Chania Cruise Port Guide

The short answer

Ships dock at Souda, a short bus or taxi ride from Chania. Chania's Venetian harbour and lanes are the highlight and are easy to do on your own. The Archaeological Museum is €15.

Getting ashoreShip docks

Distance to townAbout 4 km by one source; allow 10–20 minutes by bus or taxi to Chania town.

Gateway forChania Old Town and Venetian harbour

Local bus (often line 13) to Chania (Market)About 10–20 minutes · About €2.50 one way (secondary source; unverified)

On the chart

Where Chania lies

Antique-style chart of Greek Isles & Eastern Med with ports marked

Chania Istanbul Athens Argostoli Bodrum Corfu Heraklion Itea Izmir Katakolon Kos Kuşadası Limassol Milos Mykonos Nafplio Patmos Rhodes Santorini Sarandë Syros Thessaloniki Volos Zakynthos

Where your ship docks

Ships dock at Souda port, a working port east of Chania.

Shuttle. Sometimes a port shuttle to the Market (about €2 one way, unverified).

From the gangway

Getting to the sights

The way	Time	Cost
Local bus (often line 13) to Chania (Market)	About 10–20 minutes	About €2.50 one way (secondary source; unverified)
Taxi to Chania	About 15 minutes	Unverified
Port shuttle (sometimes) to Chania		About €2 one way when offered (secondary source)

Local bus (often line 13) to Chania (Market)

Time About 10–20 minutesCost About €2.50 one way (secondary source; unverified)

Walk to the bus stop about 50 m from the port.
Ride to the Municipal Market stop.
Walk 10 minutes down to the harbour.

Buses about every 30 minutes on ship days (secondary source).

Taxi to Chania

Time About 15 minutesCost Unverified

Taxis wait at the port.
Agree the fare first.

Port shuttle (sometimes) to Chania

Cost About €2 one way when offered (secondary source)

Ask at the gangway.

Not every day.

Worth the trip

What to see

Venetian Harbour and lighthouse

One of the prettiest harbours in Greece.

How: Walk from the Market.
Time: 1–2 hours
Tickets: Free

Old Town lanes

Venetian and Ottoman houses, craft shops.

How: Walk.
Time: 1–2 hours
Tickets: Free

Archaeological Museum of Chania

Finds from western Crete.

How: Walk; about 12 minutes from the Market.
Time: 1 hour
Tickets: €15 full (Hellenic Heritage). Has an elevator.

Municipal Market

Cross-shaped 1913 market hall.

How: Bus stop is here.
Time: 30 minutes
Tickets: Free

A day ashore

Your day, hour by hour

Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.

Bus or taxi to the Market.
Walk to the Venetian Harbour and out toward the lighthouse.
Visit the Archaeological Museum.
Lunch on the harbour (prices are higher on the front row).
Catch the bus back 75 minutes before all-aboard.

Wise counsel

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Beware

Bus lines on busy days.
Heat on the harbour front.
Cobbled, uneven lanes.

Do this

Have small coins for the bus.
Eat one street back from the harbour for better value.

Practical matters

Fees, money and access

Rules & fees

Greek cruise passenger fee (per person, per port, from 21 July 2025): Santorini and Mykonos €20 (1 Jun–30 Sep), €12 (Apr–May and Oct), €4 (Nov–Mar). All other Greek ports: €5 / €3 / €1 for the same seasons. Most lines add it to your onboard bill. MSC says it charges only guests who go ashore; other lines may charge everyone.
Greek state sites: 'reduced' prices are mainly for EU citizens. Most Americans pay full price. Free entry on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from 1 Nov to 31 Mar, and on a few set dates.