Best things to do in Plaka village in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Plaka is a hill village in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region, about 23 km east of Chania and just under a kilometre inland from Almyrida. The village stands at an altitude of 70 metres, which opens a panoramic view over the bay of Souda. Plaka has an architectural style of its own, although the building of tourist facilities has been changing it. Permanent residents work in farming, stock-breeding, fishing and tourism, and the village keeps tavernas, bars, a grocery store and a kafeneion.
Chania airport is the nearest airport to the village. Plaka is a base rather than a resort: the beaches sit downhill on the south shore of Souda Bay, the countryside around the village suits walks inland or along the coast, and people come up here for the sunset.
Things to do in and around Plaka
Six outings lie within a few kilometres of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the village and watch the sunset. Plaka sits on a hill 70 m above sea level with the bay of Souda laid out below, and the surrounding country carries walking routes both inland and along the coast. Our guide to the village lists the places to stay here.
- Swim at Almyrida. The beach 0.9 km away is really 2 shallow sandy beaches that stay calm enough for children on windless days, backed by tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre. A small rocky peninsula topped with a white chapel separates the two bays, and the uninhabited islet of Karga lies just offshore at Almyrida beach.
- Visit Kokkino Chorio. The village 1.3 km from Plaka keeps traditional houses and a collection of wells built to collect water, and the Germans cut cavernous wartime shelters into Drapanokefala hill above it to guard Souda Bay. Kokkino Chorio also served as a filming location for “Zorba the Greek”.
- Find Kera beach below the cliffs. Soft sand with the occasional pebble sits 2.2 km from Plaka under towering cliffs, and the water is shallow and clear. Kera has no facilities, looks across to Karga island, and carries an elongated rock at its western end that local people call Karavos, meaning ship.
- Dive from Koutalis. The secluded cove 2.5 km away, about 1 km north of Kokkino Chorio, is a familiar starting point for local scuba divers working the sea caves along this shore. The wider area around Koutalis is known for the Elephants’ Cave and Petsis Cave.
- Hike the Diktamos Gorge. The canyon begins near Katochori village at an elevation of 300 m, 21 km east of Chania, and ends 8 km further east at Faragi village at 40 m, close to Stylos. Walking Diktamos takes roughly 3 hours and some sections need care; its stream is the main tributary of the Kiliaris river and reaches the sea at Kalives beach.
Beaches near Plaka
Plaka has no beach of its own, because the village sits on a hill above the water. Five beaches lie within about 5 km of it, on the south shore of Souda Bay and around Cape Drapanos.
- Almyrida lies 0.9 km away, 2 shallow sandy bays with sunbeds, tavernas and a watersports centre.
- Kera sits 2.2 km away, sand and occasional pebble under tall cliffs, unorganised and usually quiet.
- Koutalis is 2.5 km away, also spelled Koutalas, a secluded spot near Cape Drepano used by divers.
- Kalives stands 3.2 km away in a green valley where the Xidas and Mesopotamos rivers reach the coast. Two well-equipped sandy beaches with shallow water, Xidas and Maistrali, sit either side of the river mouth and take the north wind; the river water and the sea springs keep the temperature down.
- Ombros Gialos closes the list at 5.2 km away, on the east coast of the Drapanokefala peninsula, a rocky bay with a small harbour whose dock lets swimmers step straight into deep water. There are no sunbeds, and one well-known fish tavern.
Where to eat in Plaka
Eating in Plaka means a cluster of tavernas, restaurants and cafés inside the village itself, none of them more than a kilometre from the centre. A second group sits about 1.1 km out.
- Harokopos Traditional Taverna stands in the village centre.
- Elpís is 100 m from the centre.
- Riviera Restaurant sits 200 m from the centre.
- Emerald Restaurant lies 400 m from the centre.
- Café Francoise follows at 900 m from the centre.
Getting to Plaka
Plaka stands on the hill directly above Almyrida, so the approach climbs from the coast on the south side of Souda Bay. Chania lies about 23 km west and is the nearest city; Chania airport is the nearest airport to the village.
The neighbouring settlements are close enough to reach in minutes. Almyrida is 1 km away and covers the beach, the watersports and the seaside tavernas, and the former fishing village has kept a low-key feel. Kokkino Chorio is 1.3 km on, Gavalohori 3 km, and the town of Kalyves 3.5 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Plaka village in Crete?
Plaka lies in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region, about 23 km east of Chania and just under 1 km inland from Almyrida. The village sits on a hill 70 metres above sea level, on the south side of Souda Bay near Cape Drapanos.
Does Plaka have a beach?
Plaka is a hill village with no beach of its own, but 5 beaches lie within about 5 km. Almyrida, 0.9 km downhill, is the closest of them and has sunbeds, tavernas and a watersports centre.
Which airport is closest to Plaka?
Chania airport is the closest airport to Plaka. Chania city itself sits about 23 km west of the village, at the other end of Souda Bay.
What is there to do in Plaka?
Plaka works as a quiet base for the beaches and villages of the Drapanos peninsula. Swimming at Almyrida, Kera and Koutalis, the wartime shelters and old wells at Kokkino Chorio, and the walk through the Diktamos Gorge all start within a few kilometres, and the village itself has walking routes inland and along the coast.
How far is Plaka from Almyrida?
Almyrida sits just under 1 km from Plaka, on the coast below the village. The two work as a pair: Almyrida supplies the sand and the watersports, Plaka the view over the bay.
Is Plaka a quiet village?
Plaka remains a working village rather than a resort. Its permanent residents are occupied with farming, stock-breeding, fishing and tourism, and the settlement runs to tavernas, bars, a grocery store and a kafeneion, though tourist construction has been altering the village architecture.
Where Plaka village is
Best things to do in Plaka village in 2024 is located at Plaka village. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
