The bustling resort of Platanias is located in West Crete, 10km from Chania. Platanias and the adjoining Agia Marina boast a lively strip with many excellent restaurants and tourist shops as well as trendy waterside bars and a stunning Blue Flag beach. The golden sand stretches for miles, dotted with umbrellas, sun loungers and beach bars. There is a good choice of watersports. The Karavitakis Winery of Platanias is open for tours and tastings of delicious local wines. Though you may want to spend many days on the beach or at Villa Ballos, there are many interesting day trips from Platanias.
The ancient ruins of Aptera are roughly half an hour away. You can tour the huge roofed cistern and walk 10 minutes to the hilltop Byzantine castle that overlooks the turquoise ocean. The tour to Theriso is also roughly the same distance. The drive through the Theriso Gorge and the luscious green wilderness is delightful.The tree-lined river is surrounded by the greenery of chestnuts and oaks. The gorge is very popular with rock climbers and hikers. The village enjoys many traditional tavernas serving delicious Cretan lamb and meat dishes. The incredible Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe at 16km. Visitors can drive to Chora Sfakion and take a boat to Agia Roumeli and walk a few kilometres at the end of the gorge. The Imbros Gorge is also very beautiful. You can combine this walk with swimming in Fragokastelo beach.
Chania Old Town’s Venetian architecture and buzzing harbour is a must visit! With picturesque, narrow alleys draped in colourful bougainvillea, a sensational gourmet scene, atmospheric waterside bars and its old Venetian harbour, Chania is a phenomenal location for romantic strolls and dinner. It was originally built by the Venetians between 1320 and 1356 and is now a vibrant, cosmopolitan spot. The Instagram worthy Egyptian lighthouse looks amazing at sunset. Visitors enjoy a slow meander to the lighthouse to take in the stunning views of the harbour with the majestic White Mountains in the background. On the waterfront, the Giali Tzamisi is the oldest Muslim building in Crete. The Turkish name is translated to ‘The Seaside Mosque’. Giali Tzamisi plays host to various cultural events and exhibitions throughout the year. Live musicians play throughout the evenings making Chania Old Town a memorable evening spot. You must book in advance to bag a table at one of the roof top restaurants.
The famous beaches of Crete include Falasarna, Balos and Elafonisi. They are definitely worth the trip! Falasarna Bay actually consists of five consecutive dazzling, silver-sanded beaches and dazzling turquoise sea. At the northern end of the beach there are ruins of the ancient Grecoroman city of Falasarna. The stunning Balos Lagoon Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. The lagoon of Balos has silvery white sand and exotic, white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. Beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon, the water is deeper and ideal for snorkeling. The lagoon and wider area boasts rare species of flora and fauna which are protected under the Natura 2000 programme. Eleonora falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves and the area is a shelter for protected monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle. Balos can be reached by car though the ride is a bit bumpy or you can take a boat trip to the beach. The magical Elafonisi consists of a small islet with white and pink sandy beaches. Visitors can wade out to the island to enter another world. The island is an internationally classified nature reserve and home to more than 100 rare plants including summer flowering sea daffodils that look like white cups. To the left of the sandbank, windsurfers enjoy the prevailing winds.
The Region
Head to the West side of Crete to find some of the best beaches and most charming villages in the island. Indulge yourself by visiting the unique Balos lagoon and jumping into its turquoise waters, or have a truly Cretan dining experience in one of the many tavernas by the sea and taste the delicious seafood on offer.
Find more about Chania and the rest of the Southernmost island in Greece with our travel guide below
How to reach Chania
There are two ways to reach Chania: either by flight or by ferry.
By plane: Chania Airport (CHQ) is only a 20 minutes ride away from central Chania. During the summer months, frequents overseas and domestic flights are performed. In most of the cases, there are available buses that connect Chania city and most of the villas. You can also hire a car from one of the many rental companies at the airport, or alternatively get a taxi to bring you right to your doorstep.
By ferry: If you choose to do an island-hopping trip and use the ferry as a method of transportation, then the closest port is in Souda, only 8km from the centre of Chania. Only ferries from Piraeus in Athens or Heraklion in Crete. Heraklion port has a wider choice: you can also take a ferry from other Greek islands like Santorini, Mykonos or Paros, but you will have to take a longer bus ride to reach your villa. You can easily book your ferry tickets using the link below or the booking engine.
Book your ferry tickets to Crete here >>
