The northeast of Crete is a very beautiful area and that alone is reason enough to travel to these places. This excursion from Fodele offers a blend of experiences including a bus tour to Agios Nikolaos, a boat trip to Spinalonga Island in the Gulf of Mirabello and a relaxing stop at Kolokitha Bay for lunch and swimming.
On this tour, you will visit the following sights and attractions:
The island of Crete is divided into four big regions and the city of Agios Nikolaos is the capital of one of them – the easternmost region of Lassithi. In the morning our bus will take you from Fodele to the sea port of Agios Nikolaos. This is the starting point for the boat trip to Spinalonga Island, the main point of interest on this trip. To reach this island, you will board a small ship and admire the breathtaking view of Mirabello Bay: at this point it will become clear why its name translates as “Beautiful View”.
The island of Spinalonga is a tiny island that has had numerous roles and names. “Island of the Damned”, “Island of Tears”, “Island of Grief and Sorrow”, “Fortress Island” – an island that has seen so many events in its history… During this part of the tour you will learn the whole history of Spinalonga: as a Venetian fortress, as a leprosarium, as a place of exile and last refuge for many people. Here you will have a guided tour and some free time to walk around the fortress, explore the well-preserved houses and churches and – once again – enjoy the breathtaking view of the Gulf of Mirabello. For the most beautiful and almost panoramic views, we suggest you go to the upper level of the fortress.
After visiting the island of Spinalonga, our boat trip continues to the area of Kolokitha Island. It has a very beautiful coast with the crystal clear water, so our boat will make a stop in this area: it’s time for lunch, which is already included in the price. If the weather and the sea are good (and 99% of the time they are) you can even swim there, so be prepared!
Another sight on the route is the town of Agios Nikolaos. The city takes its name from a small Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, about two kilometers north of the city center, which was built in the 9th century. The central part of the city near the port is very beautiful – here is the main attraction of the city, Lake Voulismeni. An old legend says that the lake is bottomless and its waters look really dark and deep. In the past it was a freshwater lake, but now it is connected to the sea by a canal, so you can see many fishing boats here.
Today Agios Nikolaos is still a small town with about 12000 inhabitants. You will have enough free time to walk around the central part of the town. Here you will find charming harbors, numerous cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops scattered along the narrow streets. Take a leisurely stroll, admire the surrounding views, shop or sip a Greek coffee in one of the cafes.
Time to get ready to head back! This trip takes almost a whole day and includes both a fact-filled sightseeing tour and a boat trip on Mirabello Gulf. With us you can go on an excursion to Spinalonga Island from Fodele – a trip to this island is considered one of the most popular.
If you want to go from Fodele to the island of Spinalonga and the city of Agios Nikolaos by organized bus and boat tour, the price of the trip in 2025 is:
This tour is sometimes included in special promotions and sold cheaper for our followers – keep an eye out for discounts on Instagram!
Are you traveling as a big family or a group? Contact us in advance or visit our offices and we will try to make you the best offer.
You are welcome! We will run this personalised tour in a suitable car or minivan for you on any day. No large groups, long pick-ups or waiting – just you, your family or friends and the guide! You can ask us in advance – and we will organise everything for you.
You can book an excursion to the island of Spinalonga and the town of Agios Nikolaos from Fodele online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 the excursion to the island of Spinalonga and the town of Agios Nikolaos from Fodele takes place from 04/04 to 07/11. Available tour days – Monday and Friday.
Please note that trip schedules are subject to change, including cancellation. This is extremely rare and may be due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rains at the beginning (April and May) or end of the season (September and October) and other force majeure situations. If there are any changes, we will try to let you know as soon as possible.
Please make sure that you have correctly identified your vacation area in Crete and read the cancellation and refund policy.
If there is less than 24 hours before the trip, please contact the manager to check availability before you make a booking!
Firstly, you can come to one of our offices where booking for all services is available and payment can be made either by cash or card.
Secondly, in case of online booking you can choose cash payment (which is available for some areas only) or you can pay online by card. In the case of cash, we will arrange a meeting with our courier in advance, who will bring the prepared documents to your hotel or villa and collect the cash. Please note that this option is only available for bookings made well in advance (days or weeks before the trip!). In case of online payment, you will receive the tickets by e-mail or WhatsApp – as you prefer.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of your trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. In some cases a tour bus will literally stop at the front door of the hotel and you just have to be there, in others it may be a short walk to the nearest pick-up point. This is usually a large central street, bus stop, square, car park, etc. – somewhere where there is no risk of the tour bus getting stuck on a narrow one-way street or stuck in traffic.
You will receive full details of the time and place of the pick-up with your travel documents when you make your booking. Please read it carefully before the trip.
No, not at all. During the trip to Spinalonga island, you will see that there is a straight and slightly rocky path that goes around the island. It is not a difficult path and is about 900 meters long. If you wish, you can climb the steep stone steps to the upper bastion of the fortress. Also, in your free time in the town of Agios Nikolaos, there is an easy walk along the streets and seafront. In short, it’s a fairly easy trip and you won’t have to do much walking.
All necessary sunscreen, bathing suit, comfortable walking shoes, money for extras.
Lunch is included: choice of roast chicken or vegetarian roll with vegetables. Salad with Greek feta cheese. Also comes with fruit and a glass of wine or juice or both.
Yes, there will be a tour guide with you during the day.
High. The locations will be spectacular too, so don’t forget your camera!
Languages: English, German, French on any available day. On some days we can also organize excursions with Italian, Polish, Romanian and Russian speaking guides, so check the booking calendar or send us a request.
Please note that this is an approximate tour schedule. Times may vary depending on traffic and pick-up and drop-off locations. Exact times will be sent to you along with other information when you make your reservation and specify your hotel.
The order in which the locations on the itinerary are visited can vary: a walk around Agios Nikolaos can either begin or end the tour.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 6:30 - 9:00 | Departure from the hotels |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Arrival in the town of Agios Nikolaos, boarding the boat |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Boat trip in the Gulf of Mirabello, arrival to the island of Spinalonga |
| 12:00 - 13:30 | Island tour and free time on the island, departure to the area of Kolokitha Island |
| 14:00 - 15:30 | Arrival at the island of Kolokitha, lunch and swimming in the sea, departure to the town of Agios Nikolaos |
| 16:00 - 17:30 | Arrival in the town of Agios Nikolaos, free time |
| 18:00 - 20:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| up to 2 hours | From hotels by bus to Agios Nikolaos |
| about 1,5 hours | Spinalonga island tour and free time |
| about 1,5 hours | Boat trip on the Gulf of Mirabello, lunch and swimming |
| about 1,5 hours | Free time in Agios Nikolaos |
| up to 2 hours | Transfer by bus to hotels |