Festungen & Burgen · Agios Nikolaos
Spinalonga Island
Venetian sea fortress that later became a leper colony until 1957.
Beaches, sights, villages and services in Lasithi.
Lasithi, the eastern end of Crete, is quieter and greener than you might expect. Agios Nikolaos wraps around a small lake and a lively harbour, with cafés on the water and beaches within walking distance. Just north, Elounda and Plaka look across to the fortress island of Spinalonga, one of the most moving places on the island.
Up in the mountains, the Lasithi plateau is a flat green bowl ringed by peaks, dotted with old windmills and orchards. Above the village of Psychro is the Dikteon cave, the birthplace of Zeus in myth. The villages of Kritsa and Mochlos, the Minoan town of Gournia and the gorge of Richtis are all easy day trips.
Further east, Sitia is a relaxed working town, and the palm beach of Vai, the monastery of Toplou and the bays around Kato Zakros feel far from the crowds. On the south coast, Ierapetra is often called the sunniest town in Europe, and the island of Chrissi offshore has cedar trees and white sand.
Good to know: the far east is about 2.5 hours from Heraklion, so stay a night or two to enjoy it without rushing.
Festungen & Burgen · Agios Nikolaos
Venetian sea fortress that later became a leper colony until 1957.
Sandstrände · Sitia
Sandy beach backed by Europe’s largest natural forest of Cretan date palms.
Höhlen · Lasithi-Hochebene
Cave above the Lasithi plateau, mythological birthplace of Zeus.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
The Blue Flag beach of Elounda, with views of the Spinalonga lagoon.
Sandstrände · Ierapetra
A long sandy beach with shallow water in a popular south east resort village.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A fine white sand beach with turquoise water at Istron, one of the best in Lasithi.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
Sheltered sandy bays on the Mirabello gulf, between Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A quiet resort village with a little harbour and small beaches between Malia and Agios Nikolaos.
Versteckte Buchten · Sitia
A long sandy beach near Palekastro and one of the best windsurfing spots on Crete.
Versteckte Buchten · Sitia
A pebble beach at the end of the Gorge of the Dead, next to a Minoan palace.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A long sandy beach at a river mouth just south of Agios Nikolaos.
Versteckte Buchten · Ierapetra
A laid back village beach on the south coast, sheltered from the north wind.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A long sandy beach south of Agios Nikolaos, rarely affected by the summer wind.
Versteckte Buchten · Sitia
Three little coves next to the ruins of ancient Itanos, north of Vai.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A small town beach in the heart of Agios Nikolaos, near Lake Voulismeni.
Versteckte Buchten · Sitia
A small sandy beach near Palekastro, next to an ancient Minoan town and fish tavernas.
Kiesstrände · Agios Nikolaos
The town beach of Agios Nikolaos, between the marina and the stadium.
Kiesstrände · Ierapetra
A 5 km long pebble and sand beach east of Ierapetra that never feels crowded.
Kiesstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A quiet organised beach just outside Agios Nikolaos.
Versteckte Buchten · Ierapetra
A small bay with tamarisks and pines where a mountain stream meets the Libyan Sea.
Kiesstrände · Ierapetra
A long village beach on the Mirabello gulf, between Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra.
Sandstrände · Ierapetra
The longest beach of Ierapetra, about 4 km of sand and pebbles.
Sandstrände · Agios Nikolaos
A small sandy cove 1 km from Agios Nikolaos with shallow water and island views.