A little further down the road, we come across Maleme, a village that has been marked by history in various ways and times. Its roots begin in the post-Minoan era (1600 – 1070 B.C.), but it is remembered mostly for the fierce fighting that took place here during the German assault on Crete in 1941. The capture of its airfield was the primary target of the whole assault. The resistance of the allied forces, but above all the resistance of the poorly armed and even unarmed Cretans, was what elevated the Battle of Crete into a worldwide symbol of struggle for freedom.

Today, one can see, besides the airfield of Maleme itself, the German war memorial and burial ground of the fallen German troops. Climbing the narrow road that leads to the German cemetery on the left, we will encounter a small, unpaved path that shows the way to a post- Minoan tomb. All ancient artifacts that were found here are now displayed in the national archeological museum of Hania.

In the village of Maleme operate a nursery school and an elementary school that serve all the surrounding villages of the area, a pharmacy, as well as both an agrarian and a private surgery. The local population, besides tourism, is active in agriculture works of olives and oranges.

The oldest churches in the village are those of Aghios Antonios, which was built in 1918, and the small Byzantine chapel of Saint Peter and Paul, a building of 1530, which may be the oldest in the whole region.

In the center of the village stand the buildings of the central administration of the Agriculture Union of Kidonias and Kissamou, as well as the union's super market.

Day by day the village is developing more and more in the tourist industry. Its beach with its small pebbles and crystal clear waters, has justly gained the award of the blue flag. The many small and grand modern hotel facilities, as well as the taverns with their fresh fish and delicious Greek cuisine, combined with many more services and natural beauties, make Maleme an ideal choice for your summer vacations.