6+1 Amazing Beaches in Chania You Can Easily Visit by Car
August 28, 2026
Chania is a great place to explore by car. Within a short drive from the city, you can visit beautiful beaches, traditional villages, mountain areas and some of the most interesting places in western Crete.
Exploring Chania by car gives you the chance to plan your day the way you want, make stops along the route and discover places that are harder to reach without a car.
If you are planning to hire a car in Chania, here are five great day trips to add to your holiday.
Falassarna is one of the easiest recommendations for anyone looking for a memorable day trip from Chania.
Located on the western coast of Crete, Falassarna is famous for its wide sandy coastline, crystal-clear water and impressive open views towards the Mediterranean. There are several beach areas to choose from, making it easy to find anything from organised sections with sunbeds to quieter spots.
But the beach itself is only part of the experience.
Driving west from Chania takes you past coastal villages before continuing towards Kissamos and the increasingly open landscapes of western Crete. As you approach Falassarna, the road starts descending towards the coast and offers beautiful views of the sea below.
Spend the morning swimming and relaxing, enjoy lunch at one of the local tavernas and, if your schedule allows, stay until later in the afternoon. Falassarna’s west-facing position also makes it one of the most popular places around Chania for watching the sunset.
Having a rental car makes this trip especially convenient because you decide when to arrive and, more importantly, when you want to leave.
Local tip: Check the wind forecast before setting off. Falassarna is exposed to western winds, and a particularly windy day can completely change the beach experience.
For something completely different from the beaches of western Crete, drive east from Chania towards Lake Kournas and Georgioupolis.
Lake Kournas is Crete’s only natural freshwater lake and offers a peaceful change of scenery from the island’s coastline. Surrounded by hills and vegetation, it is a relaxing place to spend the first part of your day.
Arrive in the morning, walk around the accessible parts of the shore, stop for a coffee or rent a pedal boat and explore the lake from the water. Depending on the season and water level, the shoreline can look quite different throughout the year.
From Lake Kournas, continue towards Georgioupolis, one of the best-known seaside villages between Chania and Rethymno.
Here you can walk around the village, stop for lunch or spend a few hours on its long sandy beach. One of the most recognisable sights is the small chapel of Agios Nikolaos, reached by a stone path extending out into the sea.
This is an excellent choice for families and travellers looking for an easy-going day. It also demonstrates one of the biggest advantages of exploring Chania by car: within the same trip, you can move from a freshwater lake surrounded by hills to the Cretan Sea in only a short drive.
One of the best ways to understand the diversity of western Crete is to drive from Chania all the way to the southern coast.
Paleochora is a relaxed seaside town facing the Libyan Sea and makes an excellent destination for a full-day road trip. The journey itself is part of the experience, taking you away from the busy northern coastline and through the mountainous interior of Chania.
As the scenery changes, you begin to see a completely different side of Crete: smaller villages, mountain landscapes and roads that gradually lead towards the island’s southern coastline.
Once you arrive in Paleochora, there is no need for a complicated itinerary.
Park the car and explore the town on foot. Walk through its streets, choose between beaches on either side of the peninsula and find a local taverna for a relaxed lunch. Paleochora has a laid-back atmosphere that feels noticeably different from Chania and the larger resorts along the northern coast.
If you rent a car in Chania because you want to see more than the usual tourist areas, Paleochora should be high on your list. Explore our car rental options and choose a vehicle that fits the type of road trips you are planning during your stay.
It is far enough away to feel like a proper road trip while still being manageable as a day excursion.
Tip: Do not rush the drive. Some sections of the route are winding, so allow enough time and enjoy the changing mountain scenery along the way.
Elafonissi deserves its reputation as one of the most famous places in western Crete, but travelling with your own car allows you to turn the journey into much more than a simple beach visit.
Instead of driving directly to Elafonissi and back, make a full day of it by combining Chryssoskalitissa Monastery, Elafonissi and Kedrodasos.
Start with Chryssoskalitissa Monastery, dramatically positioned on a rocky hill overlooking the sea. The monastery is located shortly before Elafonissi and makes an excellent cultural stop before continuing towards the coast.
Then head to Elafonissi, famous for its shallow turquoise water, pale sand and unique coastal landscape. It is one of Crete’s most recognisable destinations, so arriving relatively early is a good idea, particularly during the busy summer months.
Remember that Elafonissi is also an environmentally sensitive area. Respect the dunes and protected vegetation, stay on designated paths where available and, of course, never remove sand or shells from the beach.
If you prefer a quieter and wilder setting, continue towards Kedrodasos. Its clear water, sandy coves and distinctive coastal juniper trees create a completely different atmosphere from busy Elafonissi.
However, Kedrodasos is largely untouched and does not have a canteen, beach bars or the facilities you would find at an organised beach. If you decide to visit, bring plenty of water, snacks and anything else you may need during your stay.
Alternatively, you do not have to include Kedrodasos at all.
After visiting Elafonissi and Chryssoskalitissa, you can begin the drive back towards Chania and stop in Elos or another traditional village along the route for lunch. Elos is a particularly pleasant option if you would rather sit down for a relaxed meal and try traditional Cretan dishes before continuing your journey.
This flexibility is one of the best parts of travelling with your own car. You can combine the famous Elafonissi with a secluded natural beach or turn the return journey into a food stop in the Cretan countryside.
Not every day trip needs to involve hours of driving.
For a slower day exploring Chania by car, head east towards Apokoronas and combine Kalyves, Almyrida, Plaka and Gavalochori.
Begin in Kalyves, a lively seaside village where you can stop for a morning coffee, walk beside the sea or enjoy an early swim.
Continue along the coast towards Almyrida, another relaxed seaside village known for its beach and views across Souda Bay. It is an ideal place for swimming or simply sitting by the water before heading inland.
From Almyrida, drive uphill towards Plaka and then continue into the traditional countryside of Apokoronas towards Gavalochori.
Gavalochori gives the road trip a completely different character. Traditional architecture, narrow village streets and the surrounding countryside offer a glimpse of a quieter side of Crete away from the major coastal resorts.
And there is another very good reason to explore Apokoronas: the food.
The wider area is known for its traditional tavernas, including some of the best-known places for Cretan food in the Chania region. Villages such as Gavalochori, Vamos and the surrounding settlements are popular not only with visitors but also with locals who drive out from Chania for a relaxed meal.
Instead of planning your day around a strict schedule, leave enough time for a long lunch. Look for traditional Cretan dishes, local meat, vegetables, cheeses and recipes that reflect the agricultural character of the area.
This combination of seaside villages, traditional settlements and good food makes Apokoronas one of the most enjoyable short road trips from Chania.
What makes these five trips interesting is how different they are from one another.
Falassarna introduces you to the open landscapes of western Crete. Lake Kournas and Georgioupolis combine countryside and coast. Paleochora takes you across the island to the Libyan Sea, while Elafonissi can become a complete day of beaches, nature and a visit to Chryssoskalitissa. Apokoronas, meanwhile, is ideal for a slower journey through seaside communities, traditional villages and some excellent Cretan tavernas.
Together, they show just how much there is to discover when travelling through Chania by car.
A car also makes it easier to turn these suggestions into your own routes. You may decide to spend the whole afternoon at Falassarna, skip Kedrodasos and stop for lunch in Elos instead, or extend your Apokoronas drive to another nearby village.
For visitors who need a vehicle during their stay, Ethereal Rental Cars in Chania provides a practical local choice for starting these day trips.
Whichever route you choose first, make time for the journey itself. Western Crete is full of landscapes, villages and small roadside discoveries that are easy to miss when the only goal is reaching the final destination.
