Koum Kapi beach

Kum Kapi is located at the east end of the picturesque port of Chania, in front of the historic district of Bedouins, who used to live here in huts made of rushes during the Ottoman era. They were African economic immigrants, who first arrived on the island as slaves. Today, you will not see any huts, but only a long seaside street with cafes and nightclubs. The region is named after the Turkish word Kum Kapisi, meaning the Gate of Sand, which was the gate on the Venetian Walls next to this sandy beach.

The beach of Kum Kapi is shaped beneath the pedestrian road and extends to the east for about 1km. The sandy beach of the Kum Kapi used to be one of the most popular beaches for swimming in Chania, many years ago. However, due to the degradation of seawater quality, swimming was later forbidden. In the last years, after the construction of the biological cleaning infrastructures of Chania city, according to the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority of the city, water is now suitable for swimming. However, the beach of Kum Kapi still remains unorganized and locals still do not trust it.

On the west side, near the Sand Gate, the sea reaches the wall of the road without the beach being shaped between them. On the eastern side, a strip of sandy beach is shaped and this is where people mainly swim. Moreover, beyond the east end of the long beach, a beautiful cove is shaped. However, locals still avoid swimming there.

Kouloura pond, Halepa
Kouloura is a small rocky pond next to the chapel and beach of Agia Kyriaki, in the Halepa suburb of Chania. It is a favourite “pool” for the residents of Halepa and every local has a story to tell you about this place.