Agios Nikolaos ~ Άγιος ΝικόλαοςIn the East of Crete, Greece
The charming town of Agios Nikolaos is 70 km east of Iraklion on the north coast, and is the capital of Lasithi nomos prefecture in Crete, Greece. It is said that this town is named after Saint Nicholas the patron saint of all sailors and of all of Greece, the modern town in built close to the site of the ancient city of Lato. It is also said that the town was named after a Byzantine chapel built nearby in the 7th century AD. With a colourful history and currently a population of nearly 20,000, set on the beautiful Mirabello Bay, the view across to the Sitia mountains is lovely and ever changing.
After its 'discovery' by the jet set in late 20th century, this town developed one of the best tourism infrastructures on the island of Crete. Luckily the development has not ruined the charm of this delightful town. Lasithi is also a very exciting area of Crete to explore, making a visit to the east of Crete very attractive.
Lake Voulismeni Limni Voulismeni sits just behind the harbour in the centre of the town, with a channel joining the two. Originally a fresh water lake, the channel was built in 1870. The lake is known as apatos bottomless. Is it? Come and have a look and you decide. If you look closely enough, you might see the goddesses come down and wash their hair in the fresh waters of the lake. There is a lovely promenade around most of the lake, the other side being steep walls of attractive red rock and creepers. There is a small outdoor theatre right on the shores of the lake and many, many cafes and tavernas making the most of the breezes off the water.
We enjoy strolling by the lake in the evenings, watching the stunning tiny kingfisher flashing azure as it darts around the lake and stops on the brightly coloured fishing boats. There are quite a few birds nesting in the steep rock wall of the lake, and a gorgeous little chapel, it stands out in white against the rocks. You can climb up the steps to get a good view of the lake, the channel and the town from the little park. The lake and harbour, and the endless beaches stretching west and east, ensure a summery holiday feel in Agios Nikolaos at just about any time of the year.
Agios Nikolaos Harbour
The wide harbour has plenty of room for pleasure craft and daily tour craft, and on the eastern shore is the large port, accepting large ferries and connecting Agios Nikolaos with the major Greek ports like Pireaus, Santorini and Rhodos. From here you can take tours to Spinalonga Island, Elounda, and Mirabello Bay. Town BeachesThe beaches of Agios Nikolaos all have Blue Flag status and are clean and organised; EOT, Almyros, Ammoudara, Havania, Ammos, Kitroplateia, Ammoudi. They extend from the town out along the coastline and some of them are more remote.For more about Kitroplateia Beach, see our Beaches of Crete pages. Restaurants and Cafés
We also like the Zygos taverna, right next to the lake, relaxing with a few mesedes.
Accommodation in Agios NikolaosWe recommend four hotels in town for their central location and service. Prices and styles vary from the budget to the sophisticated, but each of them will allow you to walk straight out of your door and explore this wonderful town. Hotel du Lac looks over Lake Voulismeni. Pergola Hotel overlooks the harbour and Mirabello Bay. The Palazzo Apartments and Sgouros Hotel overlook Mirabello Bay and are situated right on Kitroplateia Beach. See the interactive map below for the location of these accommodation options in town... View Larger Map More information on each of these hotels is available on our Agios Nikolaos hotels page. Exploring Around Agios Nikolaos - DaytripsLasithi offers some of the most untouched and authentic villages, beaches, mountains and countryside to explore in Crete. Sitia is a major town to the east, a thriving centre of olive and wine production. Ierapetra, the largest town on the south coast of Crete, faces the Libyan sea and surrounded by beaches and mountains. The Dikti Mountains and Lasithi Plateau are very close to Agios Nikolaos, yet the pace is slow and the air is crisp, a beautiful village to visit is Kritsa. Wonderful beaches and international quality luxury can be found in and around Elounda, just 11 kms from town. Towards the eastern tip of Crete is Palekastro Village, and the beaches of Chionia and Kouremenos. Two beautiful and unusual beaches to enjoy are Vai Palm Beach and Kato Zakros beach, where the site of the ancient Minoan Zakros Palace waits to be explored. Below are some beautiful images of Agios Nikolaos, her lake and harbour...
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Next to the lake is the modern art gallery Art Sourcing which is an Internet arts resource and a vibrant art gallery. Throughout the year, with different artists, the gallery showcases contemporary artworks; paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures created by featured local and international artists. Curated by Mary-Jane Schumacher, who has married in Crete, started a family here and lived here for six years, the gallery is well worth a visit.
