Chania Prefecture covers the west part of the island and it is often called “Western Crete”. Chania is surrounded by the Cretan Sea (to the north) and the Mediterranean Sea (to the west and south). At the east, Chania borders the prefecture of Rethymno. 

The prefecture of Chania is divided into 5 provinces: Apokoronas, Kissamos, Kydonia, Selino and Sfakia. Its capital is the city of Chania, which lies at the east end of the Gulf of Chania, about 70 km west of Rethymno and 145 km west of Heraklion.  The city of Chania is the second largest city in Crete, with a population of  55 838 inhabitants (2001 census). Chania is built on the site of the ancient city of Kydonia and it has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The city started to develop during the Minoan period, when it became one of the most important economical centres of ancient Greece. Today Chania is the ”cultural capital city” of Crete and also an important commercial and administrative center. 

The bay of Suda serves as a port for the prefecture of Chania, from where boats have daily connections to the mainland Greece. The airport of Chania is smaller than Heraklion and is located on the peninsula of Akrotiri, near Souda Bay, at about 14 kilometers from the city of Chania. Its official name is "Ioannis Daskalogiannis", after a Cretan rebel against Ottoman rule in the 18th century.

In Chania tourists can find any kind of accomodation, for all budgets, both in the center of the city and near the beach. Chania has plenty of restaurants and cafes, most of them in the old part of the city.

Some of the most important towns and villages of Chania Prefecture are Ayia Roumeli, Elafonissi, Georgioupolis, Falassarna, Kissamos, Kolimbari, Kournas, Paleohora, Vamos, Sfakia, Chora Sfakion, Souda, Soughia and Vrisses.

Chania Prefecture has a population of 156 371 (2005 census) and an area of 2 376 km².
Chania is the most mountainous area of Crete, the tallest peak measuring 2453 metres (peak Pachnes).

Tourists can enjoy a variety of beaches, very popular and crowded at the north coast, or small and isolated at the south-west coast, many of which have been awarded the Blue Flag. Some of the most popular beaches are Chania Nea Chora Beach, Kalathas Beach, Tersanas Beach, Stavros Beach, Marathi Beach, Loutraki Beach, Kyani Akti Beach, Kalives Beach, Almirida Beach, Plaka Beach, Ombrosgialos Beach, Kalivaki Beach, Georgioupolis Beach, Perastikos Beach (beaches located North East of Chania Prefecture, following the route from Chania Town to East), Agii Apostoli Beach, Kalamaki Beach, Agia Marina Beach, Platanias Beach, Gerani Beach, Maleme Beach, Tavronitis Beach, Kolymbari Beach, Afrata Beach, Menies or Diktynna Beach, Ravdoucha Beach, Kissamos or Kastelli Beach, the beach at Balos Lagoon, Long Beach or Pachia Ammos Beach, Falassarna Beach, Sfinari Beach, Afratolakkoi Beach (beaches located North West of Chania Prefecture, following the route from East to West), the beach at Elafonissos Lagoon, Krios Beach, Koundoura Beach, Grammeno Beach, Plakaki Beach, Pachia Ammos Beach, Paleochora Beach, Keratides Beach, Anidri Beach, Sandy Beach, Lissos Beach, Sougia Beach, Agia Roumeli Beach, Agios Pavlos Beach (beaches located South West of Chania Prefecture, following the route from West to East), Marmara (Dialiskari) Beach, Lykos Beach, Phoenix Beach, Loutro Beach, Glyka Nera Beach, Ilingas Beach, Sfakia Beach, Vritomartis Beach,  Fylaki Beach, Frangokastello Beach, Orthi Ammos Beach, Lakki Beach, Agia Marina Beach (beaches located South East of Chania Prefecture, following the route from West to East).