Location
Greece
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
May to October
About Plakias beach
Plakias is a broad bay on the south coast of Rethymno, about 35 km south of Rethymno town, and its main beach is one of the longest on Crete: well over a kilometre of grey sand and fine shingle running east from the village towards the cliffs of the Sarella headland. The western end, in front of the village, is organised with sunbeds and tavernas. The eastern end, past the last hotels and backed by low dunes, has long been used by nude bathers; Cretan Beaches and ExploreCrete both name the east part of the bay as naturist. The further east you walk, the emptier it gets, and the far end under the cliffs is mostly nude. Showers are spaced along the beach. The bay faces south but northerly winds funnel down the gorges and can blow sand across the beach; on those days locals move to Souda at the west end. Beyond the headland lie Damnoni and the small Ammoudi coves, including Ammoudaki (Mikro Ammoudi), a better-known naturist cove.
Getting there
Plakias is reached by road from Rethymno via Koxare and the Kotsifou or Kourtaliotiko gorge, about 35-40 minutes by car, and by KTEL bus from Rethymno several times a day in summer. There is plenty of free parking behind the beach. From the village, walk east along the sand; the nude area starts beyond the last organised section and reaches its quietest at the eastern end under the cliffs, roughly 15-20 minutes on foot. The walk is on soft sand.
What visitors say
Guides consistently place nude bathing at the eastern end of the bay, away from the village; the farther east, the more nude. The beach is long enough that the clothed and nude areas sit comfortably apart. The main complaint is wind: northerly gusts can sandblast the beach, and Souda is the usual refuge. Naturists who want a smaller cove recommend Ammoudaki, a few kilometres east past Damnoni.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Plakias is not an official nude beach. Greece has very few officially recognised nude beaches; elsewhere nudity is technically not permitted and could be charged under the Penal Code's indecency provision (Lifo, 2022, cites article 353), but on secluded beaches it is widely tolerated and police usually start with a warning.
Naturism at Plakias beach sits under Greece's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Greece public nudity guide.
Researched 25 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 35.1854, 24.3993
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Greece
Frequently asked questions
Where is the nude section at Plakias?
At the eastern end of the bay, beyond the organised section in front of the village, towards the cliffs.
Is there parking?
Yes, there is a lot of free parking along the beach.
Can I get there by bus?
Yes, KTEL buses run from Rethymno to Plakias in summer; then walk east along the beach.
Are there other nude beaches nearby?
Ammoudaki (Mikro Ammoudi) next to Damnoni, about 4 km east, is a small cove used mainly by naturists.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Members’ reviews
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