Malia - Introduction

Malia has been Crete's prime party resort since the late 1980s. Its reputation was, and still is, based on British 18-30s on package deals in search of sea, sand and sunshine, plus cheap booze and all-night discos. The old village of Malia lies on the main road linking Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, which runs above but parallel to the sea. From here, several narrow side roads lead down to recent beachside developments, including mid-range hotels (many with small outdoor pools), self-catering apartments and rooms to rent, eateries, bars and clubs. The 2km- (1 mile-) stretch of coast is made up of a series of sandy beaches with seasonal bars and watersport facilities. Malia Port, a short distance east of the centre, is filled with excursion boats offering one-day cruises. Despite Malia's reputation for drunken young Brits, it remains a more stylish resort than the likes of Kavos on Corfu, and the majority of establishments are well kept and appear relatively prosperous.

Who Goes There
Malia's tourist season runs from May to late-September, with activity peaking through July and August. Gangs of British 18-30s dominate the scene, plus a smattering of young Germans, Dutch, Italians and Greeks. Cheap alcohol and late-night partying are the main pull, though that said, there are plenty of interesting cultural sites close by for those in search of something more.

Where in the World
Malia lies on the north coast of the Greek island of Crete, on the Cretan Sea, 37km (23 miles) east of Heraklion, home to the nearest large ferry port, and 33km (21 miles) east of Heraklion Airport.

Malia faces north and gives onto the open sea. It is backed by imposing limestone hills that support scanty vegetation and lead up towards the Lasithi Plateau (1,025m/3,360ft).

When to go
Malia has a warm Mediterranean climate. In summer, dry hot days are often relieved by stiff breezes. Winters are mild. November to March is the rainy season. The best months to visit are between May and September when rainfall is at a minimum and temperatures average 27°C (80°F).

Beach
Malia grew up along a 2km- (1 mile-) long stretch of coast punctuated by a series of sandy beaches. The larger beaches have snack bars, beach volleyball, sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, and watersport facilities including banana boats, doughnut rings, jet skiing, water-skiing and bungee jumping. The beaches are generally quieter in the morning as the late-night revellers are rarely out of bed before lunchtime. Many of the hotels have small outdoor pools, which a surprising number of visitors seem to prefer to the sea.

Beyond the Beach
Sleeping off hangovers seems to take up a fair proportion of many visitors' time, but those who feel up to it might take a trip to the Minoan Palace of Malia, a 4,000 year-old archaeological site similar to the better-known Minoan Palace of Knossos, near Heraklion. It lies just 2km (1 mile) east of Malia, and there is a peaceful sandy beach nearby.

Family Fun
Malia's beaches are fine for kids, though some people might consider the resort too noisy and chaotic for children. There are a couple of good water parks nearby. A 10-minute drive west of Malia lies Star Beach Water Park (Themistokleous 5, Hersonissos), complete with pools, waterslides, a lazy river, music bars with guest DJs and foam parties, a great beach offering water skiing, parasailing and scuba diving, plus a spa centre. A 20-minute drive southwest of Malia, Acqua Plus (7km/4 miles south of Hersonissos on the road to Kasteli) is set in gardens on a hill near Crete Golf Course and offers a giant adventure pool, a lazy river, slides and sports extensive facilities.

Retail Therapy
Malia has several small supermarkets catering for everyday necessities and cheap alcohol, plus the usual souvenir shops selling postcards, beachwear and T-shirts. For a more sophisticated shopping experience, make a trip to either Agios Nikolaos or Heraklion, where typical mementoes include Cretan wine and raki, olive oil, organic cosmetics, dried herbs and honey.

A Night on the Town
Malia is renowned for its rowdy nightlife, which starts warming up each evening around 2200 and continues till sunrise. Activity centres on Dimokratias Street (also known as the Beach Road), which runs down towards the beach, perpendicular to the sea. It is lined with bars, clubs and eateries, each vying for passers-by's attention, with over-the-top neon signs and touts giving out flyers and offering cheap drinks. The biggest and most-talked about clubs are King Arthur Camelot Club (designed to look like a castle and famed for riotous foam parties and visiting UK DJs), Malibu (tropical beach club atmosphere, with garage and RB music) and Zig Zag (plays garage, funky house and RB). There are also countless Irish and English-style pubs offering draught beer, big screen TV, pool tables and darts, along with the infamous, mind blowing ‘fishbowl' cocktails, where up to 20 people use straws to drink from the same bowl.

Eating Out
There are a few decent traditional Greek tavernas in Malia, but these are out-numbered by British-style pubs serving pie and chips and all-day English breakfasts, pizzerias, steak houses, and Chinese, Indian and Mexican restaurants. Malia also has the dubious privilege of being home to a 24-hour McDonald's (summer only).

Getting Around
The north coast of Crete is well served by bus, with regular lines running west to the city of Heraklion and south to the popular resort of Agios Nikolaos. Taxis are cheap by European standards. It is possible to hire cars, quad bikes and bicycles. Excursion boats, offering one-day cruises to nearby beaches along the coast, depart from Malia Port, a short distance east of the centre.

Exploring Further Afield
East of Malia, the seaside resorts of Agios Nikolaos and Elounda can be visited aboard excursion boats, offering one-day cruises departing from Malia Port. In contrast, 37km (23 miles) west of Malia lies Crete's capital, Heraklion, a busy port city great for shopping and urban cafe life, but probably best known for its excellent Archaeological Museum displaying Minoan finds from the 4,000 year-old Palace of Knossos, which lies just 5km (3 miles) southeast of Heraklion and is also more than worth a visit.

Splashing Out
In need of pampering? Just a 10-minute drive west of Malia, Star Beach Water Park (Themistokleous 5, Hersonissos) (www.starbeach.gr) has an exclusive spa centre offering massage, hydro massage, aromatherapy, algae therapy, body wraps, sauna and facials.

Flying In
Heralkion Airport (HER)

Malia > Search

I'm looking for a...

Flight Only
Hotel Only
Flight & Hotel

Travelling from:

Travelling to:

Flying out:

Returning:

Book a hotel for only part of my trip.

Number of Rooms:

Room 1

Children: age 2-11, infants: age 0-1

Submit this guide to...
	Del.icio.us
	Digg
	Facebook
	Reddit
	Stumbleupon

For all pre-booked travel arrangements bought from ASDA Travel, Wefly.co.uk acts as an authorised travel agent.
Wefly.co.uk is a trading name of P&P Associates Ltd. Registered in England No. 2124920. Registered Office: Patteson Court, Nutfield Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4ED