus station.
You step on at the airport and then transfer to another bus in Chania city. From there it is a direct route to Paleohora.
Book a taxi
You can book a taxi for about 130 - 180 EUR depending on how large the car. I have not done this in the past but you can use this site to estimate the cost and book a ride before hand :Reliable Chania Airport Transfers (CHQ) with Transfeero
Lodging Recommendations
When it comes to hotels I cannot give a lot of feedback on experience, we always stay at the Iris and the Vienna hotel but both are located about a 15min drive from the city. However there are a lot of hotel and appartment rental options in the city which are all walking distance from the venue. Most hotels will add their availibilities for next summer starting January/ February so no worries if you are not seeing a lot of availabilities right away. There is enough space for everyone :)
Here are a couple of locations we have stayed at in the past.
Hotel Elman
We stayed here for many years, it is now a bit dated and sadly does not serve breakfast anymore but it is perfect if you want a nice and spacious room right at the beach. As for breakfast the Jette bar next door is perfect for a breakfast on the beach.
Poseidon Appartments
Klaar and I once stayed in one of the Poseidon Appartments and had a great time, they are modern and well kept. Located in the center of the city.
Libyan Princess
One of the larger hotels in the city, bit on the pricier range but they have a lovely pool and are located close to the wedding venue.
On the rocks
Located at the harbour. May look like the other side of the city but it is still only an a 8min walk from the venue.
Pal Beach or Blue Horizon
Located right at the beach with beautiful views for morning breakfast.
Restaurant Recommendations
Lunch
Zephyros
Ofcourse we are a fan of Zephyros, they have a great variety of food and are located right at the beach so if you want to eat in your beach chair or in their restaurant, all is possible. Good for both lunch and dinner
Votsalo
A breakfast and lunch bar at the harbour. It has a lovely view and delicious food.
Castello
The place to be for a club sandwich or a good lunch with a beautiful view over Paleochora beach.
Houmas
Amazing Cretan classics but also good salads, located at Houmas beach (you will need a car) Perfect if you want to spend a day at a different beach.
Jetee Bar
Want to sit in cabanas on the beach with a nice greek salad and a Mythos this is the place to be. Also fun in the evening for drinks.
Old School House
Amazing food and really good vegetarian food. They have a great variety of specialties all made with fresh ingredients. Perfect for before or after the Anidi Gorge as this is where it starts (or ends depending on which direction you walk it)
Dinner
Portofino
Great Italian food and perfect for large groups with or without reservation
Methexis
A fun restaurant away from the main harbour. Serves good classic Cretan dishes.
Taverna Grameno
The best restaurant for authentic Cretan food. However you do need a car or taxi to get there.
Odysee
A very popular italian restaurant, very good crispy pizza’s but they don’t take reservation so you may need to wait a bit.
Olaya Bistro
A recent new addition to our favorites list. An Azian-Greek fusion restaurant with a cozy outdoor garden.
Things to do
Anidri Gorge
Perfect walk for people who want to get a bit of exercise in but are not experienced walkers. Depending on the level of difficulty you want you can either start on the Anidri beach and walk up to the Old School restaurant. Or if you want it a bit easier you can start with a nice lunch at the restaurant and then walk down to the beach for a cool down plunge. The walk takes about 1 - 1:30h or can be done in 30 min (Family speed record set by Bram in case you want to try and beat it ;) )
Samaria Gorge
This is only recommended for those that are experienced hikers and have the right gear with them as well as the will to wake up at 5am in the morning to catch the bus to the starting point. This is one of the famous gorges on Crete but it is just as intense as it is beautiful.
Rent a boat
You can rent a boat at the Paleochora harbour with a driver and explore the nearby beaches for snorkeling, go to nearby towns for a drink or go up to Elafonissi. (personally I don’t recommend Elafonissi as it is really crowded and not the paradise it once was). On the way back you can enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Jetski or other sea activities
On Paleochora beach you can rent jetski’s, go waterboarding or get on a banana.
Shopping or get your nails done
Paleochora center has a lot of nice boutique shops for jewelry, clothing and souvenirs. They also have a nail salon where you can get your nails done or get your feet cleaned by small fish.