Malia is a coastal town in Crete, Greece that has become a major holiday destination.

Old Malia has has a rich cultural past just waiting to be explored. A Minoan town ruin lies three km to the east and covers an area of nearly one km. In addition, the palace of Malia was built in the middle Bronze age and destroyed by an earthquake during the late Bronze age. It was rebuilt at the end of the late Bronze age and was discovered in 1915. Excavation began in 1922 and is still ongoing. Today, tourists can see many parts of both the old and the newer excavations through semi-transparent roofs. In some areas they can actually walk among the ruins, in other places walkways allow viewing from above.

Modern Malia is a holiday resort with a wealth of restaurants, nights clubs and bars. Most are located along the Main strip, but there also bars along the beach front and they are almost always busy. There are clubs with multiple dance floors, clubs with DJ's, MC's, and even clubs with pools. Some are open late, and some are open until the morning hours.

Close by are a wide variety of hotels and apartments. For the young and young at heart, the best places to stay are in modern Malia. You are just steps away from the night life and the beach. For those looking for more peace and quiet, Malia's old village is the place to be. There are cozy apartments and family run hotels in every price range.

If you're not into the night life, there is still plenty to do. Malia's old town boats family-run restaurants, tavernas, and lovely traditional churches. One of the most beautiful is Nektarios church. Its brilliant colors are a feast for the eyes. Also nearby is Lychoonostatis, an open-air museum offering a glimpse into the the traditional local way of life. Here you can see a village with houses, a windmill, threshing floor, olive oil making, weaving workshops.

Most shops are on the main road separating old and new Malia. There are souvenir shops along with traditional Greek shops. Some of the best buys include handcrafts, ceramics, and leather goods. You can also find goldsmiths who will design custom jewelry just for you.

Volleyball and football tournaments are quite popular, as are all kinds of watersports, including waterskiing, paragliding, jet skiing, and just relaxing in the sun.

If you love the nightlife, there are bars and night clubs everywhere you look. If sports are for you, there are beach and water sports galore. If relaxing along the shore is what you have in mind, there are plenty of beach areas for relaxing and enjoying the sun and surf. If you love to shop, there is an endless array of shops to satisfy the most discriminating buyer. If you are into history, there is no better place to see ancient culture come alive during the on-going excavations. Malia truly has something for everyone.

Here are some of the latest bargains on holidays to Malia - if you're looking for something different why not search for a holiday that suits you using the form to the right?