Things to do and travel ideas for rental car tours on East Crete

Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town located in the region of Lassithi, 64 km eastwards from the capital city Heraklion and 11 km from the coastal Village Elounda. Since 1904 Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the Lassithi prefecture the lake Voulismeni, wich is direct in the middle of the town, charactised this beautiful seaport. This lake is connected to the sea by a straight channel. It is surrounded from a hill and on the tip there are many well-known restaurants, pubs and bars with a fantastic view to the lake and to the seaport. Aghios Nikolaos is an international and cosmopolitan resort that welcomes thousands of visitors annually. Its tranquil lifestyle hasn't been lost despite its busy tourist infrastructure. Aghios Nikolaos was named after the charming Byzantine chapel of St. Nicholas that was erected on the spot called "Nissi" during the 7th century AD. The chapel has several well-preserved frescoes from the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries and rewards its visitors with a breath-taking view of the town and bay. The City Agios Nikolaos is built on hilly terrain overlooking the Bay Mirabello.You can expect neoclassical buildings, a great marina, shopping-roads offering local handcrafts and very good restraurants.

The archaeological Museum of Heraklion is the most important museum in Greece and among the most important in Europe. There you will see the oldest witness of our European civilisation, with artefacts from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history. The museum covers a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The museum, located in the town centre not far away from Heraklion harbour, was built between 1937 and 1940 by the architect Patroklos Karantinos on a site previously occupied by the Roman Catholic monastery of Saint Francis which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1856. It is a modern building and an important example of modern architecture. The architect Karantinos applied the principles of modern architecture to the specific needs of a museum by providing good lighting from the skylights. The two-storey building has large exhibition spaces, laboratories, a drawing room, a library, offices and a special department and the Scientific Collection Room, where several finds are stored and studied. The museum shop sells postcards, museum copies and books. There is also a café.

The mountain village of Archanes is one of the largest and oldest wine-growing region in Crete. It is located about 15 km inland of the capital (Heraklion) in eastern Crete on the foot of the sacred mount Giouhtas. Archanes is one of the most charming mountain villages in Crete. The road from Heraklion to Archanes we also call the Wine Route of Crete, as on the trail to Archanes many winemakers offer tasting. Worth seeing are the monasteries "Panagia", "Agia Paraskevi", "Agia Triada", with their Byzantine frescoes. In the village there are paved narrow lanes with the restored neoclassical buildings,,typical taverns and Cafenios.

Visit Fodele Birthplace of El Greco The Village Fodele is the birthplace of the artist Domenicos Theotokopoulo, known as "El Greco". The Village is located 30 km west of the capital Heraklion. El Greco mainly painted pictures with religious themes and portraits. His work as an icon painter began in Crete. His painting was influenced by the Byzantine tradition. In his birthplace Fodele there are several churches from the 11th and 12th century. Maybe he was inspired by it? He first went to Italy as a young man and came into contact with Titian's art, later on to Rome and then to Spain, where he remained until his death. He was the principal master of Spanish Mannerism and the declining Renaissance.
The small village Fodele has today 540 inhabitants and is located in a fertile valley with several springs. In the village there are 3 old churches. The beach of Fodele is very well organized with sunbeds, umbrellas and water sports.

The Capital Heraklion
The Capital City of Crete Heraklion, the fourth largest city in Greece with 140,000 inhabitants, is a vibrant mixture of "small Athens", Crete's business and administrative centre, historic site highlights, chaos and lively hustle and bustle. The holiday mood merges into the bustle of the city. The city has a long history. Minoans, Saracens, Byzantines, Venetians and Turks have all left their mark. Heraklion was made Crete's capital city in 1972.
The tourist sights are in the city centre. Here you can get your bearings, unlike in the districts outside. The large Freedom Plaza, Platia Eleftherias, is the hub of the city. The Archaeological Museum is located here. The Dikeossinis Street is one of the most important shopping streets. The Odos Delalou runs parallel to this and is a pedestrian zone with cafes, restaurants and many souvenir shops leading to the most beautiful plaza in the city - Platia Venizelo. Here tourists rub shoulders with the locals. Small streets lead off the plaza where one can find many places to linger and while away the time.

The Minoan Palace “Kato Zakros”
Kato Zakros is one of the most famous archaeological sites of Crete", the fourth largest of the Minoan Sites whose treasury not looted. It was built in 1900 BC and was destroyed permanently in 1450BC. The most important findings are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Unfortunately, the remains are not well preserved. The beautiful beach is mainly pebbly. It remains peaceful, even in teh high season. This rocky beach is perfect for for fishing and snorkeling. on the edge of the bay there are taverns.

The Palace of Knossos
Knossos is situated only a few minutes’ drive from the Capital Heraklion. Knossos was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos, a Cretan merchant and antiquarian. The English archaeologist Arthur Evans was able to purchase the entire site and conduct the main excavations in 1900.The Palace of Knossos is the largest of the preserved Minoan palatial centres. Dated to 2000-1350 B.C. Four wings are arranged around a central courtyard, containing the royal quarters, workshops, shrines, storerooms, repositories, the throne room and banquet halls.

If you are planning a small tour in the east of the island, you should plan a stop in Kritsa and a visit to the Panagia Kera church. The well-known village is very well maintained with many small shops, Here you will find fancy souvenirs and cozy taverns. From Agios Nikolaos you drive half an hour inland.

Lasstihi Plateau
The lassithi Plateau occupies an area of 2,500 hectares, 840 meters above the see level, and belongs to the prefecture of Agios Nikolaos. Crete has been the springs for myths and legends and especially so in Lassithi plateau, where the God of teh Gods was born, in the cave Diktaion Andron one of the most famous caves of the plateau. Lassithi is an area of such wide diversity. The Lassithi Plateau is scenic area for birdwatching. The Fauna promises bird watchers a real adventure with varieties of birds like red-footed falcons eagles, vultures, Eleanora's falcons, the glossy ibis, as well as all sorts of wades and sandpipers. The surrounding mountains are a great place to spot birds.

Excavation of Lato
The archaeological site of Lato is set on a hill nearly 15 km away from the city of Agios Nikolaos. You must follow the country lane to Kritsa. The mountain village of Kritsa is well worth seeing. The Name Lato occurred the goddess "Leto", mother of Apollo and Artemis. Lato is one of the most important city-states of the Dorians. The city was built between two hills with a fantastic view of the Mirabello Bay. A wall with a very strong gate surrounds the site.From the south you´ll have fantastic views to the white buildings of the City Aghios Nikolaos, which were in classic times only the port of Lato. In the North-side you´ll admire stunning views Gulf of Mirabello and the Bay of Elounda, in the westside views to the valleys and the steep peaks of the Dikti Mountains.

Those who have their accommodation in Agia Galini, Matala or Lentas should not miss a trip to the Mires weekly market. Every Saturday, traders and shoppers flock to the market streets from all directions of the Messara plain to sell their wares. Entire streets are here converted to the overarching marketplace. All daily necessities are traded here, from shoes to live cattle.
The Messara plain is the agricultural "granary" of Crete. There is a wonderful country road that goes around the plain.

Palekastro is an iconic landscape, a small coastal Village with 1300 residents, situated at the most eastern part of Crete. Palekastro is only about 19km away from Sitia and 7km from the Paradise Beach of Vai. We call Palekastro also as sufer´s paradise as there are many Surfer-Stations offering surf courses and surf equipment’s. It is a hotspot for surfers. There are many kilometres of beautiful seashores to discover. All of which compose an unparalleled peaceful landscape. This is an ideal place for quiet and unforgettable holidays out of the beaten track. The most famous beaches around are Itanos, Kouremenos and Chiona.

The church of Panagia Kera & the Mountain – Village Kritsa The three-aisled, barrel-vaulted church of the All-Holy Virgin ‘the Lady’ with a dome on the nave is located to the south and at a distance of around 500 metres from the settlement of Kritsas. The first layer which is partially preserved in the sanctuary is dated to the middle of the 13th century while the second layer with scenes from the Twelve Great Feasts on the dome belongs to the beginning of the 14th century when the church received an extensive restoration during which the dome was also rebuilt. The church is one of the most important visited monuments of Crete because of its extensive and well-preserved wall painting decoration from various periods of ­Byzantine art.

The Harbour- City Sitia is situated 68 km eastwards of the City Agios Nikolaos, nearly 1 1/2 hours’ drive. A wide, open bay and a long, sandy beach link the view from the town to the sea. Sitia is built on a hill and the houses are built next to and over one another like an amphitheatre. The town has one of the few large harbour promenades on Crete. There are good tavernas here and plenty of space for the children to play. There is also an archaeological museum set up in the Venetian fortress above the town. There are exhibits of Minoan civilisation found in the hinterland.
Heraklion airport is approx. 2 hours away so the area around Sitia is not yet taken up by organised tourism. Sitia does have a small airport but not much air traffic. The coastal road from Istron is one of the most beautiful and striking roads on the Island. Every second bend has a spectacular view for a photo stop.

The Spinalonga - Fort & Island
Spinalonga is located in the gulf of Elounda, it is one of the most famous places on the island! The rocky island is situated directly opposite the village of Plaka, the fortified islet is a classic excursions.The history of Spinalonga goes back to the antiquity when the islet contained an ancient acropolis and protected the ancient sunken city of Olous.The trips to the Island Spinalonga from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka are organized tours. The archaeological sites are opened at least 9am to 5:45pm but it can be from 8am in Summer. In the wintertime from Noveber to March it is closed, sometimes it may open on weekends if the weather is good.

The monastery of Toplou
The Monastery of Toplou or the Akrotirian, as it is called, due to its position in the eastern Part of Crete, is one of the most renowned and important monasteries of the island. Its establishment probably dates to the late 14th century, a period during which the original catholicon was erected, dedicated to the Birth of the Theotokos. The monastery acquired its fortified form after its systematic plundering by Turkish pirates that raided eastern Crete at the end of the 15th century. Its reconstruction is connected to the Venetian-Cretan families of the Kornaroi and the Metzoi of Sitia according to ­tradition. Important icons, ­manuscripts, early printed books, and engravings that cover a lengthy period, from the 15th to the 19th centuries, are ­displayed in the two adjacent spaces of the basement of the monastery that are arranged as a museum.

The Palm -Tree - Forest and Beach of Vai
The Palm - Forest Vai is situated 92 km eastwards from the City Agios Nikolaos, nearly a 2 hours’ drive. This small paradise belongs to the Monastery Toplou. There’s no doubt Vai is one of the hotspots of Crete. If you want to enjoy this paradise you have to wake up early in the morning, to arrive therere before the beach is crowded. During the 1970s a British advert featured Vai as the place where one could experience “the taste of paradise”, if one were to bite into a coconut sweet, covered in chocolate. The endemic Palm trees "phoenix theophrasti" can be found here. It is said that they grew as a result of Saracen occupation in the 9th and 10th centuries. The beach is well organised with sunbeds, umbrellas and water sports. you must pay to get into. The journey is the goal. The approach from Sitia leads through a biblical, dry landscape. Imposing, sparsely populated. A stop at the Toplou Monastery is worth seeing.

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