Chania Lighthouse

A most beautiful and very popular walk in the port city Chania on Crete leads around the old port out to the historical lighthouse in the port entrance. A lighthouse was built for the safety of the ships in the Venetian port for the first time around 1600. It was destroyed around 1825 during battles for the port. At that time the Egyptians ruled Chania for a short time. Already in 1830 the new lighthouse was finished in the Arabic architectural style. This stands until today.

The lighthouse is the landmark of the city of Chania. The maximum 1-hour walk from the Venetian port to the lighthouse is popular among the locals from Crete and tourists alike. In case of high waves, one should move the corridor to the lighthouse.

Even today the lighthouse of Chania is not operated with electricity, but with torches. The light of the "Lighthouse" (English) or "Faros" (Greek) of Chania can still be seen more than 10 kilometres on the sea when the weather is good.

At night the walk out to the lighthouse is romantic. But beware, the path is very uneven. Some also go out at sunset. The lighthouse Faros is then wonderfully illuminated. During the day it is an idelaer place to photograph the old town and the harbour. One sees the beautiful city Chania from a completely different perspective.

The way to the lighthouse: If one stands in the old harbour of Chania, one goes to the right, counterclockwise, around the big harbour basin. One passes the mosque and the marina. The last part of the walk is not easy for people with walking disabilities or prams. The path is very uneven. You also have to go up and down a few steps a few times. It is better to take the lower path on the harbour side, not on the top of the wall. Sometimes it gets narrow here when people come to meet you.

You can't go up to the lighthouse of Chania itself, it's locked. Nevertheless, one has a good view to the sea and to the city, in particular to the beautiful old harbour of Chania. One goes back the same way.

Although the landmark of the second largest city on the island of Crete is only 200 years old, there are not many older lighthouses in Europe that are still in operation. The lighthouse is in a very good condition. Altogether the small walk is worthwhile in any case. Of course, one does not pay the entrance fee and there are no opening hours. The footpath to the lighthouse in the harbour of Chania is not closed at night.

The walk to the lighthouse can be combined with a visit to the Nautical Museum of Chania. The museum is divided into two parts, one part is directly on the way to the lighthouse.