Agios Nikolaos
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.
A unique and very pleasant town, with a character different again from the other towns of Crete, with its hilly streets winding back from the lake it begs to be explored. This area was ‘discovered’ by the jet set in late 20th century and as a result has one of the most developed 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 Pireas, 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
Cretan Beaches
pages.
Restaurants and Cafés
We also like the Zygos taverna, right next to the lake, relaxing with a few mesedes. Click on the interactive map below to see accommodation options in town...
Accommodation in Agios Nikolaos; where to stay in Crete... Getting around in Crete; bus services, taxis, transfers and more... Return from Agios Nikolaos to We Love Crete Homepage
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