Plakias Harbor
Plakias Harbor is the small harbour of Plakias, a relaxed resort village on the south coast of Crete's Rethymno region. Set at the foot of dramatic mountains and gorges, it serves fishing boats and tourist excursions, and is a departure point for boat trips to the palm-lined beach of Preveli and the secluded coves along this stretch of the Libyan Sea.
A South-Coast Resort Beneath the Mountains
Plakias occupies a wide bay on the south coast of the Rethymno region, where the Kotsifos and Kourtaliotiko gorges cut down to the sea. The village grew around a long sandy beach and remains lower-key than the north-coast resorts. Its harbour, at the eastern end of the seafront, shelters fishing boats and the small excursion craft that run to nearby beaches.
What You'll Find
Boat Trips to Preveli
From Plakias, boats run east along the coast to Preveli, the famous palm-fringed beach at the mouth of the Kourtaliotiko gorge, where a freshwater river meets the sea. The short sea trip is an easy alternative to the steep walk down from the road above.
A Long Sandy Beach
Plakias is built around one of the longest sandy beaches on Crete's south coast, exposed to the open Libyan Sea and popular with swimmers and windsurfers. The harbour sits at one end, within walking distance of the village tavernas.
A Base for Secluded Coves
The coastline around Plakias hides a string of smaller beaches — Damnoni, Ammoudi, and Schinaria among them — several of which are easiest to reach by boat or on foot from the harbour area.
Nearby Destinations
Preveli Beach
Preveli, with its palm grove and river running to the sea, lies just east of Plakias and is reached by boat or by a steep path. It is one of the most distinctive beaches in Crete.
Preveli Monastery
The historic Preveli Monastery stands on the cliffs above the beach, known for its role in the Cretan resistance and its views over the Libyan Sea.
Kourtaliotiko Gorge
Inland, the Kourtaliotiko gorge cuts through the mountains behind Plakias, a dramatic ravine with waterfalls and pools on the route toward Rethymno.
Plakias Harbor anchors one of the south coast's most scenic resort bays, pairing a long open beach with boat access to Preveli and the hidden coves of the Libyan Sea shore.
