Spinalonga Island
Venetian sea fortress that later became a leper colony until 1957.
Forts & castles · Agios Nikolaos
Beaches & coast
Beaches, coves, lagoons and islands
Crete has more than a thousand kilometres of coastline, and almost every type of beach you can imagine: shallow turquoise lagoons in the far west, pink-tinged sand at Elafonisi, palm-fringed river mouths on the south coast and tiny coves you reach on foot. As a rule of thumb, the north coast is easier to reach and well organised, while the south coast (the Libyan Sea) is wilder, quieter and often calmer when the summer meltemi wind blows from the north.
Elounda Beach
The Blue Flag beach of Elounda, with views of the Spinalonga lagoon.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Voulisma Beach (Golden Beach)
A fine white sand beach with turquoise water at Istron, one of the best in Lasithi.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Istron Beach
Sheltered sandy bays on the Mirabello gulf, between Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Sissi Beach
A quiet resort village with a little harbour and small beaches between Malia and Agios Nikolaos.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Almyros Beach
A long sandy beach at a river mouth just south of Agios Nikolaos.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Ammoudara Beach (Agios Nikolaos)
A long sandy beach south of Agios Nikolaos, rarely affected by the summer wind.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Kitroplatia Beach
A small town beach in the heart of Agios Nikolaos, near Lake Voulismeni.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Ammos Beach (Agios Nikolaos)
The town beach of Agios Nikolaos, between the marina and the stadium.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Havania Beach
A quiet organised beach just outside Agios Nikolaos.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Ammoudi Beach
A small sandy cove 1 km from Agios Nikolaos with shallow water and island views.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Candia Beach (Katsikia)
The last beach north of Agios Nikolaos on the road to Elounda, sandy and calm.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Spilia Listi Beach
A sandy beach south of Agios Nikolaos named after a thief's cave.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Milatos Beach
A small seaside settlement with pebble beaches near Milatos cave.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Limani Beach (Sissi)
A small rocky beach in the natural harbour of Sissi, sheltered and clear.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Mirabello Beach
Two organised beaches by a big hotel, 2 km from Agios Nikolaos.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Mpoufos Beach
A turquoise beach at the mouth of the Selinari gorge, east of Sissi.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Hidden gem
Avlaki Beach
A small pebble cove near Vrachasi, between Sissi and Milatos.
Secluded coves · Agios Nikolaos
Hidden gem
Vlichadia Beach
A small pebble beach with rugged cliffs north of Agios Nikolaos.
Secluded coves · Agios Nikolaos
Kamini Beach
A pebble beach near the Minoan site of Gournia, probably its old access to the sea.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Hidden gem
Frouzis Beach
A small rocky cove south of Agios Nikolaos with blue green water.
Secluded coves · Agios Nikolaos
Kolokitha Peninsula
A quiet peninsula with ancient ruins across from Elounda.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Agios Nikolaos