Are you planning a trip to Crete and can’t decide whether to use Chania or Rethymno as your base? In this guide, I’ll help you make that decision by comparing both cities, as well as the wider regions around them.
I may live in Chania, but I visit Rethymno often and know both areas quite well, so I’ll try to be as objective as possible. They have a lot in common, but there are also some important differences that may make one a better fit for your trip than the other.
How far is Chania from Rethymno?
The Chania and Rethymno regions border each other, while Chania Town and Rethymno Town are around 62 kilometres apart. Driving between the two usually takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
This means that whichever one you choose as your base, you can easily visit the other, even if it is only for a day trip. You can drive there with a rental car or use the local buses, which run regularly between the two towns.
Which is easier to get to: Chania or Rethymno?
Chania has its own international airport, Chania International Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” (CHQ), around 14 kilometres from the town. There are daily direct flights to Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as seasonal flights connecting Chania with many European countries during the summer.
Chania also has the port of Souda, with regular ferry connections to Piraeus. Some services also stop in Milos, providing a connection between Crete and the Cyclades. There is another port in Kissamos, with ferry services on certain days of the week to Kythira and Gythio in the Peloponnese.
Rethymno does not have its own airport. The town is served by both Chania International Airport (CHQ), around 68 kilometres away, and Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER), around 81 kilometres away. From either airport, the journey to Rethymno usually takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes by car.
Rethymno does not have a regular ferry connection with Piraeus. During the summer, there are a few ferry services each week connecting Rethymno with Santorini. Souda Port in Chania is around an hour’s drive away, so visitors arriving in Crete by ferry from Piraeus can also use Chania as their arrival point and continue to Rethymno by road.
In short, Chania is easier to reach directly, although getting to Rethymno is not particularly difficult either.
Which is more beautiful: Chania or Rethymno?
Chania Old Town is well known far beyond Crete, and you will see photographs of it in countless travel guides. And for good reason.
Much of the Old Town is surrounded by Venetian walls and spreads around the Old Venetian Port, where you will find the Venetian shipyards and the Egyptian Lighthouse, one of Chania’s most recognisable landmarks. Narrow streets, colourful stone buildings, arches, restaurants and small souvenir shops are all part of its character.
During the busiest summer months, the Old Town attracts huge numbers of visitors who come here to walk around the harbour, eat, shop or spend the evening in one of its many bars and restaurants.
There is also a newer part of Chania, with modern buildings, apartment blocks and shops, although most visitors spend much of their time around the Old Town.
Rethymno also has a beautiful Old Town that has quite a lot in common with Chania’s, although it is more compact. You will find the same narrow streets and stone buildings, as well as a Venetian Port. It is much smaller than the one in Chania and also has an Egyptian lighthouse.
The main landmark of Rethymno Old Town is the Fortezza, which overlooks the town and has wonderful views towards the sea. Around the Old Town, you will also see many buildings and architectural details left from both the Venetian and Ottoman periods.
The newer part of Rethymno is pleasant too, despite having the apartment blocks and modern neighbourhoods you would expect from a working Cretan town. Just like in Chania, however, most visitors tend to spend more time around the Old Town.
I don’t really want to choose a “winner” here. The two towns have many similarities, with one of the main differences being that Chania feels larger while Rethymno is more compact. Have a look at some photos of both and decide which one appeals to you more.
Which has better beaches?
Some of the most famous beaches in Greece are in the Chania region.
Balos and Elafonissi share some similar characteristics, with shallow turquoise water and pale sand that takes on pink shades in certain areas because of tiny fragments of shells and other marine organisms.
There are plenty of other impressive beaches in Chania too, including Falassarna, Kedrodasos, Seitan Limania, Stavros and Glyka Nera.
Rethymno also has some very special beaches. Bali, Agios Pavlos with its sand dunes, Triopetra and Preveli are among the best known. Preveli is particularly unusual, as the beach sits next to the river and the famous palm forest.
The beaches of Chania are definitely among the places I think are worth seeing at least once. But I also have to be realistic: if you want to visit Balos or Elafonissi during the busiest summer months, you need to arrive very early in the morning. Both attract enormous crowds in high season.
Rethymno’s beaches can also get busy, but in general they tend to attract fewer visitors than the most famous beaches in Chania.
So this is one of those cases where I would think about when you are travelling and what kind of beach day you prefer. If seeing Crete’s most famous beaches is high on your list, Chania makes sense. If you prefer somewhat quieter beaches, Rethymno may suit you better.
Which is better for historical sights?
Crete is full of historical sites from very different periods, and both Chania and Rethymno have plenty to see.
In Chania, there are several important Venetian monuments, including the Venetian Port, the shipyards, Firkas Fortress and sections of the Venetian walls. You will also find Ottoman monuments such as the Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque and the two surviving minarets in the Old Town.
Archaeological remains of ancient Kydonia have also been uncovered at several points around Chania Old Town. Just outside the town is Ancient Aptera, one of the most important archaeological sites in western Crete, where you can see remains including an ancient theatre.
Rethymno has what is, in my personal opinion, the most beautiful fortress in Crete.
The Fortezza stands above the town and the sea and dates back to the 16th century. Inside its walls you can see the Ibrahim Han Mosque, which was built on the site of the former Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos, as well as powder magazines, buildings and bastions.
Around Rethymno Old Town, there are more Venetian monuments, including the Guora Gate and Rimondi Fountain, alongside Ottoman landmarks such as the Neratze Mosque and its minaret.
Outside the town, Ancient Eleutherna is another important archaeological site, where significant finds from ancient Crete have been discovered.
I think both Chania and Rethymno have more than enough to offer if history is one of your main interests. And since the towns are relatively close to one another, I would recommend exploring both if you have the time.
Which is better for hiking?
The Lefka Ori (White Mountains) stretch across western Crete, with most of the mountain range lying within the Chania region. There are more than 50 peaks rise above 2,000 metres and several impressive gorges, with Samaria Gorge being by far the best known.
For this reason, Chania is the more convenient base if hiking through gorges or heading into the White Mountains is an important part of your trip.
Rethymno, on the other hand, has the advantage of being closer to Mount Psiloritis and its summit. Overall, though, I would say Chania gives you more options if you are particularly interested in hiking and mountaineering.
Which has better nightlife?
Rethymno Town has plenty of tavernas that stay lively into the evening, some of them with live music. Along the seafront, you will also find bars playing louder music and attracting a younger crowd later at night.
For that reason, I think Rethymno is a good fit for younger travellers who want their evenings to continue after dinner.
Nightlife in Chania generally feels more relaxed. There are plenty of bars, cocktail bars and wine bars, but the atmosphere is usually less focused on partying.
I would say Chania suits travellers who are not looking for wild nightlife but like the idea of having a good dinner, going somewhere for a drink afterwards and then calling it a night.
So I wouldn’t really choose one as being “better”. It depends completely on what you want your evenings to look like.
Which is better for families with children?
Chania works very well for families, especially because there are several seaside areas close to the town, including Agioi Apostoloi, Agia Marina and Platanias.
Large parts of the Old Town have limited traffic or pedestrian streets, which makes it easier to explore on foot with children. On the other hand, it can become extremely crowded in summer, which may feel a little chaotic with younger children. Some of Chania’s most famous beaches also involve longer journeys or less straightforward access, and they can be very crowded during peak season.
Rethymno feels a little calmer. It also has one major advantage for families: a long sandy beach directly beside the town. This makes it possible to stay close to the Old Town while still having an easy beach nearby for everyday swimming.
Both Chania and Rethymno have resort areas that work very well for families. Personally, though, I think Rethymno is slightly easier for a holiday with very young children, while Chania may be a better option with older children, especially if you want to explore more of the region.
By now, I hope I’ve answered most of the questions you might have before choosing between Chania and Rethymno. Whichever one you choose as your base, try to visit the other town at least once during your trip. And if you have enough days to divide your stay between the two, even better.
Whichever area you choose, I’ve also written detailed guides to help you find the best place to stay in both Chania and Rethymno:
