Rethymno, Crete, with its delightful small-town charm and long history, is a popular destination on the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean. Thousands of tourists from all over the world travel here every year. Many fall in love with this charming little town with a very long beach and a well-preserved old town.
Rethymno is located roughly halfway between Chania and Heraklion, making it perfect for a day trip from either city. We rented a car in Chania and drove ourselves, but it’s also possible to take the bus here. It wasn’t difficult to find free parking in one of the back streets a bit away from the center.
Here are some suggestions for things to do in Rethymno.
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Stroll Around the Old Town
Rethymno’s Old Town is one of Greece’s best-preserved, with a history that stretches far back in time. Many of the buildings date from the Venetian and Ottoman periods. Beautiful flowers adorn the arches and the many narrow, cozy streets. Small shops, taverns, and cafes line up in the old town. There is bustling life both during the day and into the evening.
Gaze Over the Town from the Fortezza Fortress
Fortezza is the large fortress by the harbor area in Rethymno. The Fortezza was built during the period when the city was under Venetian rule to protect the town and the harbor from Ottoman Turks and pirates. Construction began in 1573 and lasted seven years. More than 100,000 Cretans and 40,000 working animals were involved to complete the massive construction!
Inside the fortress, you can see Sultan Ibrahim’s Mosque and the outdoor theater Erofili. The mosque was originally St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, but after the Ottomans gained control over Rethymno in 1646, the building was converted into a mosque. The Erofili Theater was built in 1993 and is used for the annual Renaissance Festival.
How much does entrance to Fortezza cost?
€4 for adults, €10 for families.
Take a Refreshing Dip at Rethymnon Beach
The beach in Rethymno starts right at the Venetian harbor and stretches more than 12 kilometers. The first part of the beach has fine sand and is relatively shallow. There is plenty of space for play and fun, making the beach suitable if you have children. Several places along the beach offer sunbeds/umbrellas for rent, or you can try various water sports activities like jet skiing, pedal boats, parasailing, or fun banana boats.
Along the beach lies the promenade with a plethora of bars, cafes, restaurants, and small shops. Here you will also find most of the larger family hotels in Rethymno.
Taste Delicious Cretan Food
Rethymno offers many cozy small restaurants around the town. You will find many nice taverns and restaurants both in the old town and along the beach promenade that serve delicious local food.
Compare prices and book a rental car in Chania:
“Rethymno” or “Rethymnon”?
You may notice that the name of the town is spelled in various ways. Rethymno, Rethimno, Rethymnon, Réthymnon, and Rhíthymnos are used interchangeably. When the town was under Venetian rule, they called it Retimo. As I understand it, locals use Rethymno among themselves, while Rethymnon is the formal way to write the town’s name.
Other Things to Do in Rethymno
Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time when we visited Rethymno, so we had to prioritize what we spent time on. But if you have plenty of time here, there are several other things to check out. For example, the town’s Archaeological Museum might be worth a visit. Additionally, the Venetian harbor area is mentioned as a nice place to see. There is a 9-meter-high lighthouse built in the 1830s here.
We hope you will enjoy your stay in this beautiful little Greek town!
