A magical city looking out into the clear waters of Lake Voulismeni, which flows into the Aegean Sea.
There is hardly a single town in Greece where the land itself does not breathe of antiquity and is not the object of legends. Such is the case of Agios Nikolaos, on the shores of the Gulf of Mirabello, named after Saint Nikolaos and the Byzantine church of the same name. The first mention of the town dates back to 1881, but various settlements have existed on the site since time immemorial. It was once the Doric port of Lato Pros Camara, which merged with the city of Lato Hetera in the 3rd century B.C. and its ruins are still preserved today.
Lato, which flourished under the Romans, acquired a fortress thanks to the Genoese. Castel Mirabello (translated as fortress with a beautiful view) gave its name to the bay, but unfortunately, after the attack of the Turks it was razed to the ground. Both the owners of the fort and the earthquakes contributed to the destruction. The current Agios Nikolaos, with its snow-white huts and luxurious hotels, climbs the hillsides surrounding Lake Voulismeni. It was rebuilt by the Cretans in the late 19th century and has been an unexpectedly large tourist resort since the last century.
Many world celebrities consider it their duty to visit Agios Nikolaos in Greece, and the resort owes its popularity to Walt Disney and Joe Dassin, who vacationed here more than half a century ago.
A beautiful view of the Aegean Sea, washing the northern coast of Crete, and a beautiful bay with blue clear water are not the only things, which attract the owners of expensive snow-white yachts, which line the roads in Mirabello Bay, and mere mortals. The narrow strait that connects Lake Voulismeni to the Mediterranean Sea, dug during the Turkish domination, can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Here are the most prestigious hotels. But the best view of the city, the sea and the promenade opens from the rock that towers over the lake. There is also an ancient chapel and an observation deck.
There are a lot of legends about the lake. According to one of them, the goddesses Athena and Atemis bathed here. This is not hard to believe, because the waters of Vulismeni are perfectly clean and transparent. For a long time it was thought that the lake has no bottom, but scientists have dispelled this myth: the depth of the lake is 64 meters. Amazingly, the water here is always fresh. Another legend says that Vulismeni has a direct link with the volcano in Santorini. During the last eruption, the water in the lake rose above normal levels and bubbled like a cauldron.
Despite its diminutive size, even by Greek standards, Agios Nikolaos in Crete is the heart of local tourism. Nightclubs and discos, souvenir shops and colorful market, tavernas and restaurants on the waterfront with delicious seafood and other gourmet national cuisine, old ruins in the neighborhood, museums and modern monuments - in this town you can find fun and entertainment to suit every taste. The local beaches are some of the best in Greece and three of them have been awarded the blue flag.
Agios Nikolaos on Crete is also a seaport, where cruise ships anchor, small sightseeing boats and yachts depart from, ships to Rhodes, Kos, Santorini and other islands, as well as ferries to the mainland. One of the favorite tourist routes is a visit to the island of Spinalonga in Mirabello Bay with its picturesque ruins of ancient fortifications. Excursions to Agios Nikolaos are not limited to city sights. The ancient port is the ideal starting point for excursions in Eastern Crete: 10 km to the fashionable resort of Elounda and the sunken city of Opus, 20 km to the beautiful plateau of Lasithi and the cave of Dikteon, where the legend says that Zeus himself was born. And this is just a small fraction of the unique places for which this part of the island is famous.
If you come to Agios Nikolaos for shopping, then you have to go to 28th October Street, full of brand stores, jewelry stores, antique stores and souvenir shops. Nightlife lovers should definitely check out Joseph Kunduros Street or 25th March Street. Here you will find many nightclubs and discos, where the fun and loud music does not stop until morning.
By car from Heraklion (distance about 65 km).
By ferry from the port of Piraeus.
By bus every half hour from Ierapetra or Setia.
