Apparatus and methods for cooling vane platforms are provided. In this regard, a representative method for cooling a vane platform (300) includes: providing a cooling channel (306) on a platform from which a vane airfoil extends, the cooling channel being defined by a cooling surface (304) and a channel cover (312), the channel cover being spaced from the cooling surface and located such that the cooling surface is positioned between a gas flow path of the vane and the channel cover; and directing a flow of cooling air through the cooling channel such that heat is extracted from the cooling surface of the platform by the flow of cooling air.