Rethymnon lies on the north coast of Crete and has a transfer time of ninety minutes. The old town is a labyrinth of narrow streets lined with white washed houses, old churches and fine Venetian buildings. A large fortress stands above the harbour, built to protect the town from pirates. The beach is sand and shingle and offers a variety of water sports including jet skiing and surfing. There are many shops and restaurants providing for all your needs.
Rethymnon has many attractions from its historic centre with its churches and museums to its promenade and beach. With shops, restaurants, tavernas, bars and many leisure activities, it is a popular destination. It is in an area of outstanding natural beauty with hills and caves and charming inland villages.
A Rethymnon holiday attracts a wide range of people. Families and couples of all ages can enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of its shores, its sand and shingle beach and its safe bathing. The town, with its narrow cobbled streets and historic buildings attracts those with an interest in history and culture. This bustling town has many bars and discos providing a lively nightlife.
The most popular time to visit Rethymnon is in the summer. The season extends from Easter to October when the temperature range is from twenty to thirty degrees.
Rethymnon has a centuries old history which is apparent in its variety of architectural styles. At its medieval heart there is a maze of narrow streets opening into small squares with many interesting buildings. There are Roman and Byzantine remains as well as sixteenth century houses with their arched doorways and ornate stone work. Platanos Square contains the elaborate Rimondi Fountain erected in 1626 to provide the town with drinking water. A large Venetian fortress, built to protect the townspeople from marauders, stands above the town.
The beach of sand and shingle shelves gently into the sea. Palms sway along the promenade which is lined with bars and tavernas offering daylong refreshments. There are many opportunities for water sports including water skiing and wind surfing.
A Rethymnon holiday offers an interesting town, a good beach with many leisure activities, quality shops, lively bars and pubs and a wide range of tavernas and restaurants.
Nightlife in Rethymnon is fairly lively with bars and discos open until the early hours of the morning. The normal hour for dining is around nine so the nightlife doesn’t really get going until close to eleven. While the pubs and bars around the harbour are the most lively, there are many waterfront tavernas and restaurants where you can enjoy a romantic meal or drink overlooking the sea.
Rethymnon is a very good place to shop with a mixture of modern boutiques and supermarkets to traditional shops. There is also a market on Thursdays selling local produce and souvenir items. There are also many gift and craft shops where you can find, among others, good quality leather goods and embroidered linens.
Rethymnon has a large number of excellent restaurants and tavernas serving a wide variety of food and catering for most tastes. The harbour has some fine fish restaurants which serve the freshest of locally caught produce.
Eating out in Greece is a pleasure that should be enjoyed in a leisurely fashion. Don’t mistake the lack of haste for tardy service as you are simply being given the time to fully enjoy each course. Children are warmly welcomed in restaurants and their tastes and portion size are usually accommodated.
