Katholiko beach (Ormos)

From Agios Nikolaos, travelers can explore the sheltered beach of Amoudi before heading to the road that leads to Elounda. Along the way, they will find the enclosed bay of Katholiko, situated between the Hotel Minos Palace and Cape Nissi. This small pebbly and sandy cove is mainly used for boat docking, and is not well-organized for swimming. However, there is a playground near the beach. Although swimming is allowed at Katholiko, there are many better choices in the area. At Cape Nissi, travelers can find the Byzantine church of Saint Nicholas, from which the town of Agios Nikolaos gets its name. Furthermore, the rocky tip of the Cape is home to WW2 pillboxes, offering stunning views of the small island Agii Pantes and Mikronissi. Inside the area of Minos Palace, there is also a nice sandy beach, which is well-organized by the hotel. Access to the beach is free, as is the case in all beaches in Greece. Note that the beach is not easily visible from the main road.