With their i-bike Chania initiative the Municipality of Chania are introducing a new system of electric bikes for free public use in the city. In a press release issued on 29th December the Municipality says:
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Cruise ships bring money to Cretan municipalities
In the summer of 2025 the Greek government introduced a cruise tax, payable by cruise passengers on disembarkation at Greek ports. The tax rates range from €1 to €20 and are levied on all cruise ship passengers, regardless of age, each time they disembark at a port. If they do not disembark they are not charged. The fees are collected from passengers by the cruise companies or agents and are paid to the government quarterly.
Continue readingThe festive season starts in Chania
Illumination of the Municipal Christmas tree
The Christmas celebrations of the Municipality of Chania got off to a spectacular and festive start in the Venetian harbour on the evening of Saturday 22nd November 2025, says a municipal press release. Aided by the good weather, hundreds of citizens of all ages, visitors to the city and many families attended the ceremony of illumination of the new Christmas tree, which this year dominates the square next to the Giali Jami in the magical setting of the Venetian harbour.
Chania the leader in Golden Visa uptake
Chania emerges as the clear leader from the results of a survey, carried out by the Regional Observatory on Social Inclusion of the Region of Crete, relating to the take-up of Golden Visas on the island .
Continue readingChania’s Agora to open at Easter 2026
On Monday 10th November, the clock on the south façade of the Municipal Agora in Chania was reinstalled, and restarted. Following a precarious ride up on a crane lift, the Mayor of Chania Panagiotis Simandirakis stepped onto the scaffolding and attached the hands to the clock at 12.55 – the time at which it had stopped when taken down for the renovations four and half years previously. A press release from the Municipal Council recorded the event as follows.
Continue readingAnti-fascist messages from OXI day parades
Tuesday’s celebration of OXI day is one of two annual events in which Greece seeks to remind itself of its historic record of resistance to oppression. As is well known, the term derives from the rejection by the Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas of an ultimatum from the Italian leader Benito Mussolini. According to Wikipedia, the ultimatum was presented to Metaxas by the Italian ambassador to Greece Emanuele Grazzi, who had just come from a party in the Italian embassy in Athens, shortly after 3.00 am on 28th October 1940. It demanded that Greece allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain unspecified ‘strategic locations’ or otherwise face war. Metaxas replied, in the diplomatic French of the day, ‘Alors, c’est la guerre!’ Word of his bold refusal spread swiftly through Athens, inspiring the citizens to flood the streets, chanting “Oxi!” (No!).
Continue readingFirst Chinese cruise ship arrival will follow a record year for Chania
Chania is now firmly established as a major cruise ship destination, with 220 arrivals already scheduled for the New Year, while there are increased reservations also for 2027. Next year will also see the first Chinese cruise ship tying up at Souda. It is the Zhao Shang Yi Dun, the first big cruise ship sailing under a Chinese flag to be scheduled in the Mediterranean next year.
Continue readingBuilding on the increase in Chania – with limitations
An increase in building activity on large projects and many obstacles for small ones, with a series of outstanding issues, have been recorded in Chania for the year 2025 to date. At the same time, as regards property sales, changes in the law and the difficulty of building outside the urban plan have put a brake on purchases from abroad, despite the fact that there is great interest.
Continue readingA new Business Park for Chania
New prospects for the development of the local economy are created by the Chania Business Park, a project supported by the Cooperative Bank of Chania which is due to be completed shortly. In an announcement on 4th August, the Athens-based consultancy Redeplan, which is managing the project, expressed its satisfaction with the progress of the undertaking, noting that “it is reaching the end of its course, to be placed at the disposal of the market, of industry and the supply chain, after many years of intense effort by many contributors and organisations which took part in its planning and execution.”
Continue readingTraffic restriction measures in the Old City of Chania
Under a programme entitled “Smart access system for the Venetian Harbour of Chania”, the Municipality of Chania has installed a network of hydraulically retractable bollards in the Old City and the Venetian Harbour which comes into operation this week.
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