Experiences
Centrally situated in the enchanting old town of Chania, Aisha is surrounded by quaint streets with cafes, restaurants, museums, shops and bars. It’s the ultimate location to unearth the city’s charm and history.
Beaches
Some of our favourite beaches to swim, sunbathe or admire the view are Stavros Beach (which just so happens to be famous for the ‘Zorba’s Dance’ scene in the Anthony Quinn movie), Marathi Beach, Balos and Kedrodasos. Within 1 kilometre of the hotel, guests will stumble upon the mystical waters of Koum Kapi beach or on the other side of the property, Nea Chora beach. For those with a car, a 15 minute drive will take you to Kalinov’s beach, where you can relax and swim outside of the city. To explore the picturesque beaches further away on the island, take a trip to the infamous pink sandy Elafonisi beach or the long sandy Falasarna beach (which is particularly impressive at sunset).
Dining
Soak up the atmosphere, smells and tastes at the Old Market, a historic place with vendors selling cheese, meat and local specialities. For a caffeine fix, stop by Monogram Roasters, Kross Coffee Roasters or Red Jane bakery, all of which are known for their specialty coffee (sandwiches are not to be missed at Red Jane!). There are several taverns serving traditional local food nearby, such as Oinopiio, Chrisostomos, Kouzina E.P.E, Kafeneio Fix and Tamam or take a stroll along the harbour to Maiami, a brasserie and art studio that serves fresh dishes and sells handmade ceramics from Chania. Fresh fish is on the menu at Kaiki Restaurant located at Nea Xora and Almyriki Restaurant on Stavros beach. But when sunset falls, dining at Pallas Rooftop is a treat for the senses.
Culture
The surrounding area of Aisha Hotel, right in the heart of the Venetian Harbour, has much to explore. It’s just 100 metres from the Maritime Museum of Chania and the Municipal Art Gallery. Within the district lies Neorio Moro, where Greek ships were repaired, as well as the Etz Hayyim Synagogue which is located in a beautiful alley and almost invisible. Beside the hotel, you’ll see the vaulted mosque of the Ottoman era, a prominent landmark that today houses art exhibitions. Discover the Virgin Mary Metropolitan Church or the Church of Agios Nikolaos from the 14th century, which was partly converted into an army barracks and mosque. The Firka Venetian Fortress from the mid-16th century also provides picturesque views of the harbour. For those with an eye for craft, pay a visit to the ceramic studio of Manousos Chalkiadakis which is a gallery-like house in a nearby village.
Entertainmet
When the sun goes down, there are plenty of bars to enjoy in the old town of Chania. Monastery of Karolos is an open-air bar serving cocktails in a stylish space, or head to the alleyways of the old Venetian harbour and try the beverages at the old synagogue-turned-bar, Sinagogi. We’ve mentioned it before, but right on the seafront, Pallas is an elegant cocktail bar and restaurant where you can drink and dine while watching the sunset.
Shopping
No trip to Chania would be complete without a visit to The Grocery Store. Despite the name, this is no ordinary grocery store! Housed in what was formerly an old bakery in the centre of old town Chania, the shop carries a selection of high quality goods from Greece, from olive oil, wine and honey to natural cosmetics. For souvenirs to bring home, stop by Canea Gift Shop with its beautiful offering of handmade products from Chania.
Activities
Hiking the Samaria Gorge is a challenging yet wonderful experience. It’s the longest gorge in Europe at 16 km and takes 6-7 hours to cross, but the majestic nature makes it worthwhile. For something less strenuous, the hike from Avlaki Gorge to Katholiko Beach has an easy to medium difficulty path that leads from Gouverneto Monastery to an amazing secret beach and takes around 2 hours back and forth; while hiking the Kourtaliotiko Gorge has less than 30 minutes hiking. More adventurous types may embark on a mountain trip to the White Mountains in a 4×4 vehicle. If you’d rather be one at sea, take a private boat trip to Marathi and Seitan Limani beach. Private yacht tours can be organised to Theodorou island, Balls beach, Gramvousa island and/or Falassarna beach, or discover the private boat trips to multiple beaches. Of course, you can rent your own boat too. And if you’d like to go underwater, why not try scuba diving and snorkelling. On land, we also recommend a trip to the Manousakis Winery to sample Cretan wine or the organic olive farm tour and restaurant at Biolea Astrikas Estate, as well as the ceramic studio we mentioned from gifted artist Manousos Chalkiadakis, which is located in the beautiful Paidochori village.