Rethymno

Venetian Alleys and Sandy Shores

Rethymno lies on Crete’s northern coast with a harbor that connects land and sea. The old town features stone buildings, narrow streets lined with shops selling local olive oil and honey and quiet squares where people gather for coffee or conversation. A Venetian fortress stands near the waterfront, showing centuries of history in its walls. Markets sell fresh fruit, spices and handmade crafts alongside everyday goods. Rethymno feels relaxed yet lively, with a mix of tradition and modern life that reflects Cretan culture without rushing tourists along a single path.

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City in Greece

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.3

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and shops, especially in tourist areas. Most locals working in hospitality are happy to help with directions, recommendations, and bookings.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Rethymno Summary

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Great for historic towns and beach holidays. Wander Venetian old streets, relax on long sandy beaches, visit fortresses and monasteries and enjoy lively seaside restaurants.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Sea

Walkable

Cosy towns

Islands

Beaches

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

👩 8

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Greece – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in urban areas. However, many small shops and rural locations still prefer cash payments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Greece. In restaurants, 5-10% is typical, though rounding up is also common. Tipping taxi drivers is customary, and small tips for hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Greece, especially in designated areas or during festivals. However, it’s prohibited in some areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places. There are designated outdoor smoking areas in most restaurants and public buildings.

Easter (March/April)	Easter is a significant religious holiday, and many businesses close. Popular for family gatherings and church services.
Assumption of Mary (August)	A national holiday with parades and festivities. Expect crowded tourist areas and higher accommodation prices.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations take place in many towns and cities, with lively events, though many businesses close for the holiday.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Beat, TaxiBeat, Uber
Other:	Greece is a popular tourist destination, particularly in summer, so be prepared for high demand for accommodation and services during peak months.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Rethymno, Greece

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many hotels, restaurants and beach facilities close from November to March, main season April to October

Meltemi winds are strongest July and August, bringing rough seas and wind-blown beaches on exposed coasts

Samaria Gorge and other mountain hikes are best May to October, snow possible in the White Mountains in winter

Don't miss

🏰 Explore the Venetian Fortress and enjoy harbor views
🏖️ Relax on Rethymno’s long sandy beach and crystal waters
☕ Wander narrow old town streets filled with charming cafes
⛲ Visit the Rimondi Fountain, a historical city centerpiece
🍽️ Taste traditional Cretan cuisine at a local taverna
🎶 Attend a festival or live music in the town square

You've been here?

Why travel to Rethymno?

Rethymno is perfect if you love a mix of history, culture and beach life. The Old Town is a maze of pastel buildings, Ottoman and Venetian landmarks and vibrant cafés. The Fortezza Fortress, Venetian harbor and Rimondi Fountain are just a few highlights. You’ll find authentic Cretan food, bustling markets and a warm, welcoming vibe. The long sandy beach is ideal for families and sunseekers, while the city’s central location makes it a great base for exploring Crete. Just know that in peak summer, crowds and traffic can be intense and parking is tricky in the center.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Venetian Loggia
2 Fortezza Fortress
3 Rimondi Fountain
4 Neratzes Mosque
5 Μεγάλη Πόρτα
6 Mikrasiaton Square

🎡Places for activities

1 Atlantis Diving Center
2 Quad/Jet ski Safari

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Preveli Beach
2 Rethymno Beach
3 Bali Beach & Village

🎈Events

Renaissance Festival
Carnival of Rethymno
Wine Festival
Cretan Diet Festival
Summer Concert Series
Easter Celebrations
Cultural Nights at Fortezza
Christmas Market
Art Exhibitions
Traditional Dance Performances

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Pack good shoes; Old Town streets are uneven cobblestones.
Stay near the Old Town for easy walks to harbor, museums, cafés and nightlife.
Visit the Fortezza at sunset for cooler temperatures and wide Venetian-era views.
Bring a refillable bottle: the historic Rimondi Fountain is central and traditionally offers free drinking water.

How to travel to Rethymno

You can reach Rethymno by ferry from Piraeus or by flying into Chania or Heraklion airports, both about an hour’s drive away. Regular buses connect Rethymno with Chania, Heraklion and other Cretan towns. Many visitors arrive by rental car or organized transfer.

Access summary

From Heraklion Airport (HER): About 1–1.5 hours by car or bus.
From Chania Airport (CHQ): Roughly 1–1.5 hours by direct or connecting bus.
From Heraklion/Chania cities: Frequent KTEL buses, typically 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Rethymno

Rethymno offers everything from boutique hotels in restored mansions to modern beachfront resorts, family-run guesthouses and budget hostels. Many accommodations are within walking distance of the Old Town and beach. Book early for summer, as the best spots fill quickly.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Achillion Palace Hotel

8.8

Atlantis Beach Hotel

9.1

Avli Lounge Apartments

9.3

Melrose Rethymno by Mage Hotels

9.7

The Royal Blue a Luxury Beach Resort

8.9

Grecotel LUX®ME White

Creta Palace, A Resort to Live®

8.8

The Royal Senses Resort Crete, Curio Collection by Hilton

9.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Rethymno

The Old Town and harbor are best explored on foot – expect narrow, cobbled streets and plenty of hidden corners. Local buses connect Rethymno with nearby beaches and villages. Taxis are available, but parking in the center is limited. Renting a car is great for day trips, but not necessary for the city itself.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-21 %

Daily expenses in Rethymno are around 21% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£65	£119	£298
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£35	£54	£108
🍝 Food per day	£25	£58	£168
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£7	£21

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£21
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8
☕ Cappuccino	£3
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.05
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£13
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£34
🤧 Cold medication	£4.40
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Rethymno is generally very safe, with low crime rates. Standard precautions apply, especially in busy areas and at the beach. Watch for pickpockets in crowded spots and be careful crossing busy streets.

Health & Medical

There are pharmacies and clinics in the city and a hospital nearby. Medical care is good, but bring any prescription meds you need. Tap water is safe, but bottled water is widely available if preferred.

Accessibility

The Old Town has cobbled streets and some uneven surfaces, which can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Many hotels and attractions are accessible, but check ahead if you have specific needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink and available throughout the city. Many locals and visitors prefer bottled water, which is inexpensive and easy to find in shops and restaurants.