Below, you will find information about how to get to Rethymno by ferry, where to buy your tickets, information about the prefecture and its port, the best things to do, and many photos.
Rethymno, Crete’s third largest city, is situated halfway between Heraklion and Chania geographically, but also in character, combining the more old-fashioned traits of Chania with the more modern elements of Heraklion. This has created a city with its own unique flair.
Due to the popularity of its neighbors, Rethymno is relatively untouched by international tourism, serving as a great alternative to the often crowded cities to its east and west.
Rethymno’s charming port is smaller than Crete’s other main harbors and only has direct connections to Santorini.
HOW TO TRAVEL THERE
Rethymno doesn’t boast an airport of its own, primarily relying on Chania’s international airport for its airborne needs.
By ferry, most travelers will dock at Heraklion, although those coming from Athens can choose Chania instead, as it is significantly closer to Rethymno.
For those seeking to get to Crete from Santorini, a cheaper alternative is to reach Rethymno by ferry directly.
Ferry Connections
Rethymno is connected exclusively to Santorini, with two trips a week connecting the island during the summer season.
People who select to go from Santorini to Rethymno or from Rethymno to Santorini by ferry have the chance to gaze at the lovely seascape of the Aegean while sailing on its azure waters.
Rethymno is only served by high-speed vessels, due to the short distance between it and Santorini. Seajets is the only company that runs itineraries to Rethymno.
How to book your ferry tickets
Booking your ferry tickets is one of the first and most important steps in organizing your holidays in Rethymno!
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Despite dating back to at least the Classical Age, when it was known as Rhithymna, Rethymno has been a relatively minor city throughout history. However, it was very important during the period of Venetian control over Crete (1211-1669) and has gradually regained its significance since Cretan autonomy in 1898 and union with Greece in 1913, notably welcoming many refugees from Asia Minor following the destruction of many cities during the Greco-Turkish War in 1922.
Considerably smaller than Heraklion and Chania, it receives a smaller amount of tourists as well. Still, like all of Greece, its number of visitors is constantly growing, and the city is a brilliant holiday destination, mixing the calm with the lively.
The Fortezza, situated on Palaiokastro Hill at the northern edge of town, is Rethymmno’s trademark, with most of its architecture very well preserved. Unfortunately, the city’s old walls, which lined the Old Town’s southern edge, are almost completely gone, with the exception of Porta Guora, which was the main gate.
The Old Town itself includes many other traces of Venetian architecture, with orange-tiled roofs dominating the skyline. The small Venetian Port is completely surrounded by the modern port.
Rethymno also displays more of its Ottoman past than its neighbors, with plenty of mosques still standing, such as Neradje Mosque, formerly the Catholic Church of Santa Maria, which today functions as a conservatory.
Rethymno’s hinterland is dominated by mountains, with Mount Ida specifically, the tallest mountain in Crete, towering over the entire prefecture. Ideon Cave, where Zeus is said to have been hidden in his youth and raised by the goat Amaltheia, is found here. The western parts of the prefecture feature the easternmost of the White Mountains, while in the south rises Mount Kedros.
Like all of Crete, Rethymno has its fair share of beaches, with access to the calmer southern coast being quite easy, due to the island being quite narrow around here. One of these southern beaches is Preveli, where a swim can be combined with a trek through the breathtaking Kourtaliotiko Gorge. However, Rethymno’s most famous beach is Bali, to the northeast, which is popular owing to its rugged, natural appearance.
Rethymno is home to many mountainous villages, including Arkadi, with its famous monastery, Zoniana, with its proximity to Sfendoni Cave, and Anogia, one of the island’s most traditional settlements, with a long history of insubordination, which is home to some of Crete’s greatest musicians: brothers Nikos Xilouris and Psarantonis.
Rethymno is also famous for its Carnival, one of many held throughout Greece just before Lent in preparation for Easter. Taking place on a different date each year, on the Sunday before Clean Monday, people flood the streets of the Town dressed in vibrant, colorful costumes, partying all day and night and celebrating the end of Apokries.
Best time to visit
Like most locations in Greece, the best time to visit is between May and October, however Crete’s location at the southern end of the Aegean Sea actually makes it warm enough for an enjoyable visit year-round, and that includes Rethymno. However, those seeking to explore Rethymno’s mountainous hinterland should probably pencil in a trip in May or September.
Rethymno Carnival, one of Greece’s most exciting and vibrant carnivals, takes place in late February or early March, depending on the year, offering an enticing off-season holiday opportunity.
Best things to do
Rethymno’s greatest attractions are the astoundingly well-preserved elements of Venetian and Ottoman architecture that can be found in the Old Town. From the Fortezza, the Loggia, and the Rimondi Fountain, to the Neradje and Ibrahim Han Mosques and the Ottoman Baths, history is still alive here and surrounded by traditional architecture.
Rethymno also hosts a number of museums, ranging from an Archaeological Museum to an Ecclesiastical Museum, a Contemporary Art Gallery, and a Marine Life Museum.
Rethymno is home to many beaches, with easy access to both the Cretan and Libyan Seas, on the northern and southern coast, respectively. However, its landscape is dominated by its mountains, and these giants offer innumerable gorges and caves for hiking and spelunking, with the Ideon and Sfendoni Caves taking the cake.
If one wants to appreciate further aspects of Crete’s period under Venetian control, an easy option is to take a day trip to Chania, where the old walls and port are seamlessly integrated into the urban network, offering a prime opportunity to compare two similar yet different examples of urban development through time.
Those who visit at the right time of year would be remiss to miss out on the city’s Carnival, growing rapidly in popularity as people seek an alternative to Patras Carnival.
Is Rethymno for you?
Rethymno is a destination suitable for everyone, with young people flocking here, especially during the Carnival. Otherwise, the people who will most appreciate this destination are those who want to hike up once-sacred mountains and down awe-inspiring gorges, as well as those who prefer a scenic environment. However, due to the New Town constantly growing, and thanks to Crete’s extensive interconnectivity, nothing is out of range for those staying at Rethymno.
Facts
Learn what you don’t know about Rethymno!
The coins of ancient Rhithymna often depicted two dolphins on the reverse side. This design is used today as Rethymno’s Municipal Seal.
The -mn- in the name of Rethymno (formerly Rhithymna) denotes an etymology dating to before Greek was spoken on the island of Crete, more than 3500 years ago.
Ideon Cave on Mount Ida is said to be where Rhea hid her newborn son, Zeus, from Cronos, so he wouldn’t be eaten.
Arkadi Monastery was the site of the first and most important battle of the 1866-1869 Cretan Revolt. When the Ottoman forces besieging it managed to break through, its defenders blew it up, refusing to be taken alive.
Potamon Lake, 25 kilometers southeast of Rethymno Town, is an artificial lake created by Potamon Dam. This area has become a nature reserve and the source of almost all irrigation in Rethymno, with the reservoir holding 23 million cubic meters of water. Remains of old fortifications can be found on top of the hill on the dam’s western end.
Where to go next?
Visitors of Crete tend to explore as much of the island as possible, without being confined by their city of choice. The north of Crete is well connected by road, and this allows visitors to quickly reach Chania to the west, as well as the capital of Crete, Heraklion, to the east.
Rethymno’s only ferry connection is with Santorini, about three hours away. This is Greece’s most visited island thanks to its world-renowned natural beauty.
Photos of Rethymno
Map
ABOUT RETHYMNO PORT
Port description
Rethymno Port is placed on the eastern coast of the Old Town, with its two piers engulfing the old Venetian Port, which today mostly houses fishing boats.
A sandy beach lies between the two piers, with a palm-lined avenue behind it, granting an almost tropical feel to the port. This beach, however, isn’t used by swimmers, as they all flock to the beach immediately to the east of the eastern pier. This means one can dive in just 10 minutes after disembarking the ferry.
Rethymno Port is directly connected with that of Santorini, Greece’s most popular tourist destination.
It is situated directly next to the Marina and has more than enough parking space. Visitors are greeted by a statue of two dolphins, the city’s emblem, before moving south from the pier. Sailing clubs, watersports, and boat rentals are all available in the vicinity of the port, while just across the street ATMs, cafes, restaurants, and car rentals abound. In the port itself, just north of the port authority building, there is an electric car charging station.
Rethymno Port itself is quite spacious and hardly gets crowded, due to the Port’s sparse connections. However, the Marina is rather lively and thus can cause some congestion en route to the pier.
There are several options on how to leave/get to Rethymno Port.
The best option is to take a taxi, which can carry up to 4 passengers and take them to any part of the city or the suburbs. Taxis can be hailed or requested by phone, by calling 0030 697 5504 692, 0030 697 3044 655, or 0030 28310 35000. A similar option is to schedule a private transfer.
Alternatively, you may also opt for a car rental. This option is easy to take in Rethymno due to the car rental service available right across the street from the port, though rental cars can also be ordered in advance and brought there directly.
Bus service in Rethymno is rather scarce, owing to the geography of the city. There is only one city bus line, run by KTEL Chania-Rethimnon, which runs a line from west to east, along Rethymno’s main avenues. This line doesn’t enter the Old Town, and Dimitrakaki 2 stop is a 20-minute walk from the pier. This line is mainly intended for university students, so the buses can get quite crowded.
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