Things To Do in Platanias

The Panorama Taverna sits on a hillside just above the main street. It’s a laid-back place that serves up Greek classics like the mixed grill, moussaka and souvlaki. There’s a large covered terrace with sea views, mixed with an earthy decor of red-tile floors and climbing vines. Take up the offer of complimentary ouzo, or order a glass of the full-bodied Cretan wine.

Along the main street you’ll find cheap-and-cheerful kebab restaurants, where the meats are served on a warm flatbread with a dollop of tzatziki sauce. The smaller, rustic tavernas serving authentic Cretan fare are hidden away in the old town. Treats to try include the kallitsounia – fried pastry balls filled with staka, a cheese made from goats’ milk – and tourta paschalini, a lamb and cheese pie topped with mint leaves.

Club Tropicano is a boisterous cocktail bar that also has a nightclub in the basement. The neon-lit facade is straight from Miami Beach, but this is actually a Caribbean-themed place – inside there are potted palm trees and a bar made to look like a beach shack. Pina colada, of course, is the speciality cocktail. It opens around 9pm, the club downstairs filling up around midnight – you can party all night since closing isn’t ’til the early morning.

The sandy Blue Flag beach runs for about 2 kilometres, and its shoreline shelves gently into the ocean. That’s great for paddlers, but further out to sea the choppy waters make for perfect windsurfing conditions – you can rent the kit from the watersports centres in the beachfront hotels.

Along the main street in Platanias there are plenty of little souvenir shops selling glazed ceramics and wooden bead necklaces. Over in Chania, a 20-minute drive away, there’s a famous covered market housed in a huge cross-shaped building. Inside, fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers battle for your attention in a colourful, lively scene. Try haggling for some fresh food, or just stand back and enjoy the spectacle.

Nightlife along the main street is a full-on affair– a younger crowd come from all around Crete, looking to sample the all-night clubs and raucous bars. For a more relaxed drink, head for one of the tavernas in the old town and enjoy a glass of local Mantiko red. Or try one of the chic hotel bars along the beach for a mojito with a sea view.

This off-kilter festival is held over 4 nights in June – it’s called a jazz fest, but really each night revolves around obscure jazz-infused genres. Past years have seen artists from funk, swing and even gypsy folk. The setting for this hip fest is the Venetian harbour in nearby Chania – there’s an outdoor stage right on the water. Tickets cost about 10 euros, or 30 euros for all 4 nights.