Built amphitheatrically above a lake, the town of Agios Nikolaos has all the attractions (museums, cafes, shops and tavernas), and as a highlight there is also Elounda the most iconic location in Crete, with Spinalonga Island must see.
Agios Nikolaos (“Ag Nik” as the British visitors love to call it) is the capital town of Lassithi. Here, the bottomless salt lake Voulismeni dominates the area. A narrow channel of water connects the lake with the sea, while an imposing backdrop of red rock and trees adds to the natural beauty of the scenery. A small pine tree park lies above the lake, and a stone path leads to its southern section to a cute small harbour for fishing boats. The city boasts interesting Archaeological, Folklore, and Natural History museums, Byzantine churches, a well-organised marina, bustling pedestrian streets (ideal for leisurely walks), and traditional squares with buzzing cafés and restaurants.
The main town of the Lasithi region, Agios Nikolaos embraces a picturesque lake that is lined with neoclassical homes, restaurants, bars and shops. The setting is reminiscent of a typical Greek island and you’ll never tire of just wandering around, stopping to enjoy a drink near the marina. As for the lake, you’ll understand immediately why, according to mythology, this is where the goddesses Athena and Artemis bathed. It has a movie-set appeal, encapsulating everything glamourous about Elounda. But there are other secrets hidden in the lake. Locals recall how the Germans sunk their weapons here during their retreat in the Second World War. Another local legend claims that the lake is bottomless. Whatever you believe, you’ll lose yourself in the mystical beauty of Agios Nikolaos.
Gifted with extraordinary natural beauty, a bottomless lake and a historic island that inspired a best-seller, Elounda and its charming main town, Agios Nikolaos, offer visitors a generous slice of Crete at its most alluring. If you’re looking for a touch of paradise, with glamour and five-star service in Crete, Elounda and its picturesque main town Agios Nikolaos offer a microcosm of luxury in Greece.
Visit Spinalonga, the inspiration behind a bestseller. Entering the Bay of Elounda, you’ll see a fortress that for centuries many tried to conquer until, from 1905 to 1957, it was Greece’s designated leper colony. The story of Spinalonga inspired the award-winning novel by Victoria Hislop, The Island, which in turn was developed into a popular Greek television drama. Today, you can take a boat or swim across to Spinalonga and you’ll still feel its mystical energy and weighty history.
Beauty in simplicity in the nearby villages. Across from Spinalonga, you’ll find the picturesque fishing village of Plaka, where you can wander through cobblestone streets and dine in waterfront fish tavernas. Then travel past the abandoned village of Havgas, with a panoramic view of the gulf, and on to the untouched villages of Kastelli and Fourni. Don’t miss the restored Aretiou Monastery with its well-tended garden – it’s one of the most significant attractions in the area.
A boat trip to Koufonisi, home to a desert and 36 beaches. With so many beaches and its very own desert to explore, Koufonisi, off the southern coast of Lasithi, offers a sand-filled escape for day-trippers who want to venture beyond Elounda. It is uninhabited now but Koufonisi held a special value for ancient Greeks and its waters – rich in sea sponges and shells – attracted civilisations as varied as the Minoans and the Byzantines.
Beautiful Elounda and Agios Nicolaos has beaches and hotels to match, along with the attraction of Agios Nikolaos’ mythical lake. And in the distance lies tiny Spinalonga, an islet-fortress rich in history. You’ll find everything you need to make your holiday in Crete feel special. It has a population of around 28,000.
The splendour of Ancient Minoan Olous. Just 10km from Agios Nikolaos you can visit the site of one of the 100 most important cities of ancient Crete, whose population numbered more than 30,000. Here they worshipped Zeus Tallaeus, the goddess Artemis Britomartys and Apollo.
Key Facts :
• The island of Agioi Pantes that houses a breeding facility for the Cretan wild goat (kri kri).
• Almyros wetland, a passage for migratory birds.
• Istro, 11 km S, is famous for its consecutive beaches at Karavostassi, Áyios Panteleimonas and Voúlisma (Hrissí Aktí).
• Kritsa, 11 km SW, is a picturesque village built on the feet of Mt. Kastellos with a marvellous view to Mirabello bay. Its traditional architectural features are impressively preserved through time. Here was actually shot in 1956 the famous Jules Dassin movie “Christ Recrucified”.
• Pachia Ammos, 20 km SE, is an old commercial port at the junction of Agios Nikolaos-Sitia-Ierapetra.
• Explore the east part of Crete.
How to Get There :
You can reach Agios Nikolaos by flying to Heraklion airport (international and domestic flights) and completing the journey by car or coach (60km, 45mins), or arriving at Sitia airport (domestic flights only). There are also regular ferry connections from Piraeus to Heraklion and Sitia. Sitia is 1hr15min drive (60km) from Agios Nikoloaos.
Famous For :
Lassithi is famous for its many beaches (family-friendly and remote) and its mountainous interior containing authentic Cretan villages. Mt Dikti and the Lassithi plateau are among the most beautiful areas of Crete, as is the palm tree-lined beach of Vai. Spinalonga island is one of the cultural highlights of Lassithi, with a Venetian-era fortress that also served as a leper colony for the first half of the 20th century. You can take boat trips during the summer months to the islands of Chryssi and Koufonisi, from the south coast. Elounda is the most famous and popular summer holiday destination in Crete’s eastern Lassithi prefecture, known for its family-friendly, sandy beaches (with excellent facilities and water sports options) and luxurious accommodation. It is around 11km (20mins) by car from Agios Nikolaos.
