Chania<\/strong><\/a> is enthralling from the very first moment you set foot in the city. The scent of grilled fish, the sounds of clinking glasses full of raki, a local tipple, the flavor of their very own version of a cheese pie, the view to the lighthouse in the old harbor and the locals who will take you by the hand and whisk you off into their dance are but a few of the magic moments you will live once you are on the island.<\/p>\nAnd yet, a lot of the charm of Chania can also be found beyond the city limits. It is there in the exotic beaches of Balos<\/strong> and Falasarna<\/strong> as well as those of Agia Marina<\/strong> and Platanias<\/strong>; in the turquoise waters of Loutro<\/strong>; in enthralling Elafonisi<\/strong> and the famous, verdant Samaria Gorge<\/strong>. It cries out from the peaks of the Lefka Ori,<\/strong> the White Mountains, the monastery of Panagia Odigitria<\/strong> as well as the Art & Crafts village in Souda.<\/p>\nScratching your head about how to cram all this into one weekend?<\/p>\n
Some words of advice if you find yourself in Chania with a couple of days to spare\u2026<\/p>\n
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Balos<\/strong><\/p>\nStart your day with a dive into the waters of one of the best beaches in Greece. About 50 km from Chania by car, Balos is well hidden at the northwest end of Crete, a wonderful surprise poised to sweep you off your feet. The feeling you will experience as soon as you see this particular beach from up high can only be described in one word: WOW!<\/p>\n
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