The Aghios Nikolaos region of Eastern Crete has many attractive coastal resorts and it is here that the island is also at its narrowest which allows one to easily enjoy the contrasting northern Aegean beaches and the more arid southern beaches of the Libyan sea. The famous island of Spinalonga can be found just off the coast of the smart resort of Elounta, and the seaside resort of Aghios Nikolaos is an attractive resort in a beautiful setting.

There is no international airport on this side of the island; however it is easily accessible from Heraklion.

Aghios Nikolaos is beautifully located in the Mirabellou bay on the shores of Lake Voulismeni. Agios Nikolaos is one of the most delightful holiday centres in Crete. Its pretty harbour and scenic surroundings have charmed many visitors and it continues to thrive on its popularity. It’s the incredible scenery and sea views which is so attractive about many our villas in this area.

In Hellenistic times Aghios Nikolaos was known as Lato which was comprised of Lato pros Kamara (towards the arch) and Lato Etera (other Lato). Of no great importance during the Venetian period it was only in the 19th century that Aghios Nikolaos took off again.

The main centre of Aghios Nikolaos is the harbour where there is an abundance of outdoor cafes and restaurants. The archeological museum is a treasure trove of artifacts from the area including  the scull of a man thought to be an athlete, which carries a gold wreath and a silver coin as payment for crossing the mythical river Styx.

There are numerous excellent beaches around Agios Nicolaos along with a wide range of water sports.

There are a number of interesting sites to visit nearby. High in the Dikti mountains lies the Lasithi plateau, a bowl-shaped, lush agricultural plain which for centuries was cut off from the rest of the island. Along the perimeter are a number of villages of which Tzermiado is the largest and has good tourist facilities. The highlight of the Lasithi plateau is the Diktian cave at Psychro, legend has it this is where the god Zeus was born.

Kritsa is a small village set at the foot of the Laisithi mountains. As well as its 13th century Byzantine church which houses some of the finest frescoes on the island it is well known as a craft centre and in the summer there is a wealth of woven rugs and embroidered cloth on display.

Boat trips run from Aghios Nikolaos during the summer to the islands of Spinalonga and Agioi Pantes which is a refuge for Kri-kri the Cretan wild goat.