Plakias

Plakias is a village in Rethymno region of Crete. Plakias has grown from a fishing jetty and a few houses in the 1960s to a tourist resort today. Plakias has a 1300-metre-long sandy beach and there are several other beaches within walking distance.

Understand

The first official mention of Plakias was in 1961, when it was recorded in a census as the permanent home of six fishermen. The recorded history of surrounding mountain villages like Myrthios and Sellia goes back to the 10th century, when the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (961 AD) built roads and bridges in order to link those villages, and there are some fragments of wall remaining from a fortified area on a hill top just northeast of the present main town. The local area is geographically suitable for a settlement, having plenty of agricultural space, and there may well have been a settlement there since Minoan times.

Get in

By road, several buses daily from Rethymno and Agia Galini, one in high season from Sfakia.

Get around

Walk; bicycles, cars & scooters for hire; taxis available; local bus service.

See

Preveli beach as seen from the path leading to it

Plakias has a stunning, long, gently shelving largely sandy beach. The eastern end is backed by dunes and is largely naturist. A number of other beaches, including the nearby coves at Mikro Amoudi (or Amoudaki), are easily reached. Strong swimmers can pass between the two coves by swimming through the underwater arch, or round the pinnacle that divides them.

• The sunset from Panorama taverna in the village of Myrthios on the hill above Plakias.
• 1 Preveli Monastery. The monastery consists of two building complexes, the Upper Monastery, which houses monks today, and the ruins of the Lower Monastery. From Plakias, the monastery can be reached by one of two roads from Lefkogia. The first, narrower road, leads through a village of Gianniou and a pass between two mountains; this road, while picturesque, is not recommended unless you’re a skilled driver: some segments of the road are very steep, hairpin turns are quite tight, and the village street is very narrow making reversing very tricky. The second road is much easier and more comfortable for driving. 

Do

Mushroom-shaped rock next to Preveli Beach

Plakias beach

• 1 Preveli beach. Surrounded by one of the few natural palm tree groves in Greece. 
• 2 Karavos beach. Also known as the “Pirates' fjord”, a small cove surrounded by breathtaking 200-m-high rocks. It is a good option when there are strong winds in the area, since it is protected from the north side. 
• 3 Damnoni Beach. Beautiful clean and quiet beach. (updated Sep 2020)

• Walk in the surrounding countryside. Local bookshops have walking guides. One of the best is the series from Marengo Publications
• Swim, snorkel & sunbathe, getting an all over tan if you wish. Plakias has one of the best nudist beaches in the world, with an easy-going atmosphere, loungers, umbrellas, and a doughnut seller who wanders up and down the beach.
• Scuba Dive.
• Visit the southern-most lending library in Europe which is behind the village towards the Youth Hostel.
• Kalypso Rock's Palace dive centre, Karavos beach (in the premises of Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa hotel), ☏ +30 6940517120, info@kalypsodivecenter.com. Su-F 09:00-17:00. Offers guided scuba dives for certified and non-certified divers, night dives, guided snorkeling and PADI certified courses. Children older than 8 years old are allowed to dive. You can rent the equipment. Free pickup and transport service from all tourist areas of Rethymno prefecture, night dives on demand. Single dive: €30. (updated Sep 2020)

Eat

• Siroko Taverna, ☏ +30 28320 32055, sirokoplakias@gmail.com. all day. Try the lamb in egg-lemon sauce and shrimps saganaki. Ask for the daily extras or for your preferred choice. €10-12/person. 
• Gioma Taverna, Sea Front, ☏ +30 28320 31261. 12:00-23:00. 
• 1 Alianthos. Beautiful tables between trees overlooking the beach, huge horiatiki salad and in general delicious food. (updated Sep 2020)
• 2 Violakis (at the Damnoni beach). Quality food and friendly staff. (updated Sep 2020)

Sleep

Plakias has no shortage of rooms and hotels. It is featured in a number of package holiday brochures. If you want to avoid crowds, just five minutes away by car in the town of Myrthios on the hillside, you will find some family-run apartments and tavernas.

• 1 Youth Hostel, Milon, ☏ +30 2832032118. It's the southern-most in Europe, and is well recommended. (updated Sep 2020)
• Village Apartments, Mirthios (in the mountain village of Mirthios), ☏ +30 2832031835. There are 7 apartments, and each can accommodate 2 – 6 persons, and has separate bedrooms consisting of double or single beds, bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. 
• 2 On The Rocks (on the way to Souda), ☏ +30 2832031023. Consists of 4 double and 2 triple rooms. All rooms have air conditioning and fridge. 
• 3 Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa, Karavos beach, ☏ +30 2832031296. 4-star resort. (updated Sep 2020)