Stylish and sophisticated
Aghios Nikolaos brings you close to Crete’s perfect golden sandy beaches, adding colourful buildings, waterside dining and a sense of history to the mix. It’s one of the island’s most cosmopolitan and popular resorts, offering activities and facilities for couples and families, as well as soft sandy beaches and a chance to simply relax.
Located in eastern Crete, one of the town’s biggest attractions is its beaches. Here you’ll find swathes of golden sands backed by bars, restaurants and little shops and gently shelving into the crystal clear sea. Couples can explore the coastline by car and find their own little cove, while families can head to the bigger beaches where there are plenty of facilities, as well as water sports galore. There’s also a lake where you’ll see little boats and craggy cliffs to one side and the cafés, shops, and restaurants the town is known for on the other. It’s even said to be where the goddess Athena bathed.
Aghios Nikolaos offers luxury holiday heaven, with cosmopolitan boutiques, bars, cafés and restaurants all nestled along the glittering waters of its lake. History lovers can explore the old streets and immerse themselves in the ancient Greek mythology which surrounds them. If you prefer to simply relax there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in fine dining and traditional Greek tavernas, a spot of retail therapy or simply spend the day on one of the coastline’s excellent beaches.
Book your luxury holiday in Aghios Nikolaos and we’ll ensure you get the most from your time away. All of our holidays include selected airport lounges, private transfers, and other little details as standard, and our team of Personal Travel Planners are travel experts who have perfected the art of holiday making. We’ve selected each of the hotels we offer for its world class standards and facilities, so you just need to book and start relaxing. Choose the Daios Cove for beautiful views of the sweeping cove below, modern décor and the chance to simply relax. Alternatively, St Nicolas Bay Resort has facilities galore, including a Kids’ Club, spa, scuba diving centre, and lots more. And if you’re looking for elegant, secluded surroundings choose the Minos Beach Art Hotel.
My favourite place to go for a drink is the lakefront, where you'll find a number of bars. It's a great place to sit with a glass of wine and people-watch.
Every one of our hotels is handpicked and personally visited by our team
Flight time from the UK to Crete is around 4 hours.
If you're planning a trip to Heraklion (HER) from the UK, the following airports have direct flights:
Belfast (BFS), Birmingham (BHX), Bournemouth (BOH), Bristol (BRS), Cardiff (CWL), East Midlands (EMA), Edinburgh (EDI), Exeter (EXT), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds Bradford (LBA), Liverpool (LPL), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN), Newcastle (NCL) and Norwich (NWI).
Transfer time from Heraklion airport to Aghios Nikolaos is approximately 1 hour.
The southernmost Greek island, Crete’s summers are something special. The temperatures are beach-worthy by April, climbing steadily throughout summer and peaking in July and August, when highs of 35°C are possible. Luckily, the island is prone to some cooling winds during summer that stop things getting too hot and sticky.
Currently visas are not required for UK citizens travelling to Greece.
In Greece, a service charge will be included in the bill at restaurants and bars. Much like the UK, an additional tip is not required, although is appreciated for particularly good service. It is common to round off the amount when paying cash, particularly with wait staff and taxi drivers.
The official language of Greece is Greek. English is widely spoken, too, so getting by is easy.