Rethymno between the Old Town and the Beach

Rethymno combines a historic city with a long sandy beach. The Old Town is designated a protected historic monument and traditional settlement; the city center lies below the Venetian Fortezza. If you are looking for a focus for your vacation, you can first weigh up your options: should the coast shape your stay, or are you particularly interested in museums, historic buildings and archaeological sites?

Old Town, harbor and coast

The urban layout of the Old Town took shape during the Venetian period and was altered during the later Turkish rule. These successive eras provide the historic backdrop to the lanes and buildings of the center. The municipality’s coastline also includes the Venetian harbor.

Rethymno Beach is 12 kilometers long. It begins at the historic city center and stretches eastward to Scaleta. Its fine-grained, light-brown sand gives this stretch of coast a distinctive, tangible feature. When looking for a holiday apartment, considering the kind of vacation you want can be a useful starting point: beach days, city history or a mix of both can lead to different ideas of what your stay might look like.

Museums and historic traces

Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the main entrance to the Fortezza. Its exhibitions present the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period to Roman times. This takes visitors far back into the past and offers a different way to explore history than the historic urban landscape itself.

The Historical and Folklore Museum is housed in a Venetian mansion dating from the 17th century. Five rooms in the permanent exhibition showcase traditional crafts and folk art. Those interested in everyday life and traditional skills will find a distinct cultural focus here, alongside archaeology.

History is also firmly rooted in Chromonastiri: the settlement is designated as historic and worthy of preservation. The Military Museum there is housed in a Venetian villa built for the Clodio family in 1610. Its topics include a room dedicated to the historic Battle of Crete and weapons from the period between the Greek Revolution of 1821 and the Second World War.

At Arkadi Monastery, the two-aisled church of Saint Constantine and the Transfiguration of the Savior was built in 1587. The building, dating from the period of Venetian rule, features elements of Renaissance architecture. Following the Revolution of 1866–1869, the monastery became an eternal symbol of freedom. Architectural history and historical memory are closely intertwined here, and the church cannot be reduced to a single chapter.

Archaeological history can also be explored at the Armeni necropolis. More than 220 tombs have been excavated in the extensive Late Minoan cemetery. These were family tombs containing several deceased people; the grave goods offer insight into the art, religion and social organization of the time. The Museum of the Archaeological Site of Eleftherna is the first archaeological site museum in Crete. Its exhibitions show life in ancient Eleftherna from the late millennia of the 4th millennium BC through the Byzantine period. Excavations near the present-day villages of Eleftherna and Ancient Eleftherna have uncovered significant parts of the ancient city.

Gorges, events and local highlights

Two gorges offer different points of reference for planning excursions. The Moulou Gorge begins at Chromonastiri and ends at the village of Xiro Chorio. It includes a small river and the abandoned traditional village of Moulou, where traditional architecture, old churches and caves can be seen. The Arkadi Gorge begins at Arkadi Monastery and winds through a striking landscape to the village of Pikri, which features significant examples of Venetian architecture. The stated starting and ending points help distinguish the two routes.

The Rethymno Renaissance Festival takes place every summer and includes music, theater and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions. Carnival is a traditional event featuring a parade organized by volunteers each year. The city theater also stages performances annually; if you would like to include an event in your travel plans, check the specific dates in advance.

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta-caretta) nest on the sandy beach in the Arkadi municipal district; systematic measures are carried out to protect them. For nature enthusiasts, this is a different topic from city history or museum visits. Rethymno also offers opportunities for diving. Traditional coffeehouses serve local specialties that connect visitors with the area’s cuisine.

You can look for a holiday apartment based on the kind of vacation you have in mind, without combining the different experiences into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Agia Galini, Sellía, Rethymnon, Roumeli, Adele, Drosia, Eleftherna, Kalonyktis, Roussospiti, Prínos, Anógeia, Sfakaki, Kouloukonas, Charkia, Prines, Maroulas, Rodakino, Perama, Axos, Panormos, Platanés, Platanos, Arkadi, Magnisia, Livadia Keramoti, Episkopi, Roústika, Stavromenos, Myrthios, Pigianos Kampos, Melidoni, Argiroupoli, Damnoni, Triopetra, Asteri, Agia Paraskevi, Kerames, Lambi, Skouloufia, Margarites, Erfoi, Spili, Myxorrouma, Choumeri, Armenoi, Sises Geropotamos, Melissourgaki Geropotamos, Agios Vasilios, Loutra, Venio, Aghia Triada, Kato Rodakino, Achlades, Akoumia, Petres, Koxare, Vederi, Gonia, Kirianna, Gallos, Vlichada, Viranepiskopi, Pikris, Kare, Agios Pavlos, Petrochori, Garazo, Mikro Metochi, Adelianos Kampos, Chromonastiri, Nithafri, Somatas, Fourfouras, Aggeliana, Atsipades, Mariou, Keramota, Karoti, Agia Fotini, Bali, Roupes, Pagkalochori.

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