Best things to do in Kandanos in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Kandanos is an inland town in the Chania region of western Crete, set back from the beaches of the southwest coast. Kandanos carries a heavier history than most villages of its size, because the German army destroyed it in reprisal during the Second World War. The gorge that takes the town’s name begins 2.6 km away and was the ground where that story started, and 3 more gorges lie within 9 km of the same centre.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Kandanos. The town works as a walking base: the gorges of the district are its main draw, Hyrtakina sits 5.2 km away, and the coast at Sougia and Paleochora is within reach for a day at the sea.
Things to do in and around Kandanos
Five outings sit within 9 km of Kandanos, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the Kandanos Gorge. The gorge begins 2.6 km from the town and holds both natural interest and the memory of 24 May 1941, when residents took up arms against the advancing German column. A large quarry now threatens the Kandanos Gorge and its surroundings.
- Visit ancient Hyrtakina. The archaeological site lies 5.2 km from the town, and Hyrtakina is the nearest of the ancient places in this district.
- Hike the Trahinos Gorge. The route starts 7.9 km away near the Trahinos hamlet, on the northern slopes of Mount Apopigadi in the Palea Roumata area. Trahinos is short and ranks among the greenest gorges on Crete, with walls so narrow they are almost unnoticeable from above, and it joins the Vavouledo canyon near Lidiana for a circular route that keeps water until late spring.
- Cross the Agia Irini Gorge. The gorge lies 8.6 km away and runs down to the sea, where the village of Sougia stands at the point the Agia Irini Gorge meets the coast.
- Follow the Anydri Gorge. The Anydri Gorge sits 8.8 km from Kandanos, the last of the 4 within reach.
About the town and its setting
Kandanos is an inland town in the Chania region, and its modern history is the reason most visitors have heard the name. On 24 May 1941 the residents of Kandanos took up arms against German forces advancing towards the town, in the first armed conflict between local people and governmental forces during the Second World War. The fighting followed the Battle of Floria a day earlier, where all but one German soldier were killed.
The reprisal was total. German troops decimated Kandanos and its neighbouring villages and executed numerous civilians, and justice for those war crimes at Kandanos, at Floria and in the other martyred Cretan villages has never arrived. The gorge where the fighting began is now under threat from the operations of a large quarry.
The country around the town is gorge country. 4 ravines lie within 9 km, the ancient site of Hyrtakina stands 5.2 km out, and the mountain roads carry on south to the Libyan Sea. Palea Roumata, 7.9 km away at the head of the Trahinos Gorge, is itself a verdant area spread across the slopes of Mount Apopigadi in 13 separate neighbourhoods.
Beaches in and around Kandanos
Kandanos is an inland town, so its beaches are the ones on the southwest coast below it, on the Libyan Sea. 3 of them sit close enough for a day out, each reached on the winding mountain roads of this part of Crete.
- Sougia is a long beach of pebbly sand and clear deep water that runs 1.5 km from the harbour, at a village roughly 70 km south of Chania town. Sougia keeps tavernas, cafes, bars, rooms and mini markets, but no petrol station, pharmacy or bank.
- Lissos lies 3 km west of Sougia, a secluded pebble beach shaded by trees and open to the southern winds. Reaching it means a 20-minute boat ride or a walk of 90 to 120 minutes from Sougia through the ruins of ancient Lissos, the old seaport of Elyros.
- Pahia Ammos is the main beach of Paleochora, on the western flank of the town some 79 km south of Chania. Its name means thick sand, it runs nearly 500 m, and it has umbrellas, bars, snack bars, water sports gear, showers and a lifeguard tower.
Wind matters on this coast. Southerly and westerly winds raise substantial waves at Pahia Ammos, whose shallow, gently shelving sand otherwise suits children, and Lissos is exposed to the southern wind as well.
Where to eat in Kandanos
Two places in Kandanos are listed on our site, both in the village centre.
- O Platanos sits 200 m from the centre of Kandanos.
- I Platia stands 300 m from the centre.
Sougia has the fuller choice within reach, with restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars and mini markets on the coast.
Getting to Kandanos
Kandanos is reached on the mountain roads that cross the Chania region between the north coast and the Libyan Sea. These are winding roads, and the drive from Chania town down to Sougia on the coast takes roughly 1.5 hours over about 70 km.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport, on the north coast. Sougia can also be reached by summer ferry along the south coast, which allows a coastal hop instead of driving both ways.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kandanos in Crete?
Kandanos is an inland town in the Chania region of western Crete, set back from the southwest coast. The Libyan Sea beaches at Sougia and Paleochora lie south of the town, and Chania city lies north of it.
What happened at Kandanos in 1941?
Kandanos residents fought German forces advancing on the town on 24 May 1941, and the Germans destroyed the town in reprisal. The clash came a day after the Battle of Floria, and the reprisal took in neighbouring villages too, with numerous civilians executed.
Does Kandanos have a beach?
Kandanos has no beach of its own, because the town sits inland. The nearest swimming is on the southwest coast at Sougia, at Lissos 3 km west of it, and at Pahia Ammos on the edge of Paleochora.
Can you walk a gorge from Kandanos?
Yes, the Kandanos Gorge starts 2.6 km from the town. Trahinos lies 7.9 km away, Agia Irini 8.6 km away and Anydri 8.8 km away, so 4 gorges sit within a short drive of the same base.
Which airport is nearest to Kandanos?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Kandanos, on the north coast of the same region, and the road down to the town crosses the mountains of western Crete.
Where Kandanos is
Best things to do in Kandanos in 2024 is located at Kandanos, Crete, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
