Aghios Nikolaos holidays

Aghios Nikolaos holidays promise pristine beaches, swanky shops and Mirabello Bay views with lashings of authentic Greek island culture.

Cosmopolitan port town life

You’ll find Aghios Nikolaos on the Mirabello Bay coastline. It’s starting to turn heads as one of the most up-and-coming eastern Crete locations, just a 20-minute drive from the village of Elounda, and it pulses with a traditional Greek atmosphere. Picturesque harbour wining and dining top the daily activities list for locals and tourists alike.

Mythology at Lake Voulismeni

Lake Voulismeni is the town’s focal point. This near-perfect circle of water goes hand-in-hand with Goddess Athena mythology – legend has it she used to bathe here. And here’s another fun fact. The bottomless lake legend says that Lake Voulismeni has no end (but it’s actually just over 60 metres deep). Lakeside tavernas and cafés come by the dozen, and there’s a romantic evening atmosphere when the sun dips below the horizon.

Blue Flag beaches and coves

Secluded coves and beaches – with shallow waters for families – line up along Aghios Nikolaos’ seafront. Kitroplatia Beach is one of the most popular – this one has a mix of sand and pebbles, and has been granted Blue Flag status. Almyros’ white sand also pulls in flocks of tourists, while Amos Beach watersports tempt adrenaline junkies. Then there’s the Mirabello Bay coastline. Here, the eucalyptus tree backdrop scents the swimming spots with a distinctly Mediterranean fragrance.

Ancient relics and Spinalonga Island

When a sightseeing trip’s calling, Spinalonga Island boat trips answer. This tiny island is famous for its Venetian fortifications, which date back to the 16th century, and was used as a leper colony until the 1950s. But avid readers might already know that, since Spinalonga was the subject of Victoria Hislop’s 2005 novel The Island. For history buffs that want to stay closer to base, there’s the Archaeological Museum of Aghios Nikolaos, which is filled with Minoan relics.