Malia holidays

Malia's known for up-all-night partying and great beaches. But behind the big personality, holidays to Malia offer up a sensitive side, too – with sugarcube churches and laid-back tavernas in the hidden old town.

Malia, a town of two faces

You'll find Malia on the island of Crete, Greece’s largest island. This high-rise, modern town is known as Crete’s party capital, and comes with world-class nightlife and beaches packed full of things to do – we’re talking watersports, seaside bars and scores of sunlounging space. Party credentials aside, though, there’s also a secret network of cobbled streets and dinky Medieval churches to explore in the old town, as well as cosy tavernas which dish up authentic Greek food.

Beach life

Malia is feted for its beaches – 5 kilometres of golden sand divided into 6 beaches, each backed by restaurants and bars. From the heady atmosphere of Glozanie Beach with its jet-skis and banana boats, you can wander down past the children’s lido, sunloungers and umbrellas of Sun Beach. Then finally you reach the clear-blue waters of Potomas Beach, a quieter affair that’s popular with locals.

Sunset-to-sunrise partying

Malia’s main strip – just behind the beach – is crammed with more chic bars, pubs and clubs than you can shake a glo-stick at. The clubbing scene here is first rate, rivalling the Balearics for big-name DJs, with shows from the likes of Tinie Tempah all summer long. Even better, the clubs won’t usually charge you to get in.

Handy for Heraklion

Crete’s historical capital, Heraklion, is about 45 minutes’ drive away. The scenery runs through the ages here – from the Venetian fortress of Koules to the 19th-century Ottoman Vezir Mosque. Daily ferries go from the Venetian harbour to Rhodes, Santorini and Athens. On your return you might fancy a nightcap in one of the candle-lit tavernas near the harbour.