For several decades, the island of Crete has been a popular holiday destination. Malia is a town in Greece located on the shores of the Aegean Sea. It is a famous youth resort. Located in the north-eastern part of the island, not far from the capital. Heraklion is 34 km from Malia. There is everything you need for a fun and active pastime. Tourists can visit the magnificent beaches, enjoy the natural scenery. At night, discos and other entertainment programs are organized. You can choose any hotel for your stay, there are a lot of them in the city. Malia (Crete), whose attractions are world famous, will amaze everyone with the splendor of ancient architectural buildings. City guests can book an excursion program during which they will see the beauty of this place.
Description of the city
Malia, although a small, but very popular resort. It is located in an area of about 60 square meters. km Altitude varies from 0 to 10 meters. About 4,000 people live here permanently. The indigenous people are Greeks, the official language is Greek. The city of Malia (Crete) is divided into two parts: new and old. In the latter, the atmosphere of antiquity reigns. Here you can see the winding mazes of streets, Byzantine churches and taverns that will delight tourists with national dishes.
The new part is the exact opposite of the old. Everything here corresponds to modern life. In this part there are numerous hotels and restaurants, entertainment clubs. The streets are always very noisy, loud music is heard until the morning. The resort town of Malia is in the summer in the UTC + 2 time zone (there is no time difference with Moscow), and in the winter - UTC + 3 (1 hour less than in the Russian capital).
Climatic features
The weather in the city does not differ at all from the rest of the Aegean coast. In Malia, summers are very hot, and in winter humidity levels rise, but there is no cold. The season in the city opens in early April. The maximum temperature reaches +35 ° C. By this time, the water in the sea warms up to a comfortable +25 ° C. Such conditions are ideal for families with small children. Parents do not have to worry that the kids will catch a cold and get sick. In winter, rains begin, but the temperature does not drop below +14 ° . The tourist season ends at the end of October.
Malia (Crete): attractions
For tourists who like to have a good time, Malia will hospitably open its sights. Right in the center of the city is the unique church of St. Nectarios. It is large enough, inside decorated with frescoes of incredible beauty. Very close to this temple is the Venetian church of St. John. A little further from them, tourists will be able to see a beautiful square. On it stands the church of St. Dimitrios. This building was built on ancient ruins.
In the eastern part of Malia is a unique palace called Minoan. In size, it occupies the third place among similar structures. Located in an area of 7.5 thousand square meters. m. The first excavations in this place began in 1915.
Many attractions are located in the vicinity of the city. For example, 5 km from Malia is the mountainous region of Mojos. Here you can get acquainted with the lifestyle of local residents. A few kilometers away from the city center, guests can visit the St. George Monastery. Its surroundings open immediately after entering Selinari. The building where the monastery is currently located was built in the 15th century.
Excursion programs
Malia (Crete) is a unique city of its kind. For guests who come here to enjoy the cultural heritage, guided tours are provided. These programs are quite diverse. They include visits to various attractions, museums, and if you wish, you can even visit the capital of Crete. People interested in religious history will be interested in an excursion to the cave of Zeus. According to local legend, an ancient Greek god spent his childhood here. Before you get into it, you can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the Alpine valleys.
The excursion program to the island of Spinalonga will not disappoint. This boat trip includes visits to archaeological sites. You can also visit the island of Santorini. This place has long been quite popular with tourists, as it is considered the hallmark of Hellas. You can still admire the mountain lake Kournas, if you book an excursion to the fascinating island of Gramvousa.
Beaches
Excursions and sightseeing are not the only things you can do if you went on vacation to these places. Malia (Crete) is world famous for its beaches. They are considered the best on the coast. The infrastructure is well developed here, reviews of tourists fully confirm this. The entire territory of the beaches is clean, well-maintained and well-groomed. Each tourist will find for himself all the most necessary. Here you can not just relax on the sand or sunbathe on a sun lounger, but also engage in water sports. However, tourists who would like to spend time quietly by the sea will not be very comfortable here, since the beaches are always crowded. They usually choose places in the surrounding area. These beaches are located a bit further from the city center, but also well-maintained.
City at night
Since Malia (Crete) is a youth resort, life here begins mostly at night. Almost all entertainment venues open at dusk. In the city center there is a large disco site. Clubs such as Banana, Malibu, Camelot Castle, operate until the morning. Entrance to the territory of entertainment facilities is free, tourists pay only for ordered drinks. It is worth noting that shops located in the city also work until late in the evening. The center of Malia is filled with the sounds of loud music and motorbikes. This transport is popular with young people. The noise does not subside until the morning. That is why those tourists who want to relax in silence, it is better to choose hotels located on the outskirts.
Hotels
Tourists who come to rest in these places are provided with apartments of different levels. Malia (Crete) is a well-developed city, there are more than 70 hotels here. Let's look at the most popular of them.
- Alexander Beach. The oasis hotel has four stars. It has about 290 rooms. All are equipped with modern furniture, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, telephone. Each room has a balcony. Going out on it, you will admire the garden or the sea. They are also equipped with marble bathrooms and showers. In the reviews, tourists especially highlight the interior of the hotel. A Turkish sauna, a fitness center and a heated pool are on site. For active pastime there are sports grounds for playing volleyball, basketball, tennis. Children will also not be offended; a children's pool, a club and an equipped playground work for them. Restaurants and bars can be visited at night. There is a beach that is only 5 meters away. It is equipped with comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas that protect from the sun.
- Blue Sea Village Resort & SPA. This hotel has five stars. It has a high level of comfort. It occupies a very large territory. Here, 200 bungalows and 10 suites are built for living. The rooms are equipped with satellite TV, air conditioning, refrigerator. There is a balcony or porch. The hotel has a laundry room, there are shops, parking for cars, function rooms for celebrations, as well as SPA and fitness centers. Guests are offered a sauna, a jacuzzi, an outdoor pool. Lovers of active pastimes are invited to enjoy water skiing, banana, canoeing and windsurfing. In the reviews, most tourists noted that the conditions are fully consistent with the five-star level. The beach is within walking distance. There are sun loungers, sunbeds and umbrellas, which are provided to tourists for free.
- Meropi This hotel is located on the first coastline of the city. It has four stars. The hotel has 96 rooms. All rooms are equipped with modern furniture, there is a bathroom. On the territory there are three pools. According to reviews, this hotel is ideal for a fun and active holiday.
How to get to the city
All tourists who are planning a vacation in a city like Malia (Crete) are interested in knowing how to get here. Residents of the Russian Federation are advised to use an airplane. The international airport is located in the capital of Crete. It takes a large number of charter flights. Already from Heraklion to Malia can be reached by bus. Typically, the journey takes about 1 hour. Those who do not want to travel by public transport can rent a taxi. The cost of such services is quite reasonable. A very large number of taxis are at the exit from the terminal. If you book a car in advance, then she will wait in the baggage claim area.