Whitewashed houses and beautiful buildings rise above the waterfront, with the sea forming their natural backdrop.

Agios Nikolaos, often called simply “Agios” by the Cretans, is a cosmopolitan coastal town and the main urban centre of the province of Mirabello. It is built at the site known as Mandraki, on the western side of the Gulf of Mirabello, and according to the 2021 census has 12,149 permanent residents. Its present name derives from the Byzantine Church of Saint Nicholas, located west of the town centre.

In antiquity, the site of the modern town was occupied by Lato pros Kamara, the port of the ancient city of Lato, near Kritsa. During the Byzantine period, the area was known as the Diocese of Kamara, although the settlement remained relatively small for many centuries. Agios Nikolaos developed considerably during the 20th century and gradually became one of Crete’s best-known holiday resorts, while retaining its peaceful and picturesque character.

The landmark of Agios Nikolaos is the picturesque Lake Voulismeni, a former lake in the centre of the town that is now connected to the sea by a narrow channel. Its deep waters have inspired numerous legends, including the belief that the lake is bottomless. According to a widespread local account, German forces disposed of military equipment in its waters before withdrawing from the area in 1944. A walk around the lake is one of the most enjoyable experiences in the town.

Other attractions include the neoclassical buildings, the marina, the islet of Agii Pantes, which hosts a protected population of Cretan wild goats, and the waterfront area of Kitroplatia with its tavernas. The lively pedestrian streets are lined with shops and cafés, while the numerous stairways reflect the steep terrain on which the town was built.