Miramare Resort & Spa
Agios Nikolaos - Gargadoros
Built on the panoramic slopes above the seafront, the Miramare is a hotel and bungalows complex situated at the peaceful Gargadoros.
Book now
From a small fishing village, Agios Nikolaos has in recent years become one of Crete’s most popular tourist resorts thanks to its beautiful beaches and its thousand-year history. Situated in the eastern part of the island, the town was already considered a strategic port in Hellenistic times and, over the years, thanks to Genoese and Venetian rule, it developed into a commercial centre famous especially for the export of salt.
Its town centre, characterised by small shops and boutiques, winds around the beautiful Lake Voulismeni that connects directly to the sea via a narrow channel. Not far from the centre are also several beaches famous for their crystal-clear waters, such as Ammoudi and Kitroplatia. Lovers of Greek culinary traditions will find here several taverns and small restaurants where they can eat typical dishes, while those in search of nightlife will enjoy the pubs or discos that are open until late at night.
Agios Nikolaos is a town in a unique natural setting that knows how to win you over with its charm as a typical Greek resort, where neoclassical houses alternate with small churches. The town, in fact, despite having become a well-known tourist destination, has managed to preserve its historical and cultural identity.
Its town centre has shops where you can buy local products and the restaurants along the harbour offer excellent local cuisine, while its beautiful beaches welcome tourists in search of relaxation.
Many Cretan towns have sprung up around a harbour that bears witness to their thousand-year history and Agios Nikolaos is no different. Like Chania and Heraklion, this town also grew up around the port area, which, from being a strategic commercial area, has become a truly picturesque one. The harbour of Agios Nikolaos has a magical atmosphere. You can spend your evenings dining in one of the excellent tavernas, with the sound of the waves in the background, or simply take a stroll by the sea.
The Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos was founded in 1970 and is the second archaeological museum in Crete, after the one in Heraklion. Inside the museum we can find archaeological finds from the Neolithic, Minoan and Greco-Roman periods from all over eastern Crete.
In addition to storing more than 1,500 vases, a large collection of objects from the necropolis of Agia Fotía, near the town of Sitía, is housed here, as well as the Goddess of Myrtos, a vase in the shape of a woman from the locality of Mirtò.
Currently closed for renovation, it is scheduled to reopen in 2020.
The Lake of Agios Nikolaos, also known as Lake Voulismeni, is a small lagoon in the centre of the city and is linked to legends about its waters. According to some beliefs, the lake has no bottom and it is said that the goddess Artemis and the goddess Athena used to bathe here.
At the bottom of the lake, it is also said that the Germans deposited some of their military equipment before leaving the island of Crete in 1944, although no trace of this war equipment has ever been found.
Renovation works have altered some of the original shape of this picturesque lake, but a walk around it is a truly impressive experience as it is now used as a small harbour by fishing boats.
Situated near a beautiful bay, the small church of St Nicholas, the patron saint of Greek sailors, has given its name to the whole town: Agios Nikolaos means St Nicholas in Greek. It is one of the oldest churches in Crete and is a single-nave building with a dome and inside there are two layers of decoration.
Originally, the church had no iconic frescoes because it was built during the iconoclastic period and was decorated with beautiful geometric motifs. Only around 1300 was the church restored after an earthquake and decorated with frescoes and icons of St Nicholas.
Not far from Agios Nikolaos, north of Mirabello Bay, is the small fortified island of Spinalonga, which is easily reached by a short boat trip from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka.
The Venetians built this fortress within the lagoon of Elounda to protect the salt pans in this area from Turkish incursions.
An imposing complex was erected on top of the ruins of the ancient fortress of Olous and over the years served not only as a defence but, after the Turkish invasion, was a place of exile and isolation while in the 20th century it became a place of confinement for all leprosy patients.
Today, two-storey houses, courtyards and shops surrounded by high walls can still be seen, all evidence of the period when Spinalonga was a famous, yet mysterious, fortified town.
Agios Nikolaos is also worth a visit for its beautiful beaches that are easily accessible from the town centre and famous for their splendid waters. The closest beach to the town is Ammoudi6, located 1 km from the centre in a well-protected bay with a sandy beach and clear, shallow waters.
Not far from the picturesque Lake Voulismeni, in the heart of the town of Agios Nikolaos, is Kitroplateia Beach7. A perfect choice for families with children, Kitroplatia offers a well-equipped sandy beach with umbrella and sunbed rentals and has several restaurants as well as well-organised hotels nearby.
Next to the main port of Agios is the small Limanaki Beach8, made of pebbles and fine gravel is very nice for a quick swim a stone’s throw from the centre. From this place you have a wonderful view of the small island of Agii Pantes, which lies just opposite the town.
Just 12 km from the town is also the beautiful Voulisma Beach9, which has white sand and turquoise waters: its colours are unique, the sea waters are calm, the seabed is shallow and it is a beach with all kinds of facilities.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Agios Nikolaos is a town with a wide choice of accommodation, from luxury hotels to mini-apartments. The harbour area of Agios Nikolaos together with the area near Lake Voulismeni are two of the most characteristic areas of the city where you will also find numerous restaurants and taverns serving typical dishes.
We offer a selection of hotels at Agios Nikolaos to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Agios Nikolaos, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Agios Nikolaos. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Agios Nikolaos are in high demand.
The town of Agios Nikolaos is located about 60 km from Heraklion where the nearest international airport is located and is connected by direct flights to many European airports, especially in summer, while flights to and from Athens operate all year round.
Another option is to use the small airport of Sitia which is an hour and a half away from Agios Nikolaos and operates in summer with domestic flights and connections to some European cities.
If you have rented a car, you can easily reach the town from anywhere on the island. Alternatively, you can take the regular buses (KTEL) that offer frequent trips from Agios Nikolaos to other Cretan localities.
What's the weather at Agios Nikolaos? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Agios Nikolaos for the next few days.
Agios Nikolaos is located in the eastern part of the island of Crete, in the province of Lassathi. The town is 60 km from Heraklion, the capital of the island of Crete, 35 km from Ierapetra and 70 km from Sitia.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel 
Resorts