Souda is the port town of Chania on the north coast of Crete, the arrival point for ferries from Piraeus and a regular stop for cruise ships. Souda sits at the head of Souda Bay, about 6.5 km east of central Chania on the road toward Rethymno. The town stretches along the southern shore of the bay, and decades of building between Souda and Chania have made it feel like a seaside suburb of the city. Most visitors first meet Souda as the gateway to west Crete, though the working port, the wartime history, and the fortified islet in the bay reward a closer look.
About Souda: the port and the bay
Souda is the commercial and passenger port of Chania and the main ferry link between west Crete and Piraeus. Ferries from Piraeus dock here through the year, and the port has also become a port of call for cruise lines. Souda Bay ranks among the largest and deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, sheltered by the main body of Crete and the Akrotiri peninsula, which keeps it calm and easy to defend in every season. Grain silos and a flour mill stand over the harbour entrance, a working backdrop to the ferries and the naval ships. Behind the waterfront, a large central square lined with cafes and tavernas gives the town its centre, and the old quarter is known for its seafood.
Things to do in and around Souda
Souda works as a base for the wartime sites, the fortified islet, and the ancient city that ring the bay. The main things to see in and around Souda are listed below in order of how close they sit to the town:
- Pay respects at the Souda Bay War Cemetery, the resting place of more than 1,500 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War, set on the shore of the bay.
- Look out to the fortified Venetian islet of Souda, which guards the mouth of the bay beside the smaller islet of Leon.
- Visit ancient Aptera, whose ruins and restored theatre stand on a plateau above the bay with views toward the White Mountains.
- See the Intzedin Fort, a coastal fortress on the south side of Souda Bay.
- Eat at the seafood tavernas around the central square and the old quarter, where the fishing port supplies the kitchens.
- Take the short trip west to Chania Old Town for the Venetian harbour, the lighthouse, and the covered municipal market.
A short history of Souda
Souda is a young town by Cretan standards, built from the 1870s on reclaimed salt-beds and marshland at the head of the bay. Souda grew as its port took shape, on ground the Ottomans knew as “Tuzla”, their word for the salt lakes that once covered it. The bay drew military powers for the same reason it drew traders, because its depth and shelter make it one of the safest harbours in the eastern Mediterranean. During the Second World War the bay served as a naval anchorage, and today it holds a Hellenic Navy and NATO naval base, with United States forces stationed across the water on the Akrotiri peninsula.
Getting to Souda
Reach Souda by sea, by air, or by road, since the town is first of all the port of Chania. Overnight ferries from Piraeus dock in the early morning, and cruise ships tie up at the same quay through the season. Chania International Airport (CHQ) lies a short drive away on the Akrotiri peninsula across the bay, and regular buses and taxis connect the port with central Chania. A car makes the wartime sites, ancient Aptera, and the beaches around the bay far easier to reach across a spread-out coast, so many visitors sort out their car rental in Crete.
Frequently asked questions
What is Souda Bay famous for?
Souda Bay is known as one of the largest and deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, the ferry and cruise port of Chania, and the site of a major Second World War naval anchorage.
Is Souda a NATO base?
Yes. Souda holds a Hellenic Navy and NATO naval base on the bay, and United States forces operate from a base on the Akrotiri peninsula across the water.
Is there anything to do in Souda?
Yes. Visitors walk the seafront and the central square, eat at the seafood tavernas, visit the Souda Bay War Cemetery, and drive on to ancient Aptera and the Venetian fort islet nearby.
What is the Souda Bay War Cemetery?
The Souda Bay War Cemetery is a Commonwealth war cemetery on the shore of the bay, where more than 1,500 servicemen of the Second World War are buried or commemorated.
How do you get from Souda port to Chania?
To reach Chania from Souda port, take one of the regular buses or a taxi from the stop just outside the harbour, which cover the short distance to the city centre.
Can cruise ships dock at Souda?
Yes. Cruise ships call at Souda Bay as the port for Chania, and passengers reach the city centre and the nearby sights by bus or taxi from the pier.
Souda Map
Explore Souda is located at Souda, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
