Location
Maleme beach is about 17km west of Chania town and 2km away from Platanias, near the historic homonymous airport.
Characteristics
| Access By: Car/bus | Blue Flag: Yes |
| Beach Type: Coarse sand* | Depth: Normal |
| Temperature: Normal | Organised: Yes |
| Natural Shade: Little | Crowded: Normal |
| Windy: Yes** | Handicapped accessible: Yes |
Facilities
Umbrellas and sunbeds, showers, lifeguard, parking, cafés, snack, restaurants, water sports, accommodation, mini markets, souvenir shops, pharmacies.
Notes
The beach is partly organised although as you move to the west, next to the Military Airport, it gets quieter and offers natural shade.
As all its surrounding beaches, Maleme beach is a shelter for the Caretta caretta sea turtle which nests in the sand from May until September.
From the beach you can see the Thodorou islet, a preservation area of the Cretan wild goat widely known as Kri-kri.
*Maleme beach is mainly sandy with big pebbles at parts.
**Like all beaches on the north west coast of Crete, it is affected by the winds which blow during July and August and are widely known as “meltemia”.
During these days attention is required, due to dangerous sea currents and large waves.
How to get to Maleme
Maleme beach is easily accessible fro Chania town by public buses or rented cars and motorbikes.
The beach is near a junction with the new National road Chanion-Kissamou.
Photo by: Manos Paraskakis
