Rethymnon (Rethymno), Crete

Rethymno (also spelt Rethymnon or Rethimno, and pronounced RETH-im-no) is the main town of Rethymno prefecture in central Crete, between Chania to the west and Heraklion to the east. Rethymno mixes a well-preserved Venetian and Ottoman old town with a modern seaside town.

Students of the University of Crete give the town a young, lively nightlife. By day, the history of the old town is all around you, with Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman buildings side by side.

Rethymno Town Beach runs right along the seafront, and Bali and Preveli are within a drive. Our guide to the Best Crete Beaches includes all 3.

Rethymno has plenty of places to eat and drink. Traditional tavernas serving dishes of the Cretan Diet sit alongside smarter restaurants with international menus, plus cafés and cocktail bars. The town is lively but very laid-back, and you may need an extra notch in your belt after a visit.

Things to do in Rethymno

These 4 activities give a good first taste of Rethymno:

• Stroll around the Venetian, Ottoman and Byzantine monuments of the old town.
• Eat a fresh fish dinner on the Venetian harbour.
• Join a local festival, such as the summer wine festival or the Lent carnival.
• Visit the Archaeological Museum in Agios Frangiskos and the Historical and Folk Art Museum.

Monuments of the Old Town

Rethymno old town has 5 key monuments: the Fortezza, the Neratzes Mosque, the Loggia, the Rimondi Fountain and Agios Frangiskos. The old town survives almost intact, and many restored buildings now have modern uses.

The Fortezza

The Fortezza is the Venetian fortress on the hill above the harbour, built after 1573 to protect the people of the town. It is one of the largest and most complete fortresses in Crete, with 4 bastions and 3 entrances.

The Neratzes Mosque

The Neratzes Mosque was the Augustinian church of the Holy Virgin under the Venetians. In 1657 the Ottomans converted it into a mosque and later added a tall minaret with 2 balconies. The building now serves as a music school. Its doorframe and 3 domes stand out.

The Loggia

The Loggia is a 16th-century building in the centre of the old town. It is the finest Renaissance monument in the area and the most important architectural reminder of Venetian rule.

The Rimondi Fountain

The Rimondi Fountain was rebuilt in 1626 on the foundations of an earlier fountain, with ornate carving. Water runs from 3 spouts shaped like lions' heads into 3 basins.

Agios Frangiskos

Agios Frangiskos was the Catholic monastery of the Franciscan order. Its single-aisled basilica has a sloping wooden roof and a richly decorated entrance, and 2 chapels survive to the east of the church. The church now houses the collection of the Archaeological Museum.

Rethymno Harbour

The Venetian harbour of Rethymno is lined with shops and fish restaurants and is at its liveliest on a summer evening. The lighthouse was built by the Ottomans, while the buildings around the harbour are Venetian. A fresh fish dinner at one of the seafront restaurants rarely disappoints.

Local Feasts and Festivals

Rethymno holds 3 well-known annual events: the Cretan Wine Festival, the Rethymno Carnival and the Feast of Klidonas. Visitors are welcome at all of them.

The Cretan Wine Festival

The Cretan Wine Festival is held in the Municipal Garden in summer. Wineries from across Crete pour their wines, so visitors can taste most of the Cretan grape varieties in one evening. Check dates with the Municipality of Rethymno before you go.

The Rethymno Carnival

The Rethymno Carnival is held every year in the weeks before Lent. It is the largest carnival in Crete, with parades through the town.

The Feast of Klidonas

The Feast of Klidonas is a historic celebration held every June. Its custom is to burn the flower wreaths made on the first of May.

Museums

Rethymno has 2 museums of note: the Historical and Folk Art Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

The Historical and Folk Art Museum is on Vernardou Street in the old town, in a restored Venetian building that is itself a listed historic monument. It displays costumes, hand-woven textiles, embroidery, lace, traditional pottery and metalwork, and it gives a glimpse into the lives of earlier Cretan generations.

The Archaeological Museum of Rethymno has moved from its old home, the pentagonal building in front of the Fortezza's eastern gate. Its collection is now shown as a temporary exhibition in the restored church of Agios Frangiskos, 4 Agiou Frangiskou Street, in the centre of the old town. The exhibits cover local finds from the late Neolithic and Minoan periods, including pottery, tools and statuettes, finds from the Late Minoan cemeteries of the area and a good collection of coins. The Greek Ministry of Culture's Odysseus listing for the museum (checked October 2026) gives summer hours from 1 April to 31 October of 10:00 to 18:00 and winter hours of 08:00 to 15:00, closed on Mondays. Check the current admission fee on the same page.

Getting to Rethymno

Rethymno is reached through Chania airport or Heraklion airport, which both have flights from the Greek mainland and from across Europe. Ferries from Piraeus (Athens) dock at Souda, near Chania, and at Heraklion.

KTEL buses connect Rethymno with Chania, Heraklion and many towns and villages of central Crete, including Gerani, Agia Galini, Plakias, Preveli and Panormo. A hire car gives more freedom to explore the villages of central, east and west Crete.

Living in Crete

Rethymno and its villages are popular with people moving to the island. Our guide to living in Crete covers everyday life, and there are many local real estate agencies to help with buying a home.

Our Crete Property Guides cover property throughout the island, for a permanent home, a holiday home or an investment.

Before buying, read our What, Where and Why to Buy in Crete Guide and our Crete Property Frequently Asked Questions.

Hotels in Rethymno old town

Rethymno old town has small boutique hotels in restored mansions, within walking distance of the harbour and the beach.

Antica Dimora Suites

Antica Dimora Suites is a boutique hotel in a converted 19th-century mansion in Rethymno old town. It has a small hydromassage pool and a traditional Turkish hammam. The Venetian harbour, the town beach and the municipal gardens are a short walk away.

Adele and Adelianos Kampos

Adele is a traditional village a few kilometres east of Rethymno, on the road to the Arkadi Monastery. Visitors staying here are close to both the town and the Arkadi Monastery in the foothills of Psiloritis.

Adelianos Kampos is the flat coastal strip between Adele village and the sea. Its sandy beach runs for around 2 km, and beach hotels line the coast road. The resort has plenty of bars, restaurants, apartments, studios and budget hotels, plus a few large resort hotels. Adelianos Kampos runs straight into the neighbouring beach resort of Platanes.

The beach at Adelianos Kampos rarely feels crowded because it is so long. The sand is fine and golden. Many stretches have sun loungers, umbrellas, beach bars and water sports, and quieter unorganised sections suit a calmer day.

When we stayed in Adelianos Kampos, we enjoyed Taverna Poppy (also spelt Popi) on the Old National Road, which is still open. We also enjoyed the White Lady Family Taverna, which was closed when we checked in 2026.

Adelianos Kampos sits just off the New National Road. KTEL buses connect the resort with Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion.