Varipetro Travel Guides
- Monastery of Agia Kiriaki
The monastery is situated on a cliff above Varipetro, the church and the monastery date back to the 17th century and were dedicated to the divine Transfiguration and Saint Kiriaki. The monastery was a haven for the numerous refugees during the Ottoman occupation, but slowly deteriorated and fell into ruins until its complete restoration in the 1990s. It is now a convent and upon visiting, you will find nuns tending to the property and its gardens, inquiring whether you need any help to get around and sharing the history of the place with you.
Agia Lake is situated 3.5 km from Varipetro, it is a man made lake set within an area of 450 acres, originally a marsh/swamp fed by local springs and streams from the Lefka Ori (White Mountains). It was built in 1923 and handed to the local community in 2009. As it is an important aquatic habitat, with over 200 bird species recorded, and en route of birds migrating between Africa and Europe, it is now protected and part of Natura 2000, a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union.
An easy walk of 3km leads around the lake, there are areas with picnic tables and two lakeside cafes. You can also visit the old Hydroelectric Power Plant (Crete’s first) on site, or book a tour if you fancy a more in depth look into its fascinating history.
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 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.
- Chania’s historic town centre & the Archaeological Museum
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.
After visiting he historic centre of Chania, a short detour on 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)
This is a small gorge a 13 min drive from Varipetro, it is around 9km long with the same diverse and rich characteristics of larger Cretan gorges. At its entry point it is surrounded by orange groves and vineyards, whereas at its narrowest point one finds steep cliffs, plain trees and oleanders. It has a rich endemic flora and fauna with some endangered species. A road leads through the length of the gorge and up to the village of Therissos. The village is considered of historic importance, a hideout for freedom fighters during the Ottoman occupation.
In 1866 the village of Therissos was burned down by Mustafa Naili Pasha and most residents fled. Nowadays you will find the Historical museum of Therissos and the Museum of National Resistance, in the building that was used as Eleftherios Venizelos’s headquarters in 1905, during the Revolution of Therissos, which pursued the unification of Crete with the liberated Greece.
If travelling with children, you could visit the Limnoupolis Water Park 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.
Or, to get 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.
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