The capital town of Lassithi, Agios Nikolaos, has been blessed with an abundance of beauty and scenic views. Dominated by the bottomless lake Voulismeni, the city possesses a backdrop of red rock and green, luscious trees, which make every moment relaxing and soothing.
Nestling beside the Gulf of Mirabello, Agios Nikolaos is located on the northeast coast of Lassithi Prefecture in East Crete. With a mere population of 10,000 people, this city retains its impeccable beauty and sparkles flawlessly even when it rains. If you need to travel to this mesmerising city, it is situated 64km from Heraklion Airport, which is a drive of about an hour along the north road axis of the island. However, if you are journeying from Chania airport to this town, you will be traversing a distance of 148km, which is approximately a 3-hour 30 mins drive.
Living in this beautiful seaside town allows diverse options for staying. If staying around the sea entices you, then looking for accommodation on the beach road would be the right call. This will allow you to access the sea on foot anytime, enjoying a stroll along the rocky coastline. In contrast, if you wish to feast your eyes on historical monuments and local sculptures, the old city is the right area for you. Since the city sits upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara, it has mesmerizing monuments and would allow you to learn Greek mythology and Crete in its truest form.
The town has an extensive and advanced bus service that runs throughout the city. Therefore, if you wish to enjoy sightseeing while you travel around town, a bus will prove to be your best friend. Getting a taxi is another very efficient method to move around. One problem in transportation, however, is the lack of metro service in town.
The only form of public transport in Crete is its local bus network. However, traveling around the island is relatively easy because of the spread-out bus service. Being government-regulated, the fares are quite reasonable by European standards. The major bus station connecting to different cities around the island is located nearby Heraklion Port and is used for commuting to Chania, Rethymno, and connections to Imbros, Sfakia, Kastelli, and destinations to the north coast of Heraklion including Agios Nikolaos.
The absence of metro service in town poses some mobility issues. However, traveling around town is not impacted by the lack thereof.
Going around town using a taxi will prove to be of excellent value since you will get a clean and air-conditioned Mercedes. Drivers are pretty decent and do not display any bad habits that can irritate anyone. Hailing a taxi around town is easy since taxi drivers are available in huge numbers. Uber is a good option to hail a car. Pre-booking taxis allows one to save a few Euros as well.
No, there is no app like Uber and Lyft dedicated to taxi services in the town.
For airport transfers, be it Heraklion airport or Chania Airport, Best Crete Transfer has all the solutions for you. No hassle or tough bookings; you have the facility at your fingertips.
The approximate distance from Chania airport to Agios Nikolaos is 223km which would roughly take 3 hours and 32 minutes to reach. Various options are available for this purpose. If your goal is to reach swiftly and begin your trip, a pre-booked taxi or minibus waiting at the airport is your best option. Contrarily, if you are visiting Agios Nikolaos on a budget and want an economical option, using the local bus service will be more budget-friendly since the cost will be shared among all the passengers. For pre-booking and seamless transfers from the airport, the Best Crete Transfer is the answer to all your woes.
Whether you land at Chania or Heraklion airport, traveling to your accommodation will not be a problem. There are several options, but the most popular choice for travellers on a budget is using the local bus from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos. As mentioned earlier, the local bus service is equipped with comfortable seats and air conditioning which makes the journey worthwhile. However, note that you will have to ride a taxi to Heraklion's Bus Station A and buy a ticket to Agios Nikolaos. It will take approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes for you to reach the town because of layovers along the way. The best part is that buses run every two hours between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, as a result of which finding a bus is never too hard.
If you are not a bus enthusiast or have a lot of luggage, commuting via a taxi transfer from Heraklion Airport will serve you well. In comparison to a bus, which is cheaper, this is a costlier option, but you will enjoy the luxury of a dedicated vehicle, giving you complete control over your itinerary.
Travellers with a preference for comfort and privacy opt for private transfers from Heraklion Airport to Agios Nikolaos. The biggest advantage of this choice is that drivers will meet you at the arrival zone, freeing you of the hassle of looking for rides. Moreover, carrying luggage around would not be an issue since they will carry it for you. A private transfer will give you the freedom to choose your vehicle, layovers, and schedule. This makes traveling from the airport enjoyable and struggle-free.
If you have travelled to Agios Nikolaos with your family, which has kids, it might get irritating to change buses and taxis to go sightseeing. With so much to explore in the wonderful town of Agios Nikolaos, hire a car for easy mobility. You will not be under any time limits and will also be able to navigate through lesser-known locations where public transport does not stop. Waiting for public transport is another issue which can be solved with a car hire.
Finding parking in Agios Nikolaos can be difficult, especially if you do not know about the right parking spots. Some of the easiest spots to park in Agios Nikolaos are the Marina of Agios Nikolaos, or the Manolis Parking Lot. In Agios Nikolaos you can also park in some of the main streets for a limited time. You can do that by buying special cards for controlled parking from the nearby kiosks. Each card is valid for an hour and for a single use.
Despite being the cheapest transport option, local buses still pose certain constraints with respect to waiting time, no say in stopovers, and limited stop points. If you are on a trip to the mesmerising town of Agios Nikolaos, the best option would be to book a Crete airport transfer or hail taxis. Both would allow you to travel efficiently, save time and enjoy the views. And who doesn't like the privacy of their own vehicle? Moreover, if you are staying in town for a few days, wasting time catching buses might not be a very good idea. Spending a few more euros will save time. And we can all agree that time is money!
ALSO READ
› How to get around Rethymno?
› How to get around Heraklion?
› How to get around Chania?
