Explore the back streets of Chania Harbour
Tiny streets come alive with shops with ceramics, leather, clothes, jewellery to browse through, and if you get tired, try a coffee and a pastry in the cafes lining the picturesque harbour front.
Blue Sea
Maleme, Crete
- 4
- 2
- 3
FROM
£ 1,654
PER WEEK
Flexible arrival days are possible at Blue Sea - please enquire
Accommodation
At a glance
- Sleeps 4
- 1 Double Bedroom
- 1 Twin Bedroom
- 3 Bathrooms
- Air Conditioning
- WiFi
- Beach 100m
- Taverna 300m
- Ground Floor: Open plan living dining area (A/C, Satellite TV, DVD, CD, WiFi) with doors to terrace. Kitchen (oven, microwave, dishwasher). Shower room. Utility room (washing machine). Part open staircase to…
- First Floor: Double bedroom (A/C) with en suite shower room and Juliet balcony. Twin bedroom (A/C) with en suite shower room.
- Outside: Barbecue. Lawn. Sun terrace. Shaded dining terrace.
- Private swimming pool (12m x 5m).
Constructed along simple, traditional lines Blue Sea is a cubist, whitewashed villa that is modern, spacious and utterly unique. With the long swathe of Maleme beach virtually at the bottom of the garden, this individual, architect-designed property can lay claim to a privileged setting. Gaze out to sea from the house and the eye is inexorably drawn to the distant horizon where sky and ocean form a seamless cobalt collage.
Bordering the private pool, a large, well kept lawn and attractive wooden decking compete for attention with those views across to the indigo blue Cretan sea. Return from the beach at sunset and you will be greeted by delicate hues of pink, yellow and crimson outlining the trees, whose reflections shimmer on the still waters of the pool (a spectacle perhaps best enjoyed from the patio, accompanied by a glass of something chilled?).
Internally a series of inimitable touches make Blue Sea even more appealing. Minimalist in style and no less welcoming for that, the open plan living area is replete with bold colours, contemporary décor, and a modern stainless steel kitchen. Distinctive, avant-garde features such as the deconstructed, cement staircase heighten the light, airy feel while an ingeniously engineered, folding glass wall affords unobstructed views across to the sea and invites the outside areas to become a seamless part of the interior.
On the first floor, the master bedroom looks out towards the tiny island of Thodorou with the twin bedroom alongside also yielding an equally attractive panorama.
Enjoying a gently elevated position between the rivers of Tavronitis and Gerani in the north west of Crete, Maleme remains a laidback spot, slowly growing in popularity as visitors discover its many attractions - in particular the long sandy beach edged by low dunes and tall bamboo trees. Snorkelling, fishing and horse riding are a few of the pastimes available locally and there are several mini-markets and tempting tavernas (a couple just a 10 minute stroll away) along the beachside. The foothills behind Maleme are popular for country walks through warm summer air perfumed with wild thyme and oregano.
- Property licence number: MHTE 1042 K920 03001001
Pricing & Availability
Additional Pricing Information
All Prices are per property, not per person.
Please note: The Greek Government charge a Climate Tax which is payable by guests staying in hotels and other properties. For Blue Sea the charge is a flat rate of €15 (£13.04) per night. For your convenience we will add this amount to your booking, rather than you having to pay it in resort.
Location of Blue Sea
Locality
Great Things to Do Near Blue Sea
Ask for Dakos –
A Cretan speciality served in most tavernas as a starter. Dried crusts soaked in tomatoes and topped with crumbled feta cheese and oregano – delicious!
Visit the Wetlands!
Ornothologists may spot the glossy ibis, the crane, the white stork and a variety of egrets and herons, as well as warblers and wagtails. For the dedicated bird-spotters, Crete is one of the last strongholds in Europe of the Lammergeier, or Bearded Vulture – with a wingspan of almost 3 metres. There are 9 to 10 pairs on the island and they frequent higher altitudes.
Visit the Archaeological museum in Knossos
The museum is close to Heraklion and opens Tuesday – Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00 hrs. Visit by far the world's largest collection of Minoan artefacts.
Visit the palace of Knossos
Excavated in the year 1900 by an English archaeologist by the name of Sir Arthur Evans, this is a most impressive palace, and we recommend that you hire a guide in order to benefit from their wealth of knowledge. This makes a great day out for all of the family.
Drive down South to
Frangokastelo to see the old fortress - or rather its surviving walls, followed by a must-do trip up to Anopolis - the village high above Chora Sfakia. Close to the beginning of the village on the left is the Anopolis bakery - sample some of the best sfakian pies and the chance to buy the delicious local sweet rusks, honey and other baked goods. Sit outside and have a mountainscape view and an elliniko (coffee).
One Man's folly is another's delight
On the way out of the village of Kalyves going West to Kalami there is a sign and arrow to Koumos. This place is worth a visit and is known as 'one man's folly'. A collection of buildings including a taverna and a chapel with a domed roof all built from local small misshapen stones. This eclectic mix of buildings are all made from small rocks and all built by one man over a period of 10 years. There are mosaics on the paths; whilst walls display images of fish, snakes and various animals. There are also stone tables and chairs. If you just want to wander around, take photographs or just be amazed, pop along as there is no admission charge. Look out for the occasional ostrich or even a llama - quite surreal as these weren't made out of stone!
Get Reading
The Cretan Runner written by Giorgos Psychoundakis is a great book describing some of the heroic exploits of the Cretan resistance along with British soldiers and pilots during the second world war. Giorgios was originally a shepherd but became a member of the resistance after the German invasion. His heroic and selfless exploits and the general population are described in the book, which is regarded as a classic book of its type. There are two British War cemeteries in Souda Bay, however, much of the action took place around Maleme where a large German War cemetery dedicated to German soldiers was until recently tended by Giorgos himself.
Zorba's dance
Take a drive to Stavros beach on the Akrotiri peninsula, not only is it a beautiful beach, but also famous as the beach that Anthony Quinn as the famous Greek Zorba, danced with Alan Bates. Check out the film and see if you can recognise any places!
Try the three Greek-Os: Olives, Octopus and Ouzo!
Treat yourself to a typical Meze a series of tiny dishes that accompany the aniseed based liquor, you can try an Ouzerie, that is similar to a Spanish Tapas bar, a great way to spend a lazy afternoon, there are plenty in Chania Town in the old sector - try To Avgo tou Kokkora - behind the big church, Mitropoli, off Halidon.
Get Fresh!
If it gets too hot down by the sea, drive up to Spili a picturesque village located at an altitude of 430 metres, 28 kilometres south-east of Rethymno. Due to its altitude the village offers an astonishing view and is surrounded by verdant vegetation and is filled with trees, fountains, springs and chapels and churches with wonderful murals. The main square of the village is lovely and has a fine stone fountain consisting of a row of stone carved lion heads from where crystal-clear water flows.The water guarantees that the air is fresh, cool and pure. It is also known for a unique type of weaving and has a few tavernas and an old fashioned atmosphere.
Pedaloes across Kournas lake
This breath-taking natural lake is the only one in Crete, and the brillliant aquamarine waters are a wonderful backdrop for a spot of lunch. Afterwards, you can rent pedaloes or a small boat for half an hour and row yourself around the lake, and work up an appetite for supper!
No cars in the tiny village of Loutro
Only approached by boat from Hora Sfakia in the South, this amazing tiny village has a simplicity of lifestyle and an incredible beauty untouched by the outside world. It is a town consisting of three rows of white-washed, blue-roofed hotels, restaurants and homes built around the edge of a beautiful bay. There are no tides, but simply long hot days of water, swimming and kayaking. It's probably too far to try for a day trip, but check out the small pensions there and stay overnight - it's magical! There are no cars or motorcycles there, only boats that peacefully come and go from the little town.
Try the Cretan hooch!
Raki or Tsikoudia is distilled from the stalks and skins of grapes left over from wine pressing. It is drunk widely and you are likely to be offered a thimble-full glass of raki wherever you go. It can contain anything between 35-65% alcohol – you have been warned!
Fancy Phaistos?
This is one of the best Minoan palaces to visit. It has been less enhanced than Knossos that makes it easier to imagine it in days gone by. The scenery on the drive up to it is beautiful and its location is stunning. Information panels are all all around to help you make sense of it all, although a guide book can be handy. One thing is that there is not much shade, so if you are there in the summer maybe get there early before the day heats up. There is a nice snack bar to refresh you once you have seen it all, and a good size gift shop to stock up on souvenirs.
Have a splashy day out at Water Park
This water park is past Heraklion so a bit of a drive but it is a great fun day out for couples or parents with children! Plan to go for the day and take food and drink as it can be pricey. We're advised by some experts (average age 8-10) that the best slides are sidewinder, hyper race, the black hole, kamikazee and freefall. Beware of the turbo guns - you have been warned!
Ela - where?
Elafonisi (Island of Deer) is like paradise on earth, and posessess a wonderful beach with pink coral sand and crystalline waters, a small islet connected to the rest of Crete by a shallow reef that can be crossed when the sea is calm. This islet is lying on the south-west corner of Crete, the journey itself is amazing, with a narrow tunnel and stunning wild Cretan scenery. Beware in high season, it can get very busy, but is so large, there is always a peaceful spot to be found. There is an excellent taverna at the beginning of the sand dunes.
Visit the main indoor market in the heart of Chania
This vast agora (market) is a bustling noisy colourful place, where the abundance of fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, meat and everything edible is spread out over four sections fashioned like a cross. It is based on the famous marketplace of Marseille. There are plenty of bargains to haggle and great for barbecues!
Stretch the legs and explore the ancient site of Aptera
Here you can visit the remains of a very important city dating back to the 5th century BC. It really is a lovely walk, and with there being no admission charge, a great cheap day out!
Fancy a samba?
A rare thing to find is a South American cafe/bar and restaurant in Crete! Bossa Nova is that rare thing, this wonderful restaurant is within 5-8 minutes drive of the Blue Sea - but don't take our word for it - here is one of the recommendations on Trip Advisor : The restaurant is placed in a small village between Gerani and Platanias, in a little grove along the road. It's not as much a Greek restaurant as it is a Brazilian jazz bar. The menu however offers both a traditional Greek cuisine with a variety of Souvlaki, Moussaka and Gyros as well as grill, pizza and pasta, which for the record is excellent. Over all the food was very good and the desserts (espresso chocolate cheesecake speaks for itself) was mind blowing. The staff is very welcoming and adds conviviality to the atmosphere and do not hesitate to spoil you with some ice cream or sweets on the house. If you just want to sit in the bar and take a beer or a cocktail this is also the place to be. With a large menu of beers (since it's actually a beer bar), wine and nice cocktails to affordable prices it's perfect. I can recommend this to everyone who wants to take a beer and chat with your friends at the bar or to have a romantic meal. The cosiness and the nice jazzy lounge music in the background will make you to want to come back.
Nearby
Towns/Villages
| Platanias | 10 mins | |
| Maleme | 10 mins | |
| Chania | 20 mins |
Beaches
| Maleme | 2 mins | |
| Agia Marina | 10 mins | |
| Agia Apostoli | 15 mins |
Airports
| Chania | 50 mins | |
| Heraklion | 1 Hr 30 mins |
