Our most recommended things to do in Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

1. Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

Spinalonga is a magnificent island with fortresses dating from the Venetian period. It is an island of legends, a triumph to survival in the early 20th century from the scourge of leprosy, now a place of great archaeological and historical significance. On Spinalonga island, enjoy the opportunity to visit the Interpretive Centre there and discover the settlements of the victims and survivors of this former illness. Explore the Venetian fortifications and learn all about the long and fascinating history of the island. Take time to walk around the island and see the views of the bay and the fortifications. Later the cruise continues, passing along other points of interest in the Bay of Mirabello such as the cave of the legendary Pirate Barbarosa, the sunken ancient city of Olous, and the island where the endemic and hardy Cretan Kri Kri goats live. Have time to relax and swim in the exquisite turquoise waters of Kolokitha Bay. The 40 m boat features two bars, a lounge, and a restaurant serving Greek and international cuisine at reasonable prices with high-quality service from the crew.

Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

2. Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

Venture into the ocean’s depth with a 1-day admission ticket to the CRETAquarium. One of Europe’s largest aquariums, over 2,000 sea creatures lice the CRETAquarium's 60 diverse habitats. Delve into the caves and crevices of the Mediterranean, where stingrays and rock-like scorpionfish slither about. Pop out into the open ocean, where menacing sharks circle, waiting to be fed. Get up close and personal with jellyfish and schools of vibrant tropical clownfish through shallow, open-topped tanks, which allow a new viewing perspective of well known species.  Above all, gain a new appreciation for the unending diversity of the world’s most mystifying environment. When you’ve had your fill of looking at the ocean’s residents, why not pop in for a dip? The CRETAquarium is, fittingly, right on the beach.

Crete: Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island

3. Crete: Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island

Embark on a full-day guided trip to northeastern Crete and take a boat trip to Spinalonga Island. Visit Agios Nikolaos with its famous lake, and explore the picturesque village of Elounda. Begin the day with the visit to Agios Nikolaos, and see the shore of Mirabello Bay. Explore the town, famous for the lake at its center and its shopping and cafes. Take your time for a walk to enjoy the views, enjoy some shopping or have a drink in one of the numerous cafes around the lake. Explore an open-air market on Wednesdays. Move on to see Elounda village, a former fishing village on the northern coast of the island. Depart from Elounda for the cruise to Spinalonga Island. Learn about the island's vibrant history, from a home for the Venetians and Turks to a place of isolation for those suffering from leprosy. Experience the island, more popular after the 2005 historical novel “The Island” about how lepers lived in Spinalonga. Join the hundreds of people who come to the island every day to visit and learn its history.

From Ierapetra: Cruise Around Chrissi Island With Swimming

4. From Ierapetra: Cruise Around Chrissi Island With Swimming

Start your boat cruise from the port of Ierapetra and head to the exotic Chrissi. Sail in the emerald waters of the Libyan Sea, accompanied by seagulls and dolphins. The self-service bar of the ship remains open during the cruise, offering light meals, with salads, wine, soft drinks, coffee, and ice cream available to purchase. Jump off the boat and swim in the refreshing water off the coast of Chrissi Island. After a relaxing swim, dry off on board and enjoy views of the island's blue and green waters, golden beaches, and protected cedar forest. The cedar forest extends to the center of Chrissi, covering an area of 350,000 square meters. The colors of the rocks are spectacular, while almost the entire island is covered by golden sand. 

Agios Nikolaos: Morning Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

5. Agios Nikolaos: Morning Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

Sailing trip is designed for half a day - just enough time to enjoy sea and swimming activities. The yacht cruise starts in the morning at the port of Agios Nikolaos. Guests will have the opportunity to see famous island Spinalonga from the water. Our catamaran Lagoon 450F will comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests. For adults, we have snorkel equipment, SUPs, tackle and fishing bait. For children - a box with toys, colouring books, board games. And inflatable flamingos and unicorns for the entire family. Food on a cruise is our pride. For our guests, we have compiled a Mediterranean-style menu. We prepare all dishes only from fresh local products.

Cruise to Spinalonga & BBQ at Kolokytha From Agios Nikolaos

6. Cruise to Spinalonga & BBQ at Kolokytha From Agios Nikolaos

Enjoy a fun cruise in the Greek sun with a barbecue by the sea. Explore  Kolokytha Bay and the historical island of Spinalonga. Start your day boarding the boat at the pretty harbour of Agios Nikolaos. Cruise across the beautiful Bay of Mirabello before arriving at the legendary island of Spinalonga.  On Spinalonga island you will have an hour and a half to tour around and explore the Venetian fortifications and old homes of the victims of leprosy. Learn about the history and people who lived on the island during the first half of the 20th century from the printed guide that will be given to you free of charge. Later the boat takes you on the other side of the Kolokytha island and moors at the beach of the same name. Kolokytha is a beautiful bay with crystal-clear turquoise waters. Relax, swim and sunbathe while the boat crew prepares a hearty barbecue for you. Enjoy grilled pork chops, cabbage salad, bread, wine and seasonal fruits. 

Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

7. Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

Board a comfortable air-conditioned semi-submarine vessel at the port of Agios Nikolaos. Discover marine life which inhabits the coastal waters of Agioi Pantes Island. Learn more about the flora and fauna you will see from the onboard audio guide. See many different species of colorful fish as the boat crew feeds them. If you are lucky, you may spot curious sea turtles, dolphins, and seals who sometimes choose to investigate the vessel. In the second part of the tour, take a seat on the main deck of the boat in order to admire the spectacular views of Agios Nikolaos Bay. Feel the sea breeze as you cruise through the bay before heading back to the port.

Self-Drive JeepTour to Thripti Mountains and small villages

8. Self-Drive JeepTour to Thripti Mountains and small villages

Explore the “wild heart” of East Crete, undiscovered by tourism, where “time” seems to stand still. A combination of tar and off roads, will guide you from Ierapetra to the mountains of Thripti . A highlight of the tour is the stop at the summit Afentis (850 m) with an unforgettable panoramic view on both seas (Libyan/Aegean). We continue to Kavousi, where you can admire the oldest olive tree in the world (3250 years). In Mochlos, you can enjoy the "greek cuisine" in a typical tavern. Our trip continues through the vine yards and olive fields, among small chapels, towards authentic villages with their simple lifestyle (Sfaka, Lastros-known as the “cat village”). To end this adventures day, refresh yourselves in the crystal clear water at the bay of Tholos. An unforgettable day for nature lovers and adventurers

From Crete: Santorini Day Trip by Boat with Oia & Fira Visit

9. From Crete: Santorini Day Trip by Boat with Oia & Fira Visit

Board a high-speed vessel with an open deck and coffee bars and enjoy a nice ferry cruise from Heraklion to the island of Santorini (Duration: approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival in Santorini, you will be transferred from the port to the magnificent village of Oia in the north. During the transfer, an experienced guide on the bus will share many interesting facts about Santorini, its history, features, and secrets. In Oia, you will have approximately 2 hours of free time to visit picturesque spots and viewpoints and enjoy breathtaking views. The town of Oia is famous worldwide for its iconic panoramic views, Cycladic architecture with white houses and churches with blue domes. After Oia, the tour continues to the capital of Santorini - the town of Fira. Fira is just as beautiful as Oia, with breathtaking views of the sea and Caldera from its streets. You can visit the big Orthodox Cathedral on the main square in the center of Fira and walk through the city. Fira is full of interesting and picturesque spots and corners. You will have almost 1.5 hours there to explore on your own. The tour will end with a transfer to the Santorini port, where you will take a return trip to Crete. The day trip ends at the port of Heraklion or at your hotel area if you select the option that includes hotel transfer.

Zeus Cave and Lassithi Plateau Day Tour

10. Zeus Cave and Lassithi Plateau Day Tour

Start your tour with pick up in an air-conditioned Land Rover from your accommodations at 10 AM and head into the Dikti Mountain Range. You'll pass through several traditional and very picturesque mountain villages. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop for photos or to have a coffee at a real taverna. At the Lassithi Plateau, you might see eagles and vultures, as both nest around this area. Next, you’ll reach the base of Mount Spathi. The Psychro Cave, the birth place of the Greek god Zeus, is located on the north face of Spathi. You’ll walk 15 minutes up the steep hill to the entrance of the cave and from there follow the path down into the spectacular cave.   Next, enjoy a traditional Cretan meze lunch with local wine. After lunch, you'll continue around the plateau and then descend taking in views of the north coast and the impressive Aposelemis Dam. You will then visit a 2400-year-old plane tree, the oldest on the island, as well as the Selinari Monastery.

Add dates

Things to do in
Agios Nikolaos

All activities

105 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 7

Immersive experiences

Go beyond Agios Nikolaos

Explore all

Frequently asked questions about Agios Nikolaos

What top attractions are a must-see in Agios Nikolaos?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Agios Nikolaos?

The best day trips and excursions from Agios Nikolaos are:

Elounda

What are the best inexpensive tours in Agios Nikolaos?

What are the most popular museums and exhibitions in Agios Nikolaos?

Other Sightseeing Options in Agios Nikolaos

Want to discover all there is to do in Agios Nikolaos? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Agios Nikolaos

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 3,482 reviews

Great day out! Michael, our tour guide, was brilliant and knew a lot about the local areas. As it was the national Independence Day of Greece , we had our schedule moved around a little so we were able to experience the parades that were happening - a really lovely consideration for the team to have made! Our pick up was very smooth and the bus journey was a beautiful route that allowed us to see the Cretan scenery. Elounda and Agios Nikolaos are stunning places and definitely worth a visit!! We had a good amount of free time in each place - the best part, jumping off our boat into the sea on our way back from Spinalonga Island! Bucket list check! Highly recommend this day out to everyone!

Highly recommend the trip to Zeus cave. Our tour guide- Petra, was amazing and answered any questions that we had. The views were out of this world and Petra kindly pulled over to allow our group to take some amazing photos. Thank you!

It was a long but fun day. Visited two beautiful and nice pictures and a beautiful lake with a nice view. Everything was well arranged, they were on time at the pick-up location and a nice guide.

Altough you don't have to much time, the tour was enough to see the important stuff in Heraklion. The guide was constantly giving us information and the bus driver also was very friendly

Very nice trip. They picked me up in a van very close to my hotel because the streets were very narrow. Recommended!