From Chania: Day-Trip to 7 Traditional Cretan Villages

Seek an adventure outside the magnificent city of Chania and travel to seven traditional Cretan villages to get a feel of the everyday life of the locals for a day. From fascinating museums to local eateries, don’t leave a rock unturned during your stay in Crete! The comfortable transportation and the expert guides that will accompany you to your Cretan endeavor is only the cherry on top!

• The folklore museum of Apokoronas
• A Cretan cheese factory 
• A raki distillery
• Hidden monasteries and churches
• A traditional Greek coffee shop -or kafeneio
• A traditional bakery
• The villages of Armenoi, Apokoronas, Stylos, Tsivaras, Gavalochori, Xirosterni, Vrises, Emprosneros, Fres, and Kalives 

Take a day trip from Chania to discover the natural beauty of 7 of Crete’s traditional villages. Begin your day by enjoying a Greek coffee in Armenoi village. Hit the road in the direction of the village of Apokronas in the eastern province of Chania, where you will enjoy the mountainous view of en route to the traditional villages of Stylos, Tsivaras, and Kalives. 

Once you reach the village of Gavalochori, you’ll pay a visit to the folklore museum of Apokoronas, which will give you an insight into the Cretan culture. Afterward, you’ll head to Xirosterni village in order to visit the local family raki distillery. Watch from beginning to end the production process of raki, the famous Cretan spirit, and -of course- try some for yourselves!

The next destination is Vrises, with its picturesque square and calming river. Following Vrises, visit the village of Emprosneros, where you can see the theatre ‘Mikis Theodorakis’ and the hidden church of St. Antony, built on the rock. Additionally, visit a cheese factory and taste the local varieties, such as ‘graviera’ ‘mizithra’ and ‘anthotiro’. If you think that’s enough, think again, as you’ll also taste some olive oil on warm bread, cookies and Cretan biscuits in a local bakery.

Complete your day-trip with a Cretan lunch in a traditional ‘kafeneio’, located in Fres village. Mix with the locals and get introduced to the Cretan way of life in the most authentic way possible!