Category Archives: Rethymno
Top attractions and places to visit in the vicinity of Rethymno and the area of Central and South-central Crete.
May 23, 2025
Panormos Crete: Things to do, Beaches, Travel Guide and Car Rental
Panormos Beach is a quiet, family-friendly destination located 21.6 kilometers (13.4 miles) east of Rethymno on Crete’s northern coast. Panormos beach is set in a natural harbor and features soft, golden sand and calm, shallow waters suitable for swimming, paddleboarding, and relaxation. Its wind-protected setting and proximity to the traditional village of Panormos create a peaceful environment for visitors of all ages. Panormos name comes from the Greek word "Πάνορμος", which means "sheltered harbor". Panormos village is pronounced "PA-nor-mos" in English and written "Πάνορμος" in Greek. Panormos has a population of 500 residents. Panormos beach is partially organized with sun loungers, umbrellas, and basic amenities, while the village itself hosts tavernas, cafés, and small shops just steps away. Popular nearby attractions include Spillies Beach, Melidoni Cave and Varkotopos Beach. Read article
February 15, 2025
Agios Pavlos Beach: A Secluded Cretan Coastal Paradise Beach
Agios Pavlos Beach is a remote coastal destination on the southern coast of Crete. It features a small bay with clear green waters, rocky capes, and a rocky seabed. The beach is known for its unique geological formations called the Apoplystra Folds, created over millions of years. Nearby, there's St. Paul's Chapel, believed to have housed the saint on his journey to Rome. Alatsogremni Beach, to the west, offers a quieter alternative with sand dunes and rocky formations, great for snorkeling. The best time to visit is from April to mid-November to avoid extreme summer heat. Agios Pavlos Beach's preservation is due to its remote location and strict construction regulations. Nearby attractions include Cape Melissa, Alatsogremni Beach, and Saint Anthony Monastery. To get to Agios Pavlos Beach, you can drive from cities like Rethymno, but renting a car is recommended for convenience. Read article
January 20, 2025
Spilies Beach: All you need to know by Locals!
Spilies Beach lies 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Rethymnon in Crete. Spilies beach, located between Skaleta and Geropotamos, sits near the highway connecting Heraklion and Rethymnon. A small rocky bay surrounds the pebbly beach, offering deep crystalline waters and protection through towering vertical cliffs. Read article
January 14, 2025
45+ Less Known, Exotic Beaches in Crete
Crete, Greece's largest island, offers diverse beaches for all preferences. Livadi Beach enchants families with green waters and modern amenities. Sougia Beach provides tranquility with pebbly shores and hiking trails. Sarantaris Beach near Hersonissos offers snorkeling and serenity.Kommos Beach, an ancient Minoan port, attracts history buffs with its ruins. Agiofarago Beach combines natural beauty and history, accessible through a gorge hike. Limanakia Beach provides family fun with calm waters and cultural attractions. Read article
January 14, 2025
Smart Guide to the 20 Best Beaches in Crete (Updated 2025)
Crete is a remarkable destination for beach enthusiasts, offering a big number of stunning beaches, each with its own unique charm. Vai Beach is famous for its palm-fringed shores, providing a tropical feel in the Mediterranean. Balos Beach is recognized for its pink-tinged sands and breathtaking views, making it a must-visit spot for those seeking natural beauty. Read article
January 5, 2025
Cities of Crete: Names, Facts, Features and Car Rentals
Crete, the largest Greek island, combines history, culture, and beauty across its destinations. Coastal areas offer sandy beaches, nightlife, and landmarks, while inland villages provide setting and traditional Cretan cuisine. Visitors can explore ancient ruins, relax by the sea, or experience the heritage, making Crete an ideal destination for all travel styles. Read article
January 4, 2025
14 Top Rethymno Beaches to visit in 2025
Rethymno, located on Crete's northern coast, features a scenic coastline with beautiful beaches, a Venetian harbour with colorful fishing boats, and a backdrop of hills and mountains. As the third-largest town on the island, Rethymno balances the urban energy of Heraklion and Chania with a relaxed and distinct atmosphere. Read article
August 25, 2024
Agia Galini: Things to Do, Beaches, Travel Guide and Car Rental
Agia Galini, located on the southern coast of Crete, is known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and convenient car rental options. The town features a semiarid climate, making it an ideal destination year-round, especially from May to October. Beachgoers can enjoy the fine pebbles and amenities at Agia Galini Beach, with sunbeds and umbrellas available for €8 ($8, £6) per day. Nearby Preveli Beach, known for its palm forest and the Kourtaliotiko River, offers a landscape, though visitors must bring their own beach gear and pay €2 ($2, £2) for parking. Travelers are encouraged to rent a car to fully explore Agia Galini and its surroundings. Renting a medium-sized car, such as a Renault Kadjar, ensures comfort and efficiency. Car rentals in the area typically cost €57 ($63, £49) per day, varying by vehicle type and rental duration. Smaller cars like economy models range from €52 ($57, £45) to €54 ($60, £47) per day, while compact cars average €68 ($75, £59). For larger groups, medium-sized cars are available at an average of €41 ($45, £35) per day. Agia Galini offers attractions such as the Gortyna Archaeological Site, the Minoan Palace of Phaistos, and the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Read article
August 8, 2024
Spili Crete: Attractions, Beaches, Travel Guide and Car Rental
Spili, whose name comes from "spilia", meaning "cave", features a history dating back to the Second Byzantine era. Spili offers a variety of hiking routes catering to different levels of difficulty and interests. The hike begins at Spili’s Kefalovrissi fountains and climbs to the summit of Mount Kedros. Spili offers a range of activities and attractions, including the Venetian fountain with 25 lion head spouts, the Kourtaliotiko Gorge with its towering limestone cliffs and waterfalls. A medium-sized car is ideal for visiting Spili, offering comfort, fuel efficiency, and maneuverability. This type of vehicle is well-suited for navigating the narrow streets and winding roads typical of Cretan towns. Car rental prices start from €30 ($33, £26) per day. Renting a car in Crete is recommended for visiting Spili. Car rental prices vary, with rates starting from €30 ($34, £25) per day. Spili does not require advance booking for general visits. The town welcomes tourists to enjoy its beauty and local culture without the need for prior reservations. Renting a car enhances the travel experience, offering the flexibility to explore Spili and its surrounding areas independently. Read article
July 7, 2024
17 Best Restaurants in Rethymno
The best restaurants in Rethymno capture the diverse culinary scene of Rethymno, a city known for its rich history, beautiful beaches and charming Old Town. The city offers various restaurants that cater to different tastes. Notable examples include Lemonokipos, known for traditional Greek dishes and vegetarian options and CAVO, a beachfront restaurant specialising in Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Another top restaurant is Avli, which merges modern and traditional Cretan cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Rethymno is renowned for its Venetian Harbor and Fortezza fortress, iconic landmarks reflecting the city's Venetian heritage. The Old Town, with its mediaeval quarter, narrow alleys, Venetian buildings and Ottoman-era influences, is a place of interest. Tourists also enjoy Rethymno's beautiful beaches and vibrant student life courtesy of the University of Crete. The city's raki production, a traditional grape-based alcoholic drink, adds to its cultural richness. Read article
July 5, 2024
Kourtaliotiko Gorge & Waterfall: All you need to know from locals
Kourtaliotiko Gorge is one of Crete's top attractions, featuring a dramatic 7km long canyon carved out by the Kourtaliotiko River in southwest Crete. The towering 600m limestone cliffs and winding passageways dotted with caves, rapids and pools create a stunning natural landscape. Kourtaliotiko Gorge is located in southwest Crete and is popular for its rugged landscape and active river, the Kourtaliotis River, which flows through the gorge. Read article
June 25, 2024
11 Most Popular Museums in Rethymno
Rethymno is home to a collection of museums that provide insight into the rich history and culture of the city and the broader Crete region. These include the Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon, nestled in the Pentagon bastion, which showcases archaeological finds spanning various periods. The Historical and Folk Art Museum of Rethymno offers a glimpse into traditional Cretan life, displaying items from farming to traditional professions. The Military Museum of Chromonastiri explores the region's military history, featuring a wide range of weapons, uniforms and memorabilia. Lastly, the Museum of Ancient Eleutherna, located in the archaeological park, unveils historical artefacts dating back thousands of years. These museums collectively enrich the understanding of Rethymno's history, making it a destination that appeals to history enthusiasts and culture seekers. Read article
May 20, 2024
Skaleta Crete: Things to do, Travel Guide, Beaches and Car Rental
Skaleta is a coastal village located on the northern coast of Crete, Greece. It is 12 kilometers (7.46 miles) east of Rethymno. Skaleta was once a small fishing village but has become a popular tourist resort. Car rentals in Skaleta cost €50 ($54.5, £43.5) daily for a basic compact car. Visitors who are looking to explore the mountain roads and rural areas around Skaleta, a small SUV or a 4x4 vehicle would be the best choice, costing €70 ($76.3, £60.9) per day. Read article
May 19, 2024
Adelianos Kampos: Things to Do, Beaches, Travel Guide and Car Rental
Adelianos Kampos is a seaside village 4.7 kilometers (2.92 miles) east of Rethymno on the northern coast of Crete. Initially a small fishing village, it grew into a suburb of Rethymno to accommodate visitors and cater to the tourism industry. The town is relatively new and an extension of Rethymno was developed in response to population growth. The Adelianos Kampos area is a fertile plain known for its olive groves and vineyards. It was originally part of the Arkadi municipality. Read article
May 18, 2024
Argyroupolis Crete: Things to Do, History, Travel Guide and Car Rental
Argyroupolis is a village in the Rethymno region of Crete, Greece. It is at an altitude of 260 meters (853.06 feet) between the Mousselas and Petres rivers. The village has a population of around 700 residents primarily engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Argyroupolis has a rich historical background. It was built on the site of the ancient city of Lappa, which dates back to the 8th century BC. According to mythology, Lappa was founded by the Greek hero Agamemnon. The village has remnants of Roman, Byzantine and Venetian architecture, including mosaic floors, Byzantine churches with frescoes and grand Venetian mansions. Read article
April 29, 2024
West Crete: Attractions, Landmarks, Travel Guide and Car Rental
West Crete is in the westernmost part of the island of Crete, the largest and most populous of the Greek islands. This region has the regional units of Chania and Rethymno, stretching from the Akrotiri Peninsula in the north to the Libyan Sea in the south. The origin of West Crete can be traced back to the Minoan civilisation, one of the earliest civilisations in Europe, which flourished on the island from around 2700 BC to 1450 BC. The Minoans established several notable settlements in West Crete, including the sites of Phalasarna, Polyrrhenia, and Lissos, where valuable archaeological evidence, such as pottery, frescoes, and architectural remains, has been uncovered, providing insights into the daily life, trade, and religious practices of this ancient civilisation. Read article
April 14, 2024
Rethymno Crete: Things to do, Beaches, Travel Guide and Car Rental
Rethymno, a city in Crete, Greece, offers a history and culture. Visitors can explore the well-preserved Venetian-era old town, Renaissance-style buildings and the iconic Fortezza fortress. The city features numerous attractions, including the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno, showcasing artifacts from the Neolithic to Roman periods and the Rethymno Old Town, with its atmosphere and traditional architecture. Other notable sites include the Neratze Mosque, Arkadi Monastery and nearby gorges like Myli and Kourtaliotiko. Car rental is a convenient option for exploring Rethymno and its surroundings. Several rental companies operate within the city, offering various vehicles at different price points. Visitors typically need a valid driver's license credit card to rent a car and meet minimum age requirements. Factors to consider when renting include insurance coverage, fuel policies and potential additional driver fees. Rethymno's proximity to other popular destinations, such as Chania and Heraklion, makes it an ideal starting point for discovering Crete. Read article
January 24, 2024
Kalypso Beach: All you need to know by Locals!
Kalypso Beach, also known as Pirates' Fjord Beach, is located on the southern coast of Crete. Kalypso Beach, pronounced as "kuh-lip-soh", offers a relaxing environment that attracts visitors seeking a peaceful escape. It is blessed with an abundant geography, having rocky shores and waters that gently kiss the shoreline. Kalypso Beach is set against a background of rugged coastal terrain, it provides a perfect spot for recreational activities. The climate in Crete is characterised by warm summers and mild winters, making it an attractive destination year-round. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with summer temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F) and mild winters averaging 15°C (59°F). Read article
October 21, 2023
11 Known Ports of Crete: What Do You Need to Know?
The 11 known ports of Crete play a crucial role in the island's significance and its appeal as a holiday destination, including popular ones like Heraklion Port, Chania Port and Rethymno Port. Crete is strategically located in the Eastern Mediterranean, making its ports vital for trade, commerce, tourism and connectivity to mainland Greece and neighbouring countries. Read article
October 1, 2023
Transportation Guide in Crete: Which One Is Best for You?
Crete is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Crete is strategically located in the southern Aegean Sea, south of mainland Greece and north of the African coast. Crete's unusual geographical location has contributed to the island's appeal as a top tourist destination. The island draws visitors because of its magnificent vistas, rich historical legacy and active local culture.Air travel is the most efficient way to get to Crete. Many major cities have daily flights to Athens via various carriers, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish carriers, Egypt Air and Gulf Air. Take a domestic flight to Crete's Heraklion or Chania airports upon arriving in Athens. There are numerous charter flights available during the peak tourist season, notably during the summer months. Read article
