Nearby Istro East 8 km · Ierapetra 21 km · Anissaras 35 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
Afternoon is the most reliable time in monthly wind data
The wind
locals call it Meltemi when it works
Direction
Character
mixed
fills in: Afternoon is the most reliable time in monthly wind data
Typical strength
6.9 year-round; July about 9 and February about 8 in station data
Direction to shore
Side-shore from NW
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan43
- Feb, riders' month44
- Mar41
- Apr43
- May28
- Jun39
- Jul, riders' month60
- Aug41
- Sep31
- Oct28
- Nov31
- Dec31
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Feb, Jul.
- 11Jan18°
- 11Feb17°
- 11Mar17°
- 11Apr18°
- 9May20°
- 10Jun25°
- 12Jul27°
- 10Aug28°
- 10Sep27°
- 9Oct24°
- 10Nov22°
- 9Dec19°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43% | 10.9 kt | NNW | 12.4°C | 18.2°C |
| Feb | 44% | 10.6 kt | NNW | 12.5°C | 16.6°C |
| Mar | 41% | 10.7 kt | NNW | 13.5°C | 16.9°C |
| Apr | 43% | 10.6 kt | NNW | 17.6°C | 18.2°C |
| May | 28% | 9.2 kt | NNW | 21.8°C | 20.2°C |
| Jun | 39% | 9.9 kt | NNW | 25.8°C | 24.7°C |
| Jul | 60% | 11.7 kt | NNW | 28.8°C | 27°C |
| Aug | 41% | 10.2 kt | NNW | 28.6°C | 27.8°C |
| Sep | 31% | 9.8 kt | NNW | 25.3°C | 26.6°C |
| Oct | 28% | 9.2 kt | NNW | 21.3°C | 24.4°C |
| Nov | 31% | 9.6 kt | NNW | 17.6°C | 21.5°C |
| Dec | 31% | 9.2 kt | NNW | 14.5°C | 19.4°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2020-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2020-2024
The water
Type
mixed
Standing depth
Shallow to moderate depth; where you can actually stand is unconfirmed.
Temperature
27°C summer · 17°C winter
Wetsuit
A 4/3 in winter, 2 mm in June, a shorty in July and September, shorts in August.
Currents
Potential strong currents near the bay entrance.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
No school names this spot
Nobody has been recorded teaching or running a boat here.
On your own
Room to launch: limited
Somewhere else
Istro East, 8 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Launch
Small beach on the coast road by Agios Nikolaos. Where people actually rig is unconfirmed.
Space
limited
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Ride in the afternoon; that is when the monthly wind data is least bad.
- Ask the local freestylers where they rig before you pump up; nobody has published a current kite zone.
- Stay out of the bay entrance and the shipping lane unless a local has told you it is fine that day.
- Do not confuse this with Agios Nikolaos near Lefkada, which is the one with the schools and the real lagoon.
- Suit up for the month: a 4/3 in winter, 2 mm in June, a shorty in July and September, shorts in August.
Getting there
Airport
Heraklion International Airport (HER)
Route
By road from Heraklion, about 50 minutes and roughly 60 km; there is a bus, or a taxi.
Transfer
50 min
Cost level
mid
Staying
Agios Nikolaos town has hotels and waterfront rooms and more restaurants than you need; nothing kite-specific.
No-wind days
Lake Voulismeni, Agios Nikolaos waterfront, boat trips and nearby Lasithi/Elounda sightseeing.
Photos
FAQ
What is the wind like at Agios Nikolaos?
Annual average wind is only about 6.9 knots from the northwest, with roughly 12% of days in the rideable 12-35 knot range, February and July the strongest months.
Is Agios Nikolaos suitable for beginners?
This record treats it as confident-intermediate to advanced given gusty wind, boat traffic and a confined bay, despite one source calling it beginner-friendly.
What hazards are there?
Boat traffic and a nearby cruise-ship shipping lane, seagrass and rocky outcrops on the eastern peninsula, and possible strong currents near the bay entrance.
When is the best time to kite at Agios Nikolaos?
February and July show the highest average wind in available station data, with afternoon the most reliable time of day.
Last updated: August 2026