Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- Ayios Nikolaos does not have its own airport but can be reached in about 1 hour by taxi or bus (1 1/2 hr.) from the Iraklion airport. During the high season, Olympic Airways offers a few flights weekly to Sitia, the town to the east of Ayios Nikolaos, but the drive from there to Ayios Nikolaos is also a solid 1 1/2 hours.

By Boat -- Several ships a week each way link Ayios Nikolaos and Piraeus (about 11 hr.). Ships also run from Ayios Nikolaos to Sitia (just east along the coast) and on to Rhodes via the islands of Kassos, Karpathos, and Khalki. In summer, several ships link Ayios Nikolaos to Santorini (4 hr.), and then to Piraeus via several other Cycladic islands. Schedules and even ship lines vary so much from year to year that you may want to wait until you get to Greece to make specific plans, but you can try checking www.gtp.gr in advance.

By Bus -- Bus service almost every half-hour of the day each way (in high season) links Ayios Nikolaos to Iraklion; almost as many buses go to and from Sitia. The KTEL bus line (tel. 28410/22-234) has its terminal in the Lagos neighborhood (behind the city hospital, which is up past the Archaeological Museum).

Visitor Information

The Municipal Information Office (tel. 28410/22-357; gr_tour_ag_nik@acn.gr) is one of the most helpful in all of Greece, perhaps because it's staffed by eager young seasonal employees (daily Apr 15-Oct 31, 8am-10pm). In addition to providing maps and brochures, it can help arrange accommodations and excursions. Of several travel agencies in town, I recommend Nostos Tours, 30 R. Koundourou (along the right arm of the harbor; tel. 28410/26-383)

Getting Around

The town is so small that you can walk to all points, although taxis are available. The KTEL buses serve towns, hotels, and other points in eastern Crete. If you want to explore this end of the island on your own, it seems as if car and moped/motorcycle rentals are at every other doorway. I found some of the best rates at Alfa Rent a Car, 3 Kap. Nik. Fafouti, the small street between the lake and the harbor road (tel. 28410/24-312; fax 28410/25-639).

Fast Facts

Several ATMs and currency-exchange machines line the streets leading away from the harbor. The hospital (tel. 28410/22-369) is on the west edge of town, at the junction of Lasithiou and Paleologou. For Internet access, try either the bookstore/cafe Polychromos at 28 October or the Atlantis Café, 15 Akti Atlantidos; they tend to be open daily in high season from 9am to 11pm. The most convenient place to do laundry is Xionati Laundromat, 10 Chortatson (a small street leading up from beach on Akti Nearchou); it's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 2pm and 5 to 8pm, Saturday from 8am to 4pm. Luggage storage is available at the main bus station . The tourist police (tel. 28410/26-900) are at 34 Koundoyianni. The post office is at 9 28th Octobriou (tel. 28410/22-276). In summer, it's open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 8pm; in winter, Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 2pm. The telephone office (OTE), 10 Sfakinaki, at the corner of 25th Martiou, is open Monday through Saturday from 7am to midnight, Sunday from 7am to 10pm.