Maleme, Crete

16 km west of Chania, this very fertile corner of Crete, Maleme was famously the setting for the epic Battle of Crete in the last world war. Today the countryside is dominated by sweet smelling orange groves and whispering plantations of tall bamboo which fringe the mile upon mile of almost deserted pebbly beaches, punctuated by the occasional cosmopolitan hotel

Maleme has a good choice of tavernas, and a fairly large supermarket and although the village has undoubtedly grown in recent years, it still retains a pleasingly unsophisticated air and if you explore a little, you'll soon find the local baker and a real Greek butcher's shop. For a little more action the bustling village of Platanias is just under 4km away but if you prefer a slower pace of life and a rather more tranquil atmosphere, there are several sleepy villages located just inland.

  Maleme Beach is a Blue Flag Beach