The district of Lasithi is the easternmost of the four regional districts of Crete and, like the other districts, stretches from the north to the south coast of the island. Its administrative capital is Agios Nikolaos, in the north of the district, not far from the tourist centre of Elounda.
In addition to the spectacular landscapes, the Lasithi district is home to numerous archaeological sites that bear witness to the Minoan civilisation - many finds are exhibited in the archaeological museums of Heraklion and Sitia. In addition to the ruins of Itanos, Palekastro, Mochlos and Gournia, the palace complex of Kato Zakros is particularly worth seeing.
The Lasithi plateau gives the district its name: it begins around 30 km west of Agios Nikolaos and lies at an altitude of over 800 metres. The imposing, fertile karst plain extends over several districts and is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Crete. The well-known windmills covered with white cloth are a characteristic feature. Many small mountain villages invite you to visit, for example to see one of the many small churches or to buy souvenirs. One of the most popular places on the plateau is Psychro, where one of Crete's Minoan cult sites is located: the cave of Zeus, the supreme god of all the Greek gods. According to a myth, this stalactite cave was his birthplace.
In the east of the Lasithi region lies the famous palm beach of Vai. Over 5,000 date palms form a large forest along the sandy beach, which is visited by many (day) tourists.
In the far south is the tourism center, Ierapetra, with around 16,000 residents, making it the largest city in Lasithi.
The municipalities of the Lasithi district include:
Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Lasithi Plateau, and Sitia.