# Lasithi Travel Guide: Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the Plateau > Lasithi, Crete travel guide: Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Spinalonga, Kritsa, the Lasithi Plateau and Dikteon Cave, Sitia, Vai, Ierapetra and where to stay. URL: https://theauthenticgreece.com/lasithi-travel-guide/ Last updated: 2026-10-24 --- Lasithi is the easternmost region of Crete, and it combines some of the island’s most polished resorts with some of its quietest corners. Its main town, Agios Nikolaos, and the luxury coast of Elounda look out over the Mirabello Bay, with Spinalonga island just offshore; up in the mountains, the Lasithi Plateau keeps its farming villages, old windmills and the cave where Zeus was said to be born. Allow four or five days for Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the plateau, and longer if you want to reach Sitia, Vai and the south coast around Ierapetra. ## Quick facts - **Where:** eastern Crete; Agios Nikolaos is around 65 km east of Heraklion, roughly an hour by car. - **Getting there:** fly into Heraklion and drive or take the KTEL bus; Sitia also has a small airport with mostly domestic flights. - **Time needed:** four to five days for the Mirabello Bay and the plateau, a week or more for the whole region. - **Best time:** May, June, September and October; the plateau is cool in summer and can see snow in winter. - **Good for:** couples, upmarket resorts, families, boat trips, village drives and quieter beaches in the far east. ## Agios Nikolaos Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the Lasithi regional unit and one of the more pleasant towns on Crete: lively but not overwhelming, with cafés around a harbour and a small lake in the middle of town. Lake Voulismeni is a deep, almost circular pool joined to the harbour by a short channel cut in the 19th century, and the restaurants and cafés around it are a fine place to sit in the evening. Local legend has the lake as bottomless, and the goddess Athena bathing in it, but it is simply a deep, steep-sided basin. The town has several small beaches within walking distance, including Kitroplatia, a sheltered pebble and sand cove beside the centre, and the sandy, organised Almyros beach a short way south. The Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos holds finds from eastern Crete, including Minoan pieces from sites around the bay. The town is also the departure point for many boat trips around the Mirabello Bay and to Spinalonga. ## Elounda and Plaka Elounda, about 11 km north of Agios Nikolaos, grew from a fishing village into the area’s best known resort. Its coastline is lined with some of the most exclusive hotels in Greece, but the village itself remains relaxed, with a harbour, fish tavernas and boats leaving for Spinalonga. Just south of the village a causeway leads to the Kolokytha peninsula, where you can see the scant underwater remains of the ancient city of Olous in the shallows, and walk to quiet beaches on the far side. Plaka, a few kilometres further north, is a small, smart village of tavernas and stone houses directly opposite Spinalonga. It has the shortest boat crossing to the island and a pebble beach with clear water. ## Spinalonga Spinalonga is a small island fortified by the Venetians in the late 16th century to protect the bay, held by them long after the rest of Crete fell to the Ottomans. From 1903 until 1957 it was a leper colony, where patients from across Crete and later Greece were isolated. The island became widely known through Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island. Today you can walk around the restored streets, the fortress walls and the remains of the colony’s homes, church and hospital in about one to two hours. In 2025 the entry ticket rose to €20 per adult, plus the boat fare; check current prices before you go. Our [Spinalonga visitor guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/spinalonga/) explains the history and the best way to visit. ## Kritsa and Lato Kritsa, on the hillside above Agios Nikolaos, is a large traditional village known for its weaving and embroidery, its tavernas and its views. Just below the village, the small Byzantine church of Panagia Kera is decorated inside with remarkable frescoes, mostly from the 13th and 14th centuries, among the finest on Crete. A short drive north of Kritsa, the ancient city of Lato occupies a saddle between two hills with views to the Mirabello Bay; it is a quiet, atmospheric Dorian site that few people visit. ## The Lasithi Plateau The Lasithi Plateau is a high, fertile plain at about 800 to 850 metres, enclosed by the Dikti mountains. Its 18 villages sit around the edge of the plain, leaving the flat land free for farming, and a ring road of around 23 km links them. Tzermiado is the main village, with shops and tavernas; Psychro and Agios Georgios are also worth stopping at. The plateau was once famous for thousands of white-sailed windmills used to pump water for irrigation. Most are now disused or ruined, but some have been restored, and a line of stone windmills stands at the Ambelos pass at the northern entrance to the plateau. ### The Dikteon Cave Above the village of Psychro is the Dikteon Cave, one of the places linked in Greek mythology with the birth of Zeus, who was hidden here from his father Cronus. A steep paved path, around 15 to 20 minutes on foot, leads up to the entrance, and inside steps descend past stalactites and stalagmites. Donkey rides are offered on the path. It is a popular stop, so arrive early or late in the day. Bring a light jacket, as the cave and the plateau are cool even in summer. The plateau is a scenic drive from Agios Nikolaos or from the north coast near Malia, with mountain roads and fine views. It also makes a good day trip from Heraklion; see our [Heraklion travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/heraklion-travel-guide/) for other options from the capital. ## The far east: Sitia, Toplou and Vai East of the Mirabello Bay the landscape turns drier and the crowds thin out. Sitia is a working harbour town with a seafront promenade, a Venetian fortress (the Kazarma) and good fish tavernas. Toplou Monastery, on a bare plateau east of Sitia, is a fortified monastery with icons and a museum, and it produces its own wine and olive oil. Vai, in the far northeast, has a sandy beach backed by a grove of Cretan date palms, the largest natural palm forest in Europe. Further south, the Minoan palace at Zakros lies at the end of the Valley of the Dead, a gorge with ancient burial caves in its walls that makes a satisfying walk down to the sea. ## Ierapetra and the south coast On the south coast, Ierapetra is the largest town in Lasithi, often described as the southernmost town in Europe. It has a long beach, a small Venetian fortress (the Kales) on the harbour and a mild climate that makes it a centre for greenhouse farming. Boats leave from here in summer to Chrissi, an uninhabited island with juniper woods and very clear water; our guide to the [Chrissi Island boat trip](https://theauthenticgreece.com/chrissi-island/) covers the details. Between Ierapetra and the Mirabello Bay is the narrowest part of Crete, only around 12 km across. East along the coast, Makrys Gialos has shallow sandy beaches suitable for children. ## Beaches of Lasithi The region’s beaches range from the organised coves around Agios Nikolaos and Elounda to wild stretches in the far east. Voulisma, near Istro on the Mirabello Bay, has fine sand and very clear water but gets busy in summer. Xerokampos, in the southeast, has a string of quiet sandy beaches with few facilities. For a wider comparison, see our guide to the [best beaches in Crete](https://theauthenticgreece.com/best-beaches-in-crete/). ## Where to stay - **Agios Nikolaos:** the most practical base, with restaurants, small beaches and bus links. - **Elounda and Plaka:** upmarket resorts and villas, quiet evenings, easy boats to Spinalonga. - **Lasithi Plateau villages:** a few simple guesthouses for a cool, rural night or two. - **Sitia or Makrys Gialos:** for exploring the far east and south. ## Practical tips - A car makes the most of the region, especially for the plateau, Kritsa, Vai and the south; our article on [renting a car in Greece](https://theauthenticgreece.com/renting-a-car-in-greece/) covers the basics. - Boats to Spinalonga from Plaka are the shortest, while those from Agios Nikolaos often add a swim stop. - Take water, a hat and good shoes for Spinalonga and the Dikteon Cave path; there is little shade on the island. - Check opening hours on the official site of the Ministry of Culture for Spinalonga, Lato and Zakros, as they change between seasons. - For the bigger picture and how Lasithi fits into a longer trip, see our [Crete travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/crete-travel-guide/). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Lasithi worth visiting? Yes. It has the attractive town of Agios Nikolaos, the resorts of Elounda, Spinalonga island, the Lasithi Plateau and quieter beaches in the far east. It is generally calmer than the west of Crete outside the main resorts. ### Where should I stay in Lasithi? Agios Nikolaos is the most practical base, with restaurants, small beaches and good bus links. Elounda and Plaka suit couples and those looking for upmarket resorts, while Sitia and Makrys Gialos are better for exploring the far east and south. ### How do you get to the Lasithi Plateau? By car it is a mountain drive of about an hour from Agios Nikolaos, or a similar time from the coast near Malia. Organised tours run from the resorts, and there is a limited bus service from Heraklion. ### How much does it cost to visit Spinalonga? From 2025 the entry ticket rose to €20 per adult, and the boat fare is extra, with the shortest crossing from Plaka. Prices change, so check before you go. ### Is the Lasithi Plateau the same as the Lasithi region? No. Lasithi is the whole eastern regional unit of Crete, including Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Ierapetra. The Lasithi Plateau is a high mountain plain within it, known for its villages, windmills and the Dikteon Cave. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Lasithi worth visiting? Yes. It has the attractive town of Agios Nikolaos, the resorts of Elounda, Spinalonga island, the Lasithi Plateau and quieter beaches in the far east. It is generally calmer than the west of Crete outside the main resorts. ### Where should I stay in Lasithi? Agios Nikolaos is the most practical base, with restaurants, small beaches and good bus links. Elounda and Plaka suit couples and those looking for upmarket resorts, while Sitia and Makrys Gialos are better for exploring the far east and south. ### How do you get to the Lasithi Plateau? By car it is a mountain drive of about an hour from Agios Nikolaos, or a similar time from the coast near Malia. Organised tours run from the resorts, and there is a limited bus service from Heraklion. ### How much does it cost to visit Spinalonga? From 2025 the entry ticket rose to €20 per adult, and the boat fare is extra, with the shortest crossing from Plaka. Prices change, so check before you go. ### Is the Lasithi Plateau the same as the Lasithi region? No. Lasithi is the whole eastern regional unit of Crete, including Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Ierapetra. The Lasithi Plateau is a high mountain plain within it, known for its villages, windmills and the Dikteon Cave.