Souda-Chania Crete Greece

662 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Azamara Club Cruises (42 Cruises)

Cruise Aza Azamara Club Cruises Journey ship

Azamara Journey

1114 Passengers
30277 tons
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Azamara Onward

30277 tons
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Celebrity Cruises (23 Cruises)

Crystal Cruises (15 Cruises)

Holland America Line (50 Cruises)

Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Oosterdam ship

ms Oosterdam

2024 Passengers
82820 tons
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Princess Cruises (311 Cruises)

Enchanted Princess.

Enchanted Princess

3660 Passengers
145000 tons
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Sun Princess.

Sun Princess

2000 Passengers
77441 tons
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises (15 Cruises)

Silversea Cruises (18 Cruises)

Viking Ocean Cruises (123 Cruises)

Viking Neptune1

Viking Neptune

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Viking Saturn.

Viking Saturn

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Viking Vela.

Viking Vela

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Virgin Voyages (17 Cruises)

Port of Souda–Chania, Crete | Cruise Port Guide

Souda Bay is among the safest anchorages in the Mediterranean, and cruise ships find shelter here that ancient fleets already coveted, and that the grey vessels of the nearby naval base still frequent. Behind the hills enclosing the harbour lies the true destination of the port call: Chania, the former capital of Crete, whose Venetian harbour and Ottoman lanes form one of the finest historic ensembles in the Aegean.

From Souda to Chania

The Souda quay is about seven kilometres from the centre of Chania; walking isn't an option, but there are plenty of alternatives. On port call days, shuttles link the terminal to the centre in under half an hour depending on traffic, dropping passengers near the covered market. City bus number 13 also leaves from near the quay for a modest fare, and taxis wait at the exit. Once at the market, everything else is done on foot.

The Venetian harbour and its lighthouse

Chania owes its face to the Venetians, who fortified and embellished it for four centuries. Their most photographed legacy closes off the harbour: a slender stone lighthouse at the end of the breakwater, watching over the waters of the old basin. Opposite, the Mosque of the Janissaries, topped with pink domes, recalls two and a half centuries of Ottoman presence. Between the two, the curving quay lines up pastel façades, cafés and horse-drawn carriages, and the walk to the foot of the lighthouse is a must on any first visit.

The districts behind the harbour

Simply leave the waterfront and the old town reveals its depth. The Topanas district piles up wooden balconies, carved doors and flower-lined stairways; the street of the leatherworkers, heir to the old leather artisans, still lines up its stalls; the remains of the ramparts frame small squares where time stretches out. The maritime museum, near the entrance to the basin, traces Crete's long relationship with the sea, while the archaeological museum displays pieces ranging from the Neolithic to the Roman era. You move from one point to another in moments, which makes wandering especially pleasant.

The market and Cretan flavours

The shuttles' drop-off point, the cross-shaped covered market, inspired by the one in Marseille, brims with products from the island: olive oil, thyme honey, cheeses, wild herbs and raki served without ceremony. The surrounding tavernas extend the lesson in Cretan cuisine, reputed to be one of the healthiest in the world. Ordering a plate of small fried cheeses with honey or a dish of snails prepared the local way is part of the education. Those who want to touch the sea before re-embarking walk about ten minutes west to the city beach of Nea Chora, where tavernas line up their tables facing the sand.

Practical pointers

Connection to the centreApproximate time
Port call shuttle to the centre15 to 25 minutes
City bus no. 13about 20 minutes
Taxiabout 15 minutes

Near the terminal, the Souda Bay Allied War Cemetery honours the soldiers who fell during the Battle of Crete in 1941; visitors moved by this history can pay their respects before heading into town.

The last look

On the way back, from the road skirting the bay, the old city disappears behind the olive trees and hills. What remains are the lighthouse at the end of its breakwater, the pink domes, the smell of leather and thyme. Crete has a knack for doing a lot with a single day, and this port call is the most convincing proof. The ride back is often silent, the silence of full days.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Souda Bay, one of the safest anchorages in the Mediterranean, about seven kilometres from the centre of Chania. The quay sits beside a naval base; the real destination of the call lies beyond the hills.
Walking is not an option, but there are plenty of alternatives: port shuttles in under half an hour depending on traffic, city bus number 13 for a modest fare in about twenty minutes, or a taxi in around fifteen. Once at the covered market, everything else is on foot.
The Venetian harbour and its jetty out to the lighthouse, the Topanas quarter with its wooden balconies, the covered market, and a meal at a taverna in the lanes. Everything is moments apart, which makes wandering a pleasure.
The old basin closed off by a slender stone lighthouse planted at the end of the jetty. Opposite, the Mosque of the Janissaries with its pink domes recalls two and a half centuries of Ottoman rule; between them, the curving quay lines up pastel facades and cafés.
The maritime museum near the harbour entrance, which traces Crete's long relationship with the sea, and the archaeological museum, showing pieces from the Neolithic to the Roman period.
A cross-shaped market hall inspired by the one in Marseille, where port shuttles drop their passengers. It is filled with olive oil, thyme honey, cheeses, wild herbs and raki poured without ceremony.
A plate of small fried cheeses with honey or a dish of snails done the local way, at the taverns around the market. Cretan cooking is considered among the healthiest in the world, and this is where you learn it.
Yes, Nea Chora, about ten minutes' walk west of the centre, where the taverns line up their tables facing the sand.
The Souda Bay allied war cemetery, honouring the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Crete in 1941. Visitors moved by that history can pay their respects before heading into town.
The euro and Greek, with English widely spoken. Cards work in the centre; keep cash for the number 13 bus and the market stalls.