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Rethymno

City of Rethymno with Venetian Fortezza and harbor.

Harbor of Rethymno lined by cafes, restaurants and shops.

Fortezza of Rethymno is one the best spots to visit.

Platanes Beach beach offers several watersports activities in summers.

Goura gate is a part of fortification in Rethymno.

Quaint narrow lanes in Rethymno.

Rethymno is a known for its venetian era structres.

Preveli Gorge is one of the major attractions In Rethymno

Rethymno beach is a perfect stop to cool down in summers

Venetian Loggia in Rethymno

Rethymno

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Crete Greece

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21 out of 50 Places to visit in Greece

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Rethymno Travel Essentials

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Weather:

Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days

Best Time: Mar-Jun, Oct-Nov Read More

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"The Venetian City"

Rethymno Tourism

Located between the prefectures of Chania and Heraklion, Rethymno is northwest of Crete island in Greece. One of the most beautiful places in Crete, Rethymno boasts some extremely beautiful beaches, stunning gorges, Byzantine churches, cosmopolitan resort villages, and some offbeat remote villages. Rethymnon is a blend of magnificent sea views and secluded coves. This third-largest city in Crete, Rethymno, boasts some of the best Venetian-style buildings. The city of Rethymno is also known as Rethymnon.

Known for its gorgeous Chania-like Venetian harbour, colourful labyrinthine alleys, and a wide range of restaurants and cafes by the port make Rethymno attractive. Often treated as a one-day trip from Chania or Heraklion, Rethymno's old town, guarded by the Fortezza (Fortress), is the most visited one and popular among tourists. Arkadi and Preveli Monasteries are the other major attractions in Rethymno.

The eastern end of Rethymno stretches into an endless beach hotel strip that starts covering the beautiful coastal villages of Adelianos Kambos, Platanias, Perivolia, Sfakaki, Pigianos Kambos, Skaleta, and Stavromenos. Home to the island's highest peak, Mount Psiloritis, the city is surrounded by beautiful caves and valleys. In the south, it boasts a wilder landscape of a river that meets the sea under sky-high palm trees. In the North of the region, Rethymno hosts the charming old town that boasts a Venetian harbor and a romantic lighthouse built right in front of the sea of Crete.

Old Town is pedestrian-only.
Best way to explore Rethymno is through public buses or by rented cars and motorbikes.
Parking areas in Rethymno are limited, with one on the port near the marina. Another parking north of the lighthouse charges EUR 2 per hour.
Most shops open around 9:00 AM to close by 2:00 PM. They reopen at 6:00 PM till 9:00 PM, except Mondays and Wednesdays.
Restaurants and taverns open till 12:00 AM.
A nice pair of walking shoes or sandals is perfect for the slippery cobble-stoned pathways of Rethymno.
Most popular areas to stay in Rethymno are the old town, Perivolia, and Missiria. For those who want to stay in beach resorts, Bali is a good option. For those who just want to relax, can consider staying in Agia Galini on the south coast.

Things To Do In Rethymno

Rethymnon Old Town

Old Venetian Harbour of Rethymno

Fortezza Rethymno

Rimondi Fountain

Egyptian Lighthouse

Porta Guora

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More on Rethymno Travel

Shopping in Rethymno

The main place of shopping in Rethymnon is the old town that has a collection of boutique shops, souvenir shops and art shops. Numerous shops in Rethymno sell branded items and several local products, including jewellery, olive oil, freshly pickled olives, olive oil-based cosmetics, traditional Cretan cheeses like tsikoudia & graviera, local herbs, sewn needlework and local red wine. Souvenir shops remain open until late at night. Souliou, Paleologou and Arabatzoglou Streets are perfect for shopping for souvenirs to take home. At the same time, Kountouriotou, Arkadiou and E. Antistaseos Streets are amazing options to get into a more non-touristy market. The chances of shopping in beach resort areas are limited. Plakias, Bali and Agia Galini have organised shopping centres, and smaller villages only have mini markets catering to the needs of inhabitants.

Nightlife in Rethymno

Hardcore nightlife in Rethymno is restricted to summers. The old town has a great variety of quiet cafe bars surrounding the harbour and opens till after midnight. Various summer clubs along the beach offer loud music and a variety of music styles including house, Latin, and pop. For a calmer night, one can choose taverns with slow music with a glass of local wine or raki.

History of Rethymno

A plethora of evidence in the form of archaeological sites and coins, signs, and writing is proof of the existence of fishermen in Gerani cave. From the 12th to 11th century, Rethymno was under Minoan civilization and experienced fast economical and cultural growth. Many cities were built during this period. Afterwards, Rethymnon was ruled by the Romans, Dorians, Turks, Venetians, and Germans. In 1204, Rethymnon fell into the Venetian hands from the Byzantines and in 1538, to save the city from pirate attacks construction of pretress took place. Rethymno flourished in the early 16th century and many societies and libraries functioned drawing this time. By the end of 1669, Turks conquered Rethymno, and it led to the city's decline. After a long fight against the Turks, Rethymno freed itself and was united with Greece in 1913.

Suggested Itinerary for Rethymno

Start early by heading to the harbour and exploring the cafes before heading to the Venetian fortress and Mosque. Return just before noon to explore the old and set off to visit Arkadi monastery in the afternoon. Return by evening to enjoy drinks with the view of the sunset.