Location

The 4 star Samaria Hotel is situated on 1866 Square in the heart of Chania. Its advantageous location right in the town's commercial centre places the hotel a stone's throw from the Old Town and the Venetian Harbour, as well as just a few minutes from the main attractions, thus making it an ideal base to explore the scenic Chania Town and the surrounding areas.

Chania is admittedly one of the most beautiful towns in Greece, as it is considered a mosaic of cultures, flavours, history, mountainous and coastal landscapes. But it's the people that play the most important role in the town's developments.

Your visit in Chania will surely start and end in the Venetian Harbour, one the most beautiful places in town. However, the Old Town will too make a great impression featuring a fountain, a stonepaved square, traditional houses, the Splantzia neighbourhood and St. Nicolas church, the hill of Kastelli -the old acropolis- as well as the iconic Venetian Neoria (arsenal), some of which have been turned into cultural centers. On the other hand, the new town featuring the Municipal Gardens and the aristocratic neighbourhood of Chalepa adds its own special charm to Chania. Here, guests can visit the house of Eleftherios Venizelos. Shopping options are available in the indoor Municipal Market of Chania, as well as in Machairadika and Stivanadika, where visitors can find handmade leather goods and samples of traditional Cretan costumes. And when the night falls visitors ought to make a stop in Kum Kapi lined with a wealth of restaurants, cafes and bars. Those of you who wish to party till dawn can head to the clubs of Platanias.

In the wider region, there are endless trails that will take you to historic monasteries, ancient sites and ruins, castles, mountainous and coastal villages, plateaus and majestic canyons leading to beaches with crystal clear waters.

And now a few words about Samaria...and particularly its famous gorge!

Hikers are sure to love this top natural attraction in Crete, as it's one of the most marvellous natural lanscapes in Europe. The people of Sfakia tend to call it Faragas, meaning great gorge, to express their admiration. It's the biggest among the numerous gorges in the National Park of Samaria and hides a wild beauty that magnetizes the crowds. The trail is easy to walk and organized rest areas with fresh water are found every 2kms. In the middle of the gorge, visitors will come across the remains of the uninhabited village of Samaria with its 14th century Byzantine church of Venerable Mary of Egypt, after whom the area was allegedly named (Osia Maria-Sia Maria-Samaria). For security reasons, the gorge remains closed from October to May. The exact dates may differ depending on weather conditions.

The helpful staff at the hotel's reception can organize a day trip to this astounding gorge!