15 Boat Tours in Agios Nikolaos That Survive a Close Look

1.Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,031 reviews · 4h 30m · from $29Our pick

Sail from Agios Nikolaos across Mirabello Bay with live English or Dutch commentary, a 30-minute swim stop at Kolokitha Bay, and a guided visit to Spinalonga. You will hear about Olous, Barbarosa’s cave, and the Kri Kri goats. French and German audio guides are available.

“It was a lovely trip. Very relaxing on the boat with some real rememberable moments. A real highlight. We could have done with a little more information on the boat about what we were seeing, but that's only a minor point. We could also have done with more time to explore the island, but it was an amazing place and I'd highly recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,040 reviews · 6 hours · from $47

From Ierapetra, sail aboard the ARISTOVOULOS toward Chrissi Island for roughly three and a half hours near shore. Swim, snorkel, and use the boat’s boards and fins while enjoying views of golden sand, cedar forest, and bright water. Food and drinks are available by card, but you must bring sun protection and expect to swim from the boat to shore.

“Fantastic,except the food,that was horrible…we were hungry in the whole trip because that menu wasn’t eatable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 735 reviews · 5h 30m · from $35

Set sail from Agios Nikolaos at 10:00 for Spinalonga’s Venetian fortress and former leper colony. You get about 90 minutes to explore with a map and booklet, then swim at Kolokytha Beach while the crew prepares pork, salad, bread, fruit, and wine or juice. Bring cash, sun protection, and sturdy shoes.

“Very nice staff, the lunch wasn’t very good. Basically I didn’t eat. I would improve it”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Semi-Submarine Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 670 reviews · from $18Best value

Board an air-conditioned semi-submarine at Agios Nikolaos port for a close look at fish around Agioi Pantes Island. An audio guide in five languages explains the marine life, while the crew feeds the fish. You may also spot turtles, dolphins, or seals before returning above deck for bay views.

“It was great! Some of fish are "trained" to follow the boat!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 432 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $58

Spend a full day moving between Crete’s past and present: tour Spinalonga with a guide such as Christina, swim at Kolokytha Bay, eat a simple lunch with wine or juice, and explore Agios Nikolaos. Pickup is available from selected resorts and central Heraklion, with English, German, French, Italian, and Polish guides.

“Everything was great except the lunch that was served which quite frankly was abysmal. plain bread, dry shredded salad and a chicken leg with a glass of cheap table wine or weak orange squash. There was a veggie option which I did ask for but was told no by the staff serving with no explanation given. Other than that the day was great and well organised, our guide Kristina was excellent and done a great job, I would recommend the excursion but would also recommend taking your own lunch.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Spinalonga, Elounda, & Agios Nikolaos Boat Tour & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 327 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $37

Travel from Heraklion to Elounda, Kolokytha Beach, Spinalonga, and Agios Nikolaos by bus and boat. Swim in clear water, eat a choice of pork, chicken, or vegetarian BBQ, and take a guided walk through Spinalonga’s Venetian fortress. Guides may speak English, German, French, Italian, Polish, or Russian.

“The trip to the beach and the BBQ were well organised, especially the service of the BBQ, vegetarian option gratefully received. Mary, the guide, was very informative and helpful. In some way we would have been happy to finish the trip after Spinalonga. Agios Nicholas is a modern city and we had time to look at the lake and have a coffee.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Cruise to Chrissi island natural park with pick up

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 102 reviews · from $68

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Heraklion and nearby resorts to Ierapetra, then cruise around protected Chrissi Island. You’ll swim from the boat near Belegrina Beach, see Vougiou Mati Beach, and enjoy several hours on the Libyan Sea. A multilingual guide, hotel transfers, and park entry are included. Lunch costs €9.

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Spinalonga PM Catamaran Cruise with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 88 reviews · from $134

Sail from Agios Nikolaos around Mirabello Gulf on a five-hour semi-private catamaran cruise. You’ll see Spinalonga from the water, stop to swim and snorkel, try SUP surfing, enjoy unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks, then eat a fresh Mediterranean dinner as the sun sets. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and children’s meals are available by request.

“Amazing trip, one of our favorite parts of our vacation. Food was amazing and the staff was very friendly. Beautiful views of the sea and mountains. Would definitely recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Spinalonga AM Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 83 reviews · from $134

You’ll spend five hours aboard a spacious catamaran from Agios Nikolaos, with views of Spinalonga, calm-water swimming, snorkeling, fishing, SUP boards, and a freshly cooked Mediterranean lunch. Captain Sergei has been praised for his warm, capable service, while the crew keeps the pace relaxed and family-friendly.

“Nice craft with very proficient and friendly crew The trip was well paced and the swimming stops were beautiful with crystal clear water Food was also great and just right for the weather and time of day - the seafood spaghetti and mussels were superb”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Mirabello Bay Cruise with Onboard Cocktail

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 72 reviews · 5 hours · from $44

Set out from Agios Nikolaos at 11:00 for a five-hour cruise through Mirabello Bay. You get about 75 minutes at Kolokytha Beach, another 75 minutes at Skistra Bay, one cocktail or soft drink, fresh fruit, and optional hotel transport. Bring your own snorkeling gear, since none is provided onboard.

“Une super journée dans la baie de mirabello. toute l'équipe : guide, chauffeur, équipage du bateau au top et aux petits soins. Sur le bateau, vous pourrez vous restaurer, boire les tarifs sont ultra raisonnable. ils vous accueillent avec un raki ou une boisson sans alcool. une autre boisson est comprise dans le prix du billet. A recommander!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos, & Elounda Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 63 reviews · from $28

Travel from Heraklion to Elounda, Kolokytha Beach, Spinalonga, and Agios Nikolaos with bus transport, a guide, swimming time, BBQ lunch, and an olive oil tasting. Guide Mary has been praised for clear stories about Spinalonga. Check the final price carefully, as boat, BBQ, and entry fees may be extra.

“A fantastic trip. Very interesting to hear the stories of Spinalonga , Mary our guide was very informative and gave us lots of information about all the places we visited The BBQ was very basic but tasted very nice and was a good size portion”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Elounda, Kolokitha, and Spinalonga Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 56 reviews · from $28

Spend about four hours at sea from Elounda, circling Spinalonga, peering into Barbarossa Cave, and stopping to swim at Skistra and Kolokitha. You get fruit, salad, and water on board, with cocktails and other drinks available for purchase. English, German, and Spanish guides are available.

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Motorboat or Speedboat Rental

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 4 hours Top rated

Take the helm from Agios Nikolaos with a private boat for up to seven people. Choose a license-free motorboat or a RIB boat for licensed drivers, then cruise toward Spinalonga, Kolokytha Bay, Agriomantra, or Agioi Pantes. Snorkeling gear, water, soft drinks, and shower facilities are included. Fuel is extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Elounda: Spinalonga Guided Boat Tour with BBQ and Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 41 reviews · 6 hours · from $29

Spend six hours on a boat from Elounda, with stops for swimming and a BBQ at Kolokytha Beach, a guided walk through Spinalonga’s Venetian Fortress, and coastal views around Mirabello Bay. The tour runs in English and German, with French, Polish, and Russian available on selected days. Spinalonga admission costs extra.

“Was thrilled it was a ship, as opposed to one of those little "party" boats. Great food and great company.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Island Spinalonga, Milatos Cave,private Speedboat,OliveOilTasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $118

Spend about seven hours exploring eastern Crete with hotel pickup, a small group of up to six, and an English-speaking guide. Ride a speedboat from Plaka to Spinalonga, hear the story of Milatos Cave, taste local olive oils, and enjoy lunch at a traditional taverna. Guides may include George, Petra, Michael, Ralf, or Emanuel.

“We had a wonderful day and our guide Emanuel was fantastic. He explained to us the culture of Crete and was very knowledgeable. We wished the speed boat ride lasted a bit longer. Overall great experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review