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    Rethymno

    Greece

    Rethymno

    City

    Rethymno is the third largest city on the north coast of Crete, located between Chania and Heraklion.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Greece
    7. Crete
    9. Rethymno
    Rethymno is the third largest city on the north coast of Crete, located between Chania and Heraklion. Its Old Town, with Venetian portals, Ottoman wooden balconies and minarets, is one of the island's best preserved, topped by the Fortezza fortress.You come for the Old Town, the Venetian harbour, and the long sandy beach right in the centre. The university ensures that the city remains lively even off-season.

    Sights in Rethymno

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Die Fortezza

    1Die Fortezza

    The Venetian fortress on Paleokastro hill was built after the 1571 raid by corsair Uluç Ali and is one of Crete's best-preserved castles. Within its walls lie the ruins of barracks, cisterns, and the Sultan Ibrahim Mosque with its large dome, which stands on the foundations of the Venetian cathedral. From the ramparts, you overlook the Old Town, harbor, and sea.
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    The Port of Venice with its Lighthouse

    2The Port of Venice with its Lighthouse

    The small, almost circular harbor basin from Venetian times is lined with fish taverns and culminates in a 19th-century Egyptian-influenced lighthouse. It has long since ceased to be a fishing harbor due to silting, but it makes an even better backdrop for the evening. The surrounding eateries are more expensive than in the Old Town.
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    The Old Town of Rethymno

    3The Old Town of Rethymno

    The Old Town largely preserved its 16th to 19th-century character: Venetian stone portals with coats of arms, Ottoman wooden bay windows over the alleys, and fountains and small churches interspersed. The main axis Ethnikis Antistaseos runs from the Rimondi Fountain to the Guora Gate, the last remaining city gate. Away from it, it quickly gets quiet.
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    Der Rimondi-Brunnen

    4Der Rimondi-Brunnen

    The 1626 fountain, named after Venetian rector Alvise Rimondi, supplied the old town with water through three lion heads. Corinthian columns frame the site, now ringed by cafés and serving as the old town's central landmark.
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    Neratze Mosque and Minaret

    5Neratze Mosque and Minaret

    The building was originally the church of a Venetian Augustinian monastery, converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest, and is now used as a music school and event venue. Built in 1890, the minaret with its two balconies is the tallest structure in the Old Town. Opening hours are irregular; inquire in the courtyard.
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    Guora Gate and Ethnikis Antistaseos

    6Guora Gate and Ethnikis Antistaseos

    Of the Venetian city walls of the Old Town, only this gate remains, named after Rector Giacomo Guoro. It marks the border between the Old Town and the New Town to this day. The alley Ethnikis Antistaseos, which begins here, is the liveliest thoroughfare of the Old Town with shops, bakeries, and cafes.
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    City walks in Rethymno

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Rethymno: A Journey Through Venetian Lanes and Ottoman Splendour

    Discover the heart of Rethymno on this two-hour walk. Immerse yourself in the town's rich history, from Venetian influences to the Ottoman era, and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the old town with its charming lanes.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Restaurants & Cafes

    1

    To Pigadi

    To Pigadi has been located on Xanthoudidou Street in the heart of Rethymno's Old Town since 2003. The cuisine combines traditional Cretan dishes with Mediterranean influences. Herbs and vegetables are partly from their own garden, the rest from local producers.
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    2

    Lemonokipos (Lemon Tree Garden)

    The Lemonokipos is a family restaurant that has been located since 2000 in a garden under lemon trees on the central square of the Old Town. It serves Greek Mezedes and traditional dishes made from regional ingredients.
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    3

    Prima Plora

    The Prima Plora is located on Akrotiriou waterfront road, directly by the sea, opposite the Fortezza. Its Mediterranean cuisine, with Cretan influences, uses organic ingredients from local producers, and the menu features dishes like sepia risotto and grilled fish. It also offers its own wine list.
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    4

    Avli

    Avli, located in Rethymno's Old Town, has been a fixture for around three decades, occupying an entire block of Venetian architecture with a courtyard and multiple dining rooms. The cuisine combines traditional Cretan dishes such as lamb, seafood, and cheese pastries with modern interpretations.
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    Akrovatissa

    The Akrovatissa is located in an alley in Rethymno's Old Town and sets its tables outdoors. Its Greek cuisine uses ingredients from an organically managed farm in the nearby village of Oros.
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    Food & Drink

    Rethymno's cuisine is Cretan with a distinct Venetian influence, and the university ensures that alongside the tourist eateries at the harbour, there are also affordable spots for locals. The best tavernas are found in the old town's alleyways, not along the promenade.

    Cretan Mountain Cuisine

    From the hinterland of Psiloritis come lamb dishes, wild herbs and Staka, a creamy butter preparation traditionally served with scrambled eggs. Richer than coastal fare and a better winter choice.

    Kalitsounia

    Small dough pockets, filled with fresh Mizithra or wild herbs, baked sweet with honey or savory depending on the region. You'll find them in old town bakeries and at every village festival.
    Local Winegrowing

    Local Winegrowing

    Around Rethymno, there is a growing focus on the old Cretan grape varieties Vidiano, Liatiko, and Kotsifali. Several estates towards Amari and Margarites offer tastings by appointment.
    Fish at the Venetian Harbour

    Fish at the Venetian Harbour

    The eateries around the harbor basin are atmospherically located and accordingly expensive; quality varies. Ask for the daily catch and kilo price before ordering. The more authentic fish taverns are on the promenade eastwards.

    Rethymno's Cultural Heritage

    Venetian CityAfter the Fourth Crusade, Crete came to Venice in the early 13th century. Rethymno became a trade hub; its Old Town is almost entirely Venetian. The Fortezza was built following corsair Uluç Ali's 1571 raid, and the Rimondi Fountain in 1626. Venetian stone portals with coats of arms still show where noble families lived.Ottoman TracesIn 1646, Ottomans conquered the city during the Cretan War. Churches were converted to mosques, including the Fortezza's cathedral and the Augustinian Church (now the Neratze Mosque), its minaret from 1890. Wooden bay windows over alleys and fountains date from this time. Crete united with Greece in 1913.University and MusicSince the 1970s, Rethymno has hosted the University of Crete, with about 8,000 students now at its Gallos campus. Cretan music, with lyra and laouto, is heard at festivals in hinterland villages and some Old Town eateries.

    Nightlife

    Rethymno's nightlife scene offers a diverse selection, ranging from relaxed cocktail bars in the Old Town to energetic clubs. Explore the atmosphere at LivingRoom GastroBar Rethymnon for a drink or experience the late nights at Venus Club Rethymno.
    1

    Bricks Beers & Tales

    Bricks Beers & Tales is a craft beer bar with a cocktail bar on the Eleftheriou Venizelou promenade. On tap are beers from Cretan microbreweries like Charma from Chania and their own lager, plus international varieties. The space combines natural stone and wood with industrial design.
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    To Chalikouti (Work Collective)

    To Chalikouti is a traditional Kafeneio in the old town, run as a worker's collective without a boss. Besides drinks like beer and Raki, simple dishes are served. Concerts and other events take place regularly.
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    Club Aulaia

    Club Aulaia is located on Ioannou-Melissinou Street in downtown Rethymno. It's a late-night venue with music and drinks.
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    2

    LivingRoom GastroBar Rethymnon

    The LivingRoom GastroBar, located on Eleftheriou Venizelou waterfront street, functions as a café and restaurant during the day, offering brunch and Mediterranean dishes. In the evenings, it transforms into a cocktail bar, hosting regular DJ sets. Its wine list highlights Greek producers.
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    3

    Minibar

    Minibar is a small club in Rethymno Old Town, near the Venetian Harbor. It plays current hits and dance classics.
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    Exploring Locally

    On FootThe Old Town is small and mostly traffic-free; walk between the Fortezza, port, and Guora Gate. The city beach starts directly at its edge.BusesKTEL intercity buses connect Rethymno along the north coast with Chania and Heraklion, and serve villages and beaches in the hinterland and on the south coast. The bus station is at the edge of the Old Town; tickets are available at the counter or on the bus. City buses run along the beachside hotel zone.Arrival and ExcursionsRethymno does not have its own airport; the nearest are near Chania and Heraklion, both connected to the city by KTEL bus. For monasteries like Arkadi and the beaches on the south coast, a rental car is practical. Car rental agencies are found in the city and on the beach road. Taxis are available at several central locations.

    Accommodations in Rethymno

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    Nearby

    Crete

    Crete

    Crete is the largest island in Greece and big enough for several trips. Along the north coast, Venetian-influenced port towns and resorts follow one another; in the south, the mountains drop steeply to the Libyan Sea, with plateaus, gorges and olive groves in between. Add the palaces of the Minoan culture, one of Europe's earliest civilisations, and a cuisine rooted in the island's own farming.
    Loutro

    Loutro

    Loutro is a small village on the south coast of Sfakia between Chora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli. No roads lead here; access is only on foot or by boat. The houses line a natural bay, used as a sheltered harbour since ancient times.
    Chania

    Chania

    Chania is Crete's second-largest city and western capital. An Old Town with Venetian, Ottoman, and Jewish quarters side-by-side surrounds its Venetian harbour, featuring a lighthouse, arsenals, and the Mosque of Küçük Hasan Pascha.You come for the Old Town, the Market Hall, and as a base for western Crete's Balos, Falassarna, Elafonissi, and Samaria Gorge.
    Matala

    Matala

    Matala is located on the south coast of Crete, at the edge of the Messara Plain, and consists of a bay, a handful of alleys, and the cliff face with its caves. The chambers carved into the sandstone date back to antiquity and were used as tombs in Roman and early Christian times; in the 1960s, dropouts moved in. From the village, the Minoan sites of the Messara and several quiet coves are reachable within a short drive.
    Heraklion

    Heraklion

    Heraklion is Crete's largest city and capital, and for most travelers, it's the island's arrival point. Behind the Venetian city walls lies a bustling city center, the harbor with Koules Fortress, and the Archaeological Museum, home to the most important collection of Minoan art.You come for the museum and the Palace of Knossos, a UNESCO World Heritage site for Minoan Palace Centres from 2025. The city itself is more for work than leisure, but a day is well spent on the old town, market, and city walls.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Pexels. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI