Lake Voulismeni sits at the centre of Agios Nikolaos, a small, nearly circular body of water ringed by tavernas and cafes, with brightly coloured fishing boats moored around its edges. A short channel connects it to the sea. The setting — steep rocky cliffs above the lake on one side, the open Mirabello Bay on the other — is the defining image of the town.
The walk around the lake takes about ten minutes. The promenade on the east side has the most atmospheric cafes for a morning coffee. In the evening, the lake-side restaurants light up and the reflections on the water make it one of the more photogenic spots in Crete.