Forts & castles · Agios Nikolaos
Spinalonga Island
Venetian sea fortress that later became a leper colony until 1957.
Lasithi
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.
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Sandy beaches · Sitia
Vai Palm Beach
Sandy beach backed by Europe’s largest natural forest of Cretan date palms.
Caves · Lasithi Plateau
Dikteon Cave
Cave above the Lasithi plateau, mythological birthplace of Zeus.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Elounda Beach
The Blue Flag beach of Elounda, with views of the Spinalonga lagoon.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Makrigialos Beach
A long sandy beach with shallow water in a popular south east resort village.
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.
Secluded coves · Sitia
Kouremenos Beach
A long sandy beach near Palekastro and one of the best windsurfing spots on Crete.
Secluded coves · Sitia
Kato Zakros Beach
A pebble beach at the end of the Gorge of the Dead, next to a Minoan palace.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Almyros Beach
A long sandy beach at a river mouth just south of Agios Nikolaos.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Myrtos Beach
A laid back village beach on the south coast, sheltered from the north wind.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Ammoudara Beach (Agios Nikolaos)
A long sandy beach south of Agios Nikolaos, rarely affected by the summer wind.
Hidden gem
Secluded coves · Sitia
Itanos Beach
Three little coves next to the ruins of ancient Itanos, north of Vai.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Kitroplatia Beach
A small town beach in the heart of Agios Nikolaos, near Lake Voulismeni.
Secluded coves · Sitia
Chiona Beach
A small sandy beach near Palekastro, next to an ancient Minoan town and fish tavernas.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Ammos Beach (Agios Nikolaos)
The town beach of Agios Nikolaos, between the marina and the stadium.
Pebble beaches · Ierapetra
Koutsounari Beach
A 5 km long pebble and sand beach east of Ierapetra that never feels crowded.
Pebble beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Havania Beach
A quiet organised beach just outside Agios Nikolaos.
Secluded coves · Ierapetra
Agia Fotia Beach
A small bay with tamarisks and pines where a mountain stream meets the Libyan Sea.
Pebble beaches · Ierapetra
Pachia Ammos Beach
A long village beach on the Mirabello gulf, between Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra.
Sandy beaches · Ierapetra
Agios Andreas Beach
The longest beach of Ierapetra, about 4 km of sand and pebbles.
Sandy beaches · Agios Nikolaos
Ammoudi Beach
A small sandy cove 1 km from Agios Nikolaos with shallow water and island views.