19 Must sees in Plakias - Crete
Crete, Greece
Plakias is a charming coastal village located in southern Crete. It boasts an extensive sandy beach, crystal-clear waters, and is surrounded by an imposing mountainous landscape. It's a village that, despite being touristy, has a relaxed atmosphere.
You'll almost always enjoy a sunny day; however, due to being nestled between two gorges, it tends to be a location with strong winds, which might feel a bit annoying to you.
If you don't have accommodation yet, leave us a comment, and we'll provide you with a contact ;).
Here's a list of things to do around Plakias:
1. Take a dip at Plakias beach:
Plakias boasts a 1.3km long beach. Alongside it, there are several bars offering drinks and services such as loungers and umbrellas. At the end of the beach lies one of the cultural and natural landmarks, the Paligremnos wall.
The beach is sandy except for the northernmost part, which is made up of large stones. On windy days, the sand can be quite bothersome.
Unfortunately, it's not a good spot for snorkeling due to the sandy bottom. However, if you're interested, we are providing you with some good snorkeling locations in this article.
2. Discover the Paligremnos wall
The Paligremnos wall is located at the southernmost part of Plakias Beach. It's a famous spot, especially among climbers. You can take a stroll at the foot of the cliff and appreciate the immensity of the wall as well as the rock formations. There's a path leading to the top of the cliff, offering incredible views of Plakias.
3. Snorkel in front of On The Rocks Cafe
This small beach is located northwest of Plakias, very close to the main beach (here). It's an ideal spot for snorkeling due to the rocky formations in the sea. Here, you can find sea grass and a wide variety of Mediterranean species, such as moray eels, salema fish, breams, fireworms, or small groupers, among others. We recommend wearing water shoes.
Additionally, the bar 'On The Rocks' allows you to use their sunbeds and umbrellas if you get a drink.
4. Eat like a horse in a Greek tavern
What to say about Greek cuisine! One of the best, healthiest, and most varied in Europe! In Plakias, you'll find plenty of taverns offering a wide offer of vegetarian dishes like Dakos, Zucchini flowers, or Gemista, and also some specialties for meat-eaters like Apaki, meatballs, or grilled meats. Don't miss out on the pita gyros!
Especially, we recommend Sirocco (here) or Elea (here). Additionally, you can enjoy some pastries at Sweet Creations (here) or Candia (here).
In the surrounding area, we recommend Mariou Taverna (here, a 10-minute drive away), nestled in the mountains and offering spectacular views. Another great option is Kantina Foinikias (here, located atop the mountain overlooking Souda Beach), a food truck with a different menu every day.
5. Capuchino Freddo + swimming pool
If you're tired of the beach and sea plan, there are several hotels with pools that will allow you to use them if you drink something at the bar. You can also go to the camping’s pool (here), where likewise, if you buy something at the bar, you can use the loungers and swim in the pool.
6. Swin in Kourtaliotiko waterfalls
These beautiful waterfalls are located just 10 km from Plakias (here). Water cascades down the walls of a sort of corridor, forming a beautiful pool. The best part is that it has water all year round. If you want more info, you should check out our post.
8. Head up to the church next to Damnoni Beach
Between Damnoni and Klisidi Beach, there's a mountain with a church on the summit (here). It was built by a father to pay tribute to his son, who died of cancer. It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach from the beach. We recommend wearing sports shoes, as the terrain is quite steep and the ground isn't very solid. The views from the top are very beautiful.
9. Attend a marine biology talk
The Dive2gether diving center (here) is the only diving center in Crete with an in-house marine biology department. Twice a week, they offer free talks about Mediterranean species, invasive species, or marine meadows, among others. Just pass by and ask when the next one takes place.
10. Drive up to Selia and enjoy the views
Selia (location) is the village nestled in the mountains northwest of Crete. The road to get there is narrow and winding. It's only about 3km, but the elevation gain is quite significant. Despite this, the views of the landscape and of Plakias along the way are very beautiful.
11. Visit Preveli's palm grove
About a 15-minute drive from Plakias, you'll find this popular beach for its tropical atmosphere thanks to its large palm grove (here). It's quite busy, but it's worth taking a stroll through the palm grove, swimming in the river, and taking a dip in the sea. Here's more information:
12. Walk to Kalypso beach
Behind Paligrenmos, you'll find Kalypso Beach (here). You can reach it by walking from Plakias (about 40 minutes) or by car (10 minutes). It became very popular because of a bridge that crossed a narrow channel; however, this bridge no longer exists. Check out our post for more information:
13. Snorkel in Souda beach
Souda is a 45-minute walk west of Plakias (here). It's an interesting beach for snorkeling as well as for relaxing on loungers and under umbrellas. Additionally, the tavern is quite good.
14. Find the hidden beach Klisisidi
Klisidi Beach is a small beach located a 45-minute walk from Plakias, in the opposite direction to Souda (here). It's hidden between two vertical rock walls. It's a lovely cove, although lately, it has become more popular thanks to social media, so you won't be alone. It's surrounded by Damnoni Beach and Ammoudi Beach, where there's also a food truck with good gyros. Here's our post:
15. Dive in the surroundings
The south of Crete is known for having great dive sites. Additionally, the sea conditions are the best of the island. If you already have your diving certification, go for it, and if not, try a discovery scuba diving course! Check out our post about diving in Crete.
16. Snorkel in Triopetra beach
Triopetra is a beach located 45 minutes from Plakias by car. In addition to the three rocks that give it its name, the marine landscape is incredible, full of cracks and rare rock formations. Don't forget your snorkel mask!
17. Dunes, caves and Apoplystra in Agios Pavlos
In Agios Pavlos, located 1 hour from Plakias, you can swim in several sea caves, relax on a beach at the foot of a huge 30-meter-high dune, and observe a strange rock formation called Apoplystra. This area is barely known, making it a great alternative to escape from touristy spots.
18. Day trip to Rethymno
Rethymno is the nearest city to Plakias. There are several daily buses that make this route (ktel website). In Rethymno, you can visit the Venetian fortress, stroll through the historic center and the Venetian harbor, go shopping, enjoy international cuisine... In short, you can make other types of plans more characteristic of a city, while discovering historical monuments.
19. Castle and Beach in Fragkokastello
It's located 45-minute by car. Frangokastello is known for its historic Venetian fortress, but you can also enjoy a relaxing time on the dark sandy beach. Don't forget to bring your snorkel!
These are some of the things you can do in Plakias and its surroundings. Feel free to add more in the comments if you like!
