Thodorou and Lazaretta Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise Chania

Chania Old Venetian Harbour

The cruise starts in one of the most beautiful harbours in Greece. The Venetians shaped the old port of Chania from the 14th century, protecting it with a long breakwater that ends in the slender lighthouse, rebuilt in its present form in the 1830s. Around the quay stand the Firkas fortress, the domed 17th-century Mosque of the Janissaries, the arched Venetian shipyards and rows of pastel-coloured houses that now host cafés and shops.

Boarding here means you begin with the classic view of Chania from the water as the boat slips past the lighthouse into the open bay. Arrive a little early to stroll along the harbour front, and plan time after the cruise for the lanes of the old town behind it. The harbour is easy to reach on foot from most hotels in the centre, and public car parks are a few minutes away.

Thodorou Island, Refuge of the Kri-Kri Goat

Thodorou, also known as Agioi Theodoroi, is a rocky island a short distance off the beaches of Agia Marina. It is a protected refuge for the kri-kri, the wild goat found only on Crete and a few nearby islands, with long curved horns and a remarkable talent for climbing almost vertical rock. Landing is restricted, so the boat circles the island slowly while the guide helps you spot the goats on the slopes above.

In the 16th century the Venetians fortified the island to defend the approach to Chania, and in 1645 it was one of the first positions taken when the Ottoman fleet landed on this coast. Today it looks wild and untouched, its cliffs dropping straight into deep, clear water. Seeing Thodorou from a glass-bottom boat lets you enjoy both the landscape above and the life beneath the surface.

Looking Through the Glass Bottom

The heart of the trip is the view through the glass panels in the hull. As the boat crosses sandy patches and meadows of seagrass, you can watch shoals of bream and damselfish, sea urchins, starfish and sometimes an octopus hiding among the rocks. The guide on board is known for bringing up starfish and other harmless sea creatures for children to see up close before returning them to the water.

One of the most unusual sights is the wreck of a Second World War aircraft resting on the seabed near Thodorou, a reminder of the battles fought over Crete in 1941. Seen through the glass, the broken wings and fuselage, now covered in marine growth, are fascinating for adults and children alike. It is a gentle way to explore the underwater world without getting wet.

Lazaretta Island Swim Stop

After Thodorou the boat heads to Lazaretta, a small islet in the bay whose name comes from the old word for a quarantine station. Its sheltered water is clear and calm on most summer afternoons, and the boat stops here so you can swim, snorkel with your own mask, relax on the little beach or simply stay on board and watch the seabed through the glass.

This stop is the favourite part of the afternoon for many families, as children can splash in the shallows while parents enjoy the view back towards Chania and the White Mountains. Bring swimwear and a towel, as towels are not provided, and keep sunscreen handy because shade is limited on the islet.

The Bay of Chania from the Sea

Between the stops the cruise follows the coast west of the old town, past the beaches of Nea Chora, Kalamaki, Kato Stalos and Agia Marina. From the water you see how the resorts sit beneath green hills and how, far behind them, the peaks of the White Mountains rise above western Crete. On clear days the view stretches west to the Rodopou peninsula.

Is a Chania glass-bottom boat trip worth it? For families with young children, guests who do not dive and anyone with only one free afternoon, it is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the sea here. The best time to visit Chania for boat trips is from May to October, when the water is warm; in July and August the northern meltemi wind can make the sea a little choppy in the afternoon.