Platanias, Crete

11 km West of Chania, Platanias, is the major village of the area with several banks and numerous shops and cafes strung along the bustling coast road. Here you will find superb home grown fruit and vegetables and a real Greek butcher and baker scattered amongst a wide choice of excellent tavernas as well as trendy bars and the odd disco, whilst the coarse sandy beach stretches for miles in both directions and offers a wealth of water sport activities. Of particular note is the remarkable older part of the village, which stands aloof and fortress like, perched on a high bluff overlooking the sea. Being a typically Cretan village, nearly every household has a dog and they do tend to bark at night, especially around the full moon when earplugs, or even an extra bottle of wine at dinner, can be a useful panacea for light sleepers from suburban homes!

 Platanias Beach is a Blue Flag Beach