Lasithi Tourism Information
Lasithi , Crete.

Spinaloga is the island located northeast of Crete with easy access from Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. A fortress was built by the Venetians and they kept control of it until the Turks arrived. Between 1903 to1957 it used to be one of the last active leper colonies in Europe where the lepers would enter ‘Dante’s Gate’ to receive food, medical care and social security payments unlike other places. Today Spinaloga is a main tourist attraction with boats leaving several times every day from Agios Nikolaos (about and hour) and Elounda (15 minutes) leaving the tourists to enjoy the island and the small pebble beaches.
Lasithi Plateau lies 70km from Heraklion on the west side of Mount Dikti and it’s famous for the windmills used for centuries although today they have been abandoned  in favour of modern ways. Many archaeological sites (Diktaion Andron) can be found around as the area was inhabited since Neolithic times and some picturesque villages (Tzermiato, Zakros) worth visiting. Actually the Plateau is one of the few areas in the Mediterranean of such a high altitude (850m) that is permanently inhabited and the people living there enjoy a healthy climate.
Elounda claims to be the most luxurious resort in Greece today with many 5* hotels and exceptional services. Most of the hotels are out of Elounda town, a small fishing town on Elounda bay 11km north of Agios Nikolaos. The ruins of ancient Olounda can be seen under the sea near Elounda village. There are taxis and regular buses to Agios Nikolaos and Plaka.
Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the Prefecture of Lasithi, a picturesque port on the northernmost part of Mirabello bay 65km away from Heraklion. The city offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a good quality of tourist facilities. A feature of the town is the lake Voulismeni in the center crossed with a bridge. Agios Nikolaos is the centre of many daily excursions to places like Kritsa and Kroustas traditional Cretan villages, the island of Spinaloga, Agii Pantes island and many idyllic beaches like Havania, Istro, Ammoudara, Almiros, Pachia Ammos and many more. During the high season regular boats link the city to Piraeus and Dodecanese islands.
Sitia is a picturesque town 68km east of Agios Nikolaos built amphitheatrically on a hill over Sitia bay. Sitia has a long history like the rest of Crete and it hasn’t been spoiled by mass tourism. The remains of a Venetian fortress on the east of the port add to the magical atmosphere of the town. Next to the port is a marvellous beach of fine sand with various facilities and water sports. From the port there are weekly boats to Rhodes and there is a small airport with few flights to Athens and some islands during high season.
Vai beach is situated 24km east of Sitia and is very famous for the Palm Forest of 250sq kilometres and more than 5,000 palm trees which makes it the largest palm forest in Europe and the only one in Greece. In front of the forest lies a beautiful beach of fine golden sand and turquoise waters and the whole picture is magical. The beach was discovered in the 1970’s by the hippies and since then attracts thousands of visitors.
Myrtos is a coastal village 14km east of Ierapetra and 50km south of Agios Nikolaos on the south coast of Crete.the village is full of orange and banana trees and there is a pebble beach with crystal clear waters and few facilities.
Ierapetra ‘the bride of the Libyan sea’ is located 35km south of Agios Nikolaos and is one of the oldest towns in Crete. Although Ierapetra played a great role throughout history and was the strongest city during Roman times very little remain today despite the continuous excavations. Very interesting is the old part of the town Kato Mera with many things to see like the house of Napoleon, great churches with the most interesting being Agios Georgios, the former mosque and the remains of the fortress built by Venetians. The tourist infrastructure is very good and still developing, there is any kind of accommodation, lively nightlife and a 6km long beach. A daily visit to the magical Chrissi(Gaidouronisi) island is possible known for its natural beauty and its white beaches. There are daily buses to Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Heraklion.
Agia Fotia and Makrys Gialos are small villages east of Ierapetra with long fine beaches and crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea.