16 km west of Chania, this very fertile corner of Crete was famously the setting for the epic Battle of Crete in the last world war. Today Maleme countryside is dominated by sweet smelling orange groves and whispering plantations of tall bamboo which fringe the mile upon mile of almost deserted pebbly beaches, punctuated by the occasional cosmopolitan hotel.
Maleme has a good choice of tavernas, and a fairly large supermarket and although the village has undoubtedly grown in recent years, it still retains a pleasingly unsophisticated air and if you explore a little, you’ll soon find the local baker and a real Greek butcher’s shop! For a little more action the bustling village of Platanias is just under 4km away but if you prefer a slower pace of life and a rather more tranquil atmosphere, there are several sleepy villages located just inland

There are provided many kinds of water sports, fishing, snorkelling, and diving in the waterfront of Maleme, mountain biking is available on the cliffs south of the village, and horse riding facilities are provided in the horse riding centre in the nearby village of Deres. The long fine pebble beach on the north is partly organised (not crowded) and provides all kind of facilities such as sun-chairs, umbrellas, showers and sea sports. There are cafes, bars and restaurants along the waterfront road. If you want more intense nightlife just try the nearby villages of Platanias and Agia Marina or visit the old town of Chania. Maleme is near the knot of the new National Road in Gerani, making it easy to travel everywhere in Crete. Its time-distance from the international airport of Akrotiri and the Souda port is a little more than half an hour, if you come from the new National Road. There are also frequent buses from the center of Chania.