Low bungalows and pool villas along 2 km of Cretan shoreline, with a sculpture garden and a short walk into Agios Nikolaos.
Minos Beach has been welcoming guests for more than 60 years, and it still feels like a place that grew up with its coastline rather than being built over it. Bungalows and villas run along about 2 km of shoreline and small sandy coves on the edge of Agios Nikolaos, many of them right on the water with their own sunbeds.
Art is part of the fabric. More than 55 works from the G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation are set around the gardens and the Sculpture Garden, so a walk to breakfast passes contemporary Greek and international pieces. The food is rooted in Crete, from the all-Greek breakfast to the live Cretan nights at Adeste Kafenio in summer.
It suits couples and families who like to explore: the Richtis Gorge hike, dives on ancient remains and wrecks, and the villages and vineyards of Lasithi are all close. Do not expect one long strip of sand: swimming is from small coves and sunbed patios along the shore. It is also a 50-minute drive from Heraklion airport, so it pairs best with a stay of a week or more.
Bungalows scattered along the shore, some a short walk from the sea and others a few steps from it, in the hotel's earthy, minimal style.
The original historic bungalows set right on the water's edge, each with reserved sunbeds and umbrellas.
A few steps from the sea with a large veranda, lounging area and its own pool.
Seaview Rooms, Nature Suites and Seaview Suites in the main building, the suites with a separate bedroom and panoramic sea views.
One-, two- and three-bedroom villas with private freshwater pools; the three-bedroom Waterfront Villa sits right over the sea.
La Bouillabaisse is the waterfront fine-dining restaurant for creative Mediterranean cooking, and hosts visiting guest chefs through the season. There is a Greek buffet restaurant with live cooking, family-style meze with sea views, an amphitheatre-style venue for meze, grills, raki and live music, a waterfront wine bar, a pool bar and room service. The hotel says 94% of its ingredients are sourced locally.
Ananea Wellness sits among olive trees and art, with massages, therapies using natural ingredients and steam rooms with sea views. Tennis with a coach, Pilates, PADI diving and guided hikes in the Richtis Gorge can be arranged.
Families are welcome, and the two- and three-bedroom villas give room to spread out. Ask us about the current age policy and children's activities for your dates; we confirm them with the hotel at booking.
| Setting | About 2 km of coastline, walking distance from Agios Nikolaos |
|---|---|
| From Heraklion airport | About 50 minutes by car |
| From Chania airport | About 3 hours by car |
| Art | Over 55 works from the G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation |
| Accessible stays | Accessible bungalows and villas with private pools |
| Transfers | Car transfers or rental cars arranged by the hotel |
Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi, eastern Crete, Greece
A few of the things we plan for guests in Greece.
Stay on the caldera rim in Imerovigli or Firostefani rather than Oia, which fills with visitors at sunset. Walk the cliff path from Fira to Oia early in the morning, then spend an afternoon tasting assyrtiko at a winery in the island's interior. A private catamaran at sunset avoids the crowds on the terraces. Cruise ships make the middle of the day busy from spring to autumn.
Much of Milos can only be reached by water. A day boat takes you to the sea caves and rock arches at Kleftiko, with swim stops in water so clear the seabed looks close enough to touch. On land, Sarakiniko is a moonscape of pale volcanic rock, best seen early. Plaka, the hilltop village, is the place for sunset and dinner.
Paros is the easy island: good beaches, short drives and the harbour at Naoussa lined with fish tavernas. Walk the old Byzantine path from Lefkes to Prodromos in the cooler hours, and take the short ferry to Antiparos for a quieter beach day. It suits families and couples who want a base with little driving.
Three nights in Athens for the Acropolis and the museums, then a drive west via the Corinth Canal to seven nights on the Messinia coast, where a kids club, an aqua park and ancient Olympia keep every age busy.
Two nights in central Athens below the Acropolis, four on the caldera cliff at Oia, and three at Megali Ammos, close enough to walk into Mykonos town for dinner. Island hops by ferry, with a Delos day included.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
