Malia is about 35 km from Heraklion, on the road to Agios Nikolaos. As in neighbouring Chersonissos, Malia is invaded every year by mass tourism from northern countries and especially from England. If you are a fan of dancing 'til you drop', then you must spend at least one night here.
Malia Municipality is composed of four settlements, Malia and Stalida (coastal), Mocho, and Krasi (inland). The main road to Agios Nikolaos crosses Malia, and traffic at peak times is heavy. Nevertheless, this does not seem to bother the tourists too much, not to mention the area's business people, who make every effort to attract more and more people.
If you are here in the afternoon, you might take a walk along the promenade and have a drink at one of the cafes with balconies overhanging the sea. All your desires for food and accommodation will be satisfied, as there are suggestions for all tastes and budgets. Here you can also taste the tiny but delicious Malian bananas, sold on the main road by the producers themselves. The area's potatoes are also famous, but harder to come across in recent years, as the locals have abandoned the land and turned to tourism. Malia has fully equipped beautiful sandy beaches. If you are not fond of crowds, you can enjoy a swim at one of the many small sandy coves east of the large beach. As for water sports, there is anything you could wish for; jet skis, pedalos, even parachuting.
If you visit the town at Carnival, you will definitely attend, or even participate in the Malian parade, which is famous all over Crete.