Travel Guide
Places to visit during your Villa Holiday in Stalos
As well as boasting a beautiful beach, there are several interesting sights well within reach of our Stalos villas, such as the bustling city of Chania with its beautiful old centre, only a 20 minute drive or bus trip away. A ‘must see’ with its atmospheric Venetian harbour dotted with cosy waterside tavernas and stylish bars, its many historical sights, such as the iconic lighthouse and the excavations of ancient Kydonia on Kastelli hill. Explore the pretty cobbled streets with their small, independent shops selling all sorts of local Cretan crafts, precious jewellery and leather goods.
- Chania’s historic town centre & the Archaeological Museum
When visiting the historic centre of Chania, a short detour to the outskirts of the city takes you to the brand new Archeological Museum of Chania, situated in an elevated position with views of the coast and the sea.
“The museum boasts 5,230 square metres of exhibition space and more than 3,500 artefacts. Objects include findings from excavations in both the city and wider area of Chania, exhibited in chronological order to represent the flow of civilisations through Chania’s long history. You’ll be able to learn all about the social, administrative, religious, commercial and everyday life of the region’s citizens and leaders, through exhibits that take you from Prehistoric times (10th-8th centuries BC) up to the Roman occupation ending in the 3rd century AD. “(Discover Greece)
The area around Chania’s old town, already inhabited 5,000 years ago, was the site of a Minoan Palace then called Kydonia. In the area of Kastelli Hill, the citadel of Chania harbour, archaeological excavations have discovered ceramic sherds and finds that date from the Neolithic to the Late Minoan period. The site, together with 5 other ‘Minoan Palace Centers’, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025.
From the mid 13th to the mid 17th century, under Venetian occupation, the city was called ‘La Canea’, it then was named ‘Hanya’ under the Ottomans, who declared it the island’s capital. In 1912, after a lengthy fight against the Turkish rule, Chania joined the Kingdom of Greece. When visiting the beautiful historic centre with its stunning harbour front, the architectural styles of the Ottoman and Venetian reigns are evident. There are several hamams, built around 1645, one of which today houses a restaurant, while the famous ‘Mosque of Hasan Kucuk’ between the harbour and the old arsenals, now hosts exhibitions and events.
Another way to soak up the history of the surrounding area, although slightly further away at a 35 minute drive, is a visit to the breathtaking, carefully preserved Monastery of Agia Triada on the Akrotiri peninsula, built by Venetian-Cretan brothers in the 17th century, with an altar cover dating back to the 12th century. Inside this impressive building you will find a small museum exploring the history of the church, and the peaceful gardens filled with colourful flowers and exotic plants are not to be missed.
Around the property, luscious vineyards and olive groves stretch out into the distance. The monks produce their own wine, olive oil and honey on site, which they are happy to let you sample along with some bread and if you fancy taking some back home, you can purchase more in their gift shop.
An interesting way to explore the local area is to take a scenic drive through the spectacular Theriso Gorge, admiring the brooks, the colourful flowers and plants, the impressive rock formations, and the odd sheep and cute mountain goat grazing by the side of the road. In the mood for a spot of lunch?, then keep driving for 10 minutes to reach the quaint hillside Village of Theriso. There are 5 lovely tavernas to choose from serving delicious hearty Cretan staples such as local pastries, succulent grilled meats, and seafood dishes.
Aside from Cretan food and beautiful scenery, you will find ‘Panagia Church’, built in 1500 AD, well worth a visit to see its ornate altar.
Just down the road from it, – and frankly better suited to Greek speakers, although there are a few displays with English descriptions, is the Museum of National Resistance 1941-1945, which showcases interesting artefacts, such as weapons and heirlooms, military objects, manuscripts, old photographs and more, documenting the Cretan resistance against German occupation..
If travelling with children, you could visit the Limnoupolis Water Park,15 minutes from Stalos, for the ultimate adrenaline boost with an impressive 6 waterslides (more suitable for older kids and confident swimmers), a large children’s pool with a water playground/ climbing frame and several child-friendly slides, a huge separate adults pool equipped with sun loungers and a bar, and 2 exciting free fall rides.
To get even the kids excited about the Minoan Civilisation, why not treat them to the Minoan’s World 9D Cinema in Chania, where they can fully immerse themselves in Cretan history in a unique way, with some fun special effects. The experience is available in 14 languages and includes several elaborate paintings and statues you can interact with to gain a new understanding of this ancient period.
When exploring the area west of Stalos, why not visit the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete, located in Skoradlou, less than 25 minutes drive away. This hidden paradise takes you through luscious paths to explore the beautiful flora, vibrant orchards of fruit trees, relaxing aromatic herb gardens and verdant vineyards.There is even a peaceful lake where you can stop and take a moment to just sit and enjoy the nature around you.
There are also a wide range of butterflies, some farm animals such as goats and donkeys, as well as tortoises and peacocks and several intriguing species of wild birds. You may even come across a Cretan badger, frogs and lizards.
There is a restaurant on site which has been awarded the ‘Cretan Cuisine Quality Mark’ and been named a culinary landmark on the island.
Sat on one of the balconies overlooking the rolling hills beneath, you can enjoy authentic Greek food freshly prepared from ingredients from the vegetable garden and herbs from the park, while enjoying the breathtaking views.
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