The beaches around Plakias

"Plakias beach" usually means the long curve of sand in front of the village. It is a good beach, and for many visitors it is all they need. But the coast around Plakias is broken up into bays and coves, and within a short drive you can choose between a sandy family beach, a clear snorkelling cove, a river mouth under palm trees and a quiet bay with a taverna.

We dive and snorkel this coast, so we have been to all of these more times than we can count. Below they are ordered roughly from west to east. Where a beach has its own full guide, we link to it.

Plakias town beach

The main beach runs along the bay in front of the village, a long stretch of sand and fine shingle backed by the promenade, tavernas and rooms. Parts of it are organised with sunbeds and umbrellas, and there is plenty of room to spread out away from them.

Why go: convenience. You can walk from your room, swim, have lunch in the shade and walk back without a car. The entry is gentle, so it works for most swimmers and for children paddling at the edge.

Keep in mind: the bay is open, and when the wind blows it can be one of the first places to feel it. On a calm morning it is lovely; on a gusty afternoon you may prefer somewhere more sheltered.

Souda

West of Plakias, along the coast road, Souda is a smaller bay with a beach and a taverna, a short drive or a longer walk from the village. It is quieter than the town beach and has a relaxed, end-of-the-road feel.

Why go: a change of scene without a real trip, and a slower lunch. It is a good choice for an afternoon when you want fewer people around. Peristerovolakas, one of our dive sites, is a reef near Souda that slopes gently from the shallows into deeper blue.

Keep in mind: facilities are limited compared with town, so bring what you need. If you are choosing an area to stay, see where to stay in Plakias.

Damnoni

Over the headland east of Plakias, Damnoni is a sandy bay with an organised beach and, in summer, water sports. It is one of the most popular family beaches in the area.

Why go: soft sand, easy entry and facilities on hand. It suits mixed groups and families with young children well. The old harbour of Damnoni is also one of the sites we dive and snorkel.

Keep in mind: it gets busy in July and August. Arriving early helps with parking and space. Full details are in our Damnoni Beach guide.

Ammoudaki

Between Damnoni and Ammoudi there is a small cove, Ammoudaki. It is just that: a small, more tucked-away beach with less space and fewer facilities than its neighbours.

Why go: if Damnoni is too busy and you want something smaller for a swim.

Keep in mind: there is not much room, so it fills quickly in high season.

Ammoudi

A little further east, Ammoudi is a small sandy bay with rocks at its edges and a relaxed atmosphere. The rocky sides make it a good first snorkelling spot for confident swimmers, while the middle of the beach has an easier entry.

Why go: a smaller, calmer-feeling beach than Damnoni, with something to look at under the water. See our Ammoudi Beach guide.

Keep in mind: space is limited at peak times, and the rocks call for water shoes.

Schinaria

Further east again, on the stretch of coast towards Preveli, Schinaria is a small organised cove with very clear water and a sea floor that drops away quickly. It is one of our shore dive sites and snorkelling spots: rugged rock, a large cave, reefy sections and deeper wall-style ground along the edges of the bay.

Why go: the water. For confident swimmers and snorkellers it is the standout beach in the area, and non-divers can relax on the beach while others are in the water.

Keep in mind: the shoreline is pebbles and rock and it deepens fast, so it is less suited to small children or weak swimmers. Read the full Schinaria Beach guide.

Preveli

At the eastern end of this stretch, Preveli Beach is the famous one: a river running out of a palm-lined gorge into the sea. You reach it by a steep footpath from a paid car park above the beach, or in summer by boat from Plakias.

Why go: there is nothing else like it on the coast. The river, the palms and the clear sea make it a proper day out.

Keep in mind: it is busy around midday in summer, there is little shade on the sand, and the climb back up is hard work in the heat. Go early or late.

Which beach for whom

• Families with young children: Plakias town beach or Damnoni. Sand, gentle entries, facilities nearby.
• Confident swimmers and snorkellers: Schinaria first, then the rocky edges of Ammoudi.
• No car: the town beach, and Souda if you do not mind a walk.
• Walkers and explorers: Preveli, ideally combined with the Kourtaliotiko Gorge upstream.
• A diver in the group: Schinaria or Damnoni, where one person can dive while everyone else stays comfortably on the beach. If anyone is curious about trying, see try scuba diving, or join a guided snorkelling trip.

Wind, weather and choosing on the day

The south coast of Crete is often windy, especially in high summer when the north wind pours over the mountains and comes down onto the coast in gusts. Each bay faces a slightly different direction and sits under different hills, so the same wind can make one beach unpleasant while another stays calm.

A few rules of thumb:

• Go early. Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons.
• Check a wind forecast, not just a sun forecast.
• Be willing to switch beaches. That is the advantage of having so many close together.
• If the sea is rough everywhere, take the day inland and come back to the water tomorrow.

Our Plakias weather guide covers typical conditions month by month, and our water temperature guide has the sea temperature for each month.

Staying safe in the water

• Swim within your ability and stay close to shore when the wind is up.
• Watch for boats around the smaller coves, and use a bright swim buoy if you snorkel.
• Never snorkel far out alone.
• Carry water and shade. Many of these beaches have little natural cover.

For the bigger picture of what to do in the area, go back to the Plakias guide.