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Souda (6km from Chania) is a typical port area but the bay and the landscape around it are very beautiful. In the nearby area is also the Allied World War II cemetery. Souda Bay is one of the most strategically important NATO anchorages in the Mediterranean.

Souda Bay is one of the most strategically important NATO anchorages in the Mediterranean. The inlet is 15km long and in some areas, 16km wide, making it the largest harbor in the Mediterranean. It is also one of the most protected from all winds--deceivingly so, because very often it is not known how bad the weather is outside the harbor. During World War II, heavy German aerial bombardment sank many British ships here.

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Near the mouth of Souda bay, between the Akrotiri and the town of Kalives, there is a group of small islands with Venetian fortifications.

The largest island is Souda Island, giving its name to the bay. Souda Bay is now a popular tourist destination although there are no real public beaches due to the presence of the naval base.

Villages such as Megala Chorafia and Kalives afford fine views of the bay, and house-building, particularly for foreigners and tourist companies, is spreading along the bay.

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Shopping hours are a somewhat complicated matter in Greece as they vary according to the type of business. The list below covers the main areas but bear in mind that this is subject to sudden arbitrary and often incomprehensible changes in the law.

Generally the hours between 2.00pm and 5.30pm are dedicated to lunch and the sacred afternoon siesta, especially in the hot summer.

Tourist shops may stay open, so do many kiosks, all the supermarkets, main post-offices and telephone offices.

Apart from kiosks, sweet shops, florists and many tourist shops everything is closed on Sundays. Supermarkets Open at 8.00 am and close at 8.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end of October. Saturday they close at 6.00 pm and are closed on Sundays and holidays.

All shops (with the exception of the ones listed separately) Shops open around 9.00 am and close around 1.30 or 2.00 pm Monday to Saturday. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday they are also open from around 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Always closed on Sundays and holidays.

Business holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany (6 January), Lent (March; date varies), Greek Independence Day (25 March), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday (March or April; dates vary), Labor Day (1 May), Holy Spirit Day (early June), Assumption (15 August), Ochi Day (28 October), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December).

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