The Traditional Strata is a music and dance event held by the Municipality of Chania on Tuesday evenings through the summer. The Traditional Strata gathers more than 1,500 dancers and musicians from over 20 traditional associations, from across Crete and other countries, who move through the narrow streets of Chania’s old town in traditional costume.
In 2026, the event runs on Tuesdays from June for several months, and August 11, 2026 is one of the listed dates. Each evening follows the same route through Chania Old Port and begins at 8:00 PM.
The Traditional Strata is a procession of music, dance, and song organized by the Municipality of Chania. The Traditional Strata represents the customs of Chania through costumes, instruments, and vocal performances from member associations, including groups from Crete and international regions.
The Strata takes place on Tuesday evenings from June for several months in 2026, and August 11, 2026 is one of the scheduled dates. The programme begins at 8:00 PM, so early evening is the time to arrive.
The procession follows one route through Chania Old Port each evening, in three stages. The main stages of the evening are listed below.
The harbour and squares of the old town fill with spectators on Strata evenings, and the surrounding tavernas make the event easy to combine with dinner. For more on the area and where to stay, see the guide to Chania.
The Traditional Strata is a traditional music and dance event organized by the Municipality of Chania. More than 1,500 performers from over 20 associations parade through the old town in costume.
The Strata runs on Tuesday evenings from June for several months in 2026, and August 11, 2026 is one of the listed dates. The evening programme starts at 8:00 PM.
The Strata takes place in Chania Old Port and the streets of the old town. It begins at the Neorio Moro Chania Sailing Club and ends at Cathedral Square by the Trimartiri Cathedral.
The Municipality of Chania organizes the Traditional Strata. Member associations from Crete and other countries take part.
More than 20 traditional associations take part, with over 1,500 dancers and musicians in total. The groups include performers from Crete and international regions.
Boasting views to the Venetian Harbour, Chania Inn offers accommodation in Chania Town. Archaeological Museum of Chania is 100 metres away. Free WiFi is available .
The accommodation is air conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV. Some units feature a seating area and/or balcony. Each unit has a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Towels are featured.
Municipal Art Gallery of Chania is 100 metres from Chania Inn. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 11 km from the property.
Featuring a terrace, a restaurant as well as a bar, Anassa Chania Boutique Hotel is located in the centre of Chania Town, 1.1 km from Nea Chora Beach. The property is set 600 metres from Saint Anargyri Church, 400 metres from Municipal Art Gallery of Chania and 200 metres from Mitropoleos Square. The hotel also provides free WiFi as well as a paid airport shuttle service.
Guest rooms at the hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. Every room comes with a kettle, while selected rooms are fitted with a balcony and others also offer sea views. At Anassa Chania Boutique Hotel each room has bed linen and towels.
A continental breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.
Popular points of interest near Anassa Chania Boutique Hotel include Koum Kapi Beach, Kucuk Hasan Mosque and Chania Old Venetian Harbour. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 13 km from the hotel.
from
€153
/night
Just steps away from the scenic Venetian Harbour, Elia Zampeliou Boutique Hotel offers accommodation in Chania Town.
Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Certain rooms have views of the harbour or the old town. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom equipped with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find bath robes and slippers. A certified Greek Breakfast is served daily.
Municipal Art Gallery of Chania is 100 metres from from Elia Zampeliou Boutique Hotel. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 11 km from Elia Zampeliou Boutique Hotel.
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€149
/night
Belmondo Hotel enjoys a beautiful seafront location in Chania. This Venetian style hotel reflects the Cretan city’s historical ambience.
This property offers a variety of air-conditioned accommodation all well furnished and equipped with modern comforts. Each unit enjoys free wireless internet connection and daily room service.
Belmondo Hotel boasts spectacular views of the scenic Venetian Harbour, combined with tasteful decoration. Guests are served breakfast in their spacious rooms.
The location offers multiple options for exploring Chania and the whole island of Crete, having easy proximity to the bus stop and taxi rank, located only metres from the hotel. Several restaurants and bars can be found in the surrounding area. Free public parking can be found within 500 metres.
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€117
/night
Chaniartoon – International Comic & Animation Festival was started in 2017.
Since then the festival has been embraced by locals and by people from around the world with short animation entries from all corners of the globe. The animation films are viewed at the open air cinema of the Municipal Garden.
The Agios Nikolaos Cliff Diving is a free international high diving competition at Lake Voulismeni, in the centre of Agios Nikolaos, Crete. The 2026 edition is the 8th, and it takes place on 19-20 September 2026, a two-day event on the Saturday and Sunday. Divers leap from a platform about 20 metres above the lagoon, and the afternoon diving pairs with an evening programme of music and culture. Admission is free for spectators, and the organiser announces the detailed daily schedule and the diver roster closer to the event.
The competition combines sport, culture, and tourism in the heart of the city. The Municipality of Agios Nikolaos organises the event, and Giorgos Lianos presents it for the second year in a row. The two days fill the lakeside with diving, live music, and Cretan hospitality, and the organiser frames the competition as a sports-tourism showcase for Lassithi and eastern Crete.
The Agios Nikolaos Cliff Diving is an annual high diving competition in which athletes leap from a platform above Lake Voulismeni into the deep water below. The event has run in Agios Nikolaos for several years, and the 2026 competition is the 8th consecutive edition. The Municipality of Agios Nikolaos organises it, Giorgos Lianos presents it, and Infinite Drop High Diving supplies the high-diving side of the programme. The competition is more than a sporting contest, because it folds live music and evening shows around two afternoons of diving.
The Agios Nikolaos Cliff Diving is a high diving competition where international athletes dive from a fixed platform above Lake Voulismeni in the centre of the city. High diving sends divers off far greater heights than pool diving, so the sport rewards precise entry technique and physical control. The platform above the lake serves competition athletes only, and spectators watch from the surrounding promenade rather than dive themselves. The event doubles as a sports-tourism draw, brings visitors to Lassithi, and puts eastern Crete on the international diving map. The organiser and the Greek press rank Agios Nikolaos among the leading cliff diving destinations in Greece and the Mediterranean.
Athletes dive from a platform about 20 metres above Lake Voulismeni, roughly the height of a 6-storey building, which is why the sport demands elite training and a clean vertical entry.
The 2026 edition runs across two days, on 19-20 September, and pairs the competition rounds with an evening programme of music and culture. The organiser announces the detailed daily schedule, the number of rounds, and the start times closer to the event, so check the official channels for the finalised programme.
More than 20 elite divers from around the world are expected on the platform, and the organiser announces the 2026 roster in the weeks before the event. Line-ups change from year to year, so check the current roster on the official listing before you travel.
The 2026 competition takes place on 19-20 September 2026 at Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi, in eastern Crete. Both days are free to attend.
Admission is free for all spectators. The organiser publishes the detailed daily schedule and start times closer to the event, so verify them through the official channels before you travel. Note that the high-diving body, Infinite Drop High Diving, lists a wider 16-20 September window for the athletes, which covers arrival and training days around the public two-day competition.
Watching the Cliff Diving competition is a free, open-air, standing-room experience along the edge of Lake Voulismeni. The lakeside promenade offers the closest view of the diving platform, and the ring of the lagoon draws thousands of spectators to the surrounding cafes and outdoor areas each year. These are the key details to know before you arrive.
Lake Voulismeni is a natural inland lagoon at the heart of Agios Nikolaos, ringed by steep rock that rises above the water. The lagoon is deep, and local legend claims it has no measurable bottom, a story that adds to the drama of watching athletes freefall into its dark-blue water. The lake sits in the city centre, so spectators watch from the promenade, nearby cafes, and the balconies of surrounding buildings, which makes it one of the most accessible high diving venues in Europe.
The 2026 Agios Nikolaos Cliff Diving takes place on 19-20 September 2026, a two-day event on the Saturday and Sunday at Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos. The organiser announces the detailed daily schedule and start times closer to the event.
Yes, admission is free. No ticket, registration, or booking is required to watch the competition or the evening programme on either day, 19-20 September 2026.
Yes, Crete has both organised cliff diving and casual cliff jumping. The Agios Nikolaos Cliff Diving is the island’s flagship organised competition, but its platform serves competition athletes only. Casual jumpers head to coastal spots instead, such as Matala, Seitan Limania, Sougia, and Vai.
Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos is the standout venue in Crete for watching elite high diving competition. Casual cliff jumping takes place at coastal spots such as Matala, Seitan Limania, and Sougia. Jump only where it is clearly safe, because underwater rocks and shallow depths make some spots hazardous.
Yes, Crete has dramatic cliffs both along its coast and around Lake Voulismeni. The rock walls that ring the lagoon in Agios Nikolaos are what make it a natural high diving arena, and coastal gorges such as Seitan Limania create steep drops straight into the sea.
Agios Nikolaos is worth a visit, especially around Lake Voulismeni. The seaside town in eastern Crete is built on hills above the water, and the lagoon at its centre is lined with cafes, tavernas, and walking paths. The Cliff Diving days are one of its liveliest moments, and the harbour and lake are a pleasant stop at any time of year.
Agios Nikolaos sits in eastern Crete, about 60 kilometres from Heraklion International Airport, and the two-day Cliff Diving on 19-20 September 2026 draws large crowds to a compact city centre. Public buses connect Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, yet the diving fills the lakeside on both afternoons and evenings, so parking near Lake Voulismeni is limited during the event. Driving yourself keeps the schedule flexible, lets you base outside the busy centre, and makes it easy to combine the competition with nearby beaches and villages across Lassithi. Plan the trip with car rental in Crete.
The Chestnut Festival in Elos Village is a cherished autumn tradition on Crete, celebrated every year on the third Sunday of October. Located in the picturesque West part of Crete, near Kissamos, the village of Elos is surrounded by scenic chestnut trees that mark the harvest season.
This vibrant event offers visitors a taste of local culture and cuisine, with the spotlight on chestnut-inspired dishes. Along with indulging in these seasonal treats, festival-goers can enjoy live music, traditional folk dances, and the island’s famous spirit, tsikoudia. The festival also showcases traditional Greek costumes, hosts various competitions, and provides a lively atmosphere perfect for immersing yourself in Cretan culture. Whether you’re a local or a curious traveler, the Chestnut Festival is a delightful way to celebrate autumn in Crete.
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