From Music & Film Celebrations to Honey & Chestnut Festivals, Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts Shares its Pick of the Best Events for Culture Vultures Visiting the Greek Island, July to October.
As the largest of the Greek islands, Crete offers the best of both worlds — the stunning natural beauty and relaxed charm of an island, paired with the rich history, vibrant culture and architectural grandeur of a European city, which can be found in buzzing Chania. From July – October the island comes alive with events and exhibitions celebrating music, culture, art, food and drink and there’s no better base from which to soak up the Cretan cultural action than one of the perfectly placed, family-run Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts, near Chania. Perfect for foodies and festival goers.
Here are some of the island’s highlight events for 2025:
Music & Culture
Chania International Photo Festival (20 – 24 July 2025)
Organized by Blank Wall Gallery, the Chania International Photo Festival brings together 500 photographers from around the globe, with exhibitions held in various venues across Chania. This year artists from 69 countries will be hosted at the festival.
Dance Days Chania (21 July – 2 August 2025)
Created in 2011, Dance Days Chania is an international contemporary dance festival that features performances, workshops and lectures by global artists, at venues across Chania.
Chania Rock Festival (26 & 27 July 2025)
Chania Rock Festival is a rock & metal music event that brings together metalheads, music enthusiasts, and local and international bands, in the heart of the old city of Chania. Launched in 2002, 2025’s lineup includes titans of the rock scene including Kreator, Stratovatius, Geoff Tate and Elysion.
Chaniartoon Festival (18 – 28 September 2025)
The Chaniartoon international comic and animation festival began in 2017, and has since showcased comics, animation and gaming graphics, with exhibitions, workshops, and screenings from worldwide artists.
Chania Music Festival (3 – 5 October 2025)
Contemporary Greek music meets new international trends at the Chania Music Festival. Attendees will discover artists that combine classical elements with electronics, experimental, minimalist and other elements into new, uncharted, atmospheric soundscapes.
Chania Film Festival (15 – 26 October 2025)
The 13th Chania Film Festival will take place in Chania, showcasing documentaries, short films and feature films from around the world, along with workshops and discussions. It was first held in 2001 by the Cultural Organization of Crete.
“Journeys in Art” Exhibition (24 May – 2 November 2025)
An exciting new art exhibition showcasing the grand collection of artworks from the Bank of Greece has launched at the Municipal Art Gallery of Chania and will run until 2 November 2025. The “Journeys in Art” exhibition has been curated by Haris Kanellopoulou, art historian, scientific director and curator of the prestigious Bank of Greece’s Art Collection and encompasses 99 works of Greek art spanning the period 1870 – 2024.
Culinary Events
Kalitsounia Festival (July – August 2025)
Celebrated around mid-July or mid-August in the Kandanos village, an hour’s drive from Chania, this feast centres around kalitsounia, the sweet cheese pastries that are one of the most popular Cretan treats. Besides kalitsounia, visitors can savor kserotigana (sweets made of thin fried dough served with honey and cinnamon), as well as stew, rice pilaf, wine, tsikoudia and other delicacies.
Honey Festival (August 2025)
Taking place annually in the villages of Afrata (Kolimbari) and Drakona, both around a 30 min drive from Chania, this August festival promotes local honey to the accompaniment of mezes and Cretan music.
Chestnut Festival (19 – 21 October 2025)
The Chestnut Festival is a cherished autumn tradition on Crete, located in the village of Elos, 55km from Chania on the west side of the island, surrounded by scenic chestnut trees that mark the harvest season. The event offers visitors a taste of local culture and cuisine, with the spotlight on chestnut-inspired dishes. In addition, there’s live music, traditional folk dances by Cretan dance groups, traditional Greek costumes and an authentic feast that follows the area’s time-honoured customs.
Tsikoudia Festivals (October & November 2025)
Throughout October and November, the months of tsikoudia production, festivals take place across Crete, including in the old Venetian Port of Chania Town. Visitors can watch the distillation process of the grapes, which are boiled in huge cauldron, accompanied by plentiful local dishes, drinks and live music.
Accommodation and Pricing
Giannoulis Santa Marina Beach
Set on a beautiful, sandy beach on the west side of Crete, just 8km from Chania, Giannoulis Santa Marina Beachis perfectly located for exploring the culturally-rich island. With a range of entertainment on offer and a fun-filled kids’ club, Santa Marina Beach is ideal for families. Guests of all ages can swim in the pool, relax on the sands of Agia Marina, and enjoy a meal at one of the four restaurants (two a la carte and two buffet). Prices start from 92€ (£76) per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two people sharing a room.
Giannoulis Santa Marina Plaza
Giannoulis Santa Marina Plaza is a boutique, 51-room, adults-only hotel set on the long sandy beach of Agia Marina village, also just 8 km from Chania city centre. The hotel provides a serene environment for holidaymakers who want to relax in a peaceful, child-free environment. Guests can enjoy a dip in the outdoor pool, dining with a sea view at the a la carte or buffet restaurant, drinks at the main or pool bar, keeping fit in the gym and relaxing with an outdoor massage under a tranquil gazebo. Prices start from 100.45€ (£83) per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two people sharing a room.
Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort
Located 22km west of Chania, Crete, Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort sits on a Blue Flag awarded, pebble beach and offers majestic views of the Gulf of Chania and Cape Spada. The 150-room resort offers a wonderful free-style lagoon-style swimming pool, three restaurants (two a la carte and one buffet), a main bar, a swim-up pool bar, kids’ club and boutique store. The spa and wellness area is home to an indoor heated pool, sauna, hammam and jacuzzi, and offers a range of massage and beauty treatments. Ideal for active families and couples, the resort’s extensive sports facilities include two tennis courts, a paddle tennis court, spinning room, a beach volleyball court, obstacle area, two boule courts, a bicycle station, a running track, and a fully equipped gym. Prices start from 134€ (£111) per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two people sharing a room
Giannoulis Grand Bay Beach Resort
Primely positioned on the sun-kissed beach of Kolymbari, Giannoulis Grand Bay Beach Resort is a 78-room, adults-only resort, just a two-minute drive from Kolymbari village and 23km west of Chania’s lively centre. Ideal for couples and solo travellers, guests can enjoy the beach and swimming pool, sip cocktails at the pool bar, and dine at the exclusive Azzuro a la carte restaurant, SeaLine a la carte taverna or in the buffet restaurant. There is also a small but well-equipped fitness centre, a sauna and a wellness area offering massage and beauty services. Prices start from 116€ (£97) per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two people sharing a room.
Giannoulis Ele Villas
Close to the Cavo Spada hotel, Giannoulis Ele Villas, which opened in late 2024, are two villas that have been designed to blend in with the beauty of their natural surroundings. The twin properties have a contemporary architectural design, created for travellers who seek elegant living, privacy and panoramic views. Each villa has a large veranda overlooking the sea, a 30sqm. private swimming pool, two bedrooms and two sofa beds in the living area that can comfortably accommodate up to six guests, three bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, landscaped gardens and private sunbeds. Prices start from £442.34 per villa, per night.
For more information and to book, please go to www.giannoulishotels.com, call +30 28240 22640 or email [email protected]
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