Excellence Luxury Villas · Agios Nikolaos
Luxury Villa Rentals in Agios Nikolaos
Sea-view villas and apartments above Mirabello Bay, from the lakeside town to the sands of Voulisma
As featured in
A harbour town wrapped around a lake, on the bay of Mirabello
Few Greek towns have a lake at their heart, and fewer still have one with a legend attached. Agios Nikolaos curls around Lake Voulismeni, a deep, round pool joined to the harbour by a narrow channel, where Athena and Artemis are said to have bathed. Around it sit cafés, fishing boats and the red rock that turns copper in the evening light. This is the capital of Lasithi, the easternmost part of Crete, and it faces the wide bay of Mirabello.
Our Agios Nikolaos collection runs to 50+ villas and apartments. There are sea-view apartments on the slopes above town, villas with infinity pools on the hillsides towards Plaka, and homes close to the golden sand at Voulisma. The largest have room for big family gatherings.
Here is where to stay, what to see and when the town is at its best.
Agios Nikolaos at a glance
- Properties
- 50+ villas and apartments, with up to 8 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £4,600 to £8,900 a week, from around £3,700
- Best areas
- The town and Ammoudi, Voulisma and Istron to the east, Plaka and Elounda to the north
- Best time
- May, June, September and October; Easter for the celebrations on the lake
- Airport
- Heraklion, around an hour away by road; Sitia, the smaller airport, is a similar distance east
Browse all 50+ villas in Agios Nikolaos
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Akrotiri Nikolaos: 6-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Agios Nikolaos6 bedrooms
Exi Estate | 8-Bedroom Villa in Elounda Agios Nikolaos8 bedrooms
Villa Meltemi Agios: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Agios Nikolaos6 bedrooms
Villa Ostria Karavi Agios Nikolaos: Romantic Villa with Sea Views & Plunge Pool – Agios Nikolaos1 bedroomsWhere to stay in Agios Nikolaos
The town itself for the lake, the harbour and restaurants within walking distance, Voulisma and Istron for the best sandy beach on the bay, and Plaka and Elounda for views of Spinalonga.
The lake, the harbour and Kitroplatia
Agios Nikolaos has three waterfronts: the lake and old port, the small town beach at Kitroplatia and the marina, all within about ten minutes' walk of each other. Ammoudi, on the northern edge of town, has a strip of beach and tavernas facing the bay. Apartments on the hill of Kitrovolos look down over all of it.
The town is at its liveliest at Easter. On Holy Saturday, as the clock strikes midnight, an effigy of Judas on a raft in the middle of the lake is set alight while fireworks go up from the rooftops. It is quite a sight from the terraces above the water.
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Golden sand and a Minoan town
About twelve kilometres east, near the village of Istron, Voulisma is the beach most locals will point you to: a long curve of fine sand and calm, turquoise water in a sheltered cove, with a Blue Flag. When the wind gets up, the smaller bay just to the west is better protected. Building has been restricted here because of archaeological finds, so the valley of olive groves around it still feels rural.
Further round the bay, at Pachia Ammos, the excavated Minoan town of Gournia lies on a low hill above the sea. It is quiet, and its streets and stairways are easy to follow.
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The island across the water
North of town, the coast road climbs above the Gulf of Elounda to Plaka, a small fishing village facing the island of Spinalonga across a narrow strait. The island's Venetian fortress later became a leper colony, and many British readers will know it from Victoria Hislop's novel The Island. Boats cross from Plaka, Elounda and the harbour at Agios Nikolaos.
Elounda, between the two, is the smart end of the bay, with long-established hotels, a waterside promenade and fish tavernas. Villas on the hillsides here look straight across to the island.
Browse villas in Plaka
Frescoes, raki and a long, warm autumn
Inland, the hill village of Kritsa is known for its weaving and for the Byzantine frescoes of the church of Panagia Kera. Above it are the ruins of ancient Lato, the Dorian city whose port lay where Agios Nikolaos stands now. The Lasithi Plateau and the Diktaean Cave, where Zeus is said to have been born, are around an hour away.
At the table, look for dakos, barley rusk piled with tomato and soft cheese, and at Easter for kaltsounia, small sweet cheese pastries. The best months are May, June, September and October. Our concierge can arrange boat trips to Spinalonga, a private chef, car hire and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Agios Nikolaos
Villa Kyanos Almyros Agios Nikolaos Town: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Seaview – Agios Nikolaos3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £9,653 a week
Villa Kyanos Chalikas Agios Nikolaos: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Zakynthos4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £9,191 a week
Villa Lysias Sarakina Agios Nikolaos: Spacious 4-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Infinity Pool – Zakynthos4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £8,960 a week
Villa Lysias Spinalonga Agios Nikolaos Town: Spacious 5-Bedroom Apartment with Private Pool – Agios Nikolaos5 bedrooms · sleeps 11From £8,848 a week
Villa Boreas Voulisma Agios Nikolaos Town: Spacious 4-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Sea Views – Agios Nikolaos4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £8,610 a week
Villa Meltemi Nikolaos: Spacious 3-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Crete3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £8,225 a week
Villa Kritiko Agios: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Seaview – Agios Nikolaos3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £8,176 a week
Villa Trigono Greece4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £8,010 a weekWhy book your Agios Nikolaos villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Agios Nikolaos homes range from apartments in town to hillside villas near Voulisma and Plaka, and we know which are a walk from the lake, which are a short drive from a sandy beach and which look across to Spinalonga. With 50+ properties in Agios Nikolaos, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat trips to Spinalonga, a private chef, restaurant tables by the lake, car hire, guided visits to Kritsa and Lato, and transfers from Heraklion. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Agios Nikolaos?
Stay in or just above the town if you want to walk to the lake, the harbour and the restaurants. Voulisma and Istron, to the east, are best for a sandy beach. Plaka and the hills towards Elounda suit those who want quiet and views of Spinalonga.
When is the best time to visit Agios Nikolaos?
May, June, September and October are warm without being fierce, and the sea is pleasant for swimming from late spring well into autumn. Greek Easter brings the town's best-known celebration, when an effigy of Judas is burnt on the lake.
Can we visit Spinalonga from Agios Nikolaos?
Yes. Boats run to Spinalonga from the harbour in Agios Nikolaos, from Elounda and from Plaka, where the crossing is shortest. Our concierge can arrange a private boat for the day.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Agios Nikolaos?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Agios Nikolaos cost?
Across our 50+ villas in Agios Nikolaos, weekly rates typically range from £4,600 to £8,900, with the most affordable from around £3,700 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Agios Nikolaos?
Heraklion airport is around 60 to 65 kilometres away, roughly an hour by car on the national road. Sitia airport, to the east, is a similar distance away but has fewer flights. Our concierge can arrange car hire or private transfers.
Are there villas in Agios Nikolaos for large groups?
Yes. Our Agios Nikolaos collection includes properties with up to 8 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Agios Nikolaos
50+ villas and apartments around Mirabello Bay, booked direct with our concierge on hand