Ammoudi Beach, Plakias

Ammoudi is the beach people tend to find on their second or third day in Plakias, once they have tried the long town beach and want something smaller. It sits just east of Damnoni, over the next low headland, and it has the same sand and clear water in a more compact, quieter setting.

It is not a secret. In July and August it gets busy like everywhere else on this coast. But it rarely feels as full as the bigger bays, and the rocks at its edges give you something to look at as soon as you put your face in the water.

What the beach is like

Ammoudi is a short crescent of sand and fine shingle, with the entry into the water mostly sandy. On both sides the beach ends in rock, and those rocks are where snorkellers spend most of their time: the water is clear, the rock drops into sand and seagrass, and small fish gather along the edges.

Between Damnoni and Ammoudi is the tiny cove of Ammoudaki. It is small enough that a handful of people make it feel full, and it is more exposed to the rocks than to open sand. If Ammoudi itself is busy, it is worth a look, but most families will be happier on the main beach.

Compared with Damnoni, Ammoudi is smaller and usually calmer, with fewer people and less activity on the water. Compared with Schinaria, it is gentler: Schinaria is rockier and the seabed drops away fast, while Ammoudi lets you wade in and stay standing for a while.

How to get to Ammoudi from Plakias

Ammoudi is reached by car. Head east out of Plakias towards Lefkogia and follow the signs down towards Damnoni and Ammoudi. The roads down to the beaches are short but narrow, and in high season you will meet cars coming the other way, so take the bends slowly.

Without a car, the practical options are a taxi from Plakias or a walk. Walking is possible for people who are used to hiking in the heat, over the headlands on paths and tracks, but it is hot and exposed in summer. If you try it, go early, carry water and wear proper shoes.

When to go

The swimming season on this coast runs from May to October. The sea is typically 19–21 °C in May and 25–26 °C in August, with June to September usually the most settled. Our Plakias weather guide has the month-by-month detail, and the water temperature page covers what to wear in the sea.

The wind decides more than the calendar. The south coast of Crete is windy, and the summer north wind can come down off the mountains in strong gusts. Some days it leaves the water near shore flat and clear; other days it makes the sea choppy and the beach unpleasant. On windy days, have a second beach in mind and be willing to switch.

Mornings are usually the calmest and quietest part of the day, and in July and August an early start also makes parking easier.

Swimming and snorkelling at Ammoudi

Ammoudi is a good place for a first snorkel. You can start in the shallows, get used to the mask and snorkel, and then follow the rocks at the side of the beach as far as you are comfortable. A few habits keep it easy:

• Follow the rocks and stay near the shore. There is more to see there than in open water.
• Look out for boats. Small boats come in and out along this coast. A bright swim buoy helps them see you.
• Leave it for another day if the wind is strong. Chop and surge near the rocks make snorkelling tiring and less safe.
• Do not swim out alone. Snorkel with someone, and agree on how far you are going before you set off.

Bring water and something for shade if you plan to stay long, and wear sandals if you want to explore along the rocks.

If you want to see more

Ammoudi is a lovely place to get comfortable with a mask. When you want to go further, a guided snorkelling trip takes you over the reefs we dive, with someone who knows where the octopus hide. If you would like to go below the surface, a try dive needs no experience: you breathe from a tank with an instructor beside you the whole time. Our marine life guide shows what lives on this coast.

Combining Ammoudi with the rest of the coast

Ammoudi sits between Plakias and some of the best-known beaches on the south coast, so it works well as part of a longer day:

• Ammoudi and Damnoni. They are neighbours, and Damnoni has more going on if part of your group wants a bigger beach.
• Morning in the water, afternoon at Ammoudi. Divers and confident snorkellers take the deeper water in the morning; everyone meets at the easier beach later.
• Further east. Preveli Beach and its palm-lined river are a longer outing that rewards an early start.
• All the options side by side. Our guide to the beaches around Plakias compares them, and the main Plakias guide covers the rest of a holiday here.

Looking after the place

Small beaches show wear quickly. Take everything you brought back with you, leave shells and stones where they are, and do not stand on or break off anything growing on the rocks. It is a simple way to keep Ammoudi the way you found it.