Villages & Towns

Deres

Platanias, Chania · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A green inland village.

Deres is a small village in the hills south-west of Chania, surrounded by lush green countryside and mountains. It has a riding centre and several old churches.

Deres lies at about 400 m in the foothills of the White Mountains, surrounded by olive groves, chestnut trees and running water. It's a quiet village, with a few old churches and a riding centre where you can explore the countryside on horseback. The roads around Deres lead to other traditional villages of the Kydonia area, perfect for a slow drive.

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

Nearest town: Chania, about 23 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