Máleme

Maleme is a sandy beach resort on the north coast of Crete, 18 km west of Chania. The beach forms one part of the long bay that runs from Kolymbari to the edge of Chania, a shoreline of sandy and pebbly stretches that takes frequent northerly winds. The area behind the sand is well developed, so the amenities sit close to the beach rather than in a village further inland.

Chania airport is the nearest airport to Maleme. The resort suits swimmers who want a developed beach with a quiet end, walkers heading for the gorges behind the coast, and anyone interested in the wartime history of the airfield beside the sand.

Maleme beach

Maleme beach is sandy, and it lies 600 m from the centre of the resort. The bay it belongs to stretches from Kolymbari in the west to the outskirts of Chania in the east, which is why the sand continues in both directions with no clear end. Northerly winds blow along this coast often, and the north coast of Crete takes waves with them.

Swimmers looking for space should walk west. The quieter end of Maleme beach sits next to the old military airport, away from the developed section, and the name Maleme itself is thought to come from “Malama”, the word for gold, which has been read as a hint that a gold mine once worked here.

Beaches near Maleme

Four more beaches lie within 5 km of Maleme, all on the same continuous shoreline. They differ in surface and in how organised they are, rather than in the sea itself.

• Tavronitis lies 2.5 km away on the western side of the old Maleme airport, 1 km north of Tavronitis village and named after the river beside it. A long pebble beach with hotels, tavernas and restaurants near by, at its calmest in settled weather.
• Gerani sits 3.2 km away between Maleme and Platanias, sand and fine pebbles and one of the widest and calmest beaches near Chania. Caretta caretta turtles nest on it from May to September, and long unorganised sections stay quiet in high summer.
• Rapaniana is 4.9 km away and 4 km east of Kolymvari, a calm mix of sand and pebble on an open shoreline running down from the Rodopos peninsula. It stays uncrowded, with village services rather than beach clubs behind it.
• Platanias lies 4.9 km away, 11 km west of Chania, about 2 km of organised Blue-Flag sand with sunbeds, beach bars and water sports along the resort front.

Things to do around Maleme

Five outings start from the resort, listed below from nearest to furthest.

1. Walk to the domed tomb. A domed tomb stands 1.5 km from the beach, within walking distance of the resort. Our page on the Maleme domed tomb gives its location.
2. See the wartime airfield. The historic Maleme airport lies at the western end of the beach, with Tavronitis beach on its far side. The airfield was the scene of a significant resistance against German forces in 1941, and the walk out to it doubles as the quiet end of the swimming.
3. Spend an evening in Platanias. The resort 5.5 km away is one of the busiest on this coast, built on a hill above the sea and looking out over the islet of Thodorou. Platanias keeps its bars and restaurants open late, and its shops sell clothing, home decor, artwork and ceramics.
4. Hike the Roka Gorge. The gorge runs 2 km from the village of Deliana to the village of Roka, 32 km west of Chania in the Kolymbari area, and the walk usually takes 2 hours. Plane trees shade much of Roka, the vertical sides climb high in places, and the summer path follows the dry riverbed, though the narrow sections are hard to cross dry-shod when water is flowing. Trouli hill at Roka carries the remains of a Byzantine fortress.
5. Combine the Boriana and Kydoni gorges. The Boriano canyon, better known as the Karanou Gorge, starts in the Boriana neighbourhood of Karanou village and runs 1,800 m to its meeting with the Mavropiliotis river. A laid-out path through Boriana passes a ruined watermill, caves, a charcoal furnace, tunnels and the mouths of the old Averof iron ore quarries, and because it runs parallel to the Kydoni Gorge, walkers often do the two together.

Where to eat in Maleme

Eating in Maleme happens along the beach road, where the restaurants and bars sit within a kilometre of the centre.

• My Cafe stands 100 m from the centre.
• Menta Seaside Bar-Restaurant is 400 m out, on the shore.
• The Wave sits 400 m out.
• Imperial Restaurant stands 500 m out.
• Mistral Restaurant & Bar is 900 m out.

Getting to Maleme

Maleme sits on the coast west of Chania, 18 km from the city, on the run of shore between Platanias and Kolymbari. Chania airport is the nearest airport to the resort.

The neighbouring villages are a short drive apart along the same coast. Gerani, 2.4 km away and reached from either the Old National Road or the new national road, splits into Kato Gerani on the beach and Palaio Gerani inland, and it stays less developed than Platanias 5.5 km further east.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Maleme beach?

Maleme beach lies on the north coast of Crete, 18 km west of Chania. The beach is part of the long bay that runs from Kolymbari in the west to the edge of Chania in the east.

Is Maleme beach sandy?

Maleme beach is sandy. The wider bay it sits in mixes sandy and pebbly stretches, and the neighbouring beach at Tavronitis, 2.5 km west, is pebble.

Where is the quiet part of Maleme beach?

The west end of Maleme beach is the quiet part, beside the old military airport and away from the developed section. The rest of the beach has amenities close to the sand.

Is the sea at Maleme windy?

This bay takes frequent northerly winds. The north coast of Crete often has waves, so swimming here is easiest in settled weather, and the same applies along Tavronitis and the rest of the shoreline.

What does the name Maleme mean?

Maleme is believed to come from “Malama”, the Greek word for gold. The name has been taken as a sign that a gold mine worked in the area in ancient times.

Which airport is closest to Maleme?

Chania airport is the closest airport to Maleme. Chania city sits 18 km east of the resort along the coast.