One of Crete’s most popular tourist resorts, Platanias is situated just to the west of world famous Chania, close to Agia Marina. Well known for its buzz and beach vibe, Platanias has all the usual sun lover’s attractions, and then some.
Famous for its 7 kilometers long white sandy “Blue Flag” beach, and for its vibrant nightlife, this town is an idyllic location for those in search of wild fun for singles and for families. Blessed with a multitude of great accommodations, restaurants, tavernas, souvenir shops, and countless sightseeing attractions, Platanias is a vibrant mix of history, culture, and seaside vacation bliss. Whether you’re searching for a luxurious beachfront holiday or a base for discovering the wilds of western Crete, Platanias is a good choice to enjoy the best of every facet of the Cretan paradise.
Platanias for Everyone
Sitting at the mouth of the River Platanias, known in the time of the epic poems of Homer as Iardanos. Today, the village is made up of Upper (Ano) and a Lower (Kato) Platanias. In the old village, or Upper Platanias visitors will enjoy amazing panoramic views of the Cretan Sea and the surrounds.
At Kato Platanias you’ll find an unequaled vacationing resort where every conceivable touristy accommodations, attractions, and services stretch to the horizon. Along this stretch of beach there are some of the most popular night clubs in Crete.
At the seaside you’ll find well-organized beaches, beach bars, umbrellas, showers, snack bars, lifeguards, water sports, boat tours, and much more. On the east side of the local harbor, close to Agia Marina, tgere are several small artificial coves where the swimming is the best. At night, the beach clubs host tens of thousands of Greeks and foreigners, dance the night away.
Sites of Interest
Offshore of Platanias is the amazing natural refuge at the island of Agii Theodori, which was known as Tourlou-Andasi during Ottoman times. Known to the Venetians as San Theodoro or San Todaro, this small islet was fortified back in 1574. Today the island serves as a sanctuary for the Cretan mountain goat, Kri-kri. While landing on the island is not permitted, there are boat and snorkeling tours that take you to enjoy the amazing aquamarine waters surrounding this fascinating island.
For modern history buffs, the War Shelter of Platanias is a remarkable journey to the time of the famous Battle of Crete in World War II. The shelter is a real war bunker of more than 150 meters of tunnels preserved from the time of the largest airborne invasion in history, Operation Mercury when Nazi Germany invaded the island in May of 1941. The bunker is maintained, more or less as it was, and houses many weapons and other artifacts from the time. To learn more, you can visit the official Facebook page here.
Situated a few kilometers outside Platanias, Theriso Gorge is six kilometers of impressive cliffs and pristine nature. At the foot of the White Mountains, the gorge is the site of the historical beautiful village of Therisso, and a place for an unforgettable photo op. It was at the village that the Cretan hero Eleftherios Venizelos, organized the Cretan Revolution to unite the island of Crete and the rest of Greece, after four hundred years Ottoman rule.
The aforementioned Ano Platanias, or the old village, will reward the visitor with more than a panorama of the west of Crete. Here you can walk in the quiet and peacefulness where Crete’s most treasured values reside. The old houses and narrow winding streets here take you back to a simpler time. The local tavernas here resonate with the sounds of traditional Cretan music and smell of unbelievable Cretan traditional cuisine.
Situated in the countryside surrounding Platanias are countless nature, history, and cultural treasures too numerous to list here. One suggestion for first-time visitors is to rent a car or scooter to tor the vast orange, mandarin and lemon plantations in this part of Crete. During your excursions, you’ll pass any number of amazing wineries, olive producers, churches, Minoan sites, and more. Be sure and pay a visit to nearby Manousakis Winery, widely considered to be the finest wine producers on southern Europe.
Of course, no visit to this part of Crete would be complete without visiting beautiful Chania town. A short cab or bus ride away, Crete’s most photographed Venetian wonder welcomes over 1 million travelers per year. Situated on an idyllic harbor, Chania is Crete second largest city behind the capital in Heraklion. The Venetian harbor, the Archaeological Museum of Chania, the Folklore Museum, and the Nautical Museum of Crete are but a few of the many sites to see. Chania’s magnificent gastronomy, nightlife, and shopping value are also worth mentioning here.
More Suggestions & Information
Other recommendations from experiences we’ve had include the wonderful Vigli Restaurant overlooking all of western Crete (Instagram above); SeaKing Adventures boat trips; Waves Restaurant for fine dining by the sea; Porto Platanias for all-inclusive beachfront bliss; and the Vasiliki Apartments for old school Greek vacationing beachfront. Great wine experiences like Dourakis Winery near Vamos, and the oldest olive tree (arguably) in the world at Vouves are other “must visit” sites.
Getting to Platanias is a no brainer since the seaside resort sits along a chain of endless beachfront attractions in between Chania town and Kissamos to the west. Taxi and bus services from Chania International Airport are an easy connect, and rental car service is also available. Suntransfers and many others offer door-to-door service as well.
For more information we suggest the reader visit the official website of the municipality, or that you check out the Facebook page of Visit Platanias.