Discovering Maleme on Crete

Basking in warm sunshine and lapped by the healing water of the Mediterranean, the island of Crete never fails to attract a regular influx of visitors to its picturesque shores.

Asides it’s unique beauty and enviable weather, one major attraction of Crete is it’s mix of vibrant towns, with plenty going on and tranquil villages that seem to have stood still for eternity.

One such place is the beautiful village of Maleme, which lies on the northwest coast of the island. Described as a “peaceful haven”, the village is nestled amongst flourishing vineyards and olive groves, not far from the livelier towns of Platanias and Chania.

Despite its peaceful exterior, Maleme is home to a handful of shops, tavernas and bars, where visitors can enjoy shopping for unusual gifts and souvenirs to take back home, followed by a delightful meal of authentic Greek cuisine in a traditional taverna.

The beach at this pretty village is split into two halves. One half is significantly livelier, with beachside bars, water sports and sun loungers, and the other side is quieter, where pine trees tumble onto the pebbles, providing some welcome shade from the sun.

As mentioned above, much of Crete’s appeal is its fantastic mix between lively and quiet and testament to such diversity are the towns of Platanias and Chania, which are not far from Maleme but are significantly more active, with plenty of shops, restaurants and old Venetian buildings to look at in awe.