Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece

Located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea, Crete features abundant natural beauty, intricate architecture, and archaeological sites worthy of exploration. In the old port, visit Castello a Mare, a Venetian fortress, and the Palace of Knossos, one of the largest and most significant Bronze Age finds in the region. Tucked away in eastern Crete’s Gulf of Mirabello, the small town of Agios Nikolaos occupies the site of the ancient city of “Lato pros Kamara” which was the port of the city “Lato pros Etera,” a city that flourished during the Archaic and Classical Age as well as during the Roman era. Agios Nikolaos grew up around a picturesque saltwater lake connected to the sea by a narrow channel. Steeped in myth, the lake is said to be bottomless as well as the legendary bathing spot of the goddesses Athena and Artemis. Today, tavernas serving freshly caught seafood line the stone path that encircles the lake. Snug beaches such as Kitroplatiea and Amnos break up the town’s waterfront, providing views across the glittering gulf. In true SeaDream style, we anchor in the bay, and tender guests into the heart of town.