Agia Marina Holidays, Greece Almost merging with the busier, neighbouring resort of Platanias, Agia Marina lies to the west of Khania. It is built along the busy coastal road and offers a range of tavernas, bars, souvenir shops and supermarkets. The three-kilometre-long sand and pebble beach has several beach bars and decent water sports facilities. The beach also looks onto the small island of Thodorou, a nature reserve for the rare Kri-kri Cretan mountain goat.
Georgioupolis Holidays, Greece Located between Rethimnon and Khania, Georgioupolis lies at the mouth of the River Almiros. Once a sleepy fishing village centring on a main square lined with tavernas, bars and eucalyptus trees, it is now a low-key, family resort, popular with British holidaymakers. Mid-range hotels and apartments line the well-equipped fine sand beach. Four kilometres inland, Lake Kournas is Crete’s only fresh water lake and a good spot for bird watching.
Khania Holidays, Greece Crete’s most romantic town, Khania owes its beauty to several centuries of Venetian and Ottoman rule. The pedestrian-only old town curves around a pretty harbour lined with pastel-coloured facades and guarded by a 17th-century mosque and a lighthouse. The cobbled streets are packed with chic eateries and craft shops. The White Mountains rise 2,452 metres behind the town; beyond them, the 18 kilometre-long Samaria Gorge attracts keen hikers.
Maleme Holidays, Greece Far quieter than neighbouring Platanias, Maleme is a fairly undeveloped resort with a fine pebble beach, equipped with sunloungers, umbrellas and water sports facilities. There are several large mid-range hotels, plus self-catering apartments. The village has just a few tavernas and shops – entertainment is generally hotel-based. On the hillside, a German War Cemetery records some 4,500 paratroopers who died here in WWII.
Platanias Holidays, Greece Home to Khania’s open-air, seaside dance clubs, Platanias lies 10 kilometres west of town. The old village stands on the hillside, while the modern resort stretches along the busy coastal road. There is a wide range of accommodation and numerous restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. Tracks lead off the road to the two-kilometre-long sand beach, which is equipped water sports facilities and overlooks the islet of Thodorou.
