Destination

Things to see and do around Golden Apartments

Eastern Crete offers many alternatives for sightseeing, swimming, hiking, shopping and many more. Below you will find only a few suggestions. Feel free to ask us for more when you are here.

Visit the center of Agios Nikolaos

The picturesque town of Agios Nikolaos is the starting point or the end of the exploration of eastern Crete. The picturesque lake “Voulismeni” may have been created by the collapse of a volcano, according to myth.
The best time for holidays in Agios Nikolaos is all year round but the tourist season is mainly from Apr-Oct. During Easter you can enjoy the impressive Easter celebrations with the burning of Judas in the lake.

Hiking at the Richtis Gorge

It is located in Lasithi Prefecture on the north side, between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia. It starts outside the village Exo Mouliana and ends at the Richtis beach. Total length of the route is approximately 3 kilometers and the elevation difference between the starting point and the beach is about 350 meters. The gorge, even in summer, has enough water, which is used by locals.

Visit Panagia Kera Monastery

One of the most famous monuments of the Byzantine years in Crete is the religious monument of Panagia Kera in Logari, at a distance of 500 meters from Kritsa. It dates back to the 13th century while the emblematic hagiographies inside will impress you. This church is dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary. It is also of architectural interest as it has three aisles with a dome. The aisles which were built with a difference of 100 years are dedicated to Agia Anna and Agios Antonios respectively. From outside it is also special as 6 masonry supports have been built to support the monument.

Unwind, Sunbathe and Swim at Ammoudi Beach

Just 1 km from the city center this magnificent beach is characterized by its shallow waters. Swim in the sea overlooking Agion Panton islands and Mikronisi where the old lighthouse is located. On this beach you will find an all-day cafe-restaurant, showers, sunshades and loungers. There is also a water sports facility.

Immerse yourself in mythology at the Dictaean Cave

The Dictaean Cave (Dikteon Andron) is where, according to the Greek Mythology, Titaness Rhea hid her son Zeus, to protect him from his father Cronus who had the nasty habit of eating his children.

This is also the place where the love stricken Zeus led princess Europa in anticipation to their union.

Swim at Voulisma Beach

This is a beautiful beach with white sand and amazing waters. Voulisma is very well organized and usually crowded, especially on summer weekends. There is also a smaller beach in the west part of the bay, which is very well protected from winds and less organized.

Visit the Archaeological museum of Agios Nikolaos

The Archaeological Museum is an attraction point in the city of Agios Nikolaos. It has about 50 years of operation as it opened its doors to the public in 1969. It consists of 8 rooms which are in chronological order from the Neolithic era to the end of the Greco-Roman period. In each room are exhibited finds of each era of the Holy Fire, as well as the Goddess of Myrtos.

Visit Elounda for its many sights, restaurants, cafes.

Elounda is a picturesque fishing village, well known for its luxurious hotels, taverns by the sea, bars, and beaches. It is part of the municipality of Agios Nikolaos, the prefecture of Lassithi, Crete. It is also the closest major town to Spinalonga, a historic leper colony, located on Kalydon islet.

In 1579, the Venetians built a mighty fortress on this islet on the ruins of an ancient acropolis. The Venetians kept control of the island even after the rest of Crete fell to the Ottomans in 1669 and it remained under their control for almost another half a century until its capitulation in 1715.

Spinalonga island is known for being the last active leper colony from 1903 until 1957. It was featured in Victoria Hislop’s now infamous book ‘The Island’. Today, it is unoccupied and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the area. The small nearby fishing village of Plaka, which overlooks the island of Spinalonga and the Kolikithia Peninsula, can be reached a mere 3 km from the main square of Elounda heading north away from Agios Nikolaos.