Heraklion Airport to Malia and Stalis

Heraklion Airport to Malia and Stalis: compared

The drive

East on the national road past Gouves and Hersonissos. The Malia exit leads to the town and the beach road with the big hotels; Stalis is just before, between the national road and the sea. Outside summer weekends the drive is easy and quick.

By bus

KTEL Heraklion–Lasithi coaches run along the north coast through Hersonissos and Stalis to Malia, some via the airport. Fares are a few euros; journey time 40–70 minutes depending on where you board. Check the day’s schedule; evening services are fewer. See the KTEL guide.

Arriving late in Malia

Many charter flights land late in the evening, and that is when the taxi queue is longest. For Malia, a pre-booked transfer costs about the same as the meter and removes the wait. Compare fares on taxi prices to every resort.

Malia and Stalis: which one for you?

Malia has two faces: the beach road, famous for its summer nightlife, and the old village uphill, with quiet lanes and tavernas. Stalis, 3 km west, is calmer and family-oriented, with a long sandy beach lined with hotels. Choose Stalis for children, the beach road for nights out, the old village for something in between.

What to see near Malia

• Palace of Malia: a major Minoan palace site about 3 km east of town, quieter than Knossos.
• Malia beach and dunes east of the town.
• Lasithi plateau (about 45 min up the mountain road).

Malia and Stalis are on the KTEL east-coast line, so a car is optional for a beach week: see the KTEL guide.