Agios Nikolaos — Elegance on the Gulf of Mirabello
Agios Nikolaos (Άγιος Νικόλαος, simply called "Ag Nik" by the locals) is the capital of the Lasithi Prefecture and one of the most elegant small towns in Crete. Nestled on the hills of the Gulf of Mirabello — Crete's largest and most beautiful bay — it combines cosmopolitan flair with Greek coziness.
The city's landmark is the Voulismeni Lake (Limni Voulismeni), an almost circular, 64-meter-deep freshwater basin in the middle of the city, connected to the sea by a canal. Cafés and taverns line up around the lake with spectacular reflections on the water — in the evenings, when the lights break on the surface, the atmosphere is particularly magical. Legend has it that the goddess Athena bathed in the lake.
The waterfront promenade leads from the lake to the small harbor, where fishing boats rock alongside elegant yachts. The Archaeological Museum (Konstantinos-Paleologos-Str.) houses a fine collection of Minoan finds from eastern Crete, including the famous Goddess of Myrtos — a 4,500-year-old ceramic figure, one of the icons of Minoan art.
Agios Nikolaos is the ideal starting point for excursions to Spinalonga (boats from Elounda or Plaka, 15 km north), to the Lasithi Plateau (30 km west), and to the beaches of Istro and Voulisma (10 km southeast — one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in eastern Crete). The nearby Elounda, 10 km north, is Crete's most exclusive address — home to some of Greece's most expensive luxury resorts (Elounda Beach, Blue Palace), surrounded by breathtaking scenery on the Mirabello Bay.
The harbor promenade of Elounda itself is surprisingly down-to-earth: A small fishing village with taverns by the water, fishing boats, and the view of the offshore Spinalonga Peninsula (not to be confused with the island). From here, boats depart for Spinalonga.
