Which place is cheaper, Mamaia or Chania?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chania or Mamaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chania or Mamaia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Chania or Mamaia?
Chania
Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. Chania is Crete's most evocative city, with its pretty Venetian quarter, crisscrossed by narrow lanes, culminating at a magnificent harbor. At the harbor entrance is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian, and Ottoman influences. On the other side, the Nautical Museum has model ships, naval objects and photographs. The former monastery of St. Francis houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania. Remnants of Venetian and Turkish architecture abound, with old townhouses now transformed into atmospheric restaurants and boutique hotels. Although all this beauty means the old town is packed with tourists in summer, it's still a great place to unwind. The Venetian Harbor is super for a stroll and a coffee or cocktail. Plus it’s got a university and a modern area to the city, which means that it retains its charm in winter. Indie boutiques and an entire lane dedicated to leather products provide good shopping and, with a multitude of creative restaurants, you’ll likely have some of your best meals on Crete here.
Mamaia
The most popular beach resort in Romania, Mamaia sits on an 8-kilometer wisp of land between Lake Siutghiol and the Black Sea. With plenty of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and an aqua park, the resort area is a party-goer's destination with endless opportunities for fun in the sun and nighttime merriment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Greece, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Greece, The Best Tours for Seniors to Romania, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChania €93Mamaia €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Chania is €93, while the average daily cost in Mamaia is €60. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chania and Mamaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChania €46Mamaia €23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChania €92Mamaia €46
Compare Hotels in Chania and Mamaia
Looking for a hotel in Chania or Mamaia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Chania Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chania €15Mamaia €25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chania
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chania:
- VIP transfer from Chania to Rethymno: $105
- Transfer from or to Chania airport to Gerani up to 3 customers : $85
- Transfer from Chania airport to Platanias up to 3 or vise versa: $80
- Transfer from Chania airport to Paleochora up to 3 or vise versa: $200
- Transfer from Chania airport to Kolymbari up to 3 or vise versa: $105
- Transfer from Chania airport to Georgioupolis up to 3 : $106
- Transfer from Chania airport to Elafonisi up to 3 or vise versa: $224
- Transfer from Chania airport to Chania City Center up to 3 : $54
- Transfer from Chania airport to Agia Marina up to 3 customers: $71
- Samaria Gorge: Private Transfer Tour: $203
- Private Transfers from Chania Airport to Rethymno center one way : $146
- Private Transfer from Chania city Hotels to Heraklion Cruise Port: $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mamaia
Also for Mamaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cernavoda to Bucharest - Private Guided Transfer - Car and Driver: $218
- Constanta to Bucharest Otopeni airport - private transfers: $251
- Mihail Kogalniceanu Constanta to Bucharest Driver - Private Guided Transfer : $272
- Private Transfer from Constanta to Bucarest (OTP) Airport: $174
Is it cheaper to fly into Chania or Mamaia?
Prices for flights to both Mamaia and Chania change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayChania €32Mamaia €21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chania
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chania.
- The Delicious Chania PRIVATE Street Food Tour : $87
- CHANIA WALKING FOOD TOURS – 3 HOUR WALKING TOUR: $107
- CHANIA CRETE COOKING CLASSES – 3 HOURS: $107
- Chania Cooking Class-The Authentic: $118
- Guided Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $123
- From The Ultimate Food Tour Of Chania Villages: $123
- Wine, Food, and Sunset Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $127
- From Agioi Theodoroi Catamaran Dinner Cruise: $127
- Sunset Craft Beer & Food Tour: $128
- Sunset Craft Beer & Food Tour - Chania: $131
- Horse riding,falasarna sunset,dinner in a tavern,drone video: $214
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chania €21Mamaia €12
Tours and Activities in Chania
Here are a few actual costs in Chania for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cretan Night Show Tour From Rethymnon: $54
- Private Tour to Elafonisi and Falasarna: $131
- 6-Hours Safari Tour in Damnoni and Skinaria Beach, from Plakias: $37
- All Day Family Tour to Rethymno & Kournas Lake | JMP Tours: $352
- All Inclusive Full-day Private Tour of Crete Villages from Chania: $279
- Amazing Crete - Elafonisi, Day Tour: $557
- Authentic Wine & Food Tastings - PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch: $158
- Avra, full day sailing cruise: $749
- Avra, half - day sailing cruise: $535
- Balos & Falassarna Beach - Jeep Tour with Loungers and Lunch: $164
- Chania Alternative Sunset Bike Tour: $47
- Chania Battle of Crete Private Tour: WW2 Military History: $144
Tours and Activities in Mamaia
For Mamaia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Labyrinth in the Rocks Tour near Silistra: $21
- Day Tour: Visit Histria Winery and Ancient Citadel: $86
- One Day Tour to Constanta (The Ancient City of Tomis): $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChania €18Mamaia €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Chania
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chania:
- Cretan wine tasting, hosted in French: $91
- Milia Mountain Tour w/Lunch Olive Oil/Wine Tastings: $144
- Wines, Olives, and History: A Private Wine Tour from Chania: $791
Sample the Local Flavors in Mamaia
Also in Mamaia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Unveilling the Essence: Gabai Winery's Captivating Wine Tours: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chania and Mamaia, we can see that Chania is more expensive. And not only is Mamaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mamaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mamaia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Chania would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chania than you might in Mamaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chania Expensive? and Is Mamaia Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Chania or Mamaia?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Chania or Mamaia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Chania as well as Mamaia. Many visitors come to Chania in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Chania is generally a little warmer than Mamaia. Daily temperatures in Chania average around 26°C (80°F), and Mamaia fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mamaia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chania this time of the year. In the summer, Chania often gets more sunshine than Mamaia. Chania gets 380 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mamaia receives 320 hours of full sun.
Chania usually gets less rain in July than Mamaia. Chania gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChania 26°C (80°F)Mamaia 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Chania or Mamaia in the Autumn?
Both Mamaia and Chania are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Chania for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene during these months.
Chania is a little warmer than Mamaia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chania averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Mamaia fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
Chania usually receives more sunshine than Mamaia during autumn. Chania gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Mamaia receives 182 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Chania usually receives more rain than Mamaia. Chania gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChania 20°C (68°F)Mamaia 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Chania or Mamaia in the Winter?
Both Mamaia and Chania during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Chania because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Mamaia in the winter. In the winter, Chania is much warmer than Mamaia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chania in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Mamaia averages at about 1°C (33°F).
In the winter, Chania often gets more sunshine than Mamaia. Chania gets 118 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mamaia receives 83 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chania. Chania usually gets more rain in January than Mamaia. Chania gets 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChania 12°C (54°F)Mamaia 1°C (33°F)
Should I visit Chania or Mamaia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chania and Mamaia. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Chania this time of year.
In April, Chania is generally much warmer than Mamaia. Daily temperatures in Chania average around 17°C (62°F), and Mamaia fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
In Chania, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chania usually receives more sunshine than Mamaia during spring. Chania gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Mamaia receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Chania usually receives around the same amount of rain as Mamaia. Chania gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChania 17°C (62°F)Mamaia 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Mamaia and Chania
| Chania | Mamaia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (80°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (62°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.