A Travel Price Comparison for Greece Skiathos vs. Chania for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Skiathos or Chania?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Skiathos and Chania can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Skiathos or Chania?

Skiathos

Nestled in the azure waters of the Aegean Sea, Skiathos is a small but captivating island that packs a big punch when it comes to natural beauty, pristine beaches, and vibrant nightlife. As part of the Sporades archipelago, this verdant paradise offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure for all types of travelers. While Skiathos can be pricier than some other Greek islands due to its popularity, savvy travelers can still enjoy its charms without breaking the bank. To save money, eat at local restaurants, take public transportation, and find small, local hotels for accommodation.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Greece, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Greece, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Greece, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece.


Which place is cheaper, Chania or Skiathos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Skiathos is €412, while the average daily cost in Chania is €116. 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 Skiathos and Chania in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Skiathos 215
    Chania 46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Skiathos 430
    Chania 92
Compare Hotels in Skiathos and Chania

Looking for a hotel in Skiathos or Chania? 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.

Hotels in Skiathos


Hotels in Chania


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: Skiathos Hotel Prices and Chania Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Skiathos 115
    Chania 15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Skiathos

Also for Skiathos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Skiathos Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chania

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chania:

  • Full-Day Trip to Santorini island by Boat from Rethymno with Transfer your Hotel: $250
  • Transfer from Chania airport to Elafonisi up to 3 or vise versa: $245
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Kalyves to Heraklion: $236
  • Heraklion and Chania Transfer with Sightseeing in Rethymno: $228
  • Transfer from Chania airport to Paleochora up to 3 or vise versa: $219
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer Georgioupoli to Heraklion: $176
  • Private Transfer from Chania Airport to Rethymno Center (One Way): $158
  • Crete Private Transfer to or from Ports Airports Hotels Villas: $150
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania to Sfakia: $144
  • Private Transfers from Chania Airport to Kissamos one way: $143
  • Private Transfer from Rethymno to Heraklion airport: $127
  • Souda Port-Bay to Chania City Private Tour with Transfer: $119

Is it cheaper to fly into Skiathos or Chania?

Prices for flights to both Chania and Skiathos 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Skiathos 129
    Chania 56

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chania

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chania.

  • The Delicious Chania Street Food Tour : $96
  • Half Day Sunset Tour in Rethymno with Dinner and Wine: $100
  • Chania Walking Food Tours Crete with a local!: $101
  • Morning Bites and Market Delights Food Tour: $108
  • Evening Feasts A Journey through Cretan Flavors Food Tour: $108
  • Sunset Craft Beer & Food Tour - Chania Old Port: $131
  • Mountain Food Tour [out of the box]- Chania Villages: $198
  • Horse Riding, Falasarna Sunset View, Drone video, Tavern Dinner.: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Skiathos 45
    Chania 21

Tours and Activities in Skiathos

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Skiathos.

  • Sea and Sun day cruise from Skiathos: $53
  • Skiathos Guided Olive Oil Tasting Experience: $57
  • Mamma Mia Cruise From Skiathos Island: $59
  • Daily Sailing Cruise from Skiathos to Skopelos Island: $143
  • Skiathos Semiprivate Sailing Cruise : $151
  • All-Inclusive Sailing Cruise-Skiathos & Nearby Islands with Lunch: $155
  • All-Inclusive Full-Day Cruise & Lunch: $161

Tours and Activities in Chania

Here are a few actual costs in Chania for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Preveli WW2 Evacuation Private History Tour - Battle of Crete: $239
  • Wine & Olive Oil tasting one day private tour in Crete: $184
  • 4x4 Cretan Experience from Rethymnon: $113
  • 6-Hours Safari Tour in Damnoni and Skinaria Beach, from Plakias: $34
  • Balos & Falassarna Beach - Jeep Tour with Loungers and Lunch: $191
  • Chania Archaeological Museum E-Ticket and Audio Tour : $29
  • Chania City & Lake Kournas Tour: $36
  • Chania City Evening Tour From Rethymno: $34
  • Chania Private Tour: Monastery, Scenic Gorge & Mountain Views: $263
  • Chania Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.57
  • Chania Villages and Aptera Site Private Guided Tour: $233
  • Chania WW2 Private Tour Battle of Crete, Battlefields and Bunkers: $197

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Skiathos 23
    Chania 18

Sample the Local Flavors in Chania

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chania:

  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour From Chania: $42
  • Crete: Local Wine Tasting & Visit to the Ancient Olive Tree: $142
  • Cave and Cretan Brewery tour with lunch: $186
  • PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting by a Sommelier: $192
  • Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages : $216


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Skiathos and Chania, we can see that Skiathos 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 Skiathos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Skiathos than you might in Chania.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Skiathos Expensive? and Is Chania Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Skiathos or Chania?

Chania has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Skiathos. When comparing the sizes of Skiathos and Chania, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

Related Articles for Skiathos