Agios Nikolaos Holidays

Boats lining the promenade in Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Agios Nikolaos is on the northern coast of Crete and is one of the island’s oldest tourist resorts. Built around a so-called “bottomless lake”, this beautiful old town was known as ‘the St Tropez of Greece’ in the 1970s, attracting the international jet-set. Luxurious hotels sprang up to accommodate the rich and famous and the town retains a sophisticated, grown-up feel today.
Holidays in Agios Nikolaos attract a fairly cultivated crowd and the resort is popular with British and German tourists. It is the place to head if you want a relaxing holiday with plenty of Cretan atmosphere and great food and drink. The harbour area is lined with wonderful restaurants serving everything from traditional Cretan dishes to Western meals. There are several bars offering outdoor terrace seating with spectacular views and there’s simply no better place to sit and enjoy a cocktail at sunset.
Accommodation ranges from basic Cretan style pensions to spectacular 5-star hotels. Some of the finest hotels in Europe can be found in this part of Crete and facilities are so luxurious you may not want to leave. Package holidays in Agios Nikolaos cater to all budgets, and there are plenty of affordable, friendly, family-run properties in the town.
There are lots of beautiful beaches nearby, although many are reserved for guests staying on package holiday deals at the huge, seafront hotels in the area. Out and about, boat trips are very popular and a great way to see the stunning coastline of this part of Crete. Many of the boat trips pay a visit to the nearby island of Spinalonga. A former leper colony, the deserted island is well worth a visit. Boats leave Agios Nikolaos regularly and drop you off at Spinalonga for an hour or two of exploring before bringing you home again.