Nea Chora Beach is a long sandy stretch of coastline with sunbeds, seafood tavernas, and a small fishing harbor.
It’s also the most convenient beach to visit in Chania, by far!
You can walk here in less than 10 minutes from Old Town Chania, so it’s the main town beach to spend the afternoon sunbathing or enjoying a seafood dinner on the coast.
Our apartment was right between Old Town and the Beach, so we got to know Nea Chora very well!
While it’s not hard to get to, you probably want to know what to expect before dedicating an afternoon to it. So, our goal is to give you all the information you could need about Nea Chora Beach, from its location to the best restaurants, hotels, and things to do!
Where is Nea Chora Beach?
Nea Chora Beach is located just 1 KM East of Old Town Chania, the Chania Bus Station, and other places you might be staying in Chania! There’s a trail that leads along the coast all the way from the port to Nea Chora Beach and
How to Get to Nea Chora from Old Town Chania
The best way to get to Nea Chora Beach is on foot. From Chania Old Town, you can either walk through town (via Meletiou Piga) or along the coastline.
Either way, it takes about 20 minutes, so we always prefer to take the coastal route! Along the way, you’ll pass Talos Square, many artisan street vendors, and a beautiful view of the iconic Chania Lighthouse!
No bus goes all the way to Nea Chora Beach. The bus that gets closest is Bus No. 11 & Bus No. 20, which both travel along Selinou, but it’s much easier to take a taxi.
Parking at Nea Chora Beach
Street Parking is available on the streets around Nea Chora Beach, but it can be difficult to find a spot (especially during high season). Try to get there as early as possible, but if not, then you can find other street parking or parking garages nearby!
What to Expect
Nea Chora Beach is known for its seafood taverns and has all the facilities you could need at a busy tourist beach. There are sunbeds, showers, changing stalls, restrooms, ATMs, tour agencies, and plenty of hotels.
There’s also a large pedestrian promenade with street vendors and benches overlooking the water.
You can even see Lazaretta Beach (a small offshore island) in the distance!
As with most city beaches, it is very organized, and there are often many tourists & locals hanging out in the area (especially during high season). This may be a turn-off for some people, but we found that if you go at the right time, it doesn’t feel too crowded.
Best Things to Do
City beaches are never as nice as the more remote beaches in Crete, but all things considered, we thought that Nea Chora was absolutely worth visiting. It’s a great place to step away from the city and relax by the Mediterranean Ocean!
The sand is relatively soft (some pebbles). There are sunbeds. The water is great for swimming on calm days, and the restaurants surrounding the beach are quite good!
Rent a Sunbed
Sunbathing is the main activity at Nea Chora Beach. Compared to other beaches near Chania, the sunbeds are super cheap.
You can typically rent a sunbed for €5, and that’s for unlimited time. This was so nice, considering we had just left Stavros Beach and Elafonisi Beach, where they were trying to charge upwards of €40 for a pair of sunbeds!
There are also plenty of sunbeds available, so even if it’s a bit crowded, you shouldn’t have to wait long for an opening.
Go Swimming
The water is usually calm at Nea Chora Beach, and there’s plenty of space to swim when the current is calm. Just be aware that as you enter the water, it gets deep very quickly!
Most people swim on the right side of the beach since the left side has lots of rocks on the other side.
The city has these yellow barriers in the water to show you where it’s safe to swim.
There are stalls and showers right on the beach, where you can rinse off the salt and sand and change when you’re done for the day!
Grab Seafood Dinner on the Water
One of the best parts of Nea Chora Beach is the promenade along the shore, which features seafood restaurants and local tavernas. These restaurants have outdoor seating and a view of the Mediterranean.
Some of the most popular restaurants are:
- Manos Taverna – Affordable Greek food ($$)
- KAIKI – Romantic Seafood on the harbor
- The Five Restaurant – Casual Mediterranean food
- Achilleas Fish Restaurant – Seafood restaurant with beach cabanas
If you don’t have time to sit down and have dinner on the water, most restaurants are willing to serve takeaway, so you can at least enjoy coffee or mezze on the beach!
Rent a SUP at Kladdisos Beach
If you walk just 5 minutes west of Nea Chora, the coast becomes Kladdisos Beach.
This beach is much more secluded and peaceful, but the sand is a little more ‘pebbly.’ There are very few facilities, so you’ll need to bring your own beach towel.
However, one of the few facilities is SUP n’ Blue Chania, which leads excursions across the water to Lazareta Island by SUP! It’s not a cheap excursion, but it’s available every day throughout the summer and lets you see a part of Crete that 99% of tourists never make an effort to get to!
Once you’re finished, you can relax on Kladdisos Beach away from the crowds or continue to Paralia Hrisi Akti.
Best Time to Visit
Nea Chora Beach has warm weather and sunny days all summer (May to September).
October and April are shoulder seasons in Crete, so you can still expect sunny days but cooler weather and slightly choppy water.
We also noticed that the beach gets the most sun in the afternoon and evening. During the morning, the beach is almost completely shaded by buildings.
November to March is considered off-season in Chania, so many restaurants and shops close down for the season. You can still enjoy Chania during winter, but there is a higher chance of rain and the water will be freezing!
Where to Eat
There are quite a few restaurants lining the shore of Nea Chora Beach. They definitely cater to tourists but still serve quality Greek staples, mezze (appetizers), Western options, and lots of seafood dishes.
We mentioned these places to eat in the ‘things to do,’ but here’s some more information about each restaurant!
Manos Taverna – We sat here for about 2 hours chatting over Tzatziki, Greek Salad, and sourdough bread, but they do have a bunch of other Greek/Mediterranean, and it’s all very reasonably priced.
KAIKI – This seafood restaurant is in a much more romantic setting close to the fishing harbor side of Nea Chora Beach. It offers upscale seafood dishes in a pretty sophisticated atmosphere. You also need to budget for KAIKI because the menu is definitely expensive.
The Five Restaurant – The Five is another casual option for people who want a laid-back meal. Its menu is pretty varied, with seafood, falafel, and other Mediterranean food. It’s also right at the center of Nea Chora Beach, so it has a great view of the beach and is a great place to get a quick meal while walking down the promenade.
Achilleas Fish Restaurant – Achilleas is probably the most famous restaurant at Nea Chora Beach. They serve traditional Cretan seafood dishes and are open year-round! The menu focuses heavily on fresh, local seafood, and while it’s just as expensive as KAIKI, it’s less ‘fancy’ and resembles more of a beach club. There are even private cabanas you can rent on the beach!
Where to stay
There are many hotels along Nea Chora Beach if you are looking for a great beachfront hotel that is also very close to the Venetian Old City.
In our opinion, the best place to stay in Chania is either in Old Town Chania or close to Nea Chora Beach. We stayed at a small apartment right in between the two popular tourist centers and loved that we could walk to either in 5-10 minutes!
Best Budget Hotel – Hotel Ideon
Hotel Ideon has the best budget accommodation near Nea Chora Beach. The rooms are small, but the proximity to both Nea Chora Beach and Old Town Chania is better than any budget hotel in the area. The hotel also offers free parking, free cancellation, and coffee/tea each morning!
Best Mid-Range Hotel – Maria’s House
Maria’s House is probably the best value for your dollar. It’s a 2-bedroom apartment with a balcony that literally overlooks Nea Chora Beach and the ocean! Maria is an excellent host, and guests always leave great reviews. Netflix is included in the room!
Best Luxury Apartment – Filia Luxury Apartments
If you are willing to spend a little extra, consider booking a few nights at Filia Luxury Apartments. The high-end apartment is less than a 2-minute walk from the beach and has one double bed, one sofa bed, and a kitchenette.
There’s also free parking, which is a HUGE win if you are renting a car in Chania.
Final Thoughts
Nea Chora Beach is the most popular beach in Chania, and if you’re looking for a beach that’s close enough to walk to, then this is easily your best option!
But there are more beaches in the Chania region that we would recommend checking out, too!
Most of these are 20-30 minutes by car on the Akrotiri Peninsula, such as Stavros Beach, Katholiko Beach, and Seitan Limania.
Either way, we hope that you enjoy visiting Chania as much as we did, and remember to go in the afternoon so you get plenty of sun!
