Malia TO Sitia

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Malia

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Malia as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Malia is a coastal town and a former municipality in the northeast corner of the Heraklion regional unit. It lies 35 kilometres east of Heraklion, the Cretan capital city.

Malia is considered the 'Party Mecca' of Crete or the Cretan equivalent of Koh Phangan and Magaluf. In the area, one can find flocks of British tourists going there for their gap year, stag and hen parties or simply go there to rock it. Travelling to Malia is advised against as its cultural impact and natural beauty is minimal and other than crazy nightlife has not much to offer.

Malia is mostly ideal for the young, the party-goers, and the heavy drinkers. Every second place in Malia seems to be a facility dedicated to night-time entertainment. Standard establishments such as hotels and restaurants can be found all around. Also, if you would like to see a place retaining some of its authenticity, you could visit an old village located south of the main coastal road.

The two main roads of Malia are conjoined in the centre of the town, in front of the Church of Saint Nektarios. One of the roads is turned into a pedestrian zone and is considered the 'party lane' of Malia, where young tourists patron one of the many bars and clubs until the early hours of the morning. The second road crosses vertically the pedestrian zone and is full of cafes, shops, supermarkets and banks. This road tends to be calmer as well.

Malia is also home to the third largest Minoan palace in Crete. The ancient Palace of Malia belonged to legendary King Sarpedon, who according to the myth he was the son of Zeus and goddess Europa and brother of King Minos. Excavations around the area have also brought to the surface many burial places full of treasures and golden ornaments. One of the most famous discoveries is the jewel decorated with bees, that is exhibited in the archaeological museum of Heraklion. Unfortunately, many of the tombs were looted prior to excavation from the archaeologists and the number and nature of objects lost remain unknown to this day.

Fifteen minutes ride north from Malia is the traditional village of Krasi. The route will take you across a gorge lined with carob and oak trees. Krasi's most famous attraction is the huge plane tree, which cannot be circled even by ten people lined up. In the central village, you can have a coffee or eat in one of the traditional taverns and sample the local delicacies which are renowned for their quality all over Crete. You can conclude your visit by taking a walk along the alleyways and narrow streets of the village.

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Sitia

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Sitia as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Sitia is a port town and a municipality in Lasithi. It lies east of Agios Nikolaos and northeast of Ierapetra.

Sitia port is the most important economic and financial hub of the Lasithi region. Sitia town itself is one of the least touristic parts of Crete. Its history goes back to the Venetian occupation and it was later destroyed and reconstructed by the Turks. For this reason, not many historical sites survived the passing of time. However, the region as a whole still provides some traces and monuments of its early times.

In Sitia, you can do the usual things such as hanging around the long beach in the eastern part of the city or visiting the waterfront in the harbour where you can enjoy your coffee and have some lunch or dinner. Alternatively, you can find yourself lost in the alleys of the old town where you can explore some traditional houses with courtyards and Anatolian gardens, visit the castle of Kazarma or the ruins of a Venetian monastery. Additionally, you can visit the Archaeological Museum where you can find one of the permanent exhibitions of folklore objects dating back to the early 20th and 19th centuries. Finally, a visit to the local produce stalls is a must as you can learn about and purchase some of the finest products in the whole of Crete, among others you can find some world-class wine, olive oil and raki spirit.

Sitia in its core is a residential town and tourism there is a by-product of development, which wasn't really sought after. Here you will meet some of the most delightful and hospitable people of Crete, who are doing their best to keep their hometown at its best and they are very proud of Sitia. This solitary region is also home to a number of monasteries like Toplou, archaeological sites, beaches lined up with palms, sparkling bays and mountainous areas that provide excellent opportunities for some fascinating hiking trails.

There is also a number of traditional villages such as Zou, Ziros, Handras and the abandoned Ethia and the surroundings of Karidi, where you can explore some old buildings and archaeological sites. Moreover, Sitia gave birth to one of the quintessential Greek epic writers, his name was Vitsentzos Kornaros. Kornaros was born in 1553 in Trapezounda in Sitia and he was destined to leave his trademark in Greek literature in 1600 when he composed his magnum opus 'Erotokritos' which to this day remains one of the staple literature legacies of Greece.

Sitia is a true gem, off the beaten track and unaffected by the spoils of mass tourism. You should hurry up, since the construction of an airport in Sitia is finished and things might change rapidly.

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