When you're thinking of holidays in the Gulf of Mirabello, the name says it all. Mirabello means 'beautiful view' … and this priceless attraction comes as standard with every turn in the road. Filling a corner on Crete's northeast coast, the bay encapsulates the island's character. Rising from the sea, rocky hillsides make great hiking grounds where the scent of wild herbs is carried on the breeze. Old world villages cling to the slopes, some – like Kalo Chorio – with their toes in the water … Others are hidden higher up, gems such as Kritsa – known for its fine lace and frescoed Byzantine church. Gulf of Mirabello holidays focus on two main resorts … Aghios Nikolaos, with its busy little harbour and bottomless lake. And Elounda, where gin palace yachts share the moorings with local 'caique' fishing boats. The coast of the bay is a motley mix of shingle ribbons, pebble shores and sweeps of golden sand. And the choice of hotels and apartments is equally varied. There's everything from pure indulgence to cheerfully cheap holidays in the Gulf of Mirabello, and often great late deals for last minute holidays. So look at some less obvious places. Here's a couple to get you started …For families seeking peace, privacy and a private pool, the Villas Maria-Emmanuella and Sophie – on a wooded hill behind Kalo Chorio …For an intimate choice beloved by couples, the Istron Bay Hotel – in a breathtaking setting, an easy drive from Ag. Nik. You'll be tempted…

Castello City Hotel - Crete
ideal choice for the visitor of the city of Heraklion in Crete giving the feeling of a boutique luxury hotel. Castello City was designed so as to satisfy the highest demands of its select clientele, professional as well as recreational. It is open throughout the year and its convenient location offers easy access from and to the airport or the port, being at the same time very near to the commercial centre of the city. The Hotel Castello comprises 68 standard and superior rooms, Luxury Junior and Business suites...

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Castello city, Lato Boutique, Aldemar Royal Mare, Korifi suites, Blue palace, Atlantis, Flisvos beach, St. Nicolas bay

Perle resort, Agapi beach, La Stella, Aldemare Cretan village, Dimitris Villa hotel, Cretan Mallia park, Astali, Renieris

Mirabello Quick Info
From Neapolis, just as the winding road reaches the crest by a line of windmills, a glorious panorama unfolds below: the breathtaking beauty of the Gulf of Mirabello. The Gulf of Mirabello has the most spectacular scenery to be found along the entire north coast of Crete. Elounda Island is held by a tenuous thread of a causeway to the mainland, creating a sheltered bay within a bay, whilst beyond, the island opens the huge Gulf, itself backed by the dramatically soaring mountains of Sitia. Agios Nikolaos is the main harbour town and its shady avenues are lined with shops offering everything from gold jewellery to vats for storing olive oil. The outer harbour is delightful; a typical Mediterranean quayside lined with cafes, tavernas, fishing boats and caiques ready to set sail.
The inner harbour is breathtaking - a deep, round chasm, with houses perched atop the cliff and small craft moored in the mirror-like Lake Voulismeni which, tradition has it, is bottomless. The harbour shelters both fishing boats and caiques which run out to Spinalonga, the former leper colony. Tavernas and shops line the waterfront and along the causeway which links Elounda to the island, several romantically-inclined tavernas set their tables out on small jetties which just into the clear and shallow water. Beyond these tavernas and stretching to one of the windmills which seem to guard the entrance to the island, is one of Elounda's two beaches. North of Elounda the road skirts the pretty shoreline which is fringed with little shingle beaches; watersports are available here, as they are in Elounda itself. Ammoudara and Istron are set into the craggy coastline, so exploring can be combined with sunbathing and swimming. From secluded coves to beaches provided with every facility from village tavernas to smart restaurants, the Gulf of Mirabello offers tremendous variety as well as splendid scenery