Archaeological Museum of Chania

About the museum

The Archaeological Museum of Chania was previously housed in the Venetian monastery of Agios Frangiskos in the old town. In 2022 the new building in Chalepa was inaugurated, taking the place of the old museum.

The building was designed by the architect Theofanis Bobotis. It covers an area of 6,000 square metres and stands in the historic district of Chalepa, with views towards the Cretan Sea.

More than 4,000 ancient objects are on display, from the Palaeolithic period to the Roman period. The exhibition follows chronological order in three rooms on the ground floor and one on the first floor. It begins with finds from Gavdos and from the last phases of cave habitation, and continues with the Minoan period and the flourishing of Kydonia (today's Chania) and Aptera. In the historic period, up to the 4th century AD, the reconstruction of the house of “Philargyros”, the statue of the emperor Hadrian from the sanctuary of Diktynna and the marble statues from the Asklepieion of Lisos stand out.

Highlights

• New building by Theofanis Bobotis in Chalepa
• More than 4,000 ancient objects
• Reconstruction of the house of “Philargyros”
• Statue of the emperor Hadrian from the sanctuary of Diktynna
• Statues from the Asklepieion of Lisos
• Café with a balcony and a view over Chalepa

Permanent exhibitions

• Από την Παλαιολιθική εποχή στους μινωικούς χρόνους – Finds from Gavdos and from the caves of the area, and the Minoan period in Chania.
• Κυδωνία και Άπτερα – The flourishing of the two most important city-states of western Crete until the 4th century AD.
• Ρωμαϊκά χρόνια και ιερά – Reconstruction of the house of “Philargyros”, the statue of Hadrian from the sanctuary of Diktynna and statues from the Asklepieion of Lisos.

Founded

1899

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and every first and third Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is accessible and has a lift and toilets.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

About 30 minutes on foot from the Municipal Market of Chania; about 12 minutes by car.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Café with a balcony and a view over the seafront of Chalepa; shop and wireless network on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.