Platanias beach

Platanias beach is a long, organised, Blue-Flag sandy beach on the north coast of Crete, 11 km west of Chania. Platanias beach lines the front of the Platanias resort, so sunbeds, beach bars and water sports stay a few steps from the sand, while the old village on the hillside behind looks out over the sea and the islet of Thodorou.

Where is Platanias beach?

Platanias beach sits 11 km west of Chania city, on the north coast of western Crete. Platanias grew from a small hillside village into a lively suburb of Chania, and frequent buses from the city make it one of the easiest beaches to reach near Chania. The beach runs for about 2 km, starting at the edge of Agia Marina and reaching west to the mouth of the Keritis river.

Sand, sea and swimming

Platanias beach is a long stretch of sand with small pebbles in parts. The water is clear and deepens fairly quickly over a partly rocky seabed, so it suits confident swimmers as well as families who stay near the shallower sections by the shore. The beach faces north, so afternoon winds can raise short waves, and mornings are usually the calmest time to swim. The western end near the Keritis river is quieter and less built-up, which gives swimmers more space away from the busiest stretch.

Facilities and organisation

Platanias beach is well organised along most of its length. Platanias beach offers sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars, snack bars, showers and lifeguards on duty in season. Much of the shore is free public beach where you can set your own spot, so the beach mixes organised sections with open stretches. On the east side of the local harbour, close to Agia Marina, several small man-made coves give sheltered spots for a swim.

Water sports and nightlife

Platanias beach offers a wide choice of water sports through the summer. Visitors can try jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, parasailing, banana-boat rides and beach volleyball along the organised sections. After dark, the nightclubs of Platanias fill with Greek and foreign visitors who dance until dawn, which has made the resort one of the main nightlife spots west of Chania.

Sea turtles and nature

Platanias beach is a nesting point for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). The turtles nest on this coast from May to September, so keep clear of any marked nests and leave the dry sand undisturbed after dark. Tamarisk trees along parts of the beach give natural shade for hot afternoons.

Beaches near Platanias beach

The coast on either side of Platanias beach runs into several more sandy beaches, listed below by distance.

• Gerani beach (1.7 km west): a quieter sandy beach with fewer facilities, covered in our guide to Gerani beach.
• Agia Marina beach (2.5 km east): a busy organised beach facing the Thodorou islet, described in our guide to Agia Marina beach.
• Stalos beach (4.2 km east): a Blue-Flag sandy beach closer to Chania, mapped in our guide to Stalos beach.
• Maleme beach (5.4 km west): a long sand-and-pebble beach with wartime history, covered in our guide to Maleme beach.

Getting to Platanias beach

Platanias beach lies 11 km west of Chania on the north-coast road. Frequent buses run from Chania to Platanias through the season, the approach road is paved, and the beach has handicap-friendly access. A beach day here pairs well with the nearby beaches at Agia Marina, Stalos and Maleme and with the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete inland, and the easiest way to reach them on your own schedule is with a rental car, which you can compare on our car rental in Crete page.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Platanias beach?

Platanias beach is on the north coast of western Crete, 11 km west of Chania, on the stretch of coast that runs from Agia Marina to the Keritis river.

How far is Platanias beach from Chania?

Platanias beach is 11 km west of Chania city, reached by a short drive or by the frequent bus from Chania to Platanias.

Is Platanias beach sandy?

Yes. Platanias beach is a long sandy beach with small pebbles in parts, running about 2 km between Agia Marina and the Keritis river.

Is Platanias beach good for families?

Yes. Families can use the shallower sections near parts of the shore, and lifeguards are on duty in season, though the water deepens fairly quickly and afternoon winds can bring short waves.

What facilities does Platanias beach have?

Platanias beach has sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars, snack bars, showers and lifeguards, along with water sports and free public stretches where you can set your own spot.

What water sports can you do at Platanias beach?

Platanias beach offers jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, parasailing, banana-boat rides and beach volleyball along its organised sections in summer.

How do you get to Platanias beach?

Take a bus from Chania on the frequent Platanias service, or drive 11 km west along the paved north-coast road, and a rental car also makes the nearby beaches at Gerani, Stalos and Maleme easier to reach.