Aghia Marina Holidays

Set on the northwest tip of Crete, Agia Marina is a friendly seaside village that comes with traditional tavernas and a nice line in bars. It’s got a bit of a resort share going on with close neighbour Platanias, which tops things up on the nightlife front. When it comes to the beach, though, this place would rather keep its Blue Flag winner all to itself.

At Agia Marina, the 2.5-kilometre beach is one of the best stretches of coastline on the island. It’s not just about looks, though. The sand comes with sunloungers and parasols, plus plenty of seafront tavernas. There’s no shortage of watersports, either. Pedalos, dinghies and canoes are all on hand for hire, and the 2 watersports centres set you up for jet-skiing and parascending.

Agia Marina and Platanias are so close you can’t see the join – really, it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other one begins. Decibel level is probably the best guide, as you head west along the main road that links the pair of them. At night, you can easily switch from low-volume to high-voltage depending on what you fancy.

Just 20 minutes by bus and you’re in Crete’s former capital, Chania. The old town is a maze of narrow alleyways, while down at the Venetian-style harbour a fortress and lighthouse square up for the best photo op. It’s a buzzing place ringed with waterfront bars and restaurants – and clubs if you’re staying on for the night.