Souda-Chania (Crete Greece)

Chania is a port city on Crete Island (Greece) with population around 110,000, Chania is Crete's 2nd largest city - after the island's capital Heraklion. Ferries and large cruise ships to Chania dock at Port Souda - approx 4 km (2,5 mi) to the southeast from Chania.

The city is located along the island's north coast, approx 70 km (43 mi) west of Rethymno and approx 145 km (90 mi) west of Heraklion. In the municipality are also included several other small towns and villages, among which are Kounoupidiana (population around 9,000), Mournies (~8,000), Souda (~7,000), Nerokouros (~6,000), Daratsos (5,000), Perivolia (4,000), Galatas (3,000), Aroni (3,000).

Chania is easily divided into 2 parts: the modern city (the larger one) and the picturesque old town (next to the old harbor) - the whole urban area has been developed around it. The Old Town used to be surrounded by the 16th-century built Venetian fortifications.

Despite being heavily bombed during WW2 (1939-1945), the Old Town is reckoned Crete's most beautiful urban district, especially the old Venetian harbor. Old Town's borders are defined by the mostly destroyed Venetian wall. The Old Town's central part (Kasteli) was inhabited since Neolithic times. Next to Kasteli's west end is Eleftherios Venizelos Square (the main square). It is the heart of tourist activities in the region. A most distinctive area of the old harbor. Its seafront districts (named Enoseos, Kountouriotou, and Tompazi) all feature historical buildings and thriving nightlife. Halidon Street (the city's main street) connects the modern with the old town.

For season 2019, Port Souda had scheduled a total of 132 cruise ship calls (20% increase over 2018) with estimated ~270,000 tourists. For 2020, the cruise port expects around 150 cruise berth bookings.

Souda-Chania cruise terminal