Plakias transfers are the booked private and shared rides that take travellers across Crete to Plakias, the resort village on the south coast of the Rethymno regional unit, from Chania Airport, Heraklion Airport, Rethymno town and the ports of the north coast. Booked rides across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the airports, the meeting points, the route south, journey times, the beaches and villages the drivers reach around the bay, booking and vehicles, and the tours that start with a pickup in the village, with links into the Plakias pages. The transfers shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.
What are Plakias transfers?
Plakias transfers are pre-booked rides by car, minivan, van or taxi that carry travellers between an airport, a port or a town in Crete and their hotel in Plakias, a resort village on the south coast in the Rethymno regional unit.
Private Plakias transfers carry one party only, door to door. Your driver stands in arrivals with a name sign and takes you directly to your hotel in the village. On the way back, the driver collects you at your pickup point, at a time worked out from your flight details.
Shared Plakias transfers seat you with other passengers in an air-conditioned vehicle bound for the Plakias area. The shuttle stops at each hotel on its list, so the ride time depends on traffic and the number of stops, and it sets you down at your hotel or the nearest point it can reach.
Where is Plakias and which airports serve Plakias transfers?
Plakias lies on the south coast of Crete, on the Libyan Sea, south of the city of Rethymno. Plakias transfers run from two airports: Chania International Airport (CHQ) in the west and Heraklion International Airport (HER), the main gateway of the island.
The village belongs to the municipality of Agios Vasileios, and its Greek name means flat, after the level ground it stands on. Mountains wall it in on the north side, and Plakias transfers from both airports run along the north coast first, then turn south across them.
Chania International Airport, named after Daskalogiannis, lies near Souda Bay on the Akrotiri peninsula and is the gateway to western Crete. Heraklion International Airport, named in honour of the novelist Nikos Kazantzakis, lies about 5 kilometres east of the city centre and handles more traffic than any Greek airport except Athens.
Which Plakias transfers run from Chania Airport?
Plakias transfers from Chania Airport run as shared rides, private rides and wheelchair-accessible rides. The shared ride runs between the airport and the Plakias area in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the private ride takes your party alone from the arrivals hall to your hotel.
Your booking voucher shows where to find the driver or the shuttle at the terminal. Shared Plakias transfers keep to a schedule, so expect a wait at the airport before departure. A faster shared service caps the run at 4 stops, against up to 8 on the standard shuttle.
Wheelchair users on Plakias transfers from Chania ride in vehicles with a ramp or a lift at the back, so they stay in the wheelchair for the whole trip and the driver helps them in and out. Our Chania Airport transfers page lists the other routes from this terminal.
Which Plakias transfers run from Heraklion Airport?
Plakias transfers from Heraklion Airport run as private rides between the terminal and the village in an air-conditioned, modern vehicle driven by a professional. Pickup runs in both directions, from the airport to Plakias and from your hotel back to the airport.
Taxi drivers based in the Plakias area run Plakias transfers between the village and the Heraklion and Chania airports and ports, 24 hours a day, with English, Greek, Italian and Russian spoken. A party of more than four people is split across two cars.
Fixed-rate Plakias transfers on the Heraklion route include the licensed driver and vehicle, taxes and tolls, luggage, child seats, waiting time and flight monitoring, so the driver tracks a delayed flight and waits for it. The Heraklion Airport transfers page lists rides from this terminal to other resorts.
Which route do Plakias transfers follow from Rethymno and the north coast?
Plakias transfers from Rethymno and the north coast follow the coastal main road, then turn south over the mountains. One road runs through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge from Koxare to Asomatos and on west to Plakias; another passes the Kotsifou Gorge, directly north of the village.
Along the north coast, Plakias transfers use Greek National Road 90, the northern Crete highway that links Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion and forms part of European route E75. It has one lane in each direction and no central reservation, and rides from both airports share this coastal stretch before the climb inland.
Pickups for Plakias transfers also run from Rethymno city and from the ports of Chania and Heraklion. Chania’s ferry port lies at Souda, where ferries from Piraeus arrive, and private rides from either port end at your hotel in Plakias. For transfers that end in the town itself, see our Rethymno transfers page.
How long do Plakias transfers take?
Plakias transfers from Chania Airport or Heraklion Airport take about 2 hours, according to the listed shared and private services. The village lies about 114 km from Heraklion Airport, 93 km from Chania town and 39 km from Rethymno, the closest city.
Plakias transfers from Rethymno take about 45 minutes, the shortest of the city runs, and that short ride brings day-trippers from the north coast. Airport times hold in both directions, on the Heraklion listing, which runs to and from Plakias.
Short Plakias transfers around the bay cover small distances: Souda Bay lies 1.5 km west of the village, Ammoudi 5 km east, a 10-minute drive, and the stone-house lodgings of Myrthios sit 4.3 km from Plakias beach. For self-drive notes on the long route, see our Chania to Plakias page.
Which beaches and villages near Plakias do Plakias transfers reach?
Plakias transfers reach the nearby beaches and villages as well as the resort, with drop-offs listed at Damnoni Beach, Preveli Palm Beach, Myrthios, Lefkogia, Asomatos and the Kourtaliotiko Gorge waterfalls. Souda Bay, at the west end of Plakias, sits inside the Plakias area.
Plakias transfers on the coastal hops serve Damnoni Beach, Schoinaria Beach, Ammoudi and the three Rodakino beaches of Korakas, Peristeres and Polyrizos. Preveli Palm Beach, another listed drop-off, lies where the Kourtaliotiko gorge meets the sea, below the monastery; our Preveli Beach page covers the beach itself.
Uphill, Plakias transfers serve Myrthios, whose northwestern edge stands about 200 m above sea level, plus Lefkogia, Mariou and Spili village. Sellia, the other mountain village near Plakias, is missing from the listed menus, so give the exact address when booking a private car to it.
How do you book Plakias transfers and which vehicles run?
Plakias transfers are booked online in advance as a shared seat or a private vehicle, from a car or station wagon up to a minivan, minibus or coach. Listed lead times run from 10 hours for a private car to 3 days for a shared ride.
To book Plakias transfers, enter the pickup point, the drop-off, the date, the flight arrival time and a head count that lists adults, children from 3 to 11 and infants of 2 or under separately. A return leg goes on the same booking, and routes missing from the menu get a tailor-made quote.
Local fleets for Plakias transfers run limousines and station wagons, minivans for 5 to 8 people, minibuses of 8 to 12 seats and coaches for large groups on request. Chauffeur and VIP runs use luxury Mercedes cars, and hire by the hour is also on offer.
Which tours from Plakias include a pickup?
Two listed tours include a pickup and need no separate Plakias transfers: the Kourtaliotiko Gorge river trek with lunch and the 9-hour day trip from Rethymno to Preveli, Damnoni and Plakias. The horse rides and scuba dive list no pickup, so confirm the meeting point.
The Kourtaliotiko Gorge trek lasts 5 hours in the biggest gorge in the Rethymno area, past natural pools and waterfalls; the youth rate covers ages 7 to 15, and ages 3 and under cannot join. Book either pickup tour at least 10 hours ahead, the same lead time as private Plakias transfers.
The 2-hour Plakias Beach Ride canters along the shore in a small group, and a lesson of 30 or 45 minutes suits novice and intermediate riders; see Crete horse riding. The private try-scuba session runs 4 hours from age 8. Guests outside the village can add Plakias transfers to reach them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cancel Plakias transfers free of charge?
Yes. The local taxi service in Plakias offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the transfer and asks for no deposit, and both listed airport rides carry free cancellation. Plakias transfers also accept schedule changes, so update your flight details on the booking whenever your arrival moves.
Do Plakias transfers carry bulky luggage?
Yes. Beyond suitcases, fixed-rate Plakias transfers include extras such as ski equipment. Excess items such as golf clubs, buggies or wheelchairs are arranged with the booking service before travel, and a minivan offers more storage space than a standard taxi for larger loads.
How far do Plakias transfers go beyond the south coast?
Plakias transfers run across Crete, not only around the bay. Listed destinations include Rethymno city, Knossos Palace, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Elafonisi Beach and a round trip for the Samaria Gorge, and private tours are available on request for longer days out, along with transfers between hotels on the island.