Ammoudara is a nice little sandy beach which is located not far from Agios Nikolaos. It is an organized beach where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds, and where you can have something to eat and drink. The largest tavern on the beach, "Ammoudara Tavern" is not bad at all and a nice place to stop for lunch when you are on your way. We had dinner here a number of times when we were at the beach. Besides this there is also a cafe and a supermarket in Ammoudara opposite the beach across the road. The Ammoudara beach has fine sand and is shallow, and therefore it is also suitable for families with small children.

Ammoudara is an option for people that like the town of Agios Nikolaos but prefer to stay near a beach rather than in the town itself. In Agios Nikolaos itself there is not much beach to be found. Not far from Ammoudara you can find some other beaches such Almiros and the beaches around Istron. Also around the Bay of Ammoudara you have some smaller coves with pebble beaches, such as the beach in front of the Cretan Village Hotel where we stayed a few days. It is a great base for exploring the east coast of the island and to discover archaeological sites such as Lato or Tripitos, the church Panagia Kera in Kritsa or to go and see the towns of Agios Nikolaos and Sitia or interesting villages nearby (Messa and Exo Mouliana, Mirsini, Elounda, etcetera).

We have stayed a few days in this lovely hotel. Cretan Village is situated on the outskirts of the village / beach Ammoudara just around the corner. It is clearly marked with a sign on the side of the road. In front of the complex you can find another (pebble) beach, and a little further another one. Cretan Village is built like a Cretan village, with whitewashed houses that are stuck on a mountain and with narrow Greek streets, squares, gardens, flowers and palmtrees. Downstairs is the gate and therefore it's possible to park your car there. If you drive through the gate you will first get to the reception where there is some more parking space. Parking for the guests is over a steep road at the top of the complex. From this parking you can enter the "village" and go to your accommodation. It consists of a number of villas with apartments (with one or two bedrooms, 80 or 120 m2). Also from the reception and the large pool you can access a staircase that leads up to the villas of Cretan Village. The views over the sea, the mountains and Agios Nikolaos are very beautiful. There is a restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Tel: +30 28410 28576 / Fax: +30 28410 23177 - Send an e-mail to Cretan Village in Ammoudara - click here.
For more information and pictures of Cretan Village - click here

Panorama Villas are nestled upon a hill, in the quiet area of Amoudara, a short drive from Agios Nikolaos, enjoying breathtaking sea views. The 11 studio/villas are tastefully decorated and surrounded by beautifully shaped gardens. Each is equipped with kitchenette, air conditioning, DVD/CD player and satellite TV. Panorama Villas is a self catering resort featuring a children's playground, BBQ facilities, and an outdoor swimming pool. Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge.

The city of Agios Nikolaos, considered the Cretan St. Tropez, is the administrative, communication, cultural and commercial center of Lasithi, and home to many boutiques, supermarkets, tavernas, bars and cafes.

Check availabilities and prices & book Panorama Villas in Amoudara - click here.

Mastoris Apartments is a family run complex located right on the beachfront of Ammoudara, 3km from Agios Nikolaos. Within the premises guests will find a swimming pool, restaurant, coffee-bar and super market. All rooms have a balcony, are spacious and carefully decorated. In-room facilities include air conditioning, satellite TV and radio and refrigerator. At the beach of Ammoudara, awarded with a blue flag, guests can enjoy water sports. Sun beds are also available.

Check availabilities & prices and book Mastoris Apartments in Ammoudara - click here.

The Ammoudara Taverna is located on the beach of Ammoudara. They serve a range of sandwiches, omelettes, soups and other starters. The menu features salads and pastas, meat and chicken dishes and oven dishes. There is an extensive menu. The tzatziki was good, with quite some cucumber and garlic. The tuna salad had lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, an onion, olives, peppers, tuna and fresh herbs in it. It looked pretty as well. The fries were crispy (we brought our own mayonnaise in a pot and nobody said anything about it). The lamb chops were served with fries and peas and rice in tomato sauce. The lamb was very tender. The giros dish also came with nice crispy fries, pita bread, sour cream, onion and tomato. It wasn't really giros (sliced from a large piece of meat in the grill) but instead it was a piece of fried pork that was cut into pieces. The tuna pizza was very tasty. The swordfish was served with vegetables and boiled potatoes.

Our verdict: an 8,5 out of 10

The Faedra Taverna is located on Amoudara Beach. It is situated right next to the Ammoudara Tavern and also looks out over the beach. Here we order a cappuccino. It's a Lavazza coffee, but the milk is a bit too cold. It does come with a bottle of water, and the service is friendly.

Our verdict: a 7,5 out of 10