Excellence Luxury Villas · Chania
Luxury Villa Rentals in Chania
Villas with pools in western Crete, between a Venetian harbour, the White Mountains and the Libyan Sea
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A Venetian harbour town with the White Mountains behind it
Chania is the most handsome town on Crete. The Venetians built its harbour, the Ottomans added a domed mosque and minarets, and the lanes behind the waterfront are still full of leather workers, tavernas and old houses with wooden balconies. Above it all are the White Mountains, the Lefka Ori, which keep their snow well into spring.
Our Chania collection runs to 160+ villas. Some are contemporary houses with infinity pools on the Akrotiri peninsula, some are stone farmhouses in the olive country of Apokoronas, and the largest are big family villas along the coast west of town. Most have private pools, and many look out to sea.
Here is how the region divides up, where to stay and when to come.
Chania at a glance
- Villas
- 160+ in and around Chania, with up to 12 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,100 to £5,000 a week, from around £1,400
- Best areas
- The Akrotiri peninsula, the coast west of town towards Platanias, and Apokoronas
- Best time
- May, June, September and October; July and August for the hottest beach days
- Getting there
- Chania airport on Akrotiri, around 20 to 30 minutes from town, with summer flights from the UK
Browse all 160+ villas in Chania
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Kri-Kri Chania: Spacious 8-Bedroom Apartment with Sea Views – Chania8 bedrooms
Villa Ostria Kolymbari Chania: 6-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Sea Views & Pool – Chania6 bedrooms
Villa Zephyros Agia Marina Chania: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Chania Crete9 bedrooms
Villa Machis Greece5 bedrooms
Lighthouse, lanes and a waterside mosque
Chania's old harbour is at its best in the early evening, when the light turns the Venetian lighthouse gold and the waterfront tables start to fill. The Mosque of the Janissaries, with its cluster of domes, sits right on the quay, and the Nautical Museum is in the old fortress at the harbour mouth.
Behind the harbour, the Topanas quarter is a maze of restored Venetian houses, and Splantzia, the old Turkish quarter, has plane trees, small squares and some of the best tavernas in town. Skridlof Street is still lined with leather shops, as it has been for generations.
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Monasteries, sandy bays and Zorba's beach
The Akrotiri peninsula, just east of town, is home to many of our sea-view villas, and it is handy for the airport. The final dance of Zorba the Greek was filmed on the beach at Stavros, beneath a bare mountain. Inland, the monastery of Agia Triada still makes its own olive oil and wine, and the graves of Eleftherios Venizelos and his son look down over the town.
West of Chania, Galatas sits on the hill where some of the hardest fighting of the 1941 Battle of Crete took place. Below it, a long line of sandy beaches runs past Agia Marina and Platanias towards Gerani, with villas in the villages and olive groves behind.
Browse villas in Galatas
Olive country to the east, wild beaches to the west
East of Souda Bay, Apokoronas is gentler and greener, with stone villages such as Vamos and Plaka, the seaside villages of Kalyves and Almyrida, and views straight up to the White Mountains. It is a favourite with those who want a quiet base and a short drive to the beach.
The far west of the region is wilder. Falasarna has a long sandy beach that faces the sunset, Balos lagoon is reached by boat from Kissamos or along a rough track, and Elafonisi, in the south-west corner, is famous for its pale pink sand.
Browse villas in Vamos
Boureki, raki and a long walk to the sea
Chania has its own dishes. Try boureki, a baked dish of courgette, potato and soft mizithra cheese, along with kalitsounia, little cheese pies, and staka, a rich butter from sheep's milk. Lunch usually ends with a small glass of tsikoudia, the local raki, brought to the table on the house as a matter of course.
The Samaria Gorge, which runs down from the Omalos plateau to the Libyan Sea, is usually open from around May to October. May, June, September and October are the best months for walking and sightseeing, and July and August for the hottest beach days. Our concierge can arrange gorge transfers, boat trips to Balos, a private chef and restaurant tables in the old town.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Chania
Villa Lysias Kalyves Chania: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Sea Views & Pool – Chania6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £10,017 a week
Villa Nyxi Greece4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £9,208 a week
Villa Souda Greece7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £9,121 a week
Villa Kyanos Koum Kapi Chania: Spacious 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Chania6 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £8,841 a week
Villa Milos | 5-Bedroom Villa in Hersonissos Agkisaras5 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £8,840 a week
Villa Lysias Agios Nikolaos Chania: Luxury 8-Bedroom Villa with Swimming Pool – Chania8 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £8,799 a week
Versace Villa Greece5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £8,638 a week
Villa Zephyros Theriso Chania Region: 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Sea Views & Pool – Chania6 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £8,596 a weekWhy book your Chania villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Chania's villas are spread from the Akrotiri peninsula to the olive villages of Apokoronas and the far west, and we know which are a short drive from a sandy beach and which are within reach of the old town for dinner. With 160+ properties in Chania, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Airport transfers and car hire, boat trips to Balos, Samaria Gorge transfers, a private chef, wine and olive oil tastings, and harbourside restaurant reservations. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best area to stay in Chania?
Akrotiri suits those who want sea views and a short transfer from the airport. The coast west of town, around Galatas, Agia Marina and Platanias, is best for sandy beaches and easy evenings in the old town. Apokoronas, to the east, is quieter, with stone villages and views of the White Mountains.
When is the best time to visit Chania?
May, June, September and October bring warm sea temperatures, fewer crowds and good walking weather. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and the best for long days on the beach.
Can you walk the Samaria Gorge from Chania?
Yes. The gorge starts on the Omalos plateau, around an hour's drive south of Chania, and it is a long walk of several hours down to Agia Roumeli on the south coast, where boats take you on along the shore. It is usually open from around May to October, depending on the weather.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Chania?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Chania cost?
Across our 160+ villas in Chania, weekly rates typically range from £2,100 to £5,000, with the most affordable from around £1,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Chania?
Chania airport is on the Akrotiri peninsula, around 20 to 30 minutes from town, with direct flights from several UK airports in summer. Heraklion airport, around two and a half hours' drive away, is an alternative. Our concierge can arrange transfers and car hire.
Are there villas in Chania for large groups?
Yes. Our Chania collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Chania
160+ villas in and around Chania, booked direct with our concierge on hand