Plakias

Plakias is an optimal destination in southern Crete. Along with traditional Cretan hospitality, Plakias offers a large variety of modern tourism facilities, accommodation options and services, restaurants, shops etc

The southern coast is ideal for swimming and sunbathing and you can even find nudist beaches if you wish so.

Plakias is a village built along one single road leading to the beach. Along this road you can find the small harbour, from which you can reach other beaches by boat. The same road also leads to Souda beach, located 3km away. Walking along the beach with the sea from the one side and shops and hotels from the other, the route to Souda is very pleasant.

Preveli monastery

The monastery of Preveli consists of two complexes: “Kato Preveli” (Lower Monastery) and Piso Monastiri (Rear Monastery). Kato Preveli is situated in a beautiful location, west from the mouth of the river Kourtaliotis, near a small river with a bridge. Its church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The oldest date related to the monastery is 1594, and it is engraved on the bell. Piso Preveli is located in a distance of 3km. Its church is dedicated to St John the Theologian. The date engraved on its bell is 1629. Built on rocky area with a beautiful view, it has attracted many visitors over centuries. It is believed that the monastery was founded either in the 16th or 17th century.

The two-naved church of Piso Preveli was built in 1836, destroyed in 1866 and renovated in 1911. The abbot’s quarters are surrounded by the cells and were built in 1900 and the old quarters were then used as guest rooms. The monastery has played an active role in all the Cretan revolts for freedom. During the Battle of Crete in World War II, the monks helped soldiers of the Allied Armies escape the island. Among the precious relics of the monastery, a golden cross decorated with gemstones and with True Cross is believed to be miraculous. The museum of the monastery possesses a collection of religious texts, vestments, cadastre, books and the document which declared the monastery as stavropegic in 1789 sealed by Patriarch Gregory V.

Triopetra

Triopetra beach is located 52km southeast from Rethymno city and 13km south from Akoumia village. It is a long sandy beach which is exposed to strong wind. The name Triopetra derives from the Greek words for three stones because of the three giant rocks that stand in the sea.

It is an organized beach with many accommodation facilities, restaurants with exquisite food, especially fresh fish, and facilities for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. Triopetra is popular because of the unique scenery, especially when the sun sets in the horizon and dives in the Libyan Sea.

Springs of Argyroupolis

Argyroupolis village is famous for the springs of river Mouselas in a beautiful area with rich vegetation. The village is built on the slope of an imposing mountain, which covers the larger area of the municipality.

The area offers many options for hiking lovers: you can walk through the gorges of Petres, Kato Poros, Vilandredo and Asi Gonia or follow the two different routes of the European walking route E4 and explore the Koumarias wood near Alones village. If you prefer traveling by car, it is worth discovering one of the most beautiful routes in Crete: from Argyroupolis to Asi Gonia, Kallikratis, Asfendou and Imbros gorge.

Kournas Lake

Kournas lake is Crete’s only freshwater lake. It was originally called Korisia and was then named after an Arabian word for lake.

Kournas lake is located in very beautiful surroundings among two hills in a distance of 4km from Georgioupolis in western Crete.

The lake is quite small: its maximum length is 1087m and width 880m. It covers 0.579m2 and its maximum depth is 22.5m. It is situated 20m above sea level.

Souda

Souda is a beautiful sandy beach in the bay of Plakias, located 43km south from Rethymno city and 3km west from Plakias village.

It is an organized beach with many accommodation facilities, restaurants with exquisite food, especially fresh fish, and facilities for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. The rocky area of the beach is ideal for spear fishing.

The beach is accessible by car or motorbike. If you wish to travel by bus, you will have to walk a distance 3-4km from Plakias village.

Damnoni

Damnoni is a beautiful sandy beach located 6km east from Plakias village. Like most southern beaches in Crete, it is exposed to the strong southern wind.

It is an organized beach with many accommodation facilities, restaurants with exquisite food, especially fresh fish, and facilities for swimming, sunbathing, water sports and diving (diving trips and courses).

Shinaria

Shinaria beach is located 33km south from Rethymno and 3km south from Lefkogia village.

Less famous than most beaches in the area of Plakias, it is heaven on earth for its regular visitors. Shinaria is considered one of the best beaches in Crete and you can test its fame by visiting it!