Destination - Visit Greece

Old town, wild nature and Cretan soul at a unique destination

On the northern coast of Crete, Rethymno is the third largest city on the island, located between Chania and Heraklion. Built between the imposing Mount Psiloritis and the Cretan Sea, it is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Greece, a place where history and tradition blend harmoniously with the present.
On one side stretches the old town, graceful, charming and mysterious. On the other, a vast beach full of hotels, restaurants and cafés teeming with life. In between, the small Venetian harbour with the Egyptian lighthouse —the guardian and symbol of the city— is reminiscent of bygone eras.
The Fortezza, the Venetian fortress that overlooks the Aegean Sea and stands witness to Rethymno's centuries of history, dominates the old town.
In the alleys of the old town, Venetian fortifications blend harmoniously with Orthodox and Catholic churches, imposing Venetian residences, arches and vaults, minarets and old hammams, and gardens with bougainvilleas and jasmine. A mosaic of cultures, scents and colours, where traditional crafts come alive in small workshops, while the aromas of Cretan cuisine waft everywhere.
Of course, the heart of Rethymno extends far beyond the city, into its mountains and wild nature. Traditional villages, gorges, famous beaches, seaside resorts, historic monasteries and archaeological sites compose an inexhaustible landscape.
The imposing Psiloritis, the highest mountain on Crete and a recognised UNESCO Global Geopark, stands out for its fascinating geology, endemic plants and the living traditions that survive in its hamlets. In the untrodden mountains and quiet villages of the inland nests the Cretan soul: untamed, hospitable and unique.

Rethymno

Old town, wild nature and Cretan soul at a unique destination

Snapshots

How to get there?

By Air

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