Today you will see a town clearly divided sport ween the old and new section. You can walk towards the promenade and the port and wander around the narrow streets with the small, stone, whitewashed houses and well-tended gardens, with the smell of flowers drifting out to greet passers-by. The churches of Agios Nikolaos and Agios loanhis in the old town are worth a visit, as well as Agios Georgios, the town's patron saint, a domed basilica built in the last century. Just outside town, you will find the church of Panagia Eleoussa (Our Lady of Mercy), where you can see the miraculous icon.
Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have spent the night in a house at no. 9, Napoleontos St., on his way to Egypt in June 1798. A little further west you will see the well-preserved mosque and the reconstructed fountain built by the Turks when they passed through this area.
Later, you can visit Kales fortress (built in 12 12) at the edge of town, near the sea. The church of Panagia of Kale is located opposite the fortress gate; the Venetians built it and named it Santa Maria.
At Sarakina you will see the church of the Transfiguration of Christ (Metamorfosi tou Sotiros), also built during Venetian rule.
Don't miss the chance to explore the Archaeological Museum of lerapetra, which is housed in a conserved building, the former Ottoman Commercial College, at no. 2, Adrianou St., tel.: +30 28420/28721.
It is open daily, from 8,30 am, to 3 p.m. The exhibits date from Minoan to Roman times. Inside, you can see ceramics from the late Minoan period to Roman years, and figurines, axes, lanterns, coins, amphorae, epigraphs and decorated sarcophagi from the late Minoan period. In the courtyard, you will find sections of statues from the Roman era. The beautiful statue of Demetra will draw your attention.
The town is ideal for swimming, as the adjacent beach is organised, with umbrellas, deckchairs, fne pebbles and a clean sea. It is perfect for those who do not have much time for expeditions, and because of the facilities on offer it attracts numerous Greek and foreign tourists. At night, there is wide variety for entertainment, as nights in lerapetra are famous for being endless. Bars, clubs, cafes, tavernas by the sea and pastry shops on the promenade and the central square, as well as in the narrow streets of the old town, satisfy visitors with the town's hospitable and cheerful spirit.
If you visit the town in August, you can attend the "Kyrvia", the cultural events organised by the municipality at Kales fortress, in an idyllic setting guaranteed to please every visitor. The events include theatre, song and dance evenings, and art exhibitions. From lerapetra you can organise excursions to the deserted island of Chryssi or Gaidouronissi, on the little boats travelling there daily. Chryssi is a small deserted island, ideal for an "escape" from civilisation. In 50 minutes, you will arrive in a different world, and feel like the sole survivors of a mythical shipwreck.
The island rose from the sea as solidified lava from an underwater volcano. The beaches have golden and deep red sand and those in the north are covered with seashells! The island has incredible bays with crystal water, scuba divers will life the seabottom, and marram trees and cedars offer thick shade for lazy siestas.
All you will find on the island is one taverna and a pay phone... Everything else is entirely dependent on nature. It is forbidden to spend the night on the island, in the interests of protecting this unique biotope.