A Complete Travel Guide to Agios Nikolaos Crete, Agios Nikolaos, Greece

The capital of the Lasithi region, Agios Nikolaos is a delightful coastal resort town just an hour’s drive from Crete’s capital, Heraklion. The town’s compact size nevertheless makes it a dream holiday destination, offering visitors an array of remarkable experiences and a taste of authentic Cretan hospitality. Our complete travel guide to Agios Nikolaos Crete will make you want to pack your bags right now.

Located on what was once the ancient site of Lato pros Kamara, this picturesque coastal town, was a prosperous trading centre during the Archaic and Classical Age followed by further development during the Roman era. Today, Agios Nikolaos acts as a tourist hub for the small surrounding villages - which are approximately twenty in total.

The glorious town which welcomes visitors from all corners of the world is said to have been established following the fall of the Byzantine period (1204) when it was sold to the Venetians. It was here that the Genovese pirate Henry Pescatore, built the Castel Mirabello translating as beautiful view, the name which is still used till this day to describe the mesmerising views and the area.

The first tourism development in Agios Nikolaos started in 1960s when the first luxury hotel, the Minos Beach was built in the area and welcomed famous international celebrities such as Walt Disney and the crew of the original movie Apollo 13. Other luxury resorts followed, turning Agios Nikolaos into one of the developed tourism destinations in Crete. In the 1980s the name Elounda started to rise on the map of luxury destinations worldwide and until this day welcomes some of the world’s most discerning guests. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).