Alexandre RobertDo you like Greece? The Greek islands ? Would you like to spend your next vacation with family, friends or lovers? The village of Rethymnon in Crete is undoubtedly one of the must-see places. Considered as the third city of the island of the Gods, Rethymno seduces inevitably by its exceptional charm. It also welcomes thousands of tourists every year.
The village of Rethymno is full of exceptional sites. In addition, there are exciting activities for all ages. Here is a small practical guide to help you enjoy your time in this wonderful little village and know what to visit in Rethymnon.
Where is Rethymnon in Crete?
Rethymnon is a small Greek city of 32,000 inhabitants located in the north of Crete, between the large cities of Chania (or Chania in Greek) and Heraklion. It is the capital of the Deme of Rethymnon and the regional district of Rethymnon. The city is the seat of an Orthodox bishopric: the Metropolis of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos.
To get to Rethymnon, you will most likely have to land either at Chania airport or Heraklion airport :
- Chania – Rethymno: 65 km and 1h06 by car
- Heraklion – Rethymnon : 80 km and 1h08 by car
Car rental, bus, cabs: many possibilities are offered to tourists to reach the Greek city.
Hotel Rethymnon : where to sleep ?
1. Book your hotel in Rethymnon on the map
As Rethymnon is a city particularly open to tourism and Crete is an island with some of the best value for money in Europe in terms of hotels, discover and book your establishment in Rethymnon on this map:
Booking.com2. Rent a villa with a private pool!
If you are going on vacation to Rethymnon with your family, friends or lover, why not rent a villa in Crete ? Dream pool, garden, incomparable charm and nature landscapes: a memorable vacation!
3. Favorite ♥: the Pepi Boutique Hotel (Adults Only)
For couples who want to indulge themselves by staying in a luxury hotel in Rethymnon, Crete Autrement warmly recommends book a room at Pepi Boutique Hotel in Rethymnon for an upscale stay for lovers!
A luxury hotel highly rated by tourists, offering nights from 140€, including breakfast.
What to do in Rethymnon in 2022?
1. Visit Rethymnon and its city center
That’s it, you have arrived in the charming village of Rethymno. Start by taking a walk through the narrow streets of the city. You will surely discover beautiful things, including gift and souvenir stores as well as various restaurants with shaded terraces. You can relax and enjoy your taste buds at the same time.
It is also the perfect time to meet the local people and enjoy their great hospitality.
Walking through the cobbled streets of the old pedestrian city of Rethymno, you will take a trip through the centuries. The city is characterized by a variety of architectural styles. You will find buildings such as :
- the Venetian loggia of the XVI century,
- the Rimondi fountain of the 17th century, whose water gushes from the mouths of three stone lions,
- and the Ottoman Minaret, an imposing Ottoman minaret dating from 1890.
There are also many cafes and restaurants crowded with students. Sometimes the styles are mixed – pretty pastel houses from the Venetian period have wooden balconies that were added by the Turks. The most popular area is the old port. This area is lined with seafood restaurants and is especially charming at night.
2. A boat trip with or without skipper
From 400€ a day, why not offer yourself the pleasure of discovering Rethymnon by sea? Its creeks, its surroundings, its azure blue waters… Diving like in your dreams, aperitifs of another world, divine sunsets…
Rent your catamaran, sailboat or motorboat in Rethymnon below:
3. Beautiful excursions from Rethymnon
In Rethymnon, you will have the chance to be at the starting point of many excursions in Crete:
4. Discover the Greek gastronomy
Grilled fish, souvlaki, tzatziki, moussaka… The Greek gastronomy is of an incredible variety and a joy for the taste buds. Have fun wandering through the streets of the city to discover the pearls of the local gastronomy. We recommend:
- Castelo Restaurant
- To Pigadi
- La Boheme
- Zefyros Family Fish Taverna
5. Visit Rethymno and its incredible Venetian port
Take advantage of your stay in the village of Rethymnon Crete to discover the small Venetian port. It contains a part of the history of the small village.
From 1300 to today, the port of Rethymnon has lived several lives. And several (re)constructions. The great wall that can be seen today and which is one of the emblems of the city, dates from 1618. It surrounds the eastern port.
6. The Egyptian lighthouse
The lighthouse is also one of the most famous symbols of Rethymno. It was built during the Turkish period on the island of Crete. The building located in the southeast part of the port was built in 1931 and functioned as a customs office.
Don’t forget to take pictures on the spot and especially at sunset: guaranteed effect!
7. Discover the fortress of Rethymnon: Fortezza
The fortress is undoubtedly the fame of the small village of Rethymnon. It gives it a very special charm. You will discover the true beauty of the city by looking at it from a bird’s eye view with the houses and the small port.
The entrance fee is 4€ and 10€ for the family pass.
8. To quench your thirst at the Rimondi fountain
This beautiful Rimondi Fountain is a drinking water fountain built by Governor Rimondi. It is an ideal public place to quench one’s thirst and to take souvenir photos.
9. Visit Crete wonders from Rethymnon
You can discover lots of Crete wonders from Rethymnon, especially in the west part of the island. Book your activities below:
10. Discover the historical monuments of Rethymno
Rethymnon Crete is a city rich in monuments. History buffs are sure to find something to their liking. Indeed, Rethymno is home to old mansions as well as Venetian and Byzantine churches. Don’t hesitate to visit the beautiful mosques, vaulted passages and other picturesque places.
11. Discover the beaches of Rethymno
Do you like nature? Want to recharge your batteries during your vacation or your stay? Enjoy the beautiful walks that the village of Rethymno offers. You can take a romantic stroll along the seashore and enjoy the sunshine and the shade of the palm trees that line it.
During the summer, various kinds of tourist activities are organized, as well as festivals. The wine festival is one of the most popular.
As for the beaches, note that Rethymnon offers its visitors above all long and beautiful sandy beaches:
- Rethymnon beach
- Missiria (5km away)
- Perivolia (2km away)
And of course Preveli Beach and its one of a kind palm tree forest, 40km away from rethymnon. Book a tour there, this is a must in Crete!
12. The archaeological museum
The small archaeological museum of Rethymno dates back to 1887 and is located in front of the main gate of Fortezza. It is housed in an Ottoman building that was built to guard the entrance to the eastern gate of the Venetian fortress. It contains a rich collection of tools, weapons, ceramics, religious figurines and coins, as well as jewelry and sculptures from the classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Please note that indoor photos are not permitted.
- Entrance fee: 2€ / 1€ for 65 years old and more
- Winter opening: Wednesday to Monday from 8:30 am to 4 pm from November 1st to March 31st
- Summer opening: Wednesday to Monday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm from April 1 to October 31
- Closed: every Tuesday, as well as January 1, March 25, Easter Sunday, May 1, December 25 and December 26.
13. The church of the four martyrs
The name of the church is derived from the four martyrs Aggelis Manouil, Georgios, Georgios and Nikolaos whose bones are preserved in the basement. It is the most important modern monument in the city. It was built in 1975 and is located near the public park on the site of an Orthodox church.
Weather Rethymnon : when to visit the city?
Rethymnon, like most of the cities in Crete, enjoys an incredibly sunny climate all year round. Discover below the temperatures from January to December:
Rethymnon review: what do you think about the city?
I loved getting lost in the alleys of the old city. Stores, restaurant, bar… everything is there to stroll a good moment.
Tripadvisor, October 2020
Very beautiful seaside resort, superb beach, magnificent old town, alleys all more beautiful than the others. Good compromise to come in family, with children and grandchildren.
Tripadvisor, October 2020
Everything can be done on foot, it’s a human-sized city. This city has a lot of charm, the small animated streets are charming. The old mosque is simply magnificent, especially at night.
Tripadvisor, September 2020
