MY CHANIA GUIDE
DISCOVER THE UNPARALLELED BEAUTY OF CHANIA
Welcome to our luxurious residences nestled in the heart of Chania’s vibrant cityscape. Our prime location offers the perfect blend of convenience and tranquility. Situated just 1.5 kilometers from the city center, our guests can easily explore the charming streets, shops, and dining establishments that Chania has to offer.
Whether you’re here for business or leisure, Odyssey Residences’ location ensures you’re never far from the beauty and culture that Chania has in abundance.
Your starting point
Explore the residences’ neighborhood by having Eleftheria (Freedom) Square as your starting point. At a walking distance of just 350m away, this pivotal square, of the urban mesh, hosts the emblematic building of the city’s Courthouse, built at the end of the 19th century, the impressive, scale, church of St Paul & St Peter right behind it and the central statue of iconic Greek politician and Greece’s first Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos. Its four axial roads lead to key areas of the modern city, while the area boasts many coffee shops, restaurants, tavernas, supermarkets, pharmacies, pastry shops, bakeries, and a bio market.
A journey through time
Turning your back to the Courthouse while facing the sea towards the North, do head towards the Chalepa neighborhood. It is a pleasant, flat and short stroll of just 1.5km, where you will find yourself in one of the most prestigious and historically significant quarters of modern Chania. Chalepa is found on the northeastern side of the city’s center and was inhabited around the end of the 19th century by the affluent population of the time, who were seeking more space and flair outside the city walls. The area showcases many neoclassical beauties of the era where many of the embassies of the Allied forces were housed. In the same area, it is worth visiting the new, ultra-modern Archaeological Museum, as well as the derelict, industrial tanneries on the northern coast, which are becoming very trendy lately. The area also boasts a long-kept secret; Kouloura cove is a natural rock formation that protects people of all ages from around the neighborhood, who wish to enjoy a refreshing and safe swim.
Adjacent to hot spots yet with its flair
Another great walk, from Eleftheria Square is again towards the north, by taking the same route towards Chalepa but right as you have reached the sea, you turn towards the West now and find yourself at Koum Kapi coastal neighborhood. The name is Turkish in origin, and it means Gate of Sand, or Sabbionara as it was originally named by the Venetians. In the old days, the Eastern Gate of the Venetian Walls, was indeed leading to a beautiful sandy beach. These days, the Koup Kapi area is a lively coastal bay where people can enjoy their strolls, wine & dine, or have a tsikoudia (a local, alcoholic drink made from distilled grapes) with meze (local savory delicacies) while enjoying the Cretan Sea. Continue your coastal walk and your next stop is the Venetian harbor and the enchanting Old Town of Chania.
The essence of Chania’s alluring charm
The area that no one is missing when visiting Chania. Either by car, bicycle, or motorbike, no means of transportation is as pleasant as walking across this flat, coastal city. There are two optional routes to lead you there; either you continue your coastal walk from Koum Kapi, or you take the northwestern axis, Papandreou Street, from Eleftheria Square and reach the Central Market. The central market, inaugurated in the early 20th century is currently under reconstruction and it is considered point zero of Chania’s center. Stroll along the pedestrian streets and the serpentine alleys of the old city that was enclosed within the Venetian walls and make a journey through time and eras via an architectural mosaic.
Discover the Ottoman district around Splantzia Square, or the Greek Orthodox district Topanas along Theotokopoulos Street, and learn about the lost Jewish community, which was once striving and cohabiting with the occupied Greeks, prior to WWII. Reach out to the sea and be prepared for a glorious site. The iconic Egyptian lighthouse facing the harbor, opposite the Yali Tzamisi Mosque, and the colorful, Venetian, two-story buildings, following the lead of the Maritime Museum on the western tip, create a carte-postal setting.
Walk along the harbor towards the East and admire the impressive Venetian shipyards (named after the ancient Greek Neoria) which have been reconstructed and regained their past glory, as well as the marina filled with sailing boats and the nautical club on the western tip. The entire area is very busy and lively, filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, tavernas, haute gastronomy dining and romantic corners.