Should you visit Nafplio or Chania?
Should I visit Nafplio or Chania? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Nafplio
The destination of Nafplio exists as a historic seaport town on the Peloponnese peninsula. From prevailing as a major port under royal succession in the Middle Ages to standing under the Republic of Venice, Ottoman Empire, and finally becoming capital of the First Hellenic Republic and then the Kingdom of Greece, this place has seen it all. Nafplio is now the capital of the region of Argolis.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Chania or Nafplio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nafplio is €89, while the average daily cost in Chania is €74. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nafplio and Chania in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €80 in Nafplio For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Chania is about €72 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
Nafplio food costs typically run travelers around €27 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
The average traveler spends about €26 per day in Chania for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nafplio €27
Chania €26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nafplio
For Nafplio, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Nafplio Walking Food Tour:
$121
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Nauplio Food Tour:
$124
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Cooking Class in Nafplio:
$189
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chania
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chania.
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Chania Food Tours:
$79
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The Delicious Chania PRIVATE Food Tour:
$100
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The Real Cretan Cooking Experience:
$101
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Private Walking Food Tour in Chania:
$117
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Semi Private Wine Tasting & Dinner at Sunset:
$131
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Crete Bohemian Sunset Small Group Tour with Wine Tasting and Dinner:
$156
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Full Day Bygone Crete Cooking Class Adventure:
$185
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Full-day Sfakia Region Tour from Hiking, Cooking Class, Wine Tasting:
$209
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Sunset at Machairida beach , dinner , staying overnight on board ...:
$1,914
Local Transportation
Nafplio's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €37 per person, per day on transportation in Nafplio.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €12 per day to get around in Chania.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nafplio
Also for Nafplio, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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3-Hours Private Transfer from Nafplio to Athens:
$666
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Nafplio to Athens International Airport Private Transfer:
$672
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chania
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chania:
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Private Transfer from Chania to Sitia (JSH) Airport:
$581
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Private Airport Transfer: from Chania to Chania International Airport (CHQ):
$26
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Crete Private Transfer from Chania city to Heraklion (HER) Airport:
$291
Is it cheaper to fly into Nafplio or Chania?
Prices for flights to both Chania and Nafplio 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Nafplio can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €17 per person, per day in Chania. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Nafplio
For Nafplio, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Nafplio Train Tour:
$13
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Nafplio City Tour:
$13
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Walking City Tour of Nafplio:
$45
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Nafplio City Tour:
$52
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Tour Nafplio with an e-bike!:
$64
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Horse Riding Experience in Nafplio:
$70
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Hiking Tour in Nafplio:
$77
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Nafplio Private Gastronomy Tour:
$100
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Olive Oil Tour close to Nafplio:
$108
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From Mycenae and Epidaurus Tour:
$110
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Cycling Tour at Nafplio:
$114
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Half day tour in Mycenae and Epidaurus from Nafplio:
$128
Tours and Activities in Chania
Here are a few actual costs in Chania for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2-3 Days Private Sailing Cruises to Gramvousa island and Balos lagoon:
$3,573
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40-Minute Chania Sightseeing Tour by Trikke:
$35
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A tour around tradition - Apokoronas Region:
$108
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Agia Triada and Gouverneto Monasteries, Venizelos Graves Private Tour:
$249
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BALOS-GRABOUSA PENINSULA path, adventure:
$162
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Battle of Crete Tour WW2:
$411
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Cave of Zeus & Mountainous East Crete Adventure - Private Tour from Chania:
$687
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Chania Combo Tour:
$106
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Chania Exploration Bike Tour:
$49
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Chania Highlights Trikke City Tour:
$72
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Chania Old Town Private Tour:
$411
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Chania Old Town Tour:
$187
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Nafplio spend on average €5.49 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chania may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €15 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Nafplio
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nafplio:
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Wine tour at the footsteps of Hercules in Nemea from Nafplio:
$188
Sample the Local Flavors in Chania
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chania:
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Private food tasting tour (with optional wine tasting) in Chania Crete:
$100
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Half-Day Small-Group Wine Tour in Chania:
$102
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nafplio and Chania, we can see that Nafplio is more expensive. And not only is Chania much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chania would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chania 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 Nafplio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nafplio than you might in Chania.
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