Platani beach
Platani, situated 7km to the west of Sitia and 60km east of Agios Nikolaos on Crete island, can be reached by taking the road to Faneromeni Monastery, which starts near the village of Skopi. Around 2km after Skopi, just before reaching the monastery, you’ll discover two adjacent small pebbly beaches with crystal clear waters.
The first beach, known as Agii Pantes, is nestled at the exit of the verdant Agii Pantes gorge, which can be accessed easily by a hiking trail. Limestone formations near the beach, resembling Pleurotus mushrooms, are a sight to behold. The gorge houses two freshwater springs, Koutsounari and Hosto Nero, the latter located inside a cave. During winter, Agii Pantes beach floods and transforms into a significant wetland.
The second beach, Platani, is formed at the exit of another lush canyon that runs parallel to Agii Pantes. The canyon starts from Faneromeni Monastery. The beach is named Platani, which translates to platan tree in Greek, after the platan trees that line the beach. A spring with fresh water is located next to the beach. This undeveloped area is perfect for peaceful solitude and calm swimming. To the west of Cape Trahilos lies Papadiokambos, a spot renowned for windsurfing.
While you’re in the area, it’s worth paying a visit to the Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, located adjacent to the Platani gorge. The monastery, likely built in the 14th century and renovated in 1624, houses paintings dated to 1455. These were blackened by the destructive raids of the pirate Barbarossa in 1538 and by the Turks in 1829. The monastery’s name, Faneromeni, which means ‘Revealed’, is derived from the image of the Virgin Mary that reportedly “appeared” in a small cave next to the church. Today, the monastery is uninhabited.
Beach details
- Pebbles
- Blue
- Deep
- Usually wavy
- Tranquil
- Paved road
- Ideal for snorkeling
- Tree Shade
Location
Platani beach is located at Platani beach, in the Lassithi region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
