Afrata Beach — Attraction in Municipality of Platanias

Go to this place when the water is calm and the wind is low and you’ll swim in the clearest water you can imagine. Even if you swim out in the middle of the small bay, looking down a depth of 5 metres is like looking into a crystal clear swimming pool of the most amazing brilliant colours of blues and greens. The water is warm, or was the half a dozen times we went in August. This is a small rocky bay, an easy 40 min drive from Chania with a pebble beach. Water shoes are a must. There is free parking and free umbrellas/beds but as it is small there aren’t a lot of umbrellas so during the month of august it’s better to arrive before 11am. We arrived later sometimes and were happy to grab some spare beds and put them under the trees in the upper car park which is never full. The upper car park in my opinion is the best spot to settle because you have a wonderful view above the bay and it’s much quieter. Not to say this place is ever too full or too busy like the main beaches. It is always possible to find your own space. There are toilets, showers with warm water which is so luxurious! The downside of this beach is the taverna. The food is fine, typical Greek food but it’s the staff that work there that really let the place down. We ate there multiple times and every time was the same - the lack of service is disappointing. There are 3 guys, 1 behind the bar more interested in having a beer and talking to his Greek mates. 1 gives you your menu and sets up the table - in his own time which depends on how he feels that day and whether he wants to stand talking to the guy behind the bar instead! The third guy is the food guy, only he can take your food order and he is busy bringing the food out from the kitchen which is in a separate building. So this guy is so busy that you wait a LONG time until he takes your order. Don’t expect either the bar guy or drinks guy to help or take your order, they will rudely tell you to wait! Once the food finally comes it’s ok but don’t expect to order another drink or coffee or to ask for the bill as you will wait forever. We once ordered coffees after our meal and after 30 mins wait the bar guy still hadn’t made them nor did he start making them when we asked for them again, so we paid the bill and walked out. Drinks guy and bar guy must really hate their jobs and the people who go there!! So, long story short, go to this place for the amazing, beautiful, peaceful beach when the wind is low. When it’s windy you miss seeing how clear the water is, unless of course you’re snorkeling. Don’t expect much from the taverna and be prepared to wait for very slow and disinterested service. Take a pack of cards and play uno during the inevitable long wait. Ask for the bill when he...

Afrata Beach is a lovely pebble beach located near Kissamos, offering a peaceful retreat from the more crowded tourist spots. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to relax in a more secluded setting. The beach is wonderfully quiet and intimate, with very few people—we counted a maximum of 15-20 visitors during our stay. One of its major draws is the convenience, with free parking available right at the beach. Visitors can also enjoy the comfort of free sunbeds and umbrellas, which are provided at no cost. Additionally, there is a good and affordable snack bar on-site, perfect for grabbing a refreshment like an iced coffee for just €2.50. If you’re searching for a beautiful, smaller beach away from the crowds, I highly recommend visiting Afrata Beach.

The only thing I would rate negatively is the sign saying “Free beer tomorrow,” which is on the beach every day and there is never actually any free beer – it’s a...

We really enjoyed visiting this beach a handful of times whilst on holiday in the area. It’s a small beach and sun beds do get taken quickly but each time we visited we did manage to get a shade and two beds within a fairly short time of arriving. They are free assuming you buy something from the restaurant at some point, even if it’s only a drink. It’s a pebble beach and for me sea shoes were a must and we saw the sea on a pretty windy day and a very still day, both very enjoyable a lovely warm water. Good for snorkelling. Even though it gets busy, we found it to be very peaceful and an enjoyable place to spend the day. Plenty of parking available and fine for small hire cars to reach without worrying...