# Platanias, Chania (Crete): The Resort Village and Its Beach > Platanias is a lively coastal resort village on the north-west coast of Crete, about 10 kilometres west of Chania, with a sandy beach 3 kilometres long and 35 metres wide. Guide to the village, the beach, where to eat and where to stay. | | | |---|---| | West of Chania | ~10 km | | Beach length | 3 km | | Beach width | 35 m | | Coast | NW Crete | **Platanias is a lively coastal resort village on the north-west coast of Crete, about 10 kilometres west of Chania, with a sandy beach 3 kilometres long and 35 metres wide.** Platanias runs along the main road and the sea between Kolymbari and Chania, one hotel and taverna after another. It suits travellers who want a lively base and a stylish hotel rather than quiet, authentic Crete. _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ _Photo: Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece_ ## The village and beach of Platanias Platanias is one of the tourist villages along the north-west coast of Crete, on the main road between Kolymbari and Chania. The land here is flat and built up, a run of concrete hotels and fast-food restaurants rather than authentic Greece. What draws visitors is the beach: 3 kilometres long and 35 metres wide, larger, wider and better than many on the island. Platanias is sometimes called the Chersonissos of the west, though it is less crowded. It is a good base for travellers who want a lively surrounding and a stylish hotel. ## Where to eat in Platanias Two places we tried stand out: the Gerianotis Beach Resort for its breakfast buffet, and Stamna Grillhouse on the main road for quick food and good coffee. ### Gerianotis Beach Resort _Photo: Gerianotis Beach Resort, Platanias, Crete_ _Photo: Gerianotis Beach Resort, Platanias, Crete_ _Photo: Gerianotis Beach Resort, Platanias, Crete_ _Photo: Gerianotis Beach Resort, Platanias, Crete_ Gerianotis Beach Resort serves the most extensive breakfast buffet we have seen, on the beach at Platanias. For 15 euros per person (2017) you choose whatever you want and eat unlimited. The food is very good; only the coffee could be upgraded. Our verdict: 9 out of 10. ### Stamna Grillhouse Stamna Grillhouse is a fast-food restaurant on the main road through Platanias, between Kolymbari and Chania. The menu runs to breakfasts, snacks, omelettes, pittas, pizzas, giros and salads. It is inexpensive and serves great Illy coffee, crunchy fries and good sandwiches. Our verdict: 8.5 out of 10. ## Where to stay in Platanias and Agia Marina Most hotels sit along the beach at Platanias and neighbouring Agia Marina, about 8 kilometres west of Chania, with a few options inland on the hills. ### Luxury Villa Provarma Hills, Gerani _Photo: Luxury Villa Provarma Hills, Gerani, Crete_ _Photo: Luxury Villa Provarma Hills, Gerani, Crete_ _Photo: Luxury Villa Provarma Hills, Gerani, Crete_ _Photo: Luxury Villa Provarma Hills, Gerani, Crete_ Luxury Villa Provarma Hills is a spacious modern villa on a hill in the north of Crete, just outside the villages of Gerani and Modi, between Chania and Kolymbari. The popular resort of Platanias is about ten minutes away by car, and a large Lidl supermarket opened nearby. Quiet roads and hiking paths run into the surrounding hills. [Check availability & book](#) ### Ermis Suites, Platanias Ermis Suites is a family-owned hotel on the sandy beach of Platanias, 10 kilometres from the centre of Chania. It was built in 1995 and renovated in 2003, set back from the main road so there is no traffic noise. Rooms are 35 m² studios with one bedroom and 50 m² apartments with two bedrooms, a few metres from the sun beds. [Check availability & book](#) ### Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ _Photo: Renieris Hotel, Kato Stalos, Crete_ Renieris Hotel stands on a hill above Kato Stalos, 200 metres from the sandy beach, with a view over the beach front, Theodorou island and the sea. It was built in 2005 and is family-owned, with an amphitheatre-style design that gives sea views from almost every room. There is a custom pool with a separate children's pool and a covered pool bar. [Check availability & book](#) ### Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Folia Hotel Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ Folia Hotel Apartments sits in Agia Marina, 200 metres from the beach and 8 kilometres west of Chania, with views of the mountains, the sea and the city. Close to the golden sand of Agia Marina Beach, it has an outdoor swimming pool, a bar and a tavern serving traditional Greek dishes in the evenings. Guests can hire a car from the hotel to explore the region. [Check availability & book](#) ### Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Galini De Luxe Hotel, Agia Marina, Crete_ Galini De Luxe is a 5-star hotel above the sandy beach of Agia Marina, 8 kilometres west of Chania, with views over the Cretan Sea. It has indoor and outdoor pools and a children's pool, several bars, and a reception desk that books water sports including paragliding and scuba diving. [Check availability & book](#) ### Frideriki Studios & Apartments, Agia Marina _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ _Photo: Frideriki Studios and Apartments, Agia Marina, Crete_ Frideriki Studios & Apartments stands in the centre of Platanias, close to the resort's shops and nightlife. From upper (Ano) Platanias at the peak, a picturesque village of traditional homes, there are views over the Cretan Sea and the long beaches below, which are awarded EU blue flags almost every year. [Check availability & book](#) --- Source: [Platanias, Chania (Crete): The Resort Village, Beach & Hotels](https://fly2greece.net/platanias.html) — fly2greece.net, an independent guide to Greece written and photographed by Hans Huisman since 2000. Reviewed July 2026.