Welcome to the village of Plakias at the southwest of Crete
Prepare for a unique holiday in a destination that respects tradition and offers tranquillity. You have reached Plakias Crete, your favourite holiday resort in the southwest of beautiful Crete, overlooking the Libyan Sea. Traditional villages, warm people, sandy beaches, sunset views, outdoor activities, and scenic landscapes are only a few of the things to enjoy.
Alianthos Garden Hotel was named after the sea flower that spreads around the village and the hotel’s gardens, especially during summer. The hotel is ideal for families, couples, honeymooners, and simple travellers who adhere to the three-time-honoured Cretan values: love for nature, people, and food.
Find exquisite history and beauty everywhere you look. The area is said to have been inhabited since antiquity and early Minoan times. The history of the surrounding picturesque mountain villages, such as Myrthios and Sellia, goes all the way back to the 10th century when roads and bridges were constructed by the Byzantine Emperor, Nikephoros II Phokas. Fragments of a wall from a fortified settlement are still visible from the northeast hilltop, just above the main town.
In 1961, Plakias was officially reported in a Greek census as the permanent home of six fishermen with a dock and few houses. However, as years went by, Plakias has developed into a quaint vacation destination with traditional stone-built buildings, superb coffee shops, and tavernas that satisfy the most demanding palates of traditional cuisine lovers.
Discover the charming little village of Plakias Crete, built alongside a single street and ideal for strolls and watching magical sunsets. Take a walk late in the afternoon with the sea on one side and shops and restaurants on the other. Find all amenities at a close range, and take a photo of anything that fits in your memory album.
The area has all basic infrastructures, whereas every local business is organised to cater to every need, providing exceptional services: car rental, gift shopping, water sports, daily excursions, or a nice Mediterranean meal with genuine Cretan natural products. Don’t forget to taste the famous Cretan oil and sit back and relax with a glass of raki, the popular fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Crete.
Spend your day at the wonderful beaches of Plakias, Crete
Plan your holidays to Plakias Crete to enjoy the famous Cretan blue waters, the warm sand, and the exquisite sunlight. Sit back and relax at one of the region’s major attractions, the Plakias Beach, the long beachfront, also known as Gialia, extending to the east for 1.3 km, up to Cape Mouri. It is a well-organized, kid-friendly beach with blue-green waters where everyone can swim, dive or lie down under an umbrella or a tamarisk tree.
Alternatively, visit Calypso Beach Crete, where you can find a remarkable scenery of impressive rocks surrounding the bay, cool waters, and a mythical atmosphere that goes back in time when it was the setting of an old historic pirate shelter. Opt for some action and prepare to explore the Cretan seabed - the area is considered an ideal place for scuba aficionados looking to dive deeper into the majestic underwater world.
Organise your holidays in Plakias Crete and experience yourself the benefits of the true Mediterranean nutrition. The Cretan cuisine is amongst the most popular in the world for its unique ingredients and diverse flavours. The reason is simple: it is good for health, and it also tastes great! It contains lots of fruits and vegetables, beans and nuts, healthy grains, fish, olive oil. Taste everything, mix plates, and order dishes with names you’ve never heard before.
Especially in the village of Plakias Crete, food celebration goes back some 3000 years to ancient times, so diving into a genuine Cretan dish is like stepping back into history. Enjoy delicious local recipes of well-cooked fish or meat, accompany them with the famous ntakos salad with authentic Cretan oil, taste legendary homemade pies or pita, and toast with the old-time classic raki and all the friendly locals.
Access Alianthos Garden Hotel through the hotel’s Private Transfer from the airport.
The hotel is located just 35 minutes drive (36 km) from Rethymno, and approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Crete’s largest international airports, Chania Airport and Heraklion Airport (115 km). Alternatively, follow 3 different bus routes that get you to Plakias and consult the KTEL (Public Bus Service) official timetable for your convenience.
Rent a car and drive the whole way yourself and enjoy the magnificent, ever-changing landscape. Check the Autopreveli Car Rental, Alianthos Garden Hotel’s subsidiary, offering great discounts, particularly to the hotel’s guests. The route from Rethymno to Plakias is another way to explore the south part of Crete and capture astonishing photos of this unforgettable travelling experience.
Indulge in an authentic Mediterranean travel experience and organise your holidays to Plakias, Crete. Browse through inspiring photos and prepare to explore more things to do and see in Plakias. Enjoy your stay in Alianthos Garden Hotel.
