Phaea Cretan Malia
Why it made our list: A Design Hotels approved beachfront property that’s exactly what any family needs. This is the all-inclusive you wish you’d known about sooner.
At a Glance
Low-rise modernist buildings from the late 80s, sit inside gardens so lush they border on tropical. Palms, Indian figs, banana trees, cacti. The 2018 renovation kept the bones and layered in Cretan marble, chestnut wood, rattan, botanical murals by local artists, and a colour palette pulled from the land: terracotta, sea blue, mustard, copper-red. It reads as warm and slightly bohemian without tipping into theme.
Two pools wind through the grounds, including a river-style pool with shallow lagoons that children gravitate toward. The sandy beach is long and uncrowded, with a Blue Flag and a shoreline so shallow it goes on for metres, which makes it as easy for toddlers as it is for strong swimmers. Executive Chef Lefteris Iliadis runs the kitchens across four restaurants, pulling from the on-site organic garden and a network of local farmers.
Activitie include: morning yoga, bread-baking in a wood-fired oven, olive oil tastings, open-air cinema and a kids’ programme segmented by age, from babies through teenagers, that is properly thought through. New for 2026: treehouses. The parents’ secret: nobody has to choose between their holiday and their children’s.
Our Take: Your children will be happy here. Cooking classes, treehouses, a beach that goes on forever. But the real surprise is that you will be too.
Rooms We Love
Direct pool access from your private deck, king or twin beds, a spacious terrace for outdoor lounging. The morning routine here is coffee, a few steps, and you are in the water. Breakfast at Mouries or Mediterraneo. 26 sqm.
A proper suite with a separate sitting area, double vanity bathroom, bathtub, and dressing area. Feels like a small apartment. Works well for families with one child or anyone who wants more space. Breakfast at Mouries. 40 sqm.
Sea views, two king beds, two private balconies, a bathtub and a separate sitting area. Sleeps up to four adults and four children. The best option for larger families or two couples travelling together. 95 sqm.
Dining
Mouries Cretan breakfast and dinner, led by Executive Chef Lefteris Iliadis. Seasonal ingredients from the hotel’s organic garden and local farmers. The à la carte Cretan breakfast here is the one to choose over the buffet.
Almyra Seaside Italian, overlooking the water at the northern tip of the property. Local ingredients, Italian technique.
Mezze Levantine-inspired, the newest addition. A lively menu that draws from the eastern Mediterranean.
Mediterraneo Buffet-style Mediterranean cuisine for breakfast and dinner. A daily-changing Cretan table with island specialities.
The Beach Shack Beachfront bar and kitchen. Light bowls, raw food, cocktails, sunbeds.
Kafenio Traditional Cretan coffee shop. Greek coffee and Cretan mezze.
The Crush Artisan ice creams, sorbets, and frozen yoghurt. A guaranteed hit with children.
Essentials
Check-in:
3:00 PM
Check-out:
11:00 AM
Rooms:
204 rooms, bungalows, and suites
Open:
April 20 to Oct 31
Children:
All ages welcome
Parking:
Free on-site parking
Accessibility:
Flat, garden-level property with paved paths. Accessible rooms available on request.
- Sandy beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, and towel service
- 2 outdoor swimming pools (including river-style pool with shallow children’s sections)
- 1 paddling pool
- The Cute Spa (treatments using local olive oil and sea salt)
- Gym and yoga pavilion
- Tennis court and basketball court
- Bike rental and e-bikes
- Organic garden (Bostani)
- Open-air cinema
- Kids’ club and teenagers’ club
- Little Explorers Kids Club (3–12), The Place teenagers’ club (12–18), Tiny Explorers for parents with babies (0–3). Dedicated kids’ menus at all restaurants.
- Baby packages available on request
- Concierge services
- Room service
Sorry, pets are not permitted at Phāea Cretan Malia.
The spa is on the smaller side. Guests looking for a full-day wellness experience may find it limited.
In peak season (July–August), sunbeds on the beach can fill early.
Standard double rooms are 24 sqm, which is compact. We recommend starting from bungalow categories or above for a more comfortable stay.
On Crete’s north-east coast, on the edge of Malia village between Stalida and Malia Beach. The beachfront stretches for approximately 5 km. Malia’s Old Town is 2.5 km away.
Potamos Beach, a quieter local stretch of sand, is nearby.
Heraklion International Airport (HER): 34 km / 30 minutes drive
Heraklion Port: 40 minutes drive
Palace of Knossos: 40 minutes drive
Getting Here:
Direct flights to Heraklion from most European capitals, seasonal connections from the US and UK. 45-minute flight from Athens. Private transfers recommended; the hotel can arrange.
Connects well with:
Elounda and Phāea Blue (50-minute drive)
Chania (2.5hr Drive),
Santorini (2hr Ferry)
Paros (3hr40min ferry)
Naxos (3.5hrFerry)
Mykonos (4hr Ferry)
Pack your bags, we'll do the rest
