Crete Bus Independent transit guide Bus guide

Palace and party town

Malia

KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi names Malia in its published departures from Heraklion, on the same coastal corridor that continues east towards Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra and Sitia. The operator issues periodic schedule updates for this corridor, so check the current publication rather than a saved copy.

By bus

Getting to Malia

KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi names Malia in its published departures from Heraklion, on the same coastal corridor that continues east towards Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra and Sitia. The operator issues periodic schedule updates for this corridor, so check the current publication rather than a saved copy.

  • Open the current KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi pages for the Heraklion–Malia corridor and your date.
  • The corridor continues east — if you are travelling onward, confirm whether your service does or whether you change.
  • The palace lies outside the town centre; check the stop the operator names against the site entrance before travelling.

Source: KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi S.A.: Official routes, timetables and fares for east and south Crete

Open KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi

Before you go

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Worth your time

What Malia does best

Malia carries two reputations that barely overlap. One is the beach strip with the island's loudest nightlife; the other is the Minoan palace on the plain east of town — the third of Crete's great palace sites, quieter than Knossos and easier to read as a plan on the ground. Both sit on the same coastal corridor, which KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi names explicitly in its published departures from Heraklion.

The Minoan palace

Set on flat ground east of town, the palace is unusually legible: courts, storerooms and the round stone kernos are laid out without heavy reconstruction, so the plan reads clearly.

The old town

Inland from the strip, the original village keeps narrow lanes, a church square and tavernas that have nothing to do with the beach road's soundtrack.

A long sandy beach

The main beach runs for a considerable stretch and gets calmer the further east you walk, towards the dunes near the palace side.

Good to know

  • The town's two halves are a real walk apart — the palace, the old village and the beach strip are not one neighbourhood.
  • Late-night travel is not the same as daytime travel; confirm the last published departure rather than assuming one exists.
  • Resort-coast service levels follow the season — check the operator's current publication outside high summer.
  • This guide does not provide live departure information; use the official operator tools.

Optional experiences

Pairs well with the bus

Curated for this destination. The full list lives on the experiences page.

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Island-wide Crete

Discover Crete-wide experiences

Browse the current island-wide catalogue of tours, gorge walks and boat trips across Crete.

Getting there: Many experiences include transport; where they do not, check the responsible KTEL company for the corridor before booking.

Browse on GetYourGuide

Keep exploring

Island capital Heraklion Use Heraklion Urban Buses inside the city, and KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi when the journey leaves it eastward or south. Plan the ride Western hub Chania Use Chania Urban Buses inside the city, and KTEL Chania–Rethymno for the west's intercity corridors. Plan the ride Where the networks meet Rethymno Rethymno sits between the two KTEL companies — check which one publishes your leg. Plan the ride