The Palace of Malia is well worth a stop on your itinerary. As the third-largest Minoan palace complex on the island—and less crowded than the one at Knossos—it charmed us with its peaceful atmosphere and its orange-hued floor dotted with huge jars.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a great time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why Visit the Malia Palace
Is the Malia Palace worth it? Our take:
Yes, the Palace of Malia is definitely worth a visit. We appreciated being able to walk around the site without having to climb any steep stairs, which makes it one of the most accessible Minoan ruins in Crete. Less crowded than Knossos, it retains a truly authentic feel. It’s one of the best things to do in Malia and one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Crete.
Why is the Malia Palace famous?
The Palace of Malia is the third-largest Minoan palace on Crete, after those at Knossos and Phaistos. According to mythology, it is said to have been the residence of Sarpedon, son of Zeus and Europa and younger brother of King Minos.
We find this legendary connection particularly interesting, as it links the site to the founding myths of Cretan civilization. The site also owes its fame to its archaeological discoveries, including the famous gold bee pendant, now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Our favorite moments
- The size of the site means you never feel crammed in with the tourists
- The Jars
- the orange color of the floor and walls
- The height of the walls in many places gives a better sense of what the structure looked like compared to other sites.
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History in brief
The history of the Malia Palace spans several centuries and includes two major phases of construction. Here are the key dates to remember:
- Around 2500–1900 B.C.: occupation of a pre-palatial settlement at the site of the present-day palace
- Around 1900 B.C.: Construction of the first palace
- Around 1700 B.C.: destruction of the first palace, along with the other palatial centers on Crete
- Around 1650 B.C.: Reconstruction of the palace based on a design similar to the previous one
- Around 1450 B.C.: the palace was destroyed once and for all, as were the other Minoan sites on the island
- 1915: Excavations began under the direction of Greek archaeologist Iosif Hatzidakis
- 1921: Excavations resumed and continued by the French School of Archaeology in Athens, which remains involved to this day
Location: Malia Palace, Malia (Crete)
Where is the Malia Palace located?
- On the northern coast of eastern Crete, about 3 km east of the present-day town of Malia
- Near Potamos Beach, right on the waterfront
- Right next to the main road connecting Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos
- From Heraklion: 40-minute drive
- From Agios Nikolaos: 40-minute drive
- From Rethymnon: a 1-hour-and-40-minute drive
- From Chania: a 2-hour, 40-minute drive
How to get there?
We recommend driving to the Malia Palace, as it’s the most convenient option along this stretch of the north coast. The site is located right off the main road connecting Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos, making it easy to reach. You can also get there from the town of Malia in just a few minutes by car.
Parking
There is a large parking lot right at the entrance to the site, making it easy to get there by rental car.
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Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Length of visit and main difficulties
The site is quite large, but we found it fairly easy to explore thanks to the complete absence of stairs or significant elevation changes. In fact, it’s one of the easiest Minoan ruins to navigate in all of Crete.
However, the site is largely exposed: be sure to bring water and sunscreen, as it can get hot quickly, especially in the summer.
The ground is relatively flat except in certain areas where rocks protrude slightly.
After rain, the ground can also get a bit muddy.
Advice on how to visit
Our tip: Start your tour at the small information building at the site entrance. There, you’ll find helpful explanations and a scale model to help you get your bearings before setting out to explore the ruins. We found this step invaluable in helping us make the most of our visit.
Visiting with children
The ruins are more evocative than other sites. You can really get a sense of what the buildings were like, which makes the visit more interesting for children.
Schedules and rates
- Closed on Tuesday
- Open on other days, at least from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer, and until 3:30 p.m. in the winter
- Admission price: €10
- Latest news on the official website here.
Catering
Restrooms are available at the entrance to the site, but there are no restaurants directly on the premises. There’s a tavern a little further down the road, right by the sea—the perfect place to extend your visit with a meal while enjoying the view.
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The Museum at the Archaeological Site
The Museum at the Malia Archaeological Site
At the entrance to the site, a small building houses the Malia Palace Museum. We strongly recommend that you stop there first before exploring the ruins—this is our top tip for getting the most out of your visit.
In particular, you’ll find a scale model of the palace there, which is especially helpful for visualizing what the building looked like in its heyday, since—unlike Knossos—the archaeological site at Malia has not been reconstructed.
The ruins have remained just as the archaeologists uncovered them during the excavations. We found this model much more informative than the simple explanatory panels found at other Minoan ruins on the island. The most valuable artifacts unearthed at the site, such as the famous gold bee pendant, are on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, about 34 km away.
The exterior of the palace
The Walls, the Kouloures, and the East Shops
As you enter through the West Courtyard, you’ll first walk alongside some of the tallest walls of any Minoan ruins on Crete, which helps you better imagine the palace’s original scale. We were surprised by how well-preserved they are—still visible to a height of more than two meters in some places.
A little further on are the Kouloures, the large circular pits typical of Minoan architecture. The Palace of Malia has six of them—now filled in—which archaeologists generally interpret as ancient grain silos.
The central courtyard, the main staircase, and the Kernos
You’ll also discover the palace’s central courtyard, which runs north-south and is 48 meters long and 23 meters wide. This is the heart of all the Minoan palaces on Crete, and the one at Malia already existed during the time of the first palace. We enjoyed looking at the start of the main staircase on the side—which once led to the upper floor—next to what archaeologists call the loggia.
Look for the Kernos on the courtyard floor: this circular stone, 90 cm in diameter and pierced with 34 small cup marks, is one of a kind and was likely used for ritual offerings.
The Pithoi
We also really liked the reconstructed pithoi scattered throughout the ruins. These huge terracotta jars could reach up to 2 meters in height and were used to store olive oil and other foodstuffs. They’re truly impressive.
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The covered area
The stores on the east side
You can then move into the shade, sheltered by a covered structure, to explore other areas. For example, the eastern storerooms: there you can still see the channels carved into the ground, designed to collect any liquids that might have leaked from the large storage jars.
The Hypostyle Crypt and the Polythyron
To the northwest of the palace lies the hypostyle crypt, a complex comprising two underground chambers with benches, along with several storage rooms. We found this space particularly intriguing: according to some interpretations, it may have served as a meeting place, perhaps for a select council responsible for the city’s affairs.
In the palace’s royal apartments, take note of the polythyron: this system of walls pierced with multiple openings made it possible to separate or open up rooms as needed—a characteristic feature of Minoan architecture that is also found at Knossos. In particular, it defined the layout of the megaron, the great hall believed to have hosted receptions and official audiences.
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The Mu District, the former artisan district
About 300 meters west of the palace lies the Mu Quarter, one of the most significant areas of the site, featuring workshop-houses dating from the First Palace period. It is also a covered area.
We enjoyed discovering a completely different side of Minoan civilization there—one focused more on daily life and craftsmanship than on royal splendor. The site has yielded hundreds of ceramic pieces as well as 150 seals from the seal workshop, which have helped identify a style of engraving unique to Malia.
You will also see the remains of pottery, weaving, and metalworking workshops, as well as storage rooms where agricultural products such as oil, wine, and grain were kept. This area was destroyed by a fire at the same time as the first palace.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Palace of Malia worth a visit compared to Knossos?
Yes, the Palace of Malia offers a different experience—one that’s more authentic and less crowded than Knossos. There, you can explore the ruins at your own pace, without the crowds found at Crete’s most visited site.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Crete
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