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Chania Airport To Chania: ALL The Options

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a man in a red car
a road with cars on it from Chania Airport to Chania

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I don’t know about you, but one of the things I find most difficult when travelling to a new country is figuring out how to get from the airport to my destination in a way that feels safe, cost and time-efficient.

With that in mind, I’ve put this no-frills guide together to help you understand how to get from Chania Airport to Chania – whether thats to Chania Old Town or to a hotel nearby – we’re going to cover all the options available.

We’ll start with all of the options and we’ll finish with an FAQ. I’m not going to waffle on any more than that, we’re going to jump straight in!

Chania Airport to Chania by car

Your first option is to travel to Chania by car and I’m not going to lie, this is going to be your best option.

If you’ve read my other Chania guides (which I’ll drop a couple of below and the full list at the end), you’ll notice that I say that in every single one of them.

And, the reason is that besides the obvious convenience, it’s actually more cost-effective – because taxis are expensive.

Cost

You’re going to be spending around €100 for a week’s car rental in Chania if you pick one up from the airport which is pretty affordable. Plus, the petrol which is a little bit more expensive than other destinations in Europe, but nothing too crazy.

Where to get a car

You can rent a car from inside the airport (which I’d recommend), from various places in Chania city centre or potentially from your hotel.

Either way, if you book this advance you’re going to get a better price than if you were to do it on the day.

The two platforms I always use for car rental are Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com. Both are great as they compare all the best deals on the market, but sometimes one has better deals than the other depending on the location so I always check both.

What type of car you need – important!

Ok this one is actually really important. Normally I just go for the cheapest option when it comes to renting a car, but in Chania you need to know what you’re going to be doing first.

If you want to head to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island and you want to drive there, you will only be able to do so if you have 4×4 due to the rough terrain along the way.

This is only going to cost you around an extra €30 euros, but it’s something you definitely need to bear in mind as a lot of the car agreements specifically state that you cannot use the car to drive to these beaches.

I won’t harp on about the beaches too much in this guide, but you’ll find the most amazing beaches on the island in my list of very best things to do in Chania.

Check prices: Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com

an aerial view of a beach

Chania Airport to Chania By bus

Your next option is to take the bus which is – of course – very affordable.

Cost

A one-way ticket costs a few euros and you can either get the ticket on the day or purchase it online ahead of time. I’d recommend doing the latter as the bus driver doesn’t always have a card machine.

Bus timetable

The bus station is just outside of the airport and you’ll notice signs that point you in this direction, with buses running from 6 am until midnight and leaving every 30-45 minutes.

If you need to, then you can check the K-TEL bus timetable.

Things to bear in mind

The buses are turquoise and white in colour and besides holiday package company buses coming in and out, there is little else to get these confused with. To help with the differentiation, there is a ‘coach’ station and a bus station – so just make sure you’re following the signs for the bus station specifically.

One thing to note that whilst this is the cheapest option and it doesn’t take much longer than if you were to drive yourself, in summer it can be chaotic.

And, when you’re carrying heavy luggage and the heat is high, it can be uncomfortable – which if you’re used to backpacking around hot countries will be nothing new – but for those who aren’t used to this then it’s something to bear in mind.

Chania Airport to Chania By taxi

And last but not least, you can of course take a taxi.

Cost

From the airport, this is going to cost you around €30, but as always it depends on the time of day and taxi driver that you end up with.

Where to take a taxi

You’ll usually see plenty of drivers waiting at arrivals offering their services, but if there isn’t any, then follow the signs to the taxi rank outside the airport.

Alternatively, you can book ahead with the support of your hotel or pre-book on WelcomePickups.

FAQ

Is there Uber?

No, there is not Uber in Chania. The next best thing to Uber is WelcomePickups.

How much is a taxi?

A taxi from the airport to Chania costs around €30.

Where’s the bus station in Chania?

You’ll arrive into the KTEL Bus Station which is on the outskirts of Old Town Chania.

How long does it take to get from Chania Airport to the city centre?

It depends on your mode of transport and where you’re staying, but it shouldn’t take any longer than 40 minutes.

Also, here are some of my top recommendations for Chania:

🏨 Best hotel: Ambassadors Residence Boutique Hotel

🎟️ Must-do activity: glass bottom boat with snorkelling

🥘 Best restaurant: Arismari

📱Data: install an eSim from Airalo rather than buying a local sim – it’s much less hassle! Get $3 off with code ‘AMELIA2423’

🩺 Best travel medical insurance: at 80% cheaper with just as much coverage than what I was previously paying, I’ll never stop sharing how great SafetyWing is as a full-time traveller!

Conclusion

To conclude, you’re best option is to rent a car and drive from the Chania Airport to Chania, however, if you’re unable to then you can take a taxi and if you’re more budget conscious then you can take the bus.

Below are all of the my other guides on Chania and Crete that you might also be interested in reading.

Millie / Stay Wild Travels.