Maritime Museum of Crete

The Maritime Museum of Crete occupies the Venetian Firka Fortress at the entrance of the old harbor and houses ship models along with objects from different periods. The collection spans from Bronze Age artifacts to modern times.

The museum was founded in 1973 to preserve and make accessible Greek naval heritage through scholarly collections. The materials document the long history of seafaring from ancient times to the present day.

The displays show navigation tools and maritime objects that reveal how seafaring shaped the island's connection to the sea across many centuries. You can see how shipping influenced daily life and trade for local communities.

The fortress sits right at the Chania harbor and is easily accessible on foot from the city center. Plan to spend two to three hours there depending on your interest in the different sections.

The museum preserves a full-scale replica of a Minoan ship that was reconstructed based on archaeological discoveries. Visitors can also see an actual destroyer command center and original torpedo propulsion systems on display.

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 09:00-17:00; Sunday 10:00-18:00

Website: http://mar-mus-crete.gr/en/ancient-shipbuilding

GPS coordinates: 35.51925,24.02345

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:23