Right on the seafront are simple fish taverns serving fresh fish from the bay of Mirabello. There is also a mini mart open throughout the season. The main beach in the village is pebbly and has repeatedly won awards for cleanliness, with its crystal clear warm and inviting water. Nearby on the way to Elounda there are sandy beaches offering sea sports.   

Daily trips to Spinalonga island on a fishing boat are also available at the village. Spinalonga has a long and interesting history, having attracted many of Crete's invaders as the ruins of its fortifications will testify, but has perhaps become more famous for being a leper colony in the years after the Second World War. Victoria Hislop described life in both the village of Plaka and island of spinalonga during the leper years in her hit book "The Island". The Greek Tourist Board is in the process of restoring most of the buildings on the island to their original state.

There is regular bus service to the nearby villages and towns  throughout the summer months. Plaka is approximately 1 1/2 hours drive from Heraklion airport.