Plaka Beach

Located on the northern coast of Crete, near the town of Elounda in the Lasithi region, Plaka Beach is a one-and-a-half kilometer-long pebble beach with beige sand.  The beach has a beautiful backdrop of many oceanfront buildings, including restaurants, taverns, several hotels, and opulent villas, creating a picturesque setting along the Gulf of Mirabello.  The beach is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.  Plaka Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag certification for its natural beauty, cleanliness, and water quality standards.

Plaka Beach does not have lifeguards but offers many other amenities, including restrooms, shaded areas, a boat rental facility, a sunbed and palapas rental facility, several restaurants, traditional taverns, cafes, hotels, and a nearby marina.

Plaka Beach offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, boating, paddleboarding, fishing, hiking, watching wildlife, picnicking, walking, and photography.  If you are planning to go into the water, it is a naturally sheltered bay, making it a safe swimming area.  The water near the beach is shallow, which is ideal for small boats, kayaks, and canoes.  If you enjoy fishing, anglers may catch a wide variety of fish.  The clear waters around the beach are ideal for snorkeling, allowing visitors to explore the rich marine life.  Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  The beach is known for its pebbly shoreline, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and breathtaking views, and there are many points near the beach known for taking the best Plaka Beach photos.  Visitors can enjoy a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, making it an all-year-round destination.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, which is open from sunrise until sunset.

Plaka Beach offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Plaka Beach is easy - it has a small free parking lot located at Epar. Od. Agiou Nikolaou-Vrouchas, Plaka 720 53, Greece, which provides easy access to the beach.  You may refer to the Plaka Beach map for locational details.

Plaka Beach is an ideal spot to relax and unwind while watching the sun setting over the Gulf of Mirabello.

There are many attractions near Plaka Beach.  Elounda is a small fishing village located along the Gulf of Mirabello, known for its traditional Cretan architecture, churches, shops selling local handicrafts, and waterfront promenade lined with traditional cafes, tavernas, shops, hotels, and high-end villas.  It is home to several old windmills and salt pans, remnants from the Venetian period, which add to its historical charm.  Spinalonga Island is a small, uninhabited historic island located just off the town of Plaka, known for its rugged, rocky terrain and the well-preserved Venetian fortress built in the 16th century to protect the Gulf of Mirabello from Ottoman invaders and pirates.  Later, it also served as one of Europe's last leper colonies from 1903 to 1957.  Interestingly, the island gained international fame through the novel The Island by Victoria Hislop, which tells the story of a family affected by leprosy and is set on the island.  Milatos Cave is a historic site that played a significant role in the 1823 Greek War of Independence when hundreds of Cretan villagers took refuge from Ottoman forces.  The cave witnessed a tragic massacre, commemorated today by a small chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas, built to honor those who perished during the massacre.  The cave is both a place of remembrance and a fascinating spot for exploration of dramatic stalactites and striking geological formations.

Amazonas Park is a unique wildlife park that focuses on conserving and protecting parrots, lemurs, turtles, and monkeys.  The park provides spacious, naturalistic enclosures and offers interactive experiences like feeding sessions and guided tours, educating visitors about wildlife conservation.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Cretan Olive Oil Farm is an agrotourism destination that provides guided tours and workshops on olive oil production, cheesemaking, pottery, and traditional cooking.  Visitors can learn about olive oil-making, from harvesting olives to tasting the finished product.  The farm also showcases local crafts and traditional methods, providing a deep dive into Crete’s rich agricultural heritage and culinary traditions.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants on Plaka Beach.  Ostria Taverna is a small restaurant positioned right on the beach and serves amazing salads, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Ocean Restaurant is another beachfront restaurant that serves salads, pasta, meat, seafood, and poultry dishes.  Giovanni’s serves incredible Greek-inspired dishes, including salads, seafood, and meat dishes.  Charoupia serves amazing seafood.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant nearby, Captain Nicolas Fishtavern serves incredible salads, pasta, risotto, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for Plaka Beach hotels, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Phaea Blue Palace, a member of SLH | Elounda, Crete, is three minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including outdoor pools, a spa, a fitness center, a kids' club, five restaurants, and three bars.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Elounda Orama, which has many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a cafe, and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Elounda Akti Olous, which has several amenities, including an outdoor pool, a terrace, whirlpool tubs, and a dining room.  A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star Athina Villas, which offers several amenities, including a terrace with sea views and a tavern.   If you are looking for another affordable hotel, Elounda Eleon Villas offers several amenities, including an outdoor pool and a kitchen in all rooms.