The famous tourist destination in Crete

Agios Nikolaos or in Greek Άγιος Νικόλαος belongs to the island of Crete. It is located in the east of the island s capital Heraklion north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. In the year 2007 the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos which includes part of the surrounding villages counted about 22000 inhabitants. Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the province of Lasithi. It sits merely upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato. The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas. The stress lies on the third syllable of the word Nikolaos.

Note that Agios Nikolaos or Aghios Nikolaos is a common local name in Greece and Cyprus since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors in all over Greece. Aghios Nikolaos is probably best known as a tourist town that serves as a hub to the twenty small villages and farms that make up that part of Lassithi. Tourist attractions include the small lagoon Lake Voulismeni, small beaches in the town the tiny island Agioi Pantes, the archaeological museum, the local flora exhibition Iris and numerous fairs. Nowadays tourism in this area mainly comes from Europe but the place gradually attracts people from all over the world. The lagoon features a small park with a trail traditional fishing boats ducks pigeons an amphitheatre and many cafes. Agios Nikolaos is accessible from the mainland and the whole of Europe through Nikos Kazantzakis airport and many daily ferry services in Heraklion. Two ships connect Aghios Nikolaos daily with the ports of Piraeus and Dodekanisa. Recently the town became host of a department of a Technological Educational Institute with tourism related courses.