Maleme holidays

With holidays to Maleme you get a quiet slice of Crete, with livelier back-up at neighbour Platanias and shopping and sights at Chania.

A peaceful haven

Maleme sits on the northwest coast of Crete between the villages of Tavronitis and Gerani. It’s a quiet place surrounded by olive trees and vineyards, which is just how the 800 or so locals like it. And it’s small scale, so you’ve just a clutch of shops, bars and tavernas – though the 3-kilometre beach certainly doesn’t come with size issues. And when you’re in need of something a bit buzzier, then lively Platanias is literally just along the road.

A beach of 2 parts

With Maleme, you actually get a pair of beaches, really. One side has the sand, with a back-up of sunloungers, watersports and beachfront tavernas. Then there’s another part – a shingle-and-pebble bit with just the sea and shaded pine trees. Should you want a third choice, the big, Blue Flag beach at Platanias is less than 10 minutes’ drive away.

Daytrips for sightseeing and walking

You can be in Chania in about 25 minutes. It’s an historic place, with a Venetian fortress and lighthouse on the harbour front, along with a former Turkish mosque. The old quarter is filled with restaurants housed in old Venetian buildings, while the waterfront is ringed with lively bars. For a different sort of daytrip, there’s walking at the Samaria Gorge. You can do the whole 18 kilometres in a day, though when you’re booking your trip do ask about the shorter route.