Are you planning to visit Rethymnon on your next trip to Crete Island? If yes, this is a fantastic idea! Rethymno Crete is one of the oldest towns in Greece, built during the ancient Greek Minoan civilization (c. 3000-1450 BCE), and also one of the most charming ones. Located between Chania and Heraklion towns, it is perfect for a day trip and as a vacation destination with plenty of things to do in Rethymno.
I was lucky to have a father who often traveled to Crete for his business, and I would accompany him. I’ve been to Rethymno a few times and enjoyed it to the fullest each time. And I’m confident you’ll love it just as much.
Here is my guide to visiting Rethymno so you can plan your trip there and enjoy this Greek gem.
Best Things to Do in Rethymno Crete
Explore Rethymno Old Town
The old part of Rethymno was built mostly during the Venetian era (1205 – 1654 CE) and is one of the best-preserved historical towns of Crete. With still standing around 600 Venetian buildings, some with Ottoman additions like latticework balconies you will feel like you have traveled back in time. In 1654 Crete was conquered by the Ottomans who turned many churches into mosques.
One of the best ways to enter old Rethymno is through Porta Guora (Grand Gate), a 1560 stone archway. Porta Guora is not very impressive but will get you to the winding cobblestone alleys, the old stone buildings with overhanging vines, and the bougainvillea.
The narrow streets are often lined with cafes and shops to buy all sorts of gifts and trinkets, and local quality food such as olive oil, soap, and honey.
Are you looking for somewhere to stay in Rethymno? Check rates and availability here.
Go to the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno
The Archaeological Museum of Rethymno is housed inside the former church of San Francisco, with impressive and well-preserved exhibits ranging from Neolithic to Roman times. The museum is quite small but it takes you on a journey from 11,000 BCE to the 17th century CE, through all of Cretan history with professionally made labels in both Greek and English. It takes about 45-50 minutes to explore.
Open Wednesday–Monday from 10 am to 3.30 pm (closed on Tuesdays), €4 ticket.
Visit Neratze Mosque
The Neratze Mosque was originally a catholic Augustinian monastery under the name Santa Maria but was turned into a mosque in 1657. The impressive building houses today the Municipal Music Conservatory or Odeon of Rethymno with numerous musical performances held at its premises.
Its most impressive characteristic is its 27-m-high minaret and three domes visible from around Rethymno. Free entrance.
Drink Fresh Water from Rimondi Fountain
Moving around the old town will lead you to the Rimondi Fountain, built by Venetian governor Rimondi in 1626. This beautifully crafted fountain channels freshwater from Mt Vrysinas through three lion heads carved into the wall. If your water bottle is empty, fill it up from this historic spring!
Stroll the Magical Venetian Port
As you wander around the charming Old Port of Rethymno, built by the Venetians in the 13th century CE, you’ll discover two-story Venetian buildings housing traditional fish taverns and cafes, creating a picturesque setting.
But what I love most is walking along the excellent preserved old tier to the beautiful lighthouse at its end which was built by the Ottomans in the 17th century. Although today the port has only small fishing boats rocking in its waters, you can almost imagine the Venetian galleys and the Turkish warships sailing from it.
Venetian Loggia
If you stroll a few meters from the Old Port, you’ll find the Loggia of Rethymnon. Built in the 16th century CE, it served as a gathering spot for Venetian nobility. After the Ottomans occupied Rethymnon, the Loggia was converted into a mosque. Today, it houses the administrative offices of the archaeological department in Rethymno. Don’t miss their in-house shop featuring copies of ancient statues if you’re a fan!
Venetian Fortezza Castle
Explore Venetian Fortezza Castle, one of the best-preserved castles in Crete. It was built by the Venetians in 1573 to protect the city from the invading Ottomans and it is a fantastic place to enjoy a romantic sunset. When you get to the castle, you can also visit the church of Agios (Saint) Nicholas, which was converted into a mosque under Ottoman rule.
Free entrance: June–September: daily from 8 am to 8 pm. October–May: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
Endless Rethymno Beach
Rethymno beach is a 13-km long stretch of soft sand, organized with umbrellas and chairs, and super convenient if you are staying in Rethymno town. The beach is just east of the old Venetian port and is lined with great hotels such as Seaside Palette Suites or Sunset Suites Réthimno.
Besides all the comforts and sea sports facilities that you can find in Rethymno’s organized beach, you will also see certain spots on the beach that have been marked and cordoned off with ropes. Rethymno is one of the nesting areas of the protected turtle Caretta Caretta and this is where they lay their eggs. Please try to avoid those places and do not disturb the nests.
Magnificent Arkadi Monastery
The fortified Arkadi Monastery is one of the best day trips from Rethymno. It is 23 km south of the town and is the ultimate symbol of Cretan resistance to the Ottomans. It is a Greek Orthodox monastery, built in the 16th century with unique Roman and baroque architectural elements.
History of Arkadi Monastery
On November 8th, 1866, the Arkadi monastery was under siege by 15,000 Ottomans. Inside, 943 Greeks—mostly women, children, and monks—had taken shelter. However, rather than surrendering, they decided to blow up the powder barrels, sacrificing themselves to avoid capture by the Ottomans. Read here for details about Arkadi Monastery.
The monastery welcomes visitors from April–May: daily from 9 am to 5 pm. June–August: daily from 9 am to 8 pm. December–March: daily from 9 am to 4 pm.
How best to visit Arkadi? Take the bus from Rethymnon or book a guided tour to Arkadi monastery, Eleftherna archaeological and Margarites village.
Visit Ancient Eleftherna
12 kilometers northeast of the Arkadi Monastery lies the important archaeological site of Eleftherna. It was founded by the Dorians in the 9th century BCE on a jagged ridge of Psiloritis (Ida) Mt at 380 meters.
The excavations started in 1985 and have brought to light several monuments dating from geometric times (1100-750 BC) to paleochristianic times (early Byzantine era). You will see the ruins of:
- Geometric and Archaic Necropolis
- Hellenistic walls
- Roman buildings and baths
- A three-aisled early Christian basilica with a narthex and wonderful mosaic decoration depicting geometric and floral motifs
The entrance ticket is €6 and it is open between 10.00 – 18.00.
Walk around Margarites Village
Margarites is another fantastic day trip from Rethymno, getting to know a traditional mountainous village built on the north slope of Psiloritis Mt, north of ancient Eleftherna. You’ll find charming stone houses, gardens filled with flowers, and numerous handmade ceramics decorating the place. Don’t miss the cute little shops selling artworks by local ceramic artists.
Hike Rethymno Kourtaliotiko Gorge
Chania has the popular Samaria Gorge whereas Rethymno has Kourtaliotiko which ends up in one of the most impressive beaches in Crete, Preveli Beach. If you travel south, towards the Libyan Sea, you will get to the 7.2-km-long Kourtaliotiko gorge, a place of exceptional natural beauty.
Kourtaliotis River flows between the imposing mountains Kouroupa (984m) and the peak Koules (676m) of Xeros Mountain. The huge rocky slopes of the gorge reach 600m and are full of caves, and small pools where you can swim if you are OK with cold water as the river feels cold even on the hottest days.
On the rocks above your head, rare birds of eagle and hawk species live. At the end of this gorgeous hike, you will get to the palm forest of Preveli Beach.
Level of difficulty: 2/5, you should wear good river shoes.
- Are you interested in visiting Crete off-season? Check out this dedicated post for Crete in Winter!
Enjoy Preveli Beach
As you reach the end of Kourtaliotiko Gorge, you enter an incredible natural setting surrounded by the palm forest of Preveli. Finish your walk with a refreshing swim at the beautiful Preveli Beach, overlooking the Libyan Sea.
If you do not want to hike, you can drive to the parking lot on top of the beach but you still need to walk a downhill path. Before you venture to Preveli Beach you should keep in mind a few things:
- The beach is top-rated so that means it can be very crowded at times.
- The way up and down from the parking area is steep, with many many steps, and needs very good walking shoes.
- As the beach faces the open Libyan Sea, it can get very windy at times.
- The parking area charges you €2.
- There have been some complaints about the toilets in the single bar covering the whole beach.
If you do not feel like walking up and down some 400 steps, you can always drive to the nearby Katsouni beach, which is always quieter.
Here you can find a fantastic guided tour that combines river trekking at Kourtaliotis Gorge with a dive in Preveli beach!
Check out the two Preveli Monasteries
West of Preveli Beach there are two ancient monasteries, 1.7 km apart from each other, Kato (Down) Moni Preveli and Ano (Upper) Moni Preveli. The Kato Preveli monastery was founded during the 10th and 11th centuries and it is deserted today.
Ano Moni Preveli was founded in the 16th century and is a working monk monastery built on a hill with incredible sea views. It was destroyed by the Ottomans but was promptly rebuilt and today you can admire the church and the facilities as well as religious artifacts in the well-designed museum.
Find more about the monastery’s history and contact details here.
Stay at Plakias Village
Plakias village is one of the most popular resorts in Rethymno, built on the south facing the Libyan Sea. Plakias is a must-visit place in Rethymno Crete, even for a day tour. It is built inside a protected bay surrounded by mountains and the nearby river Kotsyfos. The village is touristically advanced with a large variety of hotels, taverns, and bars.
Dive into Schinaria Beach
Located 8 km southeast of Plakias, Schinaria is a magical beach renowned for its sandy shores and rich biodiversity in the rocky seabed. Two streams flow into the beach, creating a small wetland area with fascinating reeds to explore. You can also enjoy amenities like a restaurant and a diving school.
Kalypso Beach or Pirate Fjord
South of Plakias, is the unique Kalypso beach, a narrow piece of the sea surrounded by massive steep rocks. The bay ends in a small, sandy beach where the pirates used to take refuge during the Byzantine times.
The water is crystal clear and the color changes depending on the depth of the spot, somewhere deep blue and in other places turquoise. The seabed is also super rich in fish, plants, and coral life so if you love exploring the sea, bring along your mask.
The entrance to the beach is through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa and is free.
Join a Cretan Feast
If someone invites you while you are in Rethymno – or anywhere on Crete island – to a Cretan festival, accept and go, you will enjoy a unique experience.
The music / religious festivals are always accompanied by the sound of Cretan lyra – the traditional musical instrument of Crete – and by impressive folk dances, such as Pentozalis. Pentozalis is a traditional vigorous war dance, performed passionately by the Cretans.
The festivals always offer locally cooked food and wine, so prepare yourself for a long, exciting evening!
Master Cretan Food Tasting
Crete island is famous all over Greece for its delicious cuisine which has become a delicacy and a treat when someone cooks it in Athens. There are so many mouth-watering recipes that only when you taste them you will realize that Cretans are culinary masters!
To mention a few of the traditional Cretan specialties and red fine wines that you should taste when in Crete:
- Kalitsounia: sweet mini cheese pies
- Dakos: hard Cretan bread accompanied with tomato, mizithra cheese, capers, olives, and plenty of virgin Cretan oil
- Snails boubouristi: popping fried snails
- Xerotigana: honey-dipped spiral pastries
- Local Cretan wine varieties: Vilana (white), Kotsifali, Mandilari, Liatiko (rose and red)
Argyroupoli Springs
Go to Argyroupoli Springs, 25 km southwest of Rethymno, a lush green, rural village with countless small waterfalls rising from underground springs. Find the tiny cave dedicated to Agia Dynami and light a candle.
Explore Argyroupoli village on foot and check out its charming Venetian houses, some dating back to the 15th century. Built on the ancient city of Lappa, you’ll find scattered ruins from ancient Roman and Byzantine times, like the ancient Necropolis with lots of tombs to discover.
What impressed me most in Argyroupoli were its mountain springs, flowing everywhere and forming small waterfalls—a true oasis of water. As the water is almost everywhere around you, you can enjoy a meal or coffee at local taverns and cafes, a real paradise.
Hike Psiloritis Mountain
If you love hiking, then Psiloritis Mountain is perfect for you! It has a peak of 2,456 m which makes it the highest mountain in Crete and the second-highest mountain in Greece after Olympos.
The ascent to the peaks of Psiloritis can start from several villages such as Kamares, Fourfouras, Platanias, the Nida plateau, or from the north, from Strata of Psiloritis, an excellent paved path, which starts from the shelter in Lakka Mygeros (1,670 m).
Find here a great website with many trails of Psiloritis, Google Maps, and starting points in Greek, but you can translate them using Google.
Vidit Cave Ideon Antron, Zeus’ Birthplace
Up on the northwest side of Psiloritis, near Anogeia in Rethymno, sits one of Crete’s coolest and most important caves at 1,538 meters above sea level. Legend has it that the Ideon Cave was baby Zeus’ crib, hidden there by his mom Rhea to keep him safe from his hungry dad Cronus.
The cave is essentially a large opening on the mountain, featuring a main chamber measuring 40 by 50 meters, with little else visible. You’ll need to let your imagination run wild to envision its ancient Greek past.
Explore Seaside Agia Galini Village
Agia Galini is another popular village in the south and one of the best resorts in Rethymno Crete. It is built amphitheatrically of the Cretan Sea bay and is surrounded by three mountains.
Agia Galini may be touristically advanced however, it has retained all its traditional charm and it is an ideal location for your trip to Rethymno. The beaches in Agia Galini are beautiful and organized and some of the best things to do while staying there are:
- Get on one of the local boats to watch the dolphins that frequent the area
- Go by boat to the beach of Agios Pavlos, or by car from the road to Saktouria and have yoga lessons by the beach
- Go to the islets of Paximadia and dive to explore the rich seabed
FAQ for Rethymno
Where to Stay in Rethymno
If you only have a day or two in Rethymno, you better stay central in Rethymno town and take day trips to the places you would like to see. And the nicest area to stay in is the Old Town of Rethymno.
White Swan is a beautiful mid-range property with immaculate modern rooms. Expect exceptional service and you will love the swimming pool on the terrace. Check prices at:
If you are looking for some old-style glam then you will love Casa Moazzo Suites and Apartments. Great for families. Check prices at:
If you have more time in Rethymno I would suggest staying south, in Agia Galini at Rozmari and Spa, a great small hotel with spa facilities and mouth-watering homemade breakfast (budget).
Best Restaurants in Rethymno
Rethymno and especially in its old town, has some amazing restaurants you can’t miss. Check out Avli for delicious Mediterranean food in a beautiful courtyard. Prima Plora is perfect for fresh seafood with awesome sea views. Thalassografia mixes traditional Cretan dishes with a modern touch. These spots offer great food and a friendly vibe, making your dining experience unforgettable.
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How to get to Rethymno
If you want to get to Rethymno from Athens, you will need to fly to Chania or Heraklion or take the ferry to Chania or Heraklion. There is no direct connection between Athens and Rethymno.
This may sound inconvenient but it is not. That way you will get the chance to visit gorgeous Chania and Heraklion with the beautiful villages and Knossos archaeological site.
Ferries to Rethymno
There are daily ferries to Chania and Heraklion from Athens port, Piraeus, all year round.
During summer, you can also reach Heraklion Port from Santorini daily. Once per week, Heraklion is also linked by ferry with Mykonos, Paros, and Milos. Three times per week Heraklion is connected with Karpathos, Kassos, and Rhodes.
From the port, you can get a taxi, a rental car, or a bus to your destination.
Book your seats for the Greek islands using FerryScanner for reliable information.
Flights to Rethymno
You can fly to Chania International Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” which receives domestic flights from Athens Airport and Thessaloniki all year round, as well as seasonal flights from many European countries during summer.
You can also fly to Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” which is connected with daily flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, and Larnaka, while during summer it also receives flights from many countries around Europe. The flight time from Athens to Heraklion or Chania is about 45 minutes
Rethymno by Car
If you have reached Crete by air then you need you can get a taxi, a rental car, or a bus to your destination. Rethymno is 61 km or an hour’s drive by car from Chania and 71 km or 53 minutes from Heraklion by private car.
How to Get Around Rethymno
If you are interested in fully exploring Rethymno, and going to remote areas and mountain villages, then you will need your rental car, especially if you only have a few days for Rethymno.
You can also use KTEL buses, find here the timetables for Rethymno and Chania, which are quite inexpensive but can be very crowded during summer with long queues.
Test Your Knowledge of Rethymno Crete
- Where is Rethymno located in Crete?
- A) North
- B) South
- C) East
- D) West
- Which century was the Old Port of Rethymno built by the Venetians?
- A) 12th century
- B) 13th century
- C) 14th century
- D) 15th century
- What significant historical event is the Arkadi Monastery known for?
- A) The Battle of Crete
- B) The Cretan Renaissance
- C) The Cretan War of Independence
- D) The Ottoman massacre in 1866
- Which ancient civilization originally settled on the site of modern-day Rethymno?
- A) Minoans
- B) Mycenaeans
- C) Romans
- D) Phoenicians
- What is the name of the mountain range near Rethymno where the Ideon Cave is located?
- A) Psiloritis
- B) Dikti
- C) White Mountains
- D) Asterousia
- Which cultural feature characterizes the village of Argyroupoli in Rethymno?
- A) Ancient amphitheater
- B) Venetian fortress
- C) Byzantine church
- D) Springs and waterfalls
- What is the traditional product associated with the village of Anogeia near Rethymno?
- A) Olive oil
- B) Wine
- C) Raki
- D) Pottery
Answers:
- D) West
- B) 13th century
- D) The Ottoman massacre in 1866
- A) Minoans
- A) Psiloritis
- D) Springs and waterfalls
- C) Raki
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If yes, please visit my dedicated Plan My Trip Page for a personalized itinerary!
Athens Airport to Piraeus Port
- Bus: If you are arriving at Athens International Airport you can travel straight to the port by taking the X96 express bus (€5.5, children <6 yo, free entrance), which departs every 40 minutes and the average trip lasts 1 hour – runs 24/7.
- Metro: (€9) is easily found across airport arrivals (blue line – M3) going directly to Piraeus port. The average trip to Piraeus lasts 1 hour.
- Taxis are available in front of the airport (around €40 to Athens, €55-60 to Piraeus (depending on the traffic in Kifisos), and take up to 3 or 4 people with small luggage)
- Rent a car with Discover Cars for reliable, new cars at affordable prices
- You don’t like driving but love hassle-free solutions? Book a Private transfer with an English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries, or anywhere else in Greece
- Are you looking for domestic flights in Greece? Check out the official Aegean Airlines Website.
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