Allow a good couple of hours to explore the Venetian Fortezza sitting high on the top of a hill. Enjoy spectacular views over the town and sea from the imposing walls. Within the grounds, amongst the pine trees, you will also discover a Greek Orthodox chapel and a mosque that was once a Catholic church.
Start your evening with a cocktail in one of the many waterfront bars before moving onto one of the clubs near to the Rimondi Fountain. Nights start late here in the town centre and carry on until the early hours with a great buzz in the livelier bars on the harbour front.
Shops are in abundance in this busy seaside town. Cretan embroidery and handmade silver jewellery as well as bowls carved from olive wood are some of the items you will find in the shops in the old town. If you are looking for fresh produce then head to the farmer’s market for figs, olives and myzithra cheese.
The interesting monastery at Arkadi in the foothills of Mount Ida (25 minutes’ drive from Rethymnon) is worth a visit. As well as the monastery itself, you can visit the church and museum, which details the site’s historical importance in the island’s liberation from the Turks. The monastery’s resident cats may even come to your lap for a cuddle. Open daily during the summer.
Rethymnon hosts an annual festival to celebrate its Venetian heritage at the end of August into early September. You can watch plays at the Al Fresco theatre in the Fortezza or visit one of the many art exhibitions. The streets are lined with musicians, dancers and street performers for this cultural party.
