The City of Rethimno

Crete has only four big towns, all situated along the island's north coast: Chania, Rethimno, Iraklion, and Agios Nikolaos. Of these Rethimno is the smallest, and the most enchanting in atmosphere. With its Renaissance architecture, Venetian fortress, museums and beaches, surely the visitor will find much to go for.

The old town district is a fascinating series of little streets and picturesque alleyways with buildings showing the influence of the many foreign occupants of Crete throughout the centuries. In fact, Rethimno is, above all else, a strolling town. The best decision you can take is to make no particular plans. The Venetian harbor with its fish restaurants is a good place to start. From here you can follow side streets to the Fortezza. Once inside, the view from here over the sea and mountains and roofs of the old town are superb. Down in the town, you'll find yourself discovering the main attractions as you go-the hidden local shops, the flowery courtyards and twisting alleys of centuries old dewllings. Buy from cheap and cheerful souverir shops, crafts weaving outlets that line on Ethnikis Antistaseos, Arkadiou, Souliou in the old town. Gold and jewelery shops abound, offering good prices but try Artemis jewelery shop in Tsouderon street, and Oro-Fino in Arkadiou street respectively.

As for swimming, the coastline of eleven kilometers east of Rethimno is all sand. Also west of the town are excellent beaches at Petres, and further onwards.

As for the surroundings province, the difficulty is in deciding what to visit first. The endless beaches, the monasteries and the churches, the ancient sites or the Venetian and Turkish momnuments? The famous Arkadi monastery, which is a few miles from town, and the beautiful Preveli Monastery, in its remote setting, on the south coast of Crete are worth visiting. The are is rich in characteristic villages and areas of great natural beauty, as well as caves and soaring mountains. Overall, one thing is certain. If you arrive here in Rethimno Crete with anxiety and stress, the atmosphere and life is enough to make you quickly forget your worries.