Here is Agios Nikolaos, one of the most famous tourist resorts on the island of Crete! It is the capital of the prefecture of Lassithi, situated in the eastern part of the island and every year welcomes visitors from all over the world with the typical Greek "Filoxenia" (hospitality).
Agios Nikolaos is a colorful mosaic of bars, taverns, cafes, trendy shops interspersed here and there by fish markets and typical Kafeneia. Certainly the best and most evocative time to visit this city is at sunset or even in the evening.
When you arrive you will understand why guests love Agios Nikolaos!
In traditional shops you can buy many local products such as fabrics, jewelry and here and there you can taste raki liqueur and then buy a bottle as a souvenir: what better way to remember your past holiday in Crete, if not sipping good Raki in the company of your friends?
Whether Agios Nikolaos is day or night, it remains an elegant city! Stroll on the harbor, mixing with the local Greeks and many tourists, go shopping, relax at one of the many teeming bars overlooking the harbor or discover the most beautiful beaches. Wherever you decide to be, you will feel good because Agios Nikolaos is a city that knows how to be modern, traditional, lively and relaxing at the same time.
How to reach Agios Nikolaos?
Agios Nikolaos can be reached by car or by bus.
By car we are 3 hours from Chania, 1 hour from Heraklion and 30 minutes from Malia / Hersonissos. In short, for those residing on the east coast it is certainly feasible even for a simple walk after dinner, given the proximity to the main tourist destinations.
If you decide to reach it by bus, it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to arrive from Heraklion at a cost of € 7.70 one way (with a frequency of 20 buses per day). For departures from other cities, it is advisable to view the tables displayed at each stop.
Beaches of Agios Nikolaos
If you have arrived in Agios Nikolaos by day and want to spend a day at the beach then you are in the right place.
The nearest beaches to the center are: Ammos Beach (of sand) and Kytroplatìa Beach (of pebbles) and are always quite crowded. We therefore advise you, if you are looking for something more relaxing, to move slightly towards Ammoudi Beach and Almyros Beach, so as to find much wider and more "livable" beaches of fine sand. Sun beds and umbrellas are available at all the beaches.
Agios Nikolaos Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos has the second largest Minoan collection after the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with artifacts ranging from the Neolithic to the Roman age.
Includes terracottas sarcophagi, gold objects from the excavations of Mohlos and curious ceramic musical instruments.
Very interesting!
Lake Voulismeni of Agios Nikolaos
Lake Voulismeni is something you can't really miss if you arrive in Agios Nikolaos.
Here, according to the legends of Greek mythology, the goddesses Athena and Artemis bathed. Indeed this lake has something of a mystical and magical. When you see it you will be fascinated by its elegance and grace. While you admire it try to think of another legend that hovers over this lake: apparently for many locals these waters do not have a bottom. Who knows maybe it's true, or maybe not. The fact is that if you think of this legend and in the meantime look at the lake, the feeling of suggestion will grow within you that will certainly struggle to leave! Once there, try to take a look at the surroundings of the lake. See how the surrounding landscape embraces it, and how neoclassical houses, restaurants, bars and shops do the same.
Mirabella Bay of Agios Nikolaos
If you still want to be enchanted by enchanting landscapes, then admire the Mirabella Bay. Between the sight of sandy coves and crystal clear waters, you will no longer want to leave this place, dominated from above by the beautiful Agios Nikolaos. Reach this gulf by sea and reveal all its secrets. But first we would like to reveal one of us: the Venetians, at the sight of the gulf, exclaimed "Guardate che bella!" that in in italian means "Look, what a beauty!" Hence the name "Mirabella". Interesting isn't it? Another masterpiece of nature baptized by the Italians!
Excursion to the island of Spinalonga
The island of Spinalonga is located north of the gorph of Mirabella.
The island of Spinalonga had many functions over time: it was a Venetian fortress, a rebel refuge, a place of exile for lepers and a strategic point of connection with Cairo.
To make it a destination for tourists was the writer Victoria Hislop with her best-selling book: "The Island", a book that talks about the era in which Spinalonga was a leper colony. In addition to this bestseller, which for a long time dominated the British top 10 of the best-selling books, there was also a short-documentary by director Werner Herzog entitled "Letzte Worte" and a film by director Lila S. Kourkoulakou called "The Island of silence ”. The latter represents the first official participation of Greece in the Venice Film Festival.
What we recommend is to walk among the ruins of churches, towers and other buildings and if you have read the book, all you have to do is get carried away by the sensations that inspired your reading.
The Fortress was built by the Venetians in 1579 to protect Elounda and its salt pans and became Turkish only in 1715.
The cost to visit the fortress is € 3 per person (with opening hours ranging from 10.00 in the morning to 18.00 in the evening)
From 1903 to 1973 the island became a leper colony to quarantine the Greeks who fell ill with Hansen's disease.
From Agios Nikolaos ferries depart daily with a cost of € 15 per person (departure in the morning and return in mid-afternoon).