Agios Nikolaos is a small coastal city on the beautiful Bay of Mirabello in eastern Crete. It’s one of the most popular towns to stay in Crete, with some of the best places to visit on the island right on the doorstep. The tropical beaches of Voulisma and Istron, boat trips to Spinalonga and balmy evenings enjoying superb Cretan food at the many wonderful tavernas are among the best things to do in Agios Nikolaos.
There are also wonderful traditional villages like Kritsa and idyllic fishing villages like Sissi to explore nearby. You can also join tours to some of the most popular places to visit in Crete like Knossos Palace and Vai Beach.
We adore Crete. It is one of our favourite places to visit in Europe and were fortunate to spend three months there last summer. We love the friendly locals, the warm hospitality, the breathtaking scenery, idyllic beaches, and incredible food.
In this guide to Agios Nikolaos I’ll show you everything to see and do in the town and the best day trips you can take to the surrounding areas. I hope you find it helpful.
Why Visit Agios Nikolaos in Crete
Agios Nikolaos is one of the most popular places to stay in Crete, somewhere many people return year after year. Its location, and the views from there, are breathtaking.
There are a couple of great little beaches around the town, and some excellent tavernas to enjoy a meal by the beach or Lake Voulismeni in the evening.
It makes a fantastic base for exploring the eastern part of Crete. You can also take tours to some of the best places to visit in Crete from Agios Nikolaos.
It’s very close to some of the best beaches in Crete, with Schisma Elounda beach and Voulisma Beach both a short drive or bus ride away.
Agios Nikolaos is also very close to Spinalonga Island, the famous former leper colony and Venetian fortress a few miles up the coast.
It is also near some of the loveliest villages in Crete, with Kritsa very close by and the harbour village of Sissi a 20-minute drive away.
Things To Do In Agios Nikolaos Crete
Voulismeni Lake
Lake Voulismeni is the signature sight of Agios Nikolaos. It’s a small, but deep freshwater lake linked to the harbour and sea by a small canal. The waterfront is lined by restaurants and fishing boats, a beautiful sight against the deep blue summer sky.
You can walk along one side of the lake, where you pass a small white chapel built into the cliff ace. This is the Fisherman’s Crypt, housing a collection of sea fishing artefacts. There are no regular opening hours. It’s either open or it isn’t!
The view from the lookout at the top is stunning, especially at dusk when the street and restaurant lights are on. According to legend the lake is bottomless. It isn’t, but it is over 60 metres down to the bottom.
The Lake is lovely at any time of day, but at night it’s at its most atmospheric. This is when the restaurants get busy, the lights are on, the food is great, and Agios Nikolaos really comes into its own.
Free City Bus
A free bus (pictured) does a circuit of Agios Nikolaos city centre every half an hour. As you’ll see from the photo, it’s a large white minibus. It parks up at the edge of the bus station forecourt, and runs down the hill towards the seafront.
It passes Kitroplatia Beach and the port before heading back up the hill to the bus station. It’s a very pleasant way to see the city. You could always stay on for the full journey and get the next bus down to the beach.
Horn of Amalthea Statue
The second of the Agios Nikolaos sculptures, the Horn of Amalthea is a 50-metre walk along the shoreline from KItroplatia beach.
It represents the legendary goat Amalthea which found the baby god Zeus and fed him with her milk. According to the legend, Zeus inadvertently broke off one of her horns. He then blessed the horn, so that it would always provide nourishment to whoever needed it.
This is one of the earliest instances of the ‘horn of plenty’, or ‘cornucopia’, a recurring theme in ancient legends. The story of Amalthea and Zeus was set nearby, in a cave above the Lassithi Plateau.
The sculpture is the work of brothers Nikos and Pantelis Sotiriades, who installed it in 2000.
Abduction of Europa Statue
This sculpture, also the work of the Sotiriades brothers, depicts another legend from the life of the God of Gods, Zeus.
He is said to have fallen love with a princess, Europa, and metamorphosed into a white bull before approaching her and her friends. They played with the seemingly friendly bull, and Europa sat on his back.
Zeus then abruptly turned and ran out to sea, carrying her to Crete despite her being terribly upset.
The sculpture was designed by film director Nikos Koundouros.
Kitroplatia Beach
Kitroplatia is one of the best Agios Nikolaos beaches, a sand and shingle beach a few metres from the town centre. It’s also just a few minutes’ walk from Voulismeni Lake.
Kitroplatia is a fantastic spot, with a couple of great tavernas, Petalida and Archontiko, a few metres’ walk away.
The view across Mirabello Bay to the mountains is also wonderful. And there’s a small playground for the kids just behind the beach.
Ammos Beach
Ammos Beach is the other main Agios Nikolaos town beach, a few minutes’ walk from Kitroplatia. It’s a small corner of sand, little more than 50 metres across, with great views over Mirabello Bay.
Like Kitroplatia, it’s a Blue Flag beach, easily accessible and with all the facilities you’d need. There are also a few cafes and tavernas close by.
Agios Nikolaos Church
The town of Agios Nikolaos – the name simply means ‘St Nicholas’ – is named after this beautiful Byzantine church on a headland near Ormos Beach.
We don’t know the age of this simple stone church – but it’s likely to be at least a thousand years old. I have read that it dates back to the 7th century AD – this would make it one of the oldest churches on Crete.
It’s a small domed church, the bare interior sparsely decorated with a few remnants of frescoes. I was delighted to find it open when I visited. The church is located next to the 5-star Minos Palace Hotel & Suites, and if it’s not open, staff at the Hotel can open it for you.
Getting there: It’s a few minutes’ walk from quiet Ormos Beach – follow the road up the hill towards the Minos Palace Hotel.
Agios Nikolaos Archaeology Museum
The Archaeological Museum in Agios Nikolaos is well worth a visit, and makes a great introduction to the history of Ancient Crete.
The collection is smaller than the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, but is packed with some outstanding artefacts.
It is perhaps best known for the skull of an athlete from the nearby city of Lato. A golden wreath is still attached, and the coin in the image is supposedly a gift for Charon, the ferryman who would transport dead souls to Hades, the underworld.
The Museum reopened in summer 2024, and is open from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm daily in the low season. It’s sometimes open longer during the summer season, so it’s worth checking their website for opening times before you visit.
Visit Elounda
Elounda Crete is one of the most exclusive places to stay on the island. It’s a small fishing village with a spectacular beach (Schisma Elounda) and a glorious setting with views across Mirabello Bay to the mountains.
The luxury Elounda hotels are along the coastline to the north or south of the village.
Elounda beach is one of the best beaches in eastern Crete. It’s ideal for families with small children as it’s so sheltered by the Kalydon or Kolokitha peninsula across the water.
Apart from stopping by at a few cafes and tavernas, the best things to do in Elounda are the boat trips to Spinalonga or around the peninsula.
You can also walk across the causeway to the peninsula – past the sunken ruins of Ancient Olous – and hike to some of the secluded bays yourself.
Explore Plaka
Plaka is a tiny fishing village 4 km (2.5 miles) north of Elounda and 10 miles north of Agios Nikolaos.
Plaka’s location near the entrance to the Gulf of Elounda (also called the Gulf of Korfos) is breathtaking. It’s the nearest departure point for boats to Spinalonga – from there the crossing takes around ten minutes, and costs €12 return per adult.
Apart from the boat trip, Plaka is mainly a place to chill out. There are a couple of pebble beaches (with the usual sunbeds and umbrellas), and several popular seafood restaurants, including Ocean and Taverna Spinalonga.
Boat To Spinalonga
Spinalonga Island is one of the most popular destinations in Crete. The tiny island at the entrance at the Gulf of Elounda, 10 miles north of Agios Nikolaos, was one of three Venetian fortresses that guarded the coast of Crete from maritime attack. But it’s best known as the site of a leper colony, one of the last in Europe, for the first half of the 20th century.
Nostos Cruises run regular boats from Agios Nikolaos harbour to Spinalonga. Most cruises take you to the island and stop for a swim and beach barbecue, often at Kolokitha Beach, including this package.
Most of the Spinalonga tours leave you on the island for around an hour and a half. From experience, this is just about enough. You can follow the perimeter path around the island, stopping at the small Museum along the way. Or you can climb the hill to some of the ruined houses where leprosy patients were once left to live.
The fortifications, built by the Venetians to protect the local salt-harvesting industry, are very impressive, and the island is currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
As well as the boat from Agios Nikolaos, boats also run to Spinalonga from Elounda and Plaka.
USEFUL TO KNOW: Boat trips to Spinalonga don’t include entry to the island. For this, adults pay an additional €8, and children €4.
GOOD TO KNOW: You should bring your own water and snacks with you to Spinalonga. There is a small café and souvenir shop which charges extortionate prices (over €3 for 500 ml of water). When we were there, they even ran out of bottled water!
Kolokitha Beach
Kolokitha Beach is a small, remote beach on the seaward side of the Kalydon Peninsula, just across the water from Elounda. It’s a popular destination for boat cruises from Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, some of which also stop at Spinalonga.
The water off Kolokitha and the whole peninsula coast is pristine and crystal-clear, perfect for a cooling swim on a hot summer day. Some operators run swimming-only cruises to this coast, and the package also includes either lunch on board your boat or a barbecue on the beach.
This tour from Agios Nikolaos runs in the summer season, and includes the swim stop at Kolokitha and over an hour on Spinalonga.
Almiros Beach
Almiros Beach is another of the best beaches in Agios Nikolaos. It’s located around a mile and a half (2.5 km) south of Agios Nikolaos town centre, and is larger and more spacious than the other beaches in the town.
It’s a beautiful wide sandy beach with superb views across Mirabello Bay. The narrow estuary of the Almiros river is at the southern end of the beach. The river flows through a wetland full of bulrushes, and the water is much colder than the seawater! I spoke with a couple of people who braved the water, and they told me it was very cold.
It’s a magnificent spot, very close to the tiny Beti Beach and a few minutes’ stroll from pebbly Gargadoros Beach.
You can reach it via the coastal path south of the town, or by bus (to Istron) or car.
Voulisma Beach
Voulisma Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Crete. It’s a narrow strip of golden sand with some of the most beautiful clear turquoise water I’ve seen anywhere in the world.
It’s a breathtaking spot, at the southern end of Mirabello Bay. There are smaller scenic beaches either side of the main beach at Voulisma, one with some wonderful rock formations. These tend to be quieter than the main beach.
Voulisma Beach can get very busy in the peak summer season, especially around the middle of the day. You’ll find more spaces – and sunbeds free later in the afternoon.
The shallow water is perfect for swimming, and Faye and Our Little Man were able to swim around 200 metres away from the shore.
GOOD TO KNOW: Check the wind forecast before you visit Voulisma. Ideally, visit on a day with very little wind, as we did -and conditions were perfect.
However, the prevailing northerly wind often washes up plastic bottles and other assorted rubbish on Voulisma Beach. So try to avoid a windy day.
Getting there: Catch the bus to Istron, the next village beyond Voulisma. The conductor usually announces Voulisma Beach, but you can always ask him/her to let you know when to get off to be sure.
Kritsa Village and Panagia Kera Church
The mountain village of Kritsa – a 15-minute bus ride from Agios Nikolaos – is one of the most beautiful villages in Crete.
It’s a blissful place to wander for a few hours, with narrow cobbled lanes with whitewashed houses, draped with pink and purple flowers. There are also several great tavernas and a multitude of craft and souvenir shops.
You’ll also find several Orthodox churches around the village, but the best of these is off the road from Agios Nikolaos. Panagia Kera is one of the most famous churches in Crete, renowned for its superb 14th-century frescoes.
There are also some great hikes from Kritsa village. The Kritsa Gorge walk is the shorter one, leading from the northern end of the village. The longer hike takes you to the ancient city of Lato, one of the most substantial Dorian ancient sites in Crete. It’s worth the 2-mile hike for the amazing views over the Bay of Mirabello.
Vai Beach
The palm forest and beach at Vai, on the far eastern coast of Crete, is one of the best places to visit on the island. It’s a fair hike from Agios Nikolaos, and if you’re reliant on public transport, just two buses a day run there from Crete’s easternmost city, Sitia.
So your options are either driving there (roughly 60 miles, an hour and a half) or going on a tour. This tour takes you from Agios Nikolaos to Vai Beach, and also includes a stop at the fortified Toplou Monastery. The area is among the least-developed in Crete, much of it scarcely touched by tourism. And don’t miss the olive oil from the monastery, which is outstanding.
Visit the Palace of Knossos and Heraklion
Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is an hour and a half along the highway from Agios Nikolaos. Visiting Knossos Palace, the Minoan Bronze Age site in the south of the city, is one of the essential things to do in Crete. Parts of it have been reconstructed, with replicas of the amazing artworks discovered in situ.
There are plenty more things to do in Heraklion if you have time – the one place I wouldn’t miss is the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. It covers Crete’s history from Neolithic to Roman times, and has by far the most extensive collection of Minoan civilisation artefacts in the world.
This Knossos tour from Agios Nikolaos also includes a visit to Zeus’ Cave and the wondrous Lassithi Plateau.
Otherwise I recommend this Heraklion hop-on-hop-off bus tour, which gives you a great view of this much underrated city.
Balos Beach and Elafonissi Beach
These two beaches – along with Falassarna Beach – are among the most popular day tour destinations on Crete. They are at the far west of the island of Crete. Balos Beach is two hours from Chania (by a combination of car/bus and ferry). And the pink sand Elafonissi Beach is also two hours from Chania, accessible by bus, car or tour.
Both beaches are a good 4-hour trip one-way from Agios Nikolaos. If you want to visit these beaches, my suggestion is that you base yourself in Agios Nikolaos for part of your trip, and also stay in Chania (or nearby) some of the time. They are just too far to reach – and return from – in a day from Agios Nikolaos.
Where Is Agios Nikolaos In Crete
Agios Nikolaos is on the eastern coast of Crete, 60 km (40 miles) to the east of the capital, Heraklion, and its airport.
The table below includes distances and travel times from Malia, Hersonissos and most of the other most popular places to visit in Crete.
How to Get to Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the Lasithi region, has excellent bus connections with the main resorts on the north coast, Heraklion, and the easternmost part of Crete.
It’s also on the E90 road across northern Crete, with good roads to nearby resorts including Elounda, Plaka and Voulisma.
By Car
- Many car rental options are available.
By Bus
- The main bus station offers regular connections to:
- Kritsa
- Elounda
- Plaka
- Malia
- Hersonissos
- Sitia
- Heraklion and Heraklion airport
- Change at Heraklion for Rethymno and Chania.
- The bus station is 1 km from the harbour.
- The free bus around the town (see above) departs from there.
- The station has air-conditioned waiting areas, seating, information services, ticket booths, toilets, and a snack bar/café.
- There is a ticket desk where you need to buy your ticket before boarding the bus
Getting Around Agios Nikolaos
The free city bus takes you in a circuit from the bus station to Kitroplatia beach and the port, before heading back to its starting point.
Otherwise, the town is fairly small, and walkable – but with plenty of hills to keep you fit!
Where to stay in Agios Nikolaos
Here are just a few of the best places to stay in Agios Nikolaos for different budgets:
Best Places to Stay in Agios Nikolaos
€€€€€ Minos Beach Art Hotel – hotel on its own peninsula with beaches just north of the city
€€€€ Minos Palace Resort – Adults Only
€€€€ St. Nicolas Bay Resort – luxury resort with stunning views overlooking Mirabello Bay
€€€€ Candia Park Village – 4-star resort close to Havania beach, two miles north of Agios Nikolaos city centre
€€€ Hotel Port 7 Boutique Collection – Fabulous location right in the heart of the town. 100 meters from Kitroplatia Beach, close to bars, tavernas and shops. Book a sea view room for fantastic views.
€€ Victoria Hotel – Lovely friendly family run hotel just outside the town, 10 minutes walk from the centre of town. lots of tavernas and 60 metres away from the Blue Flag Ammoudi beach.
Things To Do In Agios Nikolaos Crete – Final Words
I hope you have enjoyed reading my guide to Agios Nikolaos and the surrounding area.
It’s one of the most beautiful areas in Crete, and Agios Nikolaos is such a great base for exploring it.
As well as this guide, take a look at my article on the best Agios Nikolaos beaches, which covers all the beaches around the town. Also check out my guide to Voulisma Beach, which is a short bus ride or drive from the town.
My guide to Elounda Crete covers the village and activities around it in more detail. Also take a look at my guide to Spinalonga Island, which covers the island’s history and all aspects of visiting and what to do there.
If you’re thinking of exploring the coast to the west, don’t miss my guide to Sissi Crete, a gorgeous harbour village that’s off the beaten path. This is the last quiet corner before the most touristed part of Crete: for an introduction, check out my guides to the best things to do in Malia, Malia Beaches, things to do in Hersonissos and the best Hersonissos Beaches.
And if you’re contemplating seeing even more of the island, start with my other three city guides. My articles on the best Things To Do In Heraklion and visiting Knossos Palace cover the island’s intriguing capital. Also check out my guide to the best things to do in Rethymno, the island’s third city in the western part of central Crete. And don’t miss my guide to the best things to do in Chania, the most beautiful city in Crete.
David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times. David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.