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Rethymnon in Crete |
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Rethymnon county is the smallest county in Crete and has an area of 1,496 km2. Crete's largest county, Heraklion, has an area of 2,641 km2. There are about 55,000 people living in the entire county, and about 32,500 in Rethymnon town. That the county is small is a big advantage because the distances are so short.
Venetian harbour in Rethymnon.
The Venetian harbour of Rethymnon from the other side.
If you live in Rethymnon, it's easy to spend a day on the south
coast. For example, it is only 35 kilometres to the pleasant tourist resort
of Plakias in southern Crete. (It is only 60 kilometres to Chania.)
Apart from the fine Rethymnon, the county offers many interesting sights,
lots of nice beaches, cosy little villages and very beautiful nature.
Kyria Maria is one of many cosy restaurants in Rethymnon. |
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Rethymnon is a popular charter resort, tourists from all over Europe come here, thanks in large part to the long, fine sandy beach that begins in Rethymnon. Platanes, as the beach is called (it changes its name in several places, but it is the same beach) stretches 20 km east of Rethymnon. The beach, which is lined with hotel facilities of all shapes and sizes, is often packed with people, the sunbeds are packed, packed, packed.
Platanes beach in Rethymnon.
There are of course all kinds of facilities in Rethymnon and water sports activities available. Many charter operators have hotels along Platanes, during the day you lie on the beaches or go on some excursion, the evenings are usually spent in Rethymnon itself where there are a multitude of taverns and bars, mainly along the Elefterios Venizelos promenade, in the small alleys or in the Venetian harbour.
The beach in Rethymnon town.
In Rethymnon county there are lots of nice beaches, nice villages and interesting sights. Among the villages, I think Anogia, Spili, Argiroupolis and Plakias are the most interesting.
Don't miss an excursion to the beautiful Amari valley when you are in Rethymnon.
Read about Amari valley here » |
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As for the tourist resorts near Rethymnon, I like Bali,
Panormos,
Agia Galini, Agios
Pavlos and Triopetra
the best. There are many interesting caves here, including Sendoni
cave, Ida
cave and Melidhoni.
Some of the sights are the Minoan
cemetery of Armeni, Moni Arkadi, the Platani
Gorge and the entire Amari Valley.
 Don't miss an excursion to the palm beach Preveli south of Rethymnon either.
Read about palm beach Preveli here »
My favorite beaches near Rethymnon are the palm beach Preveli, Koraka as well as Skhinaria, Damnoni, Amoudaki, Amoudia and Souda beaches which are all close to Plakias.
Venetian harbour in Rethymnon. There is also a Venetian harbour in Chania.
TRAVEL TO RETHYMNONMost people who travel to Rethymnon here go on charter. All major charter companies offer trips to Rethymnon town and the surroundings. In other words, the range is not nearly as large as in Chania county. If you are travelling on your own, it is as easy as going on charter. There are three international airports in Crete: Chania, Heraklion and Sitia. The easiest is to fly to Chania, partly because it is closer, partly because there are the most departures there. The easiest way is to buy a flight seat with one of the charter companies, alternatively with Aegean. Chania Airport is located on the Akrotiri Peninsula just east of Chania.
One of the car-free shopping streets in Rethymnon.
If you find no flights to Chania, you can fly to Heraklion. Another option is to fly to Athens, and onward by domestic flight or boat. Other options are to fly to Santorini, Rhodes or Karpathos and take a ferry to Heraklion. |
TRAVEL AROUND FROM RETHYMNON
Bus timetable: http://www.e-ktel.com/en/
The magnificent Megali Panagia church in Rethymnon.
TO SEE AND DO IN RETHYMNONRethymnon is a town that in many ways resembles Chania: an old quarter with narrow streets lined with taverns, cafes and shops, many historical monuments such as minarets and fountains, and a Venetian port. Rethymnon can also boast a long sandy beach and a real fort: Fortezza.
The impressive and imposing Fortezza in Rethymnon.
If you only come to Rethymnon for the day, you won't have time to see much of the town. Then it is necessary to stay longer. If you only have a short day, you should at least visit the Fortezza, have lunch in the Venetian harbour, stroll around the alleys and look at beautiful houses and monuments from the past, visit the city park and maybe, if there is time to spare, take a cooling dip.
Platia Petihaki square in Rethymnon's old town where the Rimondi fountain is located. |
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WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU ARE IN RETHYMNON |
