Lasithi Hotels: Where to Stay in Eastern Crete
The Lasithi region spreads its accommodation across eastern Crete, from self-catering hotels in Agios Nikolaos to the luxury resorts of Elounda and quiet apartment complexes on the south-east coast. This guide gathers places I have stayed in or visited in person, grouped by area. For self-catering villas with private pools, see the Lasithi villas guide.
- Region
- East Crete
- Central base
- Agios Nikolaos
- Luxury
- Elounda
- Quiet coast
- Makrigialos & Ferma
Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos, the regional capital, makes the most central base, with a lively harbour, boat trips and beaches such as Almiros close by. The Creta Hotel offers self-catering studios and apartments in the centre of Agios Nikolaos, 150 m from the beach and a 5-minute walk from the town centre, facing the small island of Agii Pantes. It was renovated over recent years into contemporary self-catering rooms at a reasonable price. The Palazzo Hotel Apartments also stand in Agios Nikolaos, on the Gulf of Mirabello.
Elounda
Elounda, 11 km north of Agios Nikolaos, holds Crete's most upmarket hotels, spread along the Bay of Mirabello opposite the fortress island of Spinalonga. The village keeps a working harbour and a lived-in centre behind the resorts. For self-catering villas with private pools around Elounda, see the Lasithi villas guide, and for the village itself the Lasithi villages guide.
The south-east coast
The quiet south-east coast around Makrigialos and Ferma suits visitors who want sun, sea and few crowds. Bayview Bungalows stand above Lagada beach east of Makrigialos, a small complex of modern 88 m2 bungalows, town houses and apartments around a large pool, in landscaped gardens 300 m from the first beach; I have returned here many times. At Ferma, further west towards Ierapetra, Porto Belissario offers rooms with sea or mountain views, an outdoor pool above the Libyan Sea and a Cretan restaurant.