Tourist information -
Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos Crete is set around a supposedly
bottomless salt lake, now connected to the sea to form an inner
harbour. It is supremely picturesque and has some style and charm,
which it exploits to the full. There are no sights as such but the
excellent archeological museum (Tues-Sun 8.30am-3pm;) and an interesting
folk museum (daily except Sat 10am-1.30pm & 7-9.30pm;) are both
worth seeking out. The lake and port are surrounded by restaurants
and bars, which charge above the odds, and whilst the resort is
still very popular, some tourists are distinctly surprised to find
themselves in a place with no decent beach at all.
There are swimming opportunities further north however, where the
pleasant low-key resort of Elounda is the gateway to the mysterious
islet of Spinalonga , and some great backcountry to the north -
perfect to explore on a scooter. Inland from Áyios Nikólaos,
Kritsá with its famous frescoed church and textile sellers
is a tour-bus haven, but just a couple of kilometres away, the imposing
ruins of ancient Lató are usually deserted.
At least when it comes to eating there's no chance of missing out,
even if some of the prices are fancier than the restaurants. There
are tourist-oriented tavernas all around the lake and harbour and
little to choose between them, apart from the different perspectives
you get on the passing fashion show. Have a drink here perhaps,
or a mid-morning coffee, and choose somewhere else to eat. The places
around the Kitroplatía are generally fairer value, but again
you are paying for the location.
After you've eaten you can get into the one thing which Ayios Nikolaos
undeniably does well: bars and nightlife . Not that you really need
a guide to this - the bars are hard to avoid, and you can just follow
the crowds to the most popular places centred around the harbour
and 25-Martíou. For a more relaxed drink you could try Hotel
Alexandros on Paleológou (behind the tourist office), with
a rooftop cocktail bar overlooking the lake, which after dark metamorphoses
into a 1960s to 1980s period music bar. A similar pace rules at
Zygos on the north side of the lake which serves low-priced cocktails
and ices until the small hours. One curiosity worth a look in the
harbour itself is Armida, a bar inside a beautifully restored century-old
wooden trading vessel, serving cocktails and simple mezedhes.
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