Rethymnon crit. Crete, attractions of Rethymno: what to see and where to go. Extreme Sports

It's no secret that the most popular tourist destination between April and the end of September is Greece. Rethymnon (the more correct name is Rethymnon) occupies not the least position among the country's attractions. And why? Yes, thanks to the wonderful beaches. The golden strip of sand stretches for thirteen kilometers. And this is only the city municipal beach! And there are others. The coastline in the resort of Rethymnon is unique in that it is diverse. Landscapes change like in a kaleidoscope. Do you miss the wide sandy beaches like in Bulgaria? Or do you dream of small coves hidden from prying eyes that God himself created for lovers? Do you want to feel like, if not Adam and Eve, then at least Robinson Crusoe on a deserted and wild shore? Or do you want European service, so that the sand is sifted with a rake, and there are sunbeds and awnings at the water's edge? All this can be found in one rather small resort. But what doesn’t happen here is crowding. In this article we will look at the best beaches in Rethymno. Reviews mention that some tourists vacationing at other resorts in the northern part of Crete (for example, Chania), nevertheless, went there every day. In addition to describing the beaches and their infrastructure, we will give some practical tips that we hope will be useful to you.

Where is the resort of Rethymno located and how to get there

This city is located in the northern part of the island of Crete (Greece). It is equally in demand by both lovers of excursions and connoisseurs of a relaxing (or fun) beach holiday. The city center is a real museum under the sky. Magnificent Byzantine heritage, medieval Orthodox churches, Catholic churches, Turkish mosques - all this fits into the narrow streets of ancient Rethymnon. The city has long expanded its borders along the sea and included nearby coastal villages in its orbit, which have turned from fishing villages into resort villages. Rethymnon is well located on the island in relation to others. It is not far from Heraklion, to the Balos lagoon, and the springs of Agriroupoli. But the main treasure of the resort is the wonderful beaches of Rethymnon. Reviews call Crete the island beloved of God. Everything here is of the highest standard: wines, cuisine, historical and cultural attractions, picturesque nature. And, of course, the beaches. And in this area, Rethymnon can deservedly be called the capital of Crete. Where can you go to sunbathe and swim at this resort?

Weather in Rethymnon

Before we begin our review of the resort’s beaches, let’s first decide when and in what period to go there. The northern coast of Crete, where Rethymnon is located, lies in a climate zone that is comfortable for a vacationer from Russia. The rest of Greece, especially the mainland, is too dry and has large temperature differences between seasons. The island of Crete has a Mediterranean climate. This means that almost all of the annual precipitation falls in winter. The temperature in January rarely drops below +10 degrees. In summer, the weather in Rethymno pleases beachgoers with cloudless skies, plenty of sun and a warm, calm sea. The air temperature in the shade even in September reaches twenty-nine degrees. But the heat on the beach is not felt; the effect of the fresh sea breeze is felt. At the end of summer the water warms up to twenty-seven degrees. All of the above leads to a rather long swimming season. The first tourists settle down on beach chairs already in April. But not everyone decides to swim. The deep Mediterranean Sea is warming slowly. Already in May, the beach season is in full swing. And it continues until the end of September. By the way, the first month of autumn is considered the most successful for relaxation. In October, resort hotels begin their discount season in hopes of catching the last tourists. But don’t expect super low prices: Crete, due to its rich historical heritage, is in demand all year round.

Rethymno city beach

We are accustomed to the fact that the coast, which is located within the boundaries of a populated area, is crowded with people, and therefore its cleanliness leaves much to be desired. This is the situation in the Russian resorts of the Black and Azov Seas. But this is Greece! Rethymnon (municipal beach) has been awarded the Blue Flag several times. And not only for the facilities, service and developed infrastructure. When presenting this high award, environmental safety is at the forefront. The main city beach of the resort, which is called “Rethymnon”, begins immediately behind the historical landmark, the Venetian port. A wide strip of golden sand stretches for as much as thirteen kilometers. Naturally, there are a lot of people in the center of the resort. But since the Rethymnon beach is so vast, this is not noticeable at all. There are rescue towers evenly along the entire length, there are showers and changing cabins. Young people love to come here because there is so much fun on the water on this beach. And at the same time it is very clean here. Absolutely clear water rolls over. Ecological cleanliness is evidenced by the fact that Caretta turtles lay eggs on the beach. So if you see a place fenced off with ropes, know that this is masonry that is protected by law. The city beach is also popular in the evening. After all, the Eleftherios Venizelos embankment runs along it - a party place in the city.

Coombes

This beach will appeal to those who want to sunbathe against the backdrop of historical sights and architectural beauty. From here you can see the Fortezza fortress-museum, which, by the way, tourist reviews recommend visiting (a ticket costs three euros). The sandy beach of Koumbes is located two kilometers from the center of Rethymno. It is not much inferior in length to the city one. It is loved by vacationers with small children because of the gentle slope into the sea and the absence of waves. And besides, it is quite close to the resort of Rethymnon. How to get to Coombes? The walk will take you a maximum of half an hour. You can get to the beach by city bus. And for the really lazy, there is the opportunity to rent accommodation in Coombes (apart-hotels and hotels). This beach is equipped like the city one. But toilets and showers here are paid (fifty cents). Coombes is renowned as a place for water based entertainment. There is a marine sports center here. Along the Coombes promenade, holidaymakers will find many taverns serving delicious Greek cuisine. Lunch for two with wine will cost thirty euros. There are also sports and children's playgrounds, and outdoor exercise equipment.

Bali

We mentioned that there are also rocky beaches of Rethymno (Crete). Reviews characterize this coast as wild. Bali (like its namesake island) will appeal to couples in love and lovers of a secluded, relaxed holiday alone with nature. The beach is located thirty kilometers east of Rethymno. You can’t travel every day, tourists complain. But regular buses run regularly, and the view is worth the money spent on the road. The four coves that make up Bali Beach are nestled between high coastal cliffs. They noticeably dampen the wind, which is always fresh on the northern coast of Crete. And the sea waves are less noticeable here. Actually, Bali is a small village. It, like any resort, has taverns, restaurants, shops, and housing for rent. But there are immeasurably fewer tourists there compared to Rethymno. That's why reviews call it a place for secluded relaxation. By the way, they will satisfy lovers of both pebbles and soft sand. These beaches are not that wild. There are awnings, sun loungers, umbrellas. In one of the four bays there is a pier from which you can go on a boat trip on a tourist boat, stylized as a pirate galley. But what is important is that there is no noise and motorized types of water entertainment here.

Gerani Beach (Crete)

Most holidaymakers leaving Rethymnon in search of a place in the sun and crystal clear waters head east. Just a little further from the city, it’s as if you find yourself in another world: the sandy beach gives way to majestic rocky cliffs, and behind them stretches a fertile valley full of fragrant greenery. But Gerani is located west of Rethymno. The beach is separated from the city center by only six kilometers, which can be easily covered by a regular bus for a euro and sixty cents. What are the reasons to come to Gerani? Snorkelers recognize only this one. Rocks protrude far into the water and are home to a variety of Mediterranean wildlife. This circumstance requires vacationers to take a certain amount of caution. To avoid unbearable pain from a sea urchin injection, it is better to purchase Geraniums, which will equally please lovers of sand and pebbles. A river flowing into the sea divides the beach into two halves. One of them, western, is sandy, the other is pebble. Reviews note that in Gerani, beach chairs and umbrellas are slightly cheaper than in Rethymno (six euros versus seven). Reviews recommend having lunch at a typical Greek tavern nearby. Tourists are also advised to visit the Church of Panagia Kamarianis. Geraniums are not for small children. The depth begins immediately from the shore.

Beach at Adelianos Kambos

This resort village is the largest eastern satellite of Rethymnon. And, reviews suggest, the most popular. Adelianos Kambos is separated from Rethymno by seven and a half kilometers. You don't have to wait for a special regular bus to get there. You can use routes further east, for example, No. 20 (to Panormo). The bus stops near the beach. The coast is lined with umbrellas and sun loungers (a set will cost five euros per day), there are changing cabins, showers and toilets. Characterizing the beaches

The northern coast of the resort town of Rethymnon is an endless sandy beach, along which all kinds of bars, restaurants and hotels are lined. The resort is famous for its rich nature and monuments of Venetian times, so a holiday in Rethymno is ideal for those who prefer a relaxing time on the beach, because wonderful clean sandy beaches are located directly in the city itself. For lovers of active recreation and excursion programs, the resort town of Rethymno will also have entertainment - near the city there are the Arkadi Monastery and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Archaeological Museums and a Gallery of Modern Art.

is the administrative center of the region of the same name in Crete with a well-developed infrastructure, with a population of 20,000 inhabitants. The city is divided into two parts - old and new. The old part of the resort town of Rethymnon will interest history buffs with its narrow streets, interesting landscapes and ancient buildings. Holidays in Rethymno are popular not only in the summer - thousands of tourists come here in February to attend the bright and enchanting festival. The resort town of Rethymno also comes to life in early autumn, when the wine festival begins here.

Video from Rethymno

During a tour to Rethymno, tourists can not only enjoy a beach holiday, but also stroll along the beautiful city promenade and appreciate the various attractions of Rethymno. One of the main attractions of Rethymnon is the Venetian fortress of Fortezza, which was built in 1573-1590. Fortress...

Rethymno: tours and activities

Excursions and activities in Rethymno will allow you to learn the rich history of the city and feel its unusual atmosphere from the era of the Venetian rule of Crete.

You should begin your acquaintance with the city by visiting its surroundings, for example, by visiting the city park and zoological garden. In July, a wine festival is held in the park, and at the end of June the Klidon rite is celebrated. The next point on the city tour will be the Square of the Four Martyrs, which is located east of Kouturioti Street, on the square there is a church of the same name. Next, the excursion leads to the Veli Pasha Mosque; it is believed that the mosque was built on the ruins of the Latin temple of St. Onuphrius.

A wonderful excursion with the route “Rethymnon - Fodele - Preveli Monastery - Beach” will cost an adult tourist from 50 euros, its duration is 8 hours. The tour begins with an overview of the city itself, which includes a visit to the Rimondi Fountain, the Fortezza fortress, the Archaeological Museum and the 16th-century Loggia. Next stop is the village of Fodele. Here tourists are invited to visit the El Greco house-museum and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Panagia. Then the bus with tourists goes to the Preveli Monastery. The excursion ends with a trip to the palm beach. You can visit this excursion by bus, accompanied by a guide, or on your own, by renting a car.

You can take a tour with a route through the gorge to southern Crete, crossing Crete from north to south and back along the ring. With this excursion, tourists get acquainted with all the main attractions of Rethymno - the Courtallot (singing) gorge, the church of the hermit monk St. Nicholas of Courtallot, a natural waterfall from the springs, the Perveli monastery and the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This excursion also leads to the village and village of Rethymnon - Plakias and Argyroupoli. The tour ends at the only freshwater lake, Kournas. The cost of this group excursion will be 75 euros, entrance to the monastery and lunch are paid separately.

With an excursion to Rethymnon, you should definitely visit the Venetian port, which played an important role in the development of the city, and the Loggia - a rectangular building of the Venetian era with 3 arches, built in the 16th century and perfectly preserved to this day.

The museums of Rethymnon should not be ignored. The archaeological museum has collected collections of church attributes, household items, jewelry and artifacts, and thousands of tourists visit it on excursions. The open-air Museum of Folklore and History, which displays beautiful buildings and craft shops, will tell visitors about the cultural history of Rethymnon. There are a huge number of group excursions and various events in Rethymnon; you can also visit interesting places in the city on your own on regular buses.

History of Rethymno

The modern resort town of Rethymno was built on the site of the independent ancient city of Rithymno, which existed in the 4th-3rd centuries. before. AD The city was very significant in those days: it had its own self-government and minted its own coin, on one side of which the head of Apollo or Athena was depicted...

Climate in Rethymno

The climate in Rethymno is moderately Mediterranean, subtropical, in summer the average air temperature is +28 degrees, and in winter the air temperature rises to +16°C. The climate in Rethymnon will delight lovers of bright sunshine - it is sunny here 300 days a year. At the same time, winter in Rethymno is mild and short, with an average temperature of +16°C. Reviews of Rethymno, lovers of the hot sun are worth going and lying on the beaches of this Cretan resort.

Rethymnon: entertainment and active recreation

Holidays in Rethymnon will also appeal to lovers of active pastime and sports. Diving is popular here, and there are two specialized centers near Rethymnon: Paradise Diving Center and Evergreen Diving Center.

The city is located in a mountainous area, so one of the popular activities for active tourists is mountain walking and cycling. For thrill-seekers, mountaineering or mountain hiking, which tourists who come here love, are suitable.

The city's beaches are also suitable for an active holiday in Rethymno - here you can go surfing or swimming, as well as play beach volleyball or do yoga. Center Dr. Fish provides various wellness services and gives vacationers an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy their holiday in Rethymnon.

From the airports of Heraklion and Chania and back you can get to Rethymnon by bus, the trip will take about 2 hours, or by taxi, the travel time will be 1 hour. Buses run from 05:00 - 06:00 in the morning until 21:00-22:00 in the evening with an interval of 1.5-2 hours. The schedule must be checked at the departure station; the fare will be 12-20 euros.

It will be convenient to travel around Rethymnon along the tourist route on a sightseeing bus with a selected group and a guide. You can travel around Rethymno independently either by rented car or by public transport.

Car rental in Rethymno will cost from 30 euros per day, while the cost of gasoline is paid separately.

Regular buses from Rethymnon to other resorts usually run according to a schedule, which can be found at bus stops and at ticket offices. The cost of a bus ticket for short distances ranges from 3 to 5 euros, depending on the direction of travel. By the way, the ticket is paid at special ticket offices near public transport stops.

Magnificent city Rethymno(Ρέθυμνο [réθymno]) is located in the west of Crete, between and Chania. Its cozy streets, ancient courtyards, architecture, Venetian port, embankment and Fortezza fortress enchant tourists once and for all. It is enough to visit this city once to strive to come here every year.

We can say that the two cities of Crete compete with each other in beauty and charm, but the choice is so difficult that until now even the inhabitants of the island have not decided which one is more beautiful, or Rethymnon.

Stunning views of the sea, a perfectly preserved Venetian fortress in combination with the Ida mountain range just beg for a photo or an artist’s canvas. In the historical part of the city you can stroll on foot, because... it is completely closed to car traffic. In the narrow streets you can perfectly hide from the sun, choose gifts in souvenir shops, have a drink and a snack; fortunately, coffee shops and taverns can be found on almost every corner.

Archaeological research has confirmed that the place where the city is now located was inhabited during the Neolithic period. On the site of modern Rethymno there was an ancient independent city of Rithymno (IV century BC), which even minted its own money. Coins often featured images of two stylized dolphins. In ancient times, the sea waters of the Rethymno region were famous for their large number of dolphins. So dolphins became one of the symbols of the city.

Rethymnon attractions

What to see in Rethymnon on your own? The choice of attractions is quite large:

Venetian port and promenade

There is a beautiful embankment along which there are ancient Venetian houses. They now house all kinds of restaurants, cafes and taverns and invite tourists to relax and recuperate.

The embankment on one side abuts the medieval Venetian port, and on the other ends with a stone cape. At the very end of the cape there is a lighthouse, the same age as the port.

In the Middle Ages, the port of Rethymnon, located in the harbor and built during Venetian rule, was of great economic and strategic importance. Now it serves tourists - from here you can go on an excursion or a boat trip.

Lighthouse Rethymno

The ancient lighthouse, of course, attracts a lot of attention from tourists and literally begs to be photographed in tourist advertising brochures. It seems to crown a huge exhibition along the sea, consisting of a port, an embankment and a fortress wall.

The lighthouse, surprisingly, was built not by the Venetians, but by the Turks in the 19th century. The old version, unfortunately, has not survived to this day, and we have to admire its restored version.

The height of the lighthouse is 15 meters. It is located at the very end of the wall that goes around the harbor, and thus outlines the perimeter of the port itself.

The lighthouse lantern has ceased to perform its direct functions since 1996.

Old city

In the Old Town of Rethymno, almost all Venetian buildings from the 16th century have been amazingly preserved. This is perhaps the best example of cities on the island of Crete. The narrow streets are lined with buildings built in Venetian and Turkish styles. The characteristic balconies and sakhnisya hanging over the pavement (as they call bay windows here) give a special oriental flavor to the Old Town.

Thanks to the narrow streets, it is comfortable to walk around the Old Town even in hot weather, since they are in the shade almost all the time. The pleasure of a walk can be combined with shopping for souvenirs in numerous shops, as well as drinking a cup of aromatic Greek coffee, which is offered in almost any tavern or cafe.

The name of this majestic structure comes from the Italian word Fortezza, which means “fortress”.

Fortezza was founded by the Venetians in 1540. Construction of the fortress lasted almost 30 years, and a year later it was already destroyed by the Turks. From 1573 to 1590 a new, more reliable fortress was built.

It is located on the hill of Paliokastro (translated as “old fortress”) in the north-west of the city of Rethymnon.

The fortress is well preserved; there are quite a lot of objects on its territory, including a mosque and small churches: one was consecrated in honor of St. Catherine (this is a converted former water tank), and the second in honor of St. Theodore Trikhin.

An equally famous landmark of Rethymno is the Rimondi Fountain, named after the governor of the city and built on his orders in 1626 in order to provide the city residents with drinking water.

The fountain is located at the intersection of Mesologiou, Moshovitu and Arabatzoglou streets, on Platanou Square.

The Rimondi Fountain consists of four columns with flutes, which are topped with Corinthian capitals, alternating with three mouths in the form of lion heads, from whose mouths drinking water flows. At the very top you can read: LIBERALITATIS and FONTES.

Venetian loggia

Another remarkably preserved ancient building is the 16th-century Venetian Loggia building. Here discussions on economic and political topics were held by noble citizens and fateful decisions were made.

During Turkish rule, the loggia was a mosque, then an archaeological museum. The building now houses a shop that sells copies of famous archaeological finds.

The Venetian Loggia is located at the intersection of Arkadiou and Paleologou streets, not far from the old Venetian port.

Church of St. Franziska

Another interesting monument of history and architecture in Rethymnon is the Church of St. Francis. The time of construction is approximately the 12th century, i.e. perhaps she is a contemporary of Saint Francis of Assisi himself (1182-1226), after whom she was named.

During Venetian rule, the church was a cathedral, but with the arrival of the Turks it was turned into a mosque, like many other churches in Crete. There was a charity shelter and a canteen for the poor - Imaret.

In 1971, the building was restored and transferred to the University of Crete. Now it is used as an exhibition and concert hall. The former Church of St. Francis is supposed to be used in the future as the Byzantine Museum of Rethymnon.

The Cathedral of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rethymno or Megali Panagia (Great Mother of God) - as it is often called by locals - is an interesting historical monument. Its architecture does not at all resemble Orthodox churches - it is a three-nave basilica without a vault.

The construction of the cathedral took place in three stages. In 1844, a new temple was erected on the site of the former small church, due to the permission of the Turkish authorities to build large church buildings for Christians. Later, in 1899, a bell tower was added. The current cathedral building was built in 1956 in the image of the Cathedral of Evangelistria on Tinos.Inside the temple there is a magnificent carved wooden iconostasis from 1850.

The Church of St. Barbara is located on the street of the same name Ag. Varvaras. It was built in 1885 on the site of an old church, also dedicated to St. Barbara. The temple is made in the form of a cross.

During Ottoman rule, the church was turned into a Turkish bath, and in the period 1898 - 1097 it was provided to the Russian military for religious needs.

Saint Barbara is considered the patroness of the city of Rethymnon. In the church itself there is a miraculous icon of St. Barbara, who saved the city from the plague epidemic. During the epidemic, Orthodox Christians made a religious procession with this icon. The epidemic passed, but Muslims still suffered from the plague. When they learned about the miraculous deliverance of Christians, they began to bring gifts to the icon of St. Barbara, and the terrible illness left them too.

The snow-white Church of Our Lady of Angels (literal translation - Lady of the Angels) was built by Dominican Catholics in 1609 - the last years of Venetian rule. Initially, the temple was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene.

With the arrival of the Turks, the temple was turned into a mosque, a minaret was attached to it, which began to collapse and for this the townspeople nicknamed it Koutsuroulis - which means “cripple.”

In 1917, the temple was given to the Orthodox community and restoration began. In the same year, the church was consecrated in honor of the Mother of God. Locals call the temple Mikri Panagia (Little Mother of God), by analogy with the cathedral, also dedicated to the Mother of God Megali Panagia (Big Mother).

Very close to the Rethymno Cathedral, almost opposite, nestled a small one-nave church of St. Anthony. Its left side wall is adjacent to the neighboring building.

The church was erected in 1863. Its entrance is decorated with pediments, and above the doorway there is a bas-relief depicting St. Anthony and an inscription in Greek: Άγιος Αντώνιος.

Inside the temple there are vaulted ceilings, an iconostasis and a royal throne of carved wood and ancient but modest church utensils.

The temple is open. By the way, here you can place the largest candles - the size of a human being.

The Church of the Four Martyrs is located in the city square of the same name. It is dedicated to the local new martyrs Angelis, Manuel, George and Nicholas.

A new large temple was built on the site of two previous ones, which were demolished. This is a three-nave vaulted church that was built in 1975. The relics of three of the four martyrs are kept inside. The relics of the fourth are kept in the temple of St. Petersburg. The iconostasis contains unique icons of Foya Kondoglu, and in the basement there is a chapel of St. Sava.

The saints were executed by the Turks in 1824 for secretly practicing Christianity. The martyrs were beheaded and their bodies were hung on plane trees for intimidation.

Perhaps the most famous example of local Venetian architecture is the House of Drandakis. This palazzo is built in the provincial style of the 16th-17th centuries, decorated with a Venetian portal with Doric columns and a triangular pediment and with an inscription in Turkish and Greek, which translated means: “Glory to God, and may He save the builder.”

This building in documents of the 19th-20th centuries is listed as the Telegraph Palace on Tsar Street (a reminder of the Russian presence in Rethymnon). Now this is private property and there is no telegraph here.

Kara Musa Pasha Mosque

The small mosque of Kara Musa Pasha is named after the admiral of the Ottoman fleet who took part in the capture of Rethymnon in 1646.

During Venetian rule it was the monastery of St. Barbara. When the Turks captured the city in 1659, it suffered the same fate as many Christian churches - they turned it into a mosque. In the courtyard there is the tomb of the founder of the mosque and a Turkish cemetery.

Now this building houses the Inspectorate of Byzantine Antiquities.

Neraj Mosque

One of the most impressive sights is the Neradje (Neradze) Mosque with the tallest minaret in Rethymno. In Venetian times it was the Church of St. Mary, which was built in the 16th century for an Augustinian monastery. In 1657, by order of Ghazi Hussein Pasha (the conqueror of Rethymnon), it was turned into a mosque. And instead of the gable roof of the basilica, three domes appeared. In 1925, after liberation, the mosque became a warehouse, then a theater, but in December of the same year, Christians intended to create the Church of St. Nicholas here, but the mosque never became a temple. The building first housed the Greek Conservatory of Rethymnon, and now houses a music school.

Parks of Rethymno

Within the city there is a small park where you can hide from the heat, quench your thirst directly from the steam spring and relax a little, fortunately there are benches.

Despite the small size of the park, you can see a fairly large variety of plants here.

Biotopoi is an eco-park located near Rethymnon. This is the merit of the volunteers who, in 2004, decided to collect on its territory all types of plants and animals of the island of Crete. Now the park features 220 species of plants, including medicinal ones, and 50 species of animals. You can spend time with children in the park - there is a special playground. If you use the services of a guide, he may offer to try some of the fruits. Entrance to the park is paid - about 5 €.

Rethymno, history

The Rethymno region, according to archaeological finds, was inhabited during the Neolithic period. The city that supposedly existed on the territory of present-day Rethymno had a similar name - Rithymna. The old city minted coins and therefore had important economic and political significance. The hill on which the famous Fortezza fortress is located is called Paleokastro, which means “old fortress”. There is an assumption that even before the Venetians built the Fortezza fortress, there were fortifications on the hill. This is confirmed by Magagnotto’s drawing of the fortress walls.

The Venetians gave the name Castel Vecchio to the fortified city after 1204. They decided to fortify the city in 1537 and completed the construction of the city walls in 1570. But the very next year everything was destroyed by the Turks, and the city was plundered and destroyed. Therefore, it was decided to build a new fortress, more reliable for protection from attack, which was supposed to become a shelter for all residents in case of danger. But in 1646, after the attack of the Turks, as a result of the very plight of the inhabitants of the fortress, the city was forced to surrender.

The Turkish period was accompanied by the imposition of an alien culture and religion, as a result of which uprisings regularly broke out in the city.

The period of reconstruction of the city begins with independence in 1913. As a result of the famous Greek-Turkish exchange, compatriots returned to the city in 1923.

In 1941, after serious resistance to fascist troops, the city was finally captured by the Germans.

Liberated from the Germans, the city, along with all of Crete, experiences a civil war and joins NATO in 1952. In 1967, the “Junta of Black Colonels” came to power. In subsequent years, tourism finally begins to develop. The city is gradually being restored, hotels are being built, tourist infrastructure facilities are becoming one of the favorite places of many travelers.

Beaches of Rethymno

The best beaches of Rethymnon are located outside the city and can be reached by bus. In the city itself there is also a wonderful Rethymno beach of the same name, which stretches 13 km east of the Venetian port and is always in demand among vacationers. The beach is awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness, safety and environmental friendliness. The entrance to the water here is gentle, but there is no protection from the wind.

The beach is superbly equipped, there is everything: umbrellas and sun loungers, lifeguard towers, showers, changing cabins, children's and sports grounds, etc.

A street with numerous cafes, taverns and restaurants stretches along the beach.

Rare caretta turtles sometimes come to the beach during the season to lay eggs. Places for laying eggs are carefully guarded.

Rethymno on the map of Crete

The city of Rethymno (Rethymnon) is located 78 km from the capital of the island of Crete, and 60 km from the city.

Rethymno photo

When I'm on vacation, it's not enough for me to just lie on the beach. For me, the key to a good holiday is the presence of interesting routes for walking and traveling. That is why I consider Rethymno one of the best places I have ever visited. This city is a wonderful corner in the north of the island of Crete and quite a popular tourist destination.

The cleanest warm sea in Rethymno is combined with a developed infrastructure, interesting excursions, the presence of a huge number of bars, cafes, restaurants, and good inexpensive shops. Holidays here will appeal to both families with children and cheerful youth groups. Food lovers will especially enjoy this city. In my opinion, Greek cuisine is one of the best in the world (if not the best). Here you can try the whole variety of its dishes in any version.

I came to Rethymno two summers in a row and each time I discovered it from a new side. For the first time, my family and I devoted time to famous sights, excursions, and nature. During the second trip, we preferred residential streets, bike rides, and independent bus rides. Such a vacation allowed us to see this place through the eyes of local residents and feel its spirit.

How to get there

You can get to the island of Crete by plane or ferry. The cheapest way to get to Rethymnon is by regular bus. You can also order a taxi or rent a car.

By plane

Since the city is on an island, air travel is the best way to get to Rethymnon. There is an airport for international flights in two cities of Crete: and Chania. The flight to both cities is not long: 3-3.5 hours from Moscow, 4-4.5 hours from St. Petersburg. I flew in July, so I give the approximate cost of tickets during this period.

Prices for tickets from Moscow and back:

• To Heraklion: from 283 EUR (17,500 RUB);
• To Chania: from 243 EUR (15,000 RUB).

Prices for tickets from St. Petersburg and back:

• To Heraklion: from 398 EUR (24,600 RUB);
• To Chania: from 379 EUR (23,400 RUB).

If you calculate the price of flights and transfers for an entire family, the number you get is not at all happy. Therefore, I strongly recommend traveling with a travel agency. Personally, I did just that. Firstly, charter flights are always much cheaper. Secondly, you don’t need to think about how to get from the airport. The bus picks up all tourists after the flight and takes them to their hotels. you can see tours at good prices.

If you still prefer to travel on your own, you can compare prices for flights on your dates and choose the best option in terms of price and duration.

From the airport to Rethymno

Rethymno is located 81 kilometers from Heraklion and 65 kilometers from Chania. You can get to the city from both airports by the following means of transport:

• by bus;
• by taxi;
• in a rented car.

I will tell you more about each of these methods below.

By train

There is no railway in Rethymno, so it is not possible to get there by train.

By bus

If you are interested in how to inexpensively get from Heraklion or from Chania to Rethymnon, then the most budget option is a regular bus.

• Rethymno is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Heraklion. The ticket price is 8.3 EUR). Buses run on schedule. They do not depart from the airport itself, but from Station A (East Station), so you need to get there first. The bus has a special place for luggage. If you are traveling with animals, be sure to check the schedule for the times when they can be transported.
• Recently, you can get to Rethymnon directly from Chania airport (schedule). The ticket costs 8 EUR. Buses also depart from the bus station in Chania (schedule). This route will cost 6.8 EUR.

However, please note that all buses arrive at the bus station (near the fortress). If your hotel is on the other side of town, you will have to walk or take a taxi.

By car

Car rental in Crete is very popular, so there are many companies of this profile. You can also look at and compare rental offers.

You can rent a car directly at the airport and return it to Rethymnon. It will cost approximately 80 EUR per week.

On the map below I have marked the road route from Heraklion to Rethymnon. As I already said, the journey from there will take about 1.5 hours.

The journey from Chania Airport to Rethymnon will take less - about 1 hour. You can see the route from there on the map below.

In Greece, traffic is on the right hand side and international rules apply. Many roads are designed to accommodate vehicles only in one row. In this case, the slower driver may pull over and let the other driver pass. However, the roadside in Crete can be very narrow and it is often impossible to get onto it. It is also worth keeping in mind the small size of road signs. When moving at high speed, you can easily miss them. Many Greeks are not very attentive to the rules of the road, so you should always be alert and use your intuition.

You can also get from the airport or hotel by taxi. Such a trip will cost in the area:

• 85-150 EUR from Heraklion;
• 80 EUR from Chania.

By ferry

If you're holidaying on the mainland, you can spice up your holiday by taking a ferry from Athens to Crete. I haven’t tried this method myself, but I think such an adventure would be very interesting. The direct journey from Athens will take about 6 hours. One-way tickets cost from 26 to 85 EUR. There are routes: Athens-Heraklion, Athens-Chania. In addition, recently the small ferry Elli T runs directly to Rethymno.

Clue:

Rethymnon - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Ekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season? When is the best time to go

The choice of time for your holiday in Crete depends on your preferences. Summer is considered the highest season. At this time, the temperature stays around 28–30 C°, and sometimes reaches 40 C°. Companies offer the cheapest tours to Rethymno in May and September, since during these months there is not a large influx of tourists in Crete (which is understandable: children have school, students have a session). During this period there is no strong heat, and the water temperature remains around 22 C°. In winter, it’s worth coming just for the excursions; there’s nothing to do in resort towns at this time.

Rethymnon in summer

The first time I vacationed in Rethymno was in July. Since I love the heat and tolerate it well, it was just great for me. On some days I didn’t want to get out of the water at all, but in the evening I could wear a light dress. The temperature was about 35 °C. At the same time, the wind blew very weakly and there were almost no waves. The Mediterranean Sea is very clean, so swimming in calm waters is a pleasure. Without a mask or glasses, you can see schools of fish, algae, and beautiful shells at the bottom. Nevertheless, there were also several cloudy days when the sun was always hidden in the haze. We devoted such days to excursions and sightseeing, which would have been unbearable in hot weather. I must say that in this season, air conditioning in the room is simply a vital necessity. It is a great happiness to find yourself in a cool room after a whole day in the sun.

The second time we came to this place in mid-August and left in early September. The parents were happy: it wasn’t so hot, a cool breeze was blowing, and they could splash around in the waves. But after a few days in the stormy sea it became simply impossible to stand on my feet. Jumping on the waves is, of course, a lot of fun. But it’s not every day that you have to part with your swimsuit when going into the water! One could attribute everything to an insidious cyclone. However, as I found out after talking with a local resident, this happens in Crete every year. At this time, the north wind Meltemi comes to Crete. So, if you are not a fan of extreme swimming, you should not choose August for a trip to Rethymnon. Vacationing at this time can even be dangerous if you are a poor swimmer.

Rethymnon in autumn

Since the period from July to August is considered the high season, there were quite a lot of people. In the evenings, everyone took to the streets, large groups sat in all the bars and restaurants, children ran around, and street performers worked. However, as soon as the first of September arrived, we saw a completely different Rethymno. The hotels were half empty, and it became possible to ride a bicycle even along the main promenade without fear of crashing into the crowd. Most of the children left, and the students too. The wind had become quieter by this time. So, if you are a lover of a relaxing holiday, this time is just perfect for you.

Rethymnon in spring

As I already wrote, this is an excellent option for a budget holiday. I have many friends who vacation in Greece only in the spring. The holiday season in Crete begins in mid-April. However, at this time it is still quite cool (20-23 C°) and the water does not have time to warm up. The most comfortable temperature is established here only in May. This month the air warms up to 25-27 C°, and the water to 19-22 C°. My friends usually come on vacation after the May holidays, when it’s already possible to swim and it’s not too hot.

Rethymno in winter

While on vacation, I met a local guy. I was very interested in what the residents of Rethymno do in winter, when the tourists leave. The young man thought for a moment and answered: “We’re drinking coffee.” I’ll write more about Greek coffee; you can really drink such a delicious drink endlessly. But during these three months it is still better to go somewhere to.

Rethymno - weather by month

Clue:

Rethymno - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

The city can be divided into residential and tourist parts. The tourist part is everything that is located along the embankment. This can be clearly seen on the map by the location of the hotels.

The area next to the Fortezza fortress (on the peninsula in the western part) is the very center of the tourist part of the city (circled in red), where all the main attractions, souvenir shops, nightclubs, bars, restaurants are located. This is where all the evening life of the city is concentrated. And in this same area the best hotels in Rethymno are located. Prices in restaurants and hotels in the city center are, of course, the highest.

Circled in green on the map are hotels in Rethymno that offer the best value for money and location: being just a 20-minute walk from the main street of the city, they offer lower prices than hotels in the center. You can book a room at, and compare prices. I will tell you more about the cost of living below.

If you walk a little further into Mark Portaliou Street, you will see a residential area of ​​the city. There are few hotels here, but there are apartments for rent, banks, hairdressers, pastry shops and bars where local residents gather. There are also inexpensive shops here that girls should definitely check out. There is also a wide bicycle path in this part of the city. In my opinion, a bicycle or motorcycle is the best way to get around Rethymno. If you do your own cooking, there are great shops there with fresh fish, seafood and more. Offers for renting apartments can be viewed.

What are the prices for holidays?

Accommodation prices

Hotel prices here are about the same as in other cities in Greece. A double room in Rethymno will cost you from 23 EUR (1400 RUB) per night. I was traveling with my family, so we took an apartment. This is convenient because you have several rooms and a kitchen at your disposal, where you can cook for yourself. Apartment prices start from 32 EUR (2000 RUB) per night.

The cost of living varies quite a bit by area:

1. In the city center, a room will cost 33-180 EUR per night.
2. In the area indicated in green on the map - 23-130 EUR.
3. One night in one of the few hotels in the residential area will cost 40-84 EUR.

Prices in restaurants

• A dish in a restaurant in Rethymnon costs 10 EUR on average. Drink - 2 EUR. A glass of wine or cocktail - 5-10 EUR. Meat dishes are much more economical than fish dishes. For example, a large meat cutlet with a side dish will cost you about 8 EUR, while fish will cost around 12 EUR.
• The cheapest and most satisfying (and very tasty) dish, gyros, will cost about 4 EUR.
• Prices, for example, for lobsters start at 25 EUR.

For example, here are the prices in one of the cafes in Rethymno:

A regular lunch or dinner for three without wine cost us somewhere around 30-40 EUR. As you move away from the city center, prices decrease, but portions, on the contrary, increase. Therefore, I advise you not to eat outside the center, but simply walk a little along the embankment.

Prices for excursions

The cost of excursions varies greatly depending on the distance to the attraction of interest. Prices vary from 10 to 200 EUR. For example, you can go on an excursion to the monastery of St. Irene near Rethymno for 10 EUR. At the same time, traveling to the island on a small plane will cost about 200 EUR. Also, prices for excursions depend on your travel agency.

Taxi prices

The cost of a taxi ride in Crete is calculated by kilometers. It is approximately 1.4 - 1.5 EUR per 1 km. This price applies if you hail a car on the street. When ordering a taxi through the website, the trip will cost 15-20% cheaper. The cost is calculated specifically for the trip and does not depend on the number of passengers and luggage.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

When you think about what is worth seeing in Rethymnon, the first thing that comes to mind is the ancient Venetian fortress Fortezza. This is the most famous landmark of the city and is worth visiting first.

Next to the fortress is the Old Town. Of particular interest here are the ancient buildings of Venetian times: the Guora Gate, the Rimondi Fountain, the Venetian Loggia. They are easy to find on the most important tourist streets of the city.

In addition, many will want to visit churches and Orthodox monasteries in the vicinity of Rethymnon. All of them were founded in the Venetian era and have a very interesting history. Some of them operate to this day and store Christian shrines.

Not only tourist but also residential streets and areas of Rethymno are of interest. Turning from any street of the Old Town into a narrow alley, you can observe the life of local people. The houses there are very small, there is no space left for a hallway. Very often the doors are open and all passersby can see the interior of the house. It seems that here, a hundred meters from the main tourist arteries, there is some kind of world of its own, far from everyday worries. The interesting design of the houses, the abundance of flowers, and doors with intricate patterns attract attention. There are door handles in the shape of lions, carved grilles and similar decorations.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

The beaches in Rethymnon smoothly merge into one another.

The city authorities take care of maintaining the territory, so it is very pleasing to see the fine white sand, which is not polluted in any way.

As you approach the fortress, the coastline expands. In the center are the best beaches of Rethymno. There you can practice summer sports: there are volleyball courts, banana rides, and tablet rides. In general, if you like active recreation, this is the place for you. Among other things, there is even free Wi-Fi. A little to the left, right on the seashore, there is a palm garden where you can stroll among the exotic trees. We went to the beach, which was right across the street from the hotel.

Despite the fact that all the beaches in Rethymnon are free, there are not very many people, so you can sunbathe almost anywhere. Renting two sunbeds with an umbrella costs 5-7 EUR per day. Or you can buy a beach mat at any store on the embankment.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are only two iconic churches in Rethymno, and the ancient Nerantze Mosque is located in the Old Town. Concerts are currently being held on its territory.

The most interesting monasteries are not located in the city itself, but in the immediate vicinity of Rethymno.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

• Archaeological Museum- it presents exhibits found in the Rethymno region. These include jewelry, weapons, clothing and similar artifacts. The oldest exhibits are about 2,700 years old.
• Church Museum- here you can see various icons, photographs, church utensils from different eras. The museum's collection is constantly growing.
• Historical and Ethnographic Museum- I wrote about him above. Here you can see embroideries, costumes, ceramics and much more.
• Museum of Marine Life- here you can get acquainted with the marine inhabitants of the island of Crete. There is quite an interesting collection of sea shells and sponges.
• Municipal Gallery named after. L. Kanakakis- a great place for a cultural holiday, especially if you are interested in art.

Unfortunately, all city museums have one drawback: their working hours coincide with the hottest time of the day (10.00–15.00), and at this time you want to swim and sunbathe more.

Parks

One and a half kilometers up from the hourglass is located Biotopoi Natural Park. It was organized by local enthusiasts. During the walk you can see rare aromatic and medicinal plants, tropical flowers, iguanas, chameleons, turtles and many other fauna. Children will especially like it there: the main feature of the park are rabbits and baby rabbits of all kinds. In the park you can buy natural tea from local medicinal plants.

This place is also worth visiting for its magnificent views of the city. Few people know that the best panorama of Rethymno opens from there. It is especially beautiful at sunset.

There is also a city park near the bus station in Rethymno. There you can admire the thickets of bamboo, exotic birds and just have a nice time in the shade of the trees.

What to see in 1 day

• 08:00 - Fortezza. Since the bus station and seaport in Rethymno are located next to the fortress, it’s worth starting there. This open-air museum starts working at 08:00. Here you can explore the ruins of the interior, go down into the tunnels, see an ancient ammunition depot, and take interesting photographs through small windows in the fortress wall. By the way, get your camera ready, you can have an unforgettable photo session there!
• 09:30 - Coffee break. After the fortress we go in the direction of the old port. On the square in front of it in Everest you can have a snack and drink coffee. The Rethymno city tour bus stops there.
• 10:00 - sightseeing tour of the city and surrounding area. The first tour bus leaves at 10.00. We get into it and go on an exciting journey through the Rethymnon region. You can choose the stop where you decide to stay: a military museum, the monastery of St. Irene or something else. After visiting the attraction, we board the same bus (they run every hour) and continue the trip.
• 12:30 - Historical and Ethnographic Museum. After getting off the bus we go to Lasthenous Street. There you can get to know the history of this region even more deeply and see elements of local craft.
• 13:30 - Walk through the narrow streets of Rethymno. I think by this time you will have enough historical information. Therefore, you can simply walk along the narrow streets and courtyards, see how the locals live, and have lunch in one of the cozy city cafes.
• 15:30 - Rimondi Fountain and Venetian Loggia. We return to the city center of Rethymnon, go to Mavrokordatou Alexanrou street and explore one of the most famous attractions of the city - the Rimondi Fountain. On the way, we admire the Church of Our Lady of Angels at the corner of Arampatzoglou and Nikiforou Foka streets. We go out onto the main shopping street Arcadiou and examine the ancient Venetian loggia. If you wish, you can go inside and look at the exhibition of copies of ancient works of art.
• 16:30 - Municipal Gallery named after. "L. Kanakakis." Let's get acquainted with the works of Greek modern art on Himaras street, no. 5.
• 17:30 - Shopping. On the main shopping street you will find many tourist shops where you can buy gifts for your loved ones and small souvenirs. Women who want to buy clothes and shoes will be interested in going to Pink Woman and Sandy's. They are located there, on Arkadiou Street.
• 19:30 - Dinner and cocktail. After a long walk and shopping, I suggest you go to Mavrokordatou Alexanrou street to the bar "Cul de sac". This establishment will be written about in more detail later.
• 20:30 - departure or walk along the embankment. If you come from afar (for example from Heraklion), you should already move towards the bus station. For those who still want to enjoy the spirit of Rethymnon, I advise you to go to the sea. In the evening, the lights are switched on, street performers come out, and jewelry and other goods are traded. You can also ride along the embankment on a Segway; there are many rental points along the coastline.

What to see in the area

Excursions from Rethymno depart almost throughout Crete. In my opinion, the most interesting:

Many more travel agencies offer excursions to the island. They say it’s very beautiful there, and every now and then I come across photo shoots from this place on the Internet. But such pleasure costs more than 100 EUR per person, so the trip should be planned in advance.

Excursions from a travel agency are usually not cheap. To save money, you can use the services of local travel agencies. We traveled with Spiridon Tours several times. Russian staff works there, so you can easily find out all the details of the excursions from them. They have all the routes described above.

There you can also buy tickets for one of the many boat trips. If you come during the hot season, then this is perhaps the best excursion option. Many routes involve swimming, so the trip will be quite comfortable. We went for a walk to the cave on a small boat. I really enjoyed racing through the waves, and it was also very unusual when the boat swam inside the rock.

There is also an evening excursion on a pirate-themed ship (looks like the Black Pearl). It includes Cretan treats and folklore. At the entrance, everyone is offered to try the national Greek alcoholic drink called rakia.

From Rethymno you can independently travel to Chania and other cities. Buses depart from the bus station. Before you go, it is better to familiarize yourself with the schedule.

Nearby Islands

From Rethymnon you can travel to one of the most picturesque islands located nearby. This trip can be one of the most memorable adventures of your vacation. Among them: Gramvousa, Spinalonga, Elafonisi. I marked their location on the map:

Food. What to try

The local cuisine fascinated me from the very first day of my stay in Rethymnon. Crete is famous for dishes such as: moussaka, kleftiko, dakos, gyros, gemista. You can read more about these dishes.

In addition, there is a large selection of fresh fish and seafood, it’s simply a shame not to try it all. Local restaurants don't skimp on portions at all. I remember that on the day of arrival I decided to order a light Greek salad for dinner. As a result, we finished the huge plate with the whole family. So you can safely take salads and many other dishes of Greek cuisine for several people.

Many Italian dishes are prepared here. Almost any restaurant in Rethymnon has a huge selection of pasta and pizza. I liked the pizza with seafood - we also have a large selection of Italian dishes, but such fresh seafood is not available in any Russian restaurant.

I was especially impressed by the local pastries. This is simply something divine! Snails with cheese and spinach, a variety of pies with different types of cheese, ham, and meat simply melt in your mouth. For those who try to watch their figure, there are continuous temptations all around. The best bakeries and pastry shops are located away from the tourist center of the city. In order to find them, you need to look into the narrow residential streets not far from the fortress.

On the central streets you can try Greek sweets. There is baklava, kataifi, and loukoumades here. In addition, you can find traditional cakes and pastries. I especially liked the local ice cream. It is sold literally on every corner. Here you can find delicious creamy ice cream with the flavors of Twix, Nutella, Oreo, Kataifi and about 50 other varieties. Various desserts, waffles and cakes are made with ice cream. Yogurt ice cream with toppings, which in Russia costs crazy amounts of money, is sold here at a very reasonable price. A large glass with 3 fillings can be purchased for 2 EUR. Such cafes are also found every 100 meters.

For those who cook on their own, there are inexpensive supermarkets here. These include Xalkiadakis, SPAR, Papadakis. The lowest prices are in the latter. There you can find everything: from crackers to exotic fruits. By the way, Cretan crackers are definitely worth trying. They are sold in almost any store in the city. They are best eaten warm with cheese and olive oil, as uncooked they are almost rock hard. Crackers are made using several types of flour and bran, so they are very useful.

At every step you will see things like this:

These are the fruits of a cactus. To be honest, I still don’t understand how they’re supposed to be used. It’s definitely not worth eating in its pure form. The entire peel of these fruits is covered with small fibers, which then take a long time to pick out from your fingers.

• After arriving, we went to have lunch at a nearby restaurant and, as it turned out, we were right. The place is called. This is probably number one in my personal ranking. If you like to eat heartily, this is the place for you. In general, the staff here is very friendly. It is clear that they sincerely want to please and cheer you up. The portions are huge, no one will remain hungry. Things you should definitely try:
  • Moussakas. This is a Greek casserole with minced meat, eggplant, fried potatoes and bechamel sauce. Here it is cooked in clay pots and served in them. Well, it’s just oh-so delicious! I could eat only this the whole holiday.
  • Kleftiko. This is a very tender lamb stewed with vegetables. Once you try this, you will forget about all the notions that lamb is tough meat. In this dish it simply melts in your mouth.
  • Seafood risotto. This is definitely worth taking for two, the dish is of impressive size. The composition includes everyone's favorite shrimp, mussels, squid, octopus. Mussels in their shells and whole shrimp are placed on top, which gives the dish a very exotic look.
  • King prawns. They are quite expensive compared to the rest of the menu (16 EUR), but it’s worth trying at least once. They are really very big. Served with cheese-baked potatoes and rice, you can easily fill up.
  • Breaded fried cheese. As a big cheese lover, I can’t help but write about this dish. It is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Just what you need for wine!
  • According to Greek tradition, after a meal you are always given a gift of fruit, dessert or rakia.
• Another good place is the restaurant Lissus. This place has very tasty fish. It also makes amazing tortellini and lasagna. To prevent guests from getting bored while waiting for their order, they immediately bring you buns with butter and olive paste. This is very tasty and pleasant, however, then the treat is included in the bill.
• For beer lovers, I recommend the restaurant with its own brewery, Takis Place - Beeraria. There is a very large selection of beer: Greek craft, Belgian, Mythos and Alfa on tap. You can order cheese balls as an appetizer; they are prepared just wonderfully. The restaurant also serves all Greek cuisine and seafood.
• Another great place is on El Street. Venizelou Ave. It's nice to come here for dinner during an evening stroll. Since I try not to overeat at night, I was very pleased with the huge selection of vegetable dishes. There are tomatoes baked with cheese, eggplants in various variations, and just grilled vegetables. This restaurant also offers delicious homemade wine and a beautiful view of the embankment. I don't know the name, but it's easy to find from the photo.
  And on the map, of course:
• In my opinion, this is the best place for a quick snack. There is a huge selection of Gyros here. Who doesn’t know, this is a kind of shawarma in Greek. Here it is the most delicious and inexpensive in the city. The name is not indicated on the outside, it is better to search by appearance:
  The restaurant is located opposite a huge parking lot. Around the corner from it, in the same building, is the restaurant ΘΡΑΚΑ.
• If you want something sweet, I highly recommend going to Meli. They only serve coffee and desserts, but they are simply incredible. The cafe does not have such a large selection of ice cream varieties as in the center, but this was enough for me to be happy. Especially delicious black ice cream, with Nutella, Twix and kataifi (Greek sweetness). They also have different cakes and, if you order them along with ice cream, they will make a very beautiful dish.
  
• Well, my list is completed by the fast food chain Everest. The cafe is located near the old port. It is simply impossible to miss it. You will bump into it when you walk to the end of the entire embankment.
  I recommend trying the cheese pies there. They are not made from traditional Greek dough (with olive oil), but from regular puff pastry. But I haven’t tried anything tastier yet.

Budget

• La Piazza Pizzeria
• The Italian Job
• To Parastratima
• Sto karfi kai sto petalo
• Stella's Kitchen

Mid-level

• Prima Plora
• Petite fleur
• Vassilis Restaurant
• Alana restaurant

Expensive

• Piazza di Porto
• To Steki tou Gianniko
• La Boheme

Holidays

From July 23 to 28, the city hosts the Cretan Wine Festival. Here you can taste different types of drink, try snacks made from local products, listen to live music, and take part in folk festivals. The event is always very fun and bright. Cooking master classes are held for children, and beautiful performances are held for adults.

Another important event in the life of the city is the annual carnival. It takes place before the start of the tourist season: at the end of February - beginning of March. If you find yourself in Crete at this time, you should definitely look here. The carnival is dedicated to Maslenitsa. At this time, festive processions and performances take place, and treats are displayed on the streets. The holiday week ends with the burning of a carnival effigy on the beach and festive fireworks.

Safety. What to watch out for

The island of Crete is a fairly safe place. The crime rate here is very low. Local residents often leave their houses and cars unlocked. However, healthy caution will never be superfluous. If you come to Rethymno, you don’t have to be afraid of insects, snakes, sharks, and so on. Even sea urchins are not found on the coast.

The only thing to be wary of is local motorists. If you are a pedestrian, make sure you are allowed to pass before crossing the road. Many Greeks won't even think about stopping until you're in the middle of the road. Drivers should also exercise caution. Local residents often forget to turn on their turn signals, the asphalt is of poor quality, and animals (for example, goats) may enter the roadway. You should be especially careful on the night from Saturday to Sunday, when you may encounter drunk drivers.

Things to do

Rethymno has many opportunities for active recreation lovers. For example, you can ride a bike. Rental points are located along the entire embankment. Usually they are combined with car and motorcycle rental. The bicycles are very comfortable, with a basket and a lock. One day of rental costs about 10 euros. You can ride along the embankment, but in the evening there are quite a lot of people there. Freer skating is possible along Μαρκ street. Πορτάλιου. There is a specially designated bicycle path there. It follows a fairly varied route; along the way you will encounter beautiful landscapes, bakeries with delicious pastries, residential streets and interesting buildings. If you go towards the fortress, towards the end of the bike path there is a rise from which you can see a very beautiful view of the sea. Immediately after the end of the cycling route, the road rises sharply. One day I decided to climb there out of curiosity. After driving a few hundred meters more, I came across a man with a machine gun. As it turned out, there is a local military unit there, where tourists are not very welcome. I advise you not to repeat my feat and not suffer while climbing the mountain.

Here you can also play beach volleyball, try Fish spa, ride a Segway and get a henna tattoo.

Shopping and shops

On vacation you always want to buy gifts for your loved ones and update your own wardrobe. Excellent shopping is one of the undoubted advantages of the city of Rethymno. Tourist shops are concentrated mainly on the streets: Arkadiou, Ethnikis Antistaseos, Sof. Venizelou, Souliou, Kountourioti. Their prices are very different. Here you can find products for every taste and budget. There are both sophisticated boutiques with clothes and shoes, and very cheap shops with fun things. In addition, the city has good shops with local goodies, tea and coffee.

Bars. Where to go

Clubs and nightlife

The nightlife in Rethymnon is quite active, but it does not correspond to our everyday ideas. To begin with, in the evenings young people gather in the numerous bars on the embankment and move towards the clubs only around 02.00, because the clubs open well after midnight. But even there people are in no hurry to get to the dance floor. Here it is customary to simply chat to music with a glass of wine or cocktail. Several times I saw incendiary groups, but as a rule they turned out to be Russians or Germans. Despite this, the atmosphere is quite cheerful; if you know English, you can easily meet someone and have fun. All nightclubs are concentrated around the fortress. The most famous of them:

Fortezza. Address: Nearxou 14;

Opera club. Address: Salaminos 18;

Metropolis. Address: Nearxou 15;

Ice Club. Address: Salaminos 22.

From the outside, the clubs are very inconspicuous and during the day there is a high chance of passing by. However, at night all the doors open and you can just follow the sound of music. I heard a lot about the Metropolis club and decided to go there. Thanks to the stories, I expected to see a spacious modern hall, but in fact it turned out to be more like a cafe. Nevertheless, the music played just right and the bartender turned out to be not greedy.

Extreme Sports

On the central beach you can go banana boating, water skiing, tablet skiing or parasailing. This is a type of recreation when a person soars in the air on a special parachute that is attached to a boat.

This is where I tried this water activity for the first time. It was very difficult to decide (I’m terribly afraid of heights), but the feeling was indescribable! When you soar up there, all fear is forgotten. All that remains is to enjoy the view of the mountains, the city, little people on the beaches and the sea. Parasailing is not a cheap entertainment, it costs 50 EUR per person. If you weigh less than 50 kilograms, you will not be able to ride alone. Usually there are a lot of people interested and the organizers simply attach you to the parachute along with someone else. If there is no match for you, don’t worry either, one of the workers will rise into the sky with you.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Magnets, key rings and the like can be bought here at every turn. I am a supporter of useful gifts. Olive oil, spices, cosmetics, handmade tablecloths - this is what the island of Crete is famous for. Rethymno has a large selection of such things and much more.

1. Olive oil. Perhaps this is the most common product brought from Greece. In Rethymno you can choose oil to suit every taste. All varieties vary in acidity. I liked the oil with an acidity of 0.2 - it does not bind my mouth and at the same time has a rich taste. It is sold in all souvenir shops in the city.
2. Spices. This is definitely worth buying! I have never tasted such rich spices anywhere else. I really liked the spices for the cutlets (it says “for burgers” on the package). It is better to choose those that contain mint. The cutlets turn out exactly like in Cretan taverns, very tasty. It is also worth purchasing spices for Greek salad and chili pepper. It is better to be careful with the latter, it is very hot.
3. Greek cosmetics. I think the girls will understand me: you can’t leave Rethymnon without this purchase! famous for its natural cosmetics based on olive oil. It works especially well on dry skin. I really liked the Aromaesti body oil - the skin becomes soft and smooth for a long time. Here you can also find cosmetics with avocado oil, which has a good smoothing effect. The prices for cosmetics are quite high, but it's worth it.
4. Tablecloths. Here you can buy an excellent handmade cotton or linen tablecloth. They are made with very beautiful embroidery and lace. We bought the tablecloth as a birthday present, my grandmother appreciated it, and now she puts it on the table every holiday.
5. Fur coats. There are several fur shops in Rethymnon. For example, on Arkadiou Street there is a store of the Avanti brand, famous in Europe. These products are famous for their high quality. However, prices in local stores are very high. In Moscow you can buy a fur coat for the same price, or even cheaper.
6. Decorations. From Rethymno you can bring very unusual jewelry made of gold and silver, interesting costume jewelry. Women's jewelry amazes with its fine workmanship and ingenuity, something you can't buy in your home country. Jewelry shops in Rethymnon are located on Sof streets. Venizelou, Arkadiou, Souliou. You can also buy inexpensive and interesting jewelry here. Small shops in the city center have a huge selection of earrings, bracelets, and pendants. I liked the turquoise jewelry, it looks very bright and summery.
7. Leatherother products. Shoes, bags, belts - all this is sold in stores throughout the city. Crete is famous for its quality leather goods. There are a lot of counterfeits of well-known brands on the embankment, but there are also good shops a little further away. You can also find leather jackets in different colors and styles.

How to get around the city

The most convenient way to get around here is on foot or by bicycle, because Rethymnon is a small city. Local residents navigate the narrow streets on motorcycles. In my opinion, absolutely everyone here has this type of transport, even grandparents.

Sightseeing buses also run here. If you want to see the whole city and its surroundings, a great way is the Retimno City Tour. It looks like this:

The ticket is quite inexpensive (especially compared to the cost of a sightseeing tour at a travel agency) - 12 EUR. For children under 12 years old the cost is half as much, and children under 6 years old can travel for free. For this money you will get a sightseeing tour of the city itself, learn its history, and get your bearings on the sights. Then the bus will take you along mountain paths. You can go to the Gothic monastery of Panagia Halevi, see the water mills in the village of Mili, go down into the gorge, and visit the military museum. The most important thing: during the excursion you can get off at any stop, walk there as long as you want and take another bus from this company with the same ticket. Just remember to look at the time of your last stop on the map you were given. On the bus you will be given headphones with an audio guide in Russian, so you can understand everything they say. I really liked this trip, I especially remember the beautiful mountain gorge.

If you don't mind the lack of air conditioning, you can explore the city on an open train. It costs about 5 EUR. You will be able to travel around the whole of Rethymnon in a breeze, and the sights of the city will be visible at a glance.

Taxi. What features exist

As I already wrote, a standard taxi ride from the airport to the city center will cost you 80-150 EUR (depending on which airport you arrive at). Taxi drivers in Crete work on a meter, but you can negotiate a fixed price. The cost of the trip is calculated by kilometers. On average it is 1.3-1.5 EUR per kilometer. However, this amount may be reduced. For example, if you negotiate with a driver for a round trip.

It is not customary here to stop a car on the street. You can order a taxi by phone or at the hotel reception. There is no special taxi stand in Rethymno. The cost of the trip will be 15-20% lower than with other methods. In the application form, you must indicate the time and place you need to pick up the car, as well as the destination. If you are coming from the airport, you can simply enter your flight number. You can pay for this trip by credit card or cash. However, when booking, a small percentage will still be debited from your credit card.

Transport rental

There are many car rental locations in Rethymnon. Most of them are located along major roads - on Ari Velouchioti Street, as well as in the residential part of the city. You can also rent motorcycles, mopeds and scooters there.

To conclude an agreement you will need: a Russian license, an international driver's license (IAA), a plastic card and money.

There are several ways to rent a car:

• Booking a car via the Internet - for example.
• Rental on site.
• Book a car through a guide or at the hotel.

There are such well-known international companies in Crete as: AVIS, HERTZ, Sixt, Europcar, Alamo, etc. Among local companies, Rent a Car Crete deserves trust.

The cost of gasoline in Crete decreased in 2016. Thus, the average price of a liter of 95 gasoline became 1.5 EUR instead of 2 EUR. One liter of diesel fuel costs on average 1.1 EUR.

Rethymnon - holidays with children

The Rethymno region is one of the most popular destinations for those coming with children. True, for a family holiday it is worth choosing hotels in the suburbs. Firstly, it is calmer there and there are no noisy youth groups. Secondly, in these places you can find hotels that have children's playgrounds on their premises.

In terms of entertainment for children, Rethymnon is simply a wonderful place. Each hotel has a swimming pool where children splash around happily all the time, so they are guaranteed to socialize. In addition, there are three water parks in the vicinity of the city:

Don't forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

Rethymno is the administrative center of the region, equidistant from the largest centers and airports of the island - Heraklion and Chania (approximately 65 km from each). This is a picturesque city with a rich history that has preserved its ancient appearance: narrow streets, Venetian buildings and Turkish mosques create its unique style. There is an archaeological museum next to the 16th-century fortress built on a hill near the port, and the old town contains many interesting sights. The city has a developed tourist infrastructure: there are many good restaurants, cafes, shops, and disco bars.

The city is difficult to see from the main highway; it is hidden behind thickets of almost constantly blooming oleander.

But this is unnecessary

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Beaches

Near the embankment there is a city beach, sandy, quite clean and comfortable. As at any resort, vacationers are offered many options for active recreation, from fun attractions to serious sports that require special training.

The Rethymnon Fortress is the largest coastal fortification ever built by the Venetian Republic.

Restaurants and hotels

But this is unnecessary

The nightlife in the city does not stop between festivals: many nightclubs, discos, restaurants with show programs await guests. The most popular of them are located on Abbot Gabriel Street. Fans of national cuisine will find restaurants in the narrow streets of the Old Town; there are many of them, with varied menus and interiors. Several dozen hotels in the city are ready to welcome tourists. The hotels here are varied, from modest guesthouses that provide bed and breakfast, to quite fashionable hotels that offer not only a standard range of services, but also spa programs, private beaches and designer interiors.

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The city itself leaves a very specific impression. Many houses built in the Venetian style have typically Venetian decorations: openwork window grilles, cast metal door handles and typically Turkish wooden balconies hanging picturesquely over the street. Initially, there were much more of these balconies, but at the beginning of the 20th century they began to be removed so that it became possible to organize full-fledged traffic. At that time, Russian troops were stationed in Rethymno, and the head of the Russian corps, Colonel Shostak, was the governor of the city. It was during this period that Rethymno began to transform from a dirty provincial town into a civilized European one. It was under the Russian governor that a sewerage system was created in the city, bridges and roads were built, historical buildings were restored, schools and hospitals were opened. At the expense of Nicholas II, a hospital was built that bore his name. Today, the Police Academy operates in this building.

The city embankment is also nice. It is a real decoration of Rethymno, although it is inferior to the elegance of the embankment in Chania. There are many restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and shops on the embankment.

It should be noted that the prices on the embankment are not encouraging, neither in restaurants nor in shops. Therefore, when relaxing in Rethymnon, it makes sense to only stroll along the embankment, and eat and do shopping in another part of the city.

Fortress

The Rethymnon Fortress is the largest coastal fortification ever built by the Venetian Republic. The main purpose of erecting such a powerful fortress was the pirate raids that periodically devastated the entire city.

Any major city on Crete can boast of a Venetian fortress, but Rethymno is the largest, its huge round dome visible from afar. The fortress saw many treacherous attacks and fair battles, and it fell under the pressure of a 63-day Turkish siege. Nowadays, a walk through the territory of the fortress can bring many pleasant moments, especially since there is now a concert hall in the St. Nicholas Cathedral, and from the walls of the fortress you can get wonderful shots of the city views. Opposite the entrance to the fortress is the Archaeological Museum, the basis of the collection of which are objects from the Minoan and Roman eras: weapons, figurines, jewelry, coins, dishes.

In the museum store you can buy very interesting souvenirs: copies of exhibits.

And the store itself is very interesting. It is located in the Venetian Loggia building. In the old days there was something like a club for the nobility. Having captured the city, the Turks added (as was their custom) a minaret to the building, giving it an Ottoman flavor.

At the beginning of February, before the start of the holiday season, as if anticipating it, the city hosts an annual carnival, which lasts almost a month and attracts many people.

The Maritime Museum and the Historical and Ethnographic Museum are also interesting. Their exhibits will help you understand the ancient life of the townspeople. In the Old Town you can admire the port and the old lighthouse, which still regularly performs its functions.

Arkadi Monastery

In some ways, the monastery can be called a national shrine: in 1866, the monks, besieged by the Turks, blew up a gunpowder warehouse here - along with themselves and the occupiers. In addition to the memorial, behind the walls of the monastery, there is a beautiful church (16th century), a museum in memory of the defenders of the Orthodox faith, and a store with handmade textiles.

The monastery is located in the mountains 23 km from Rethymno. A bus from the city runs here three times a day.

Farm Agrego

Farm Agrego is a family business of the owners of the Grecotel hotel chain. This is a Greek farm, where you can come either for the whole day (trips on Sundays, make an appointment at any of the Grecotel hotels), or for the evening - try village food in a tavern (table reservations are required).

From here you can also get to the opposite shore of the island, where the monastery and palm beach of Preveli are located 37 km from Rethymnon.

Events and festivals

At the beginning of February, before the start of the holiday season, as if anticipating it, the city hosts an annual carnival, which lasts almost a month and attracts many people. Colorful processions, concerts, performances by street performers, and special programs for children follow each other and create a wonderful mood for everyone who is in the city at this time. Another annual event attracts both townspeople and tourists - the Renaissance Arts Festival. It takes place every summer and many musical groups from many countries take part in it. These include well-known musicians, beginning groups and children's ensembles. And at the beginning of autumn, the annual wine festival takes place in the city garden of Rethymno. It is unnecessary to talk about its attractiveness, because everyone knows how wonderful a product Greek wine is.

 

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