Age-old & Multifaceted

Follow the steps of ancient cultures in the best preserved city of the Classical era, Lato, and other archaeological sites near Agios Nikolaos. Explore byzantine monasteries, churches, museums.

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Dive or snorkel in nearby Elounda to see the underwater ruins of Ancient Olous city. Discover its delightful mosaics and walled ruins on the thin isthmus nearby.

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From Elounda, take the boat to Spinalonga, which inspired Victoria Hislop’s “The Island”. Feel its haunted leper colony history unrolling around the ruins of the Venetian castle.

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Drive an hour to Knossos Palace, near Heraklion, for a captivating glance into the glorious Minoan civilisation.

Mystic beaches & god-inhabited mountains

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Set off to the many rural villages within easy reach from Agios Nikolaos. Drive 30 minutes away to explore the impressive Lasithi Plateau with its trademark windmills – the farmers’ centre of the island, 100 sq. km ringed by seventeen villages. Reach up the birthplace of Zeus in 1,000 metres altitude – a Cave in Psychro village.

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The rest of Lasithi is far from insignificant; an hour further east is Sitia town where the Dodecanese ferry goes from. Then the terrain gets more remote. Rugged wilderness, evergreen forests, awe-inspiring gorges, deserted medieval villages, olive groves, vineyards, isolated beaches and tavernas are the theme as we sweep down the short east coast to the south. Check out mystic Zakros, otherworldly Xerocampos, the larger fishing village of Makry Gialos before probably by-passing the bigger town of Ierapetra and arriving in the idyllic Myrtos.

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The rest of Crete is not to be taken lightly and can be over four hours away.

An incredibly diverse, stunning nature

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Crete is a land of immense natural heritage. Located in the more untouched Eastern part of the island, Lasithi prefecture, Agios Nikolaos is ideal for all activities.

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Hike or cycle in the many trails to explore mountain peaks, vast forests and gorges like Richtis, where you can bathe in the waterfalls like the nymphs. Climb with a view to the sea. Windsurf or sail in Mirabello Bay. Dive there to explore amazing caves, caverns and even ancient remnants.

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And swim-swim-swim in one of the countless beaches of the area.

Enormously rich in its simplicity

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Improve your wellness following the ideal diet: the Cretan. Traditionally, locals were eating only what they produced.

But this astonishingly diverse land has always been the Horn of Amaltheia (there is a statue of it in Agios Nikolaos port), blessed by Zeus to give its owner whatever they desired: fruit and vegetables, whole grains and pulses, locally bred meat, fish, and, of course οlive oil.

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Explore one of the world’s richest cuisines, inspired by those ingredients: from delicious meat casseroles and fish dishes to imaginative vegetarian and “meze” plates.

Gods & Movies

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It is here that Agios Nikolaos heart beats. Enjoy a majestic view of Lake Voulismeni from the little park uphill. Watch closely when sitting in a café or restaurant overlooking the lake, and you’ll see goddesses Athena and Artemis taking their bath there.

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Legend says the lake is bottomless. But it’s 64 metres deep. However, guns the Nazis sank in it when defeated have mysteriously disappeared.

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Feed the ducks. Flow with the serenity. “Disappear” at the lake’s end, in the cave-like crypt of the Fishermen’s Church, filled with sailors’ offerings.

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Feel the echoes of the 60s, when Agios Nikolaos became famous as an eastern playground for the rich, much like Cannes. The town inspired the dark gripping series “The Lotus Eaters,” portraying harbour life as it remains today. Notorious neigbouring Elounda was the set for Hollywood’s “Moonspinners” and the legendary BBC series “Who Paid the Ferryman.”

Unbowed spirit

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Having fiercely fought for their independence against the many invaders over the centuries, the Cretans highly cherish their freedom.

These proud people’s philosophy echoes in praised Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis’ words: “A man needs a little madness, or else… he never dares cut the rope and be free.”

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So, let the Cretans embrace you with their notorious “philoxenia” (hospitality) over drinks of raki (which they say “treats everything”) and show you how “you have your brush, you have your colours, you paint the paradise, then in you go” (Kazantzakis).