Chania is the second-largest city on the island of Crete, which is why it is so vegan-friendly. We were pleasantly surprised that in almost every restaurant, there are special marks that tell you if the dish is vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free.
Chania is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. Renting a car is a must if you want to explore Chania and the surrounding area. The island of Crete is so big that if you really want to see as much as possible, you need the freedom of your own car.
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If you just want to relax on the beach and not hop around the island for your holidays and just enjoy the beach in Chania, you can do that too.
The city is very beautiful with many shops, vegan restaurants, and bars. It is a great place to spend your evenings after enjoying the beach.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHANIA
There are countless hotels and vacation rentals in the area. If you have rented a car, I recommend that you stay a little bit out of the hustle and bustle of Chania. Because the city is so big, it can get quite busy. The beaches in the city can also get crowded, and the traffic and parking situation can be very busy.
We stayed at Airis Boutique Hotel & Suites, which is just a little bit outside of Chania. It is a 10-minute car ride to reach the city centre, although on Fridays and Saturdays, it can take 20 minutes because of the traffic.
The hotel is very clean, rooms are spacious, and the pool is very relaxing. It is also situated in a peaceful area, and it has a parking lot. ->Check the prices here.
Parking in Chania is a nightmare. We tried many different parking spots near the city, and every evening the parking situation was horrible. Because of that, it is also an option to use the bus to reach the city centre of Chania.
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN CHANIA
You can find something vegan to eat in almost every restaurant in Chania. Most of the restaurants have Dolmadakia, which is a traditional Greek dish: stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs. This one is so good that we ordered it for almost every meal.
You can also have potatoes, and to make Greek salad vegan, order it without feta cheese. Most of the restaurants offer stuffed peppers or tomatoes with rice called Gemista – this is also one of my favourite vegan foods in Crete.
Here are some of the best vegan restaurants to try on your vacation in Chania:
PULSE CHANIA VEGAN RESTAURANT
This was one of our favourite restaurants in Chania, and we ate there twice because there were too many good things to choose from. For mains, you can have moussaka, casserole, risotto, and other unique dishes.
There are many different starters and desserts you can try, and they also have fresh smoothies. For dessert, we tried vegan tiramisu, and it was very good.
TO STACHI CHANIA VEGAN SLOW FOOD
It is a cute restaurant offering traditional Greek cuisine. You can try moussaka, zucchini flowers, and traditional dolmadakia. You can also have spaghetti, soup, or salad.
Here we tried pastisio, which is a dish made from layers of pasta, tomato sauce, mushrooms, vegetables, and vegan bechamel. And we also had the soup of the day.
FALAVELA FALAFEL IN CHANIA
It is an affordable falafel place offering a variety of falafel wraps. Not all are vegan, but most of them are. It is a great snack option, a little bit out of the city centre of Chania on Crete. We tried a falafel wrap, and it was very good.
NEKTAR COLD-PRESSED JUICES
They have many fresh vegan juices to choose from and energy bars. They also have many gluten-free options. For a snack, you can have seasonal salads and vegan sandwiches with raw veggie spreads and vegetables.
EVILION BISTRO – CHANIA VEGAN
This restaurant is not in the city centre of Chania, but it is worth a visit. Many of the dishes in this restaurant are vegan. You can have healthy bowls, pasta, salad, burgers, vegan mushroom gyros, and falafel.
TALOS RESTAURANT
This restaurant was just a few minutes from our hotel in Chania, so we decided to stop there for lunch. On their menu, everything that is vegan or gluten-free is written in a different colour, so it is easy to spot vegan dishes. I had my favourite traditional specialty called gemista, and we also tried bria, which is a dish of roasted vegetables.
SPILIOS – CHANIA VEGAN OPTION
This restaurant had one of the best views we have seen in Crete. The restaurant is overlooking Phalasarna beach. We ordered a few different vegan dishes and made ourselves a perfect lunch with a view. If you are visiting Phalasarna beach, you have to stop here for lunch or dinner. You can check their menu here.
TAVERNA MOURAKI
This restaurant also has an amazing view. It is not very vegan-friendly, but you can find a few dishes. Most restaurants in Greece and Crete are offering dalmadakia for starters and gemista for mains. These are two traditional specialities that are also vegan and super delicious.
Crete is a big island, so visit it for at least one week; 14 days would be much better. Crete is so big that you will need to spend at least two weeks if you want to see it all. Chania is a good location if you want to explore some of the most famous beaches on the island.
We did not have that much time, so we chose to stay three days in Heraklion and five days near Chania, so we were able to see as much as possible during our short stay.
As I already mentioned, most of the restaurants around Chania have vegan options listed on the menu so you can be a little bit spontaneous on your trip and not check every restaurant up front. Crete is very beautiful and one of the Greek islands that you cannot miss!
BEST BEACHES IN CHANIA
The best beaches to visit near the city of Chania are Phalasarna, Elafonissi, and Balos. Phalasarna is our number one beach to chill. Very popular is also Elafonissi Beach with pink sand, but it is not our favourite because it is a little bit too touristy for us.
There is also the most beautiful one of all three, called Balos Lagoon. It is a 1-hour trip from Chania, but it is worth it. The views are breathtaking, and the beach is amazing. Just be sure to have enough water, vegan snacks, and a good pair of walking shoes because it is quite a hike if you arrive by car.
An important tip for visiting Balos is to arrive early to secure a parking spot and to visit the beach before the crowds that arrive by boat.
One of the best things to do when visiting is to go on a sunset cruise. It is truly an unforgettable experience, and that’s why it is one of the best-rated activities in the city. Check the availability here.