Havania Beach

Very close to Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Elounda, we find the charming bay that is known as Chavania beach. This is a fully organized municipal beach, with plenty of parking spaces, a canteen for food and refreshing beverages and a lifeguard station. It is a popular area for families with children and relaxing holidays, close enough to the city with all the amenities you will require to make your stay comfortable. Agios Nikolaos is also easy to reach from Heraklion if that is where you are flying or ferrying into.

The water is crystal clear and calm and the beach has both sand and soft pebbles. Around the bay you will find a variety of hotel complexes and other accommodation options. It is a popular spot for locals and holidaymakers, and the view over the Gulf of Mirabello is stunning. Other beaches around this area can be difficult to access due to the waterfront hotels but that is not a problem here. If you are looking to base yourself in the area, you will have plenty of other alternatives as well like the beach of Mirabello to the south and Candia to the north.

When it comes to attractions in the area, you will be truly spoilt for choice.  Only 10 km away, you can visit the village of Plaka and catch a ferry to the island of Spinaloga. The historical significance of the island came into the spotlight in recent years, after the success of Victoria Hislop’s novel, “The Island”, which captures the struggle and life experiences of the villages in the area before, during and after World War II. Spingaloga was a leper colony between 1909 and 1957, however, its history dates much farther back to the ancient times. You may also prefer to head inland towards the villages that frame Mount Dikti. While the roads can be a fun challenge, the meat tavernas, fresh air and lush plateaus, not to mention archaeological sites scattered all around, will make for an exciting road trip. Driving east towards Sitia, there are more quiet and secluded coastal villages with charming beaches.