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Tavronitis Beach

Platanias, Chania · Free

Route

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Atmosphere

Abgelegen

Characteristics

Kiesel

About

A long pebbly beach by a farming village west of Chania, usually very quiet.

Tavronitis is part of the long coast west of Maleme, named after the river that flows here. The beach is pebbly, unorganised and rarely busy.

The village of Tavronitis is a farming community, with a weekly market. It's a good place to escape the busy resorts and enjoy a peaceful swim.

The Platanias area stretches along the coast west of Chania, with a string of lively resorts such as Agia Marina, Platanias and Maleme, and long sandy beaches facing the island of Thodorou. Inland, the land rises quickly into green valleys, orange groves and mountain villages where life is slow. This area saw fierce fighting in the Battle of Crete in May 1941, remembered at the Maleme cemetery and in many village memorials. It's a convenient base, with Chania only a short drive away.

Around Platanias

North coast, on the Cretan Sea
Nearest town: Kissamos, about 20 km by road
Nearest airport: Chania airport (CHQ), about 39 km by road

The west of Crete is the island at its most dramatic. Chania has the most beautiful Venetian old town on Crete, wrapped around a harbour with a lighthouse and a domed mosque. In the evening the narrow lanes of Splantzia and the old Jewish quarter fill up with tavernas and small bars. More about Chania