Lassithi area Holidays

Elounda Beach

If you’re staying in Elounda, your nearest stretch of sand will be Elounda Beach. The sands are located right in the heart of the town, next to the harbour, so they’re easy to reach. There’s a real mix of people here. The watersports facilities are excellent, so the area draws thrill-seekers from all across the island. However, the large children’s play area also brings local families here to enjoy sunny, beachy weekends.

Almiros Beach

Almiros Beach is a Blue Flag beach located just south of Agios Nikolaos’ marina. It’s a five-minute drive, or a 30-minute walk. Located in the Mirabello Bay, the curvature of the coast keeps the waters calm, making it a great beach for families with kids. Watersports are available, and there are a few cosy beach bars dotted around. Brave bathers can take a dip in the cold flow of the river that runs into the sea here.

Voulisma Beach

A 15-minute drive down the coast from Agios Nikolaos brings you to Voulisma Beach. Referred to by locals as the ‘Golden Beach’, the yellow-coloured sands here are soft and fine. There’s a watersports centre here, and a number of beachfront restaurants which offer excellent views across the bay. From the beach, you can take a walk to the local village of Istro which is filled with olive and citrus groves.

Bargain Buys

Bargain buys

The market at Agios Nikolaos is fantastic for finding small trinkets and souvenirs to bring back home. Located in the port area, you’ll find all sorts of little jewellery stalls, gift shops, leather goods, and a wide range of traditional Cretan products. Prices are pretty cheap here, so if your kids are looking to spend their holiday money, this is an excellent place to take them.

Mid-Range Buys

Mid-range buys

If you’re looking for some quality mementoes to bring home from the Lassithi area, local olive oil and olive wood from Sitia are great choices. Olive wood is made into all sorts of utensils, platters, and photo frames, and you’ll find workshops designing their own wood carvings. Greek ceramics and fashion are popular buys, too. Some of the best shops are along the road between Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.

Designer Buys

Designer buys

While Agios Nikolaos may not be as popular with shoppers as Heraklion, it’s still got a pretty decent selection of designer stores. There are international brands like Superdry, as well as local Cretan jewellery designers like L Maris. Agios Nikolaos has a great selection of designer boutiques that are well worth browsing if you enjoy shopping for fashion. There are some high-end cosmetics stores here, too.

Laid-back evenings

Laidback evenings

Choose Elounda for sophisticated and low-key nightlife. Here, you can spend the evening sipping local wines in the cafés, restaurants, and tavernas. And while there are a large number of bars in the area, the nightlife scene is actually very quiet and family-friendly with a traditional Greek atmosphere. Many bars stay open late, often closing when the last guests leave. Elounda is also known for its romantic feel. Many beachfront restaurants offer quiet and intimate dining experiences overlooking the water.

Lively evenings

Lively evenings

Lassithi’s capital of Agios Nikolaos has a very lively and energetic nightlife scene. It's mostly centred around the town lake and bustling port area. There are many bars and restaurants here, along with dance clubs that attract a young crowd. However, there’s still an air of exclusivity and Greek tradition here, as you’ll find across most of the Lassithi area. You won’t find the typical 18-30 parties in Agios Nikolaos, but you will find an on-the-go after-dark scene that’s popular not only with visitors but with the locals, too.

Paximathia bread

If you’re keen to try some local cuisine, paximathia is well-loved in the Lassithi area of Crete. This hard bread, similar to Italian biscotti, is often on the breakfast menu at cafés in Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. It’s usually served with marmalade or cheese, and sometimes with olives or sprinkled with oregano.

Koroneiki olive oil

Sitia is a town in the Lassithi area, located just over an hour’s drive from Agios Nikolaos. It’s well known for its Koroneiki olives, and for its production of a special extra virgin olive oil. The town is a dedicated Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) of this dense, aromatic olive oil with its own distinctive taste.

Omathies

As well as being famous for its olive oil production, the Lassithi town of Sitia is also celebrated for its unusual sausages. While traditional Cretan sausages are made from pork, rice, and dried fruits, Sitia Omathies also feature almonds and cumin, along with variants such as orange, cinnamon, and leeks.

Greek tavernas

You’ll have a huge choice of restaurants in the Lassithi capital of Agios Nikolaos. The large number of tiny towns and cosy villages across the region mean traditional restaurants reign supreme away from 'Ag Nik' though. Tavernas are the best places to sample authentic Cretan cuisine, bursting with Greek flavours.

Lassithi wine

The town of Sitia and the surrounding area is the Lassithi area’s most prominent wine-growing region. In fact, the vineyards here are among some of the oldest in Greece. Liatiko and Mandilaria grapes are grown in the local towns and villages, while Vilana and Thrapsathiri are grown in the local mountains.