Platanias is a popular tourist resort on the north coast of
Crete, it's just over 10 km west of
Chania and that's around a 25-30 minute drive.
To get to Platanias you have to fly into Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis and then transfers from the airport to your hotel will likely take from 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and where you're staying.
Platanias is based around the coastal road that passes through the area and then there's multiple roads that lead off from there down to the beach.
These roads are where you'll find the majority of the hotels with the bars and restaurants either on the main road or down by the beach.
There's plenty of choice with hotels from large beach front all-inclusive options with great pools to small family run options so you should be able to find what you need. The same goes for restaurants, there's all sorts of cuisine from traditional Greek to Chinese.
There's also no shortage of shops in Platanias, whether you're looking for souvenirs or to stock up on sun cream, water or ice creams you're never far from a supermarket.
Car, scooter and other vehicle hire outlets are dotted around the resort, as are cash machines so if you need these services then you wont struggle to find them.
If you'd like to stay in the area then have a look at the Platanias page of booking.com
here. Alternatively find a great package holiday through Tui
here or Jet 2
here.
The nightlife in Platanias is good. There's loads of bars including cocktail bars, places with live music and dancing that goes on well into the night. You can find Greek themed nights with traditional music and dancing as well as Karaoke if that's your thing.
There's also a few restaurants in the hills to the south of the main resort where you can enjoy a nice meal and some great views.
Platanias is probably the best choice for those wanting to be in the Chania area of Crete and who enjoy a good night out. It's certainly not as lively as places like Malia but there's no shortage of things to do once the sun goes down either.
There's plenty to keep you entertained in the resort itself and the surrounding area, there's a Scuba diving school, WW2 museum and multiple mini golf courses.
Platanias merges with Agia Marina to the east and has Gerani and Maleme to the west so you can easily visit each of these for a change of scenery.
It's also simple to get into Chania for a day trip or an evening out which is well worth doing as it's a beautiful place to spend a few hours.
