Approximately 40 kilometres each way. Allow 40–50 minutes by car, depending on your route and traffic. Set aside half a day for the town, or a full day with an extra stop.
Plan your route from Mochos →1. Don’t miss Lake Voulismeni
Start at the town’s best-known landmark. Boats line the quay, with cafés and tavernas around the lake. Settle down for a coffee, then walk up to a higher viewpoint to see the lake, surrounding houses and connection to the harbour together.
Take your time to enjoy the view. Late afternoon is a lovely choice for photographs, when the light becomes softer.
2. Along the harbour and waterfront
Walk from the lake towards the harbour and follow the waterfront. Colourful façades, moored boats and terraces offer plenty of reasons to pause. Look out for the sculptures The Abduction of Europa and Amalthea’s Horn along the way.
3. Swimming and lunch at Kitroplatia
Bring your swimwear: the small town beach of Kitroplatia is close to the centre and harbour. Break up your walk with a refreshing swim without getting back in the car. Cafés and restaurants around the beach make it easy to enjoy lunch with a sea view.
4. Explore the shopping streets
Leave the waterfront for a while and explore the shopping streets. Browse the shops, choose a souvenir or stop for a drink on a terrace. Leave some room in your plans: wandering at your own pace is part of the pleasure.
Also worth a visit: the archaeological museum
The Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos is a rewarding stop if you would like to learn more about Crete. Its collection includes finds from eastern Crete, from prehistoric to Roman times, including Minoan objects. Allow around an hour and check current opening hours before visiting.
Make a day of it: Elounda and Spinalonga
Elounda is approximately 11–12 kilometres from Agios Nikolaos. Allow around 20 minutes by car and enjoy the views along the way. Boat crossings to Spinalonga take roughly 20 minutes from Elounda or 10 minutes from Plaka, depending on the operator and conditions.
On Spinalonga, explore the Venetian fortifications and the history of the former leprosy colony. Set aside a separate half-day and shorten your time in town. Allow for waiting time and exploring the island as well as the crossing itself.
Prefer to head inland? Visit Kritsa
Kritsa lies approximately 10–11 kilometres from Agios Nikolaos, around 20 minutes by car. Stroll through the village, browse the shops and find a place for a drink. Combine your visit with the nearby church of Panagia Kera.
Don’t miss Panagia Kera and its centuries-old frescoes
Near Kritsa stands Panagia Kera, one of Crete’s most important religious monuments. Behind its modest façade is a richly painted interior. The church has three aisles and a dome; its oldest central section probably dates back to the Middle Byzantine period. The exact construction date is uncertain. Official sources recognise its importance but do not establish it as the oldest church on Crete.
Frescoes dating back around seven to nearly eight centuries. The oldest surviving painted layer dates to the middle of the 13th century, around 1250. Fragments remain in the central aisle. A second layer was painted in the first two decades of the 14th century; the side aisles followed during the first half of that century. These walls preserve medieval art from several periods.
What should you look for? In the central aisle, look for the Last Supper and the Feast of Herod, with their tables laid with food. Another notable figure is Francis of Assisi: a Catholic saint depicted in an Orthodox church. The south aisle is dedicated to Saint Anne; the north to Saint Anthony, with scenes of the Last Judgement. The different painting styles make the church particularly interesting.
Take time to study the faces, robes and smaller details. Seen up close, they reveal why this church is such a valuable monument. Combine the stop with a walk through Kritsa, and check access to the interior and current opening hours before travelling.
Historical sources: Municipality of Agios Nikolaos and the Greek Ministry of Culture’s monument guide.
Prefer more beach time? Voulisma Beach near Istron is approximately 15–20 minutes’ drive from Agios Nikolaos, known for its sand and blue-green water. Choose one extra destination to keep your day relaxed.
A relaxed day out
- 9.30 am: leave Mochos.
- 10.15 am: coffee by the lake and a walk to the viewpoint.
- 11.30 am: explore the harbour and shopping streets.
- 1 pm: lunch at Kitroplatia, followed by a swim.
- Later in the afternoon: choose Elounda, Kritsa or Voulisma Beach.
Our tip: for a first visit, combine the view above the lake, the harbour and lunch at Kitroplatia. Bring comfortable shoes, swimwear, sunscreen and water. In summer, set off early or visit in the afternoon and stay for dinner by the water.
Distances are one way; timings and the suggested itinerary are approximate.