Lassithi area Holidays

The Lassithi area takes up residence in Crete’s east wing. This part of the island has a finishing school-style refinement to it. It leaves the rustic hamlets and rugged coastlines to the west of the island, and in their place, it puts cosmopolitan harbour towns and pretty beach resorts.

Agios Nikolaos is one such harbour town. The focal point of this place is Lake Voulismeni. This inland lake is surrounded by cafes, ice cream parlours and bars. Beyond here, the town’s complexion changes to incorporate streets full of jewellery and olive oil shops. Agios Nikolaos’ outskirts, meanwhile, are characterised by a handful of small sandy beaches.

Elounda is the flagship of Lassithi’s beach resorts. Its main square is just a few steps away from its sandy beach, so holiday makers can go from sand to shop to seaside café in the drop of a hat.

Spinilonga is the most name-dropped of Lassithi’s sights. This island, a 15-minute boat ride from Elounda’s harbour, was made famous by Victoria Hislop’s best-selling novel, The Island. It was Europe’s last leper colony and scores of lepers lived here, in exile from the mainland, until 1957.