Malia Village Guide Crete

Malia at a Glance: Beach, Nightlife and Minoan History

Malia is a beach resort on Crete's north coast, about 35 km east of Heraklion, known for its long sandy beach and its late-night bar strip. Away from the beach road, the old town is a working Cretan village with tavernas around its church squares.

The Minoan Palace of Malia, a few kilometres east of the resort, dates back more than 4,000 years. In the old town tavernas you can try Cretan dishes such as dakos, souvlaki and fresh seafood.

Eating and Drinking in Malia

Malia has plenty of British food for visitors who want a taste of home. There is a McDonald's, a fish and chip shop and a British-style pub, the Red Lion, which has been on Beach Road since 1999. The slightly more adventurous can try the local Greek fast food of the gyros.

Similar to a British late-night kebab, the Greek gyros (pronounced YEER-oh) is made of rotisserie meat, a little salad such as tomato, lettuce and onion, tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and garlic sauce) and chips, all wrapped in a flat pitta bread. Delicious!

For traditional Greek cooking, try the tavernas of Malia old town, such as San Giorgio, Kalesma or Milos Taverna. They serve grilled meats such as souvlaki and chicken, and oven-baked dishes such as moussaka, stifado (beef stew) and kleftiko (lamb).

For a cheap, quick and healthy snack, buy a bunch of the little Malia bananas from one of the street stalls. We think they are the sweetest bananas you will find anywhere.

Malia After Dark

Malia's nightlife is the liveliest in Crete and is centred on the Strip, the stretch of Beach Road running down from the old town towards the sea. Dozens of bars and clubs line the road, many with free entry and drinks offers early in the evening. The bars fill up from mid-evening and the clubs get busy after midnight.

The party season runs from May to early October, with the busiest weeks from mid-July to August, and most venues close for the winter. Club names and opening times change from season to season, so check a venue's own social media pages before you go.

Familiar brands of beer and cider are on sale in Malia, but try the local beer, Mythos. It is a Greek lager of 5% strength with a subtle nutty taste. Served ice cold, it goes perfectly with souvlaki, chips and a Greek salad. Yammas!

Malia Beach

Malia beach is a long stretch of fine sand and clear water, and it is especially popular with the 18–30 crowd. The beach is well organised, with water sports including jet skis, parasailing, banana boats and doughnut rides.

After all that exercise you can stretch out on a sunbed and top up your tan. Beach staff look after the sunbeds and bring drinks and snacks, and there are plenty of beach bars along the coast.

Further to the east there is a much quieter beach, popular with locals, with clear water and soft white sand. Potamos beach lies close to the Minoan Palace of Malia archaeological site.

Palace of Malia

PALACE OF MALIA

The Minoan Palace of Malia is a Bronze Age palace east of the resort, one of the major Minoan palaces of Crete alongside Knossos, Phaistos and Zakros. Like Knossos, it was destroyed during the Late Bronze Age.

You can visit the excavated ruins today, and in places you are allowed to wander among the walls. In 2025 UNESCO added Malia to the World Heritage List as one of the Minoan Palatial Centres, together with the palace of Knossos.

Malia Bananas

Malia bananas are small, sweet bananas grown around Malia itself. They are the Dwarf Cavendish variety, cultivated locally in small polytunnels.

Little stalls along the main high street sell them by the bunch. Whenever we are in Malia or passing through, we always stop for a big bunch.

Malia Old Town and Wildlife

Malia old town is a real Cretan village, where a thriving local community carries on its daily life away from the beach road.

Wild flowers grow alongside the resort too. The threatened sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) and the pine thistle (Atractylis gummifera) both grow on Malia beach. To the east and west of the busy main beach, quieter stretches of sand offer a more relaxed day.

Hotels in Malia

Alexander Beach Hotel & Village Resort

Alexander Beach Hotel & Village Resort is a large beach resort within walking distance of Malia. Every room has a private balcony or patio. The grounds include a spa with an indoor pool, sauna, steam bath and hammam, plus a gym, tennis courts, a children's club and a children's pool. Its Meltemi taverna serves Greek and Cretan dishes, alongside a buffet main restaurant and an Italian restaurant.

Our guide to luxury hotels in Crete includes more places to stay in and around Malia, including Phāea Cretan Malia, Ikaros Beach and Royal Heights.