On the island of Crete, Greece, there is a special holiday destination – Lassithi. It is a resort consisting of four areas located in a natural plain. It has everything for a family, active and relaxing holiday. But before traveling to Lassithi Crete, it is recommended to explore the resorts, beaches, local historical and natural attractions.
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Location how to get there
The picturesque resort is located in the eastern part of the island, 80 km from the capital of Heraklion. The peculiarity of the location – the height above sea level is 900 m. Previously, this natural plateau was a lake, but as a result of changes it disappeared. Now there are several resort villages here. The administrative center is the city of Agios Nikolaos. To get to it, you need to go to the northwest coast, to Mirabello Bay. The population is 76 thousand, but during the tourist season it increases several times.
Most of the hotels and beaches in Lassithi Crete are located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and in the east. Here is the southernmost city in Europe – Ierapetra. The season at the resort starts from May and lasts until October. The weather is typical for this region of Greece: during the day in summer it is relatively hot, the temperature rises to + 35 ° C, there is little rainfall. In winter there is a lot of rain, high humidity.
How to get to Lassithi:
- By bus. There are no direct flights from Heraklion International Airport, first you need to get to the central bus station of the capital. There are bus routes to the resort, the fare is from 2.5 Euro. The frequency of departure is 20-30 minutes. Tickets can be bought at the bus station ticket office or from the driver.
- Taxi. The fare for 1 km is 1.4 Euro. The price of the trip is 80-90 Euro. You can order a taxi to Lassithi by phone, mobile application. An alternative is to take a car from the car park in front of Heraklion Airport.
- Transfer. It can be ordered along with a ticket to Greece, often the transfer is included in the tour price. An exception is an individual journey, when a separate car is allocated. The price depends on the destination.
The alternative is to rent a car. It can be taken at the airport of Heraklion, the cost of 1 day of rent is from 25 Euro for 1 day. This is a convenient way to travel around the island to visit several resorts, local attractions.
Lassithi Resorts
The advantage of a holiday in Lassithi in Crete is the choice of a resort. You can book a hotel for 3-4 days in one place, then move to another resort village. So many tourists and independent travelers make their vacation more diverse in order to get more impressions. According to reviews and photos, it can be seen that in this region of Crete there are different beaches and attractions.
Agios Nikolaos
A small village located on the east coast, washed by the Mediterranean Sea. For 20 years it has become a center of active recreation and entertainment. There are many nightclubs and discos in Agios Nikolaos. For outdoor activities, you can go diving, underwater fishing, book a paragliding flight, rent a yacht. The distance to the capital is 90 km, but you can get to this Lassithi resort in Crete by bus, taxi.
Description of Agios Nikolaos:
- There are several beaches. The surface is sandy with a small amount of small stones.
- Hotels are located on the first line, there are several city hotels.
- For a relaxing holiday, you can visit the local promenade. In the reviews of tourists and in the photo, it is often found.
- There is a lakefront. It is located outside the city limits, two kilometers from the center near Lake Vulizmeni.
The disadvantage of this resort is the relatively high prices for accommodation and meals. Tourists are advised to visit restaurants and bars located further from popular areas – the promenade, beaches. Here the prices are lower by 5-8%.
Elounda
The resort of Elounda in Lassithi has the most expensive hotels in the region. Its peculiarity is its location in a protected valley. Access to the sea is in Mirabello Bay. Several five-star hotels have been built on the territory of Elound, it is possible to book bungalows or individual houses. Due to the location, it is difficult for independent travelers to enter, so there are relatively few tourists on the beaches here.
About Elounda resort in Lassithi, Crete:
- The coastal strip is relatively short, only 1.5 km.
- There are restaurants on site where you can taste dishes of national Greek cuisine.
- Entertainment – fishing, diving. Several play centers and playgrounds have been built for children.
For a seaside holiday, it is recommended to head to Mirabello Bay. There are several organized beaches here. The coverage is sandy, the entry into the sea is gentle. It is convenient for families with children. The disadvantage is the high prices for accommodation, food. In the hotel complexes of Lassithi Crete, you can book a room with All Inclusive or only with breakfast.
Sitia
Regarding Heraklion, this is the most remote resort of Lassithi in Crete, it is located 150 km from the capital. The tourism sector is only developing here, not as many hotels and entertainment complexes have been built as in other regions of the island. Therefore, this is a convenient place for a relaxing holiday with children. Advantage – prices in shops and supermarkets are lower than in other resorts in Greece. The reason is that they are focused on local residents.
Tips for staying in the resort of Sitia, Greece:
- Hotels. The part is located on the first line. It is recommended to choose with good infrastructure – swimming pools, SPA centers, children’s entertainment.
- The beaches are in good condition. The coating on them is sand and pebble, you can rent umbrellas, sun loungers.
- Tours. Groups go to local historical and natural attractions. But due to the long distance, the cost of the excursion from Sitia is slightly higher than the standard one.
There are no noisy discos and nightclubs. People come here for a relaxing holiday. For active entertainment, you can go to the dogma resorts of Lassithi in Crete. To do this, you can take a bus, order a taxi or rent a car.
Island beaches
The peculiarity of a beach holiday in Lassithi, Crete is the long coastline. Tourists and independent travelers have the opportunity to choose a beach – with a landscaped area, wild, or in one of the small bays and bays of the resort. Here you can find entertainment for adults and children – playgrounds, inflatable slides, attractions, rental of jet skis.
Rating of the beaches of the Lassithi resort in Greece:
- Vulisma. Located in the northern part of the resort, 12 km from Agios Nikolaos. This is a bay sheltered from the wind by rocks. The entrance to the sea is gentle, on the beach sand interspersed with pebbles. But the last one is not big. Because of the convenient location, there are always a lot of tourists here.
- Elounda. Located in Mirabello Bay, close to hotels and entertainment complexes. Convenient transport interchange, you can rent umbrellas, sun loungers. The cost of the last service is from 5 Euro. Many bars, restaurants and small eateries have been built along the coast.
- Wai. One of the few sandy beaches of Lessity, in the reviews of thyristors, his photos are most often found. Comfortable coverage, there are changing cabins, playgrounds. Convenient place for family vacation. Entry into the Mediterranean Sea is gentle.
- Ierapetra. This is a network of beaches located near the resort town of the same name. You can walk to the city beach, but there are always a lot of tourists here. The alternative is to go to quieter places. This part of the coastal zone received the “Blue Flag” for cleanliness and convenient infrastructure.
In addition to the famous beaches of Lassithi in Crete, you can choose small bays and bays of the island for a sea holiday. There are always few tourists, but there is no infrastructure. For safety, it is recommended to visit beaches with lifeguard and medical services.
Sights Overview
The advantage of a holiday in Lassithi in Crete is the opportunity to alternate your stay on the beach with excursions to local attractions, extreme sports. You can book a trip as part of a group or an individual tour. An alternative is to visit the sights of Lassithi on your own in a rented car. But the lack of a Russian-speaking guide will not give you the opportunity to learn more about the historical or natural places of the resort.
What can be seen:
- Spinalonga island. Here is a Venetian fortress, a former outpost for trade routes. There are guided tours around it and the whole island, you can take good photos.
- Palace of Zakros. It is an exact copy of the Knossos palace complex. It was built in 1700 BC. The walls and individual rooms of the palace are well preserved. Several tourist routes pass through the territory of the complex.
- Dicteian cave (Psychro). This is the ancient temple of Zeus. According to legend, it was here that the Thunderer was born. Modern lighting equipment is installed here, which makes a visit to the Dikteyskaya Cave a memorable one.
- Church of Our Lady Kera. Located in the small village of Kritsa. This is a historical monument of the Byzantine era.
The cost of excursions to Lassithi in Crete is from 25 Euro. The price depends on the excursion program, duration. Excursions can be ordered during the purchase of the tour or after arrival in Crete. In the latter case, you need to contact the tour agencies.