Explore Crete island

Malia - Crete, GREECE

Just 33 km east of the Iraklio Crete and only 6 km away from Chersonissos is another popular tourist area, Malia and Stalis. The buildings here are not built so close to each other, the architecture is better and the sea is cleaner. The tourist part of the settlements is around the beach and connects to the village of Malia by the main road. The village of Malia is surrounded by olive groves and the hills of mountain Selena. Malia is one of the oldest inhabited places in Crete as well as in Greece itself. Situated in a landscape of great natural beauty and its archaeology, history and setting offer many attractions to the visitor. It has a healthy climate and a reputation for hospitality, and the people are friendly and helpful. The many pensions, apartments and large hotel complexes together with numerous taverns, cafe-bars and the cosmopolitan environment in general make a stay there enjoyable.

The road through the mountains will lead you to the charming hamlet of Krasi, which used to be the natural resort where some of the greatest contemporary writers of modern Greece came to rest. The wooded mountainsides that surround it, the ancient plane trees and rushing waters of its springs are a memorable experience. Besides the tourist character of Malia a visitor could also enjoy a very interesting archeological tour to the Palace of Malia. As the sea breeze moves through the rose bays the dazzling sun rays light the Minoan Palace of Malia, the third most important Minoan site of the Prefecture. The Minoan name for the Palace is not known and it takes its name from a local town. The first palace to be constructed on the site was built around 1900 BCE. Little is known of this palace though some finds from the Old Palace period attest to the wealth of the Old Palace at Malia. This palace was later destroyed, probably by an earthquake. The first attempt to excavate the site was made in 1915 by Joseph Hadzidakis but the full excavation of the Palace and much of the surrounding town was conducted by the French Archaeological School under F. Chapouthier and are still continuing today. Like the other palaces Malia has a west court. The west wing of the Palace, which probably had two storeys, contained magazines, cult rooms and official apartments.

There is a wide range of tourist and other facilities provided in Malia. Many luxurious hotels and apartments. Plenty of shops, tavernas, restaurants and bars. Car and Bike rentals, Sports, Water Sports, Organized Beaches, Tourist Agents, Banking Sevives etc. Malia is the suitable place for the visitor who wants an intense night life. Malia has one of the longest stretches of beach in Crete which actually starts from the small town of Stalis west of Malia and extends for more than 4 km to the east. This beach is fairly organized and provides all the amenities that a tourist might want. During the high season (July-September) the beach can get fairly crowded. However there are many smaller beaches in coves around Malia, for those who prefer a more secluded place.. Opposite to the beach there is a small islet, easily accessible by swimming, with a small church on it.