Rethymno: Old Town, Beach and Culture

Rethymno combines a historic old town, a long sandy beach and sights throughout the wider municipality. When looking for hotels in Rethymno, you can first decide what you want to shape your stay: urban history and museums, time at the beach, or archaeological sites and landscapes. These different themes give your trip planning a clear direction without requiring you to focus on just one.

Old Town and Venetian Heritage

Rethymno’s old town is designated as a protected historic monument and a traditional settlement. Its urban layout took shape during the Venetian period and was later transformed under Turkish rule. The historic center lies below the Venetian fortress, Fortezza. Together, these features show how history and the cityscape are intertwined in Rethymno. The Venetian harbor is also part of the municipality’s coastline.

Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno has been housed in a pentagonal building in front of the main entrance to the Fortezza. Its exhibitions present the history of the prefecture from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Historical and Folklore Museum offers a different perspective on local cultural history: it is housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion. In five galleries of the permanent exhibition, you can see traditional crafts and folk art.

You can also encounter historic sites beyond the city center. Chromonastiri is designated as a historic and preserved settlement. The military museum there is housed in a Venetian villa built in 1610 for the Clodio family. One room is devoted to the historic Battle of Crete; the museum also displays weapons dating from the Greek Revolution of 1821 to the Second World War. At Arkadi Monastery, the two-aisled church of Saint Constantine and the Transfiguration of the Savior dates from 1587. Built during Venetian rule, it features elements of Renaissance architecture. After the revolution of 1866–1869, the monastery became a symbol of freedom.

Archaeology and Gorges

The archaeological site of Ancient Eleftherna includes excavation areas near the present-day villages of Eleftherna and Ancient Eleftherna, where significant parts of the ancient city have been unearthed. The Museum of the Archaeological Site of Eleftherna is the first archaeological site museum in Crete. Its exhibitions explore life in ancient Eleftherna and cover the period from the late 4th millennium BC to the Byzantine era.

More than 220 tombs from an extensive Late Minoan cemetery have been excavated in the Armeni necropolis. They were family tombs in which several deceased people were buried. The grave goods offer insights into the art, religion and social organization of the time. For your planning, these places differ in focus: Eleftherna centers on the ancient city and its exhibitions, while Armeni centers on burial sites and their finds.

Two gorges offer further well-defined destinations. The Moulou Gorge begins at Chromonastiri and ends at Xiro Chorio. It includes a small river and the abandoned traditional village of Moulou, with traditional architecture, old churches and caves. The Arkadi Gorge begins at Arkadi Monastery and passes through a striking landscape to Pikri, whose architecture features significant Venetian elements. The stated start and end points help you distinguish between these two landscape experiences.

Coast, Nature and Annual Events

Rethymno Beach is 12 kilometers long. It begins at the historic city center and extends eastward to Scaleta. Its sand is fine-grained and light brown. The coast also offers opportunities for diving. In the municipal district of Arkadi, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest on the sandy beach; systematic measures are carried out to protect them.

The events calendar can also play a role in planning your trip. The Rethymno Renaissance Festival takes place every summer, with music, theater and dance performances as well as art exhibitions. Carnival is a traditional event; its parade is organized by volunteers every year. If one of these events is a deciding factor for your stay, check the specific dates in advance.

Find Hotels Based on Your Travel Interests

A cultural event can complement your plans, while the museums, gorges and historic sites mentioned above offer a range of themes in their own right. Use these interests to guide your trip planning, then compare the specific hotel options.

Discover more destinations: Agia Galini, Sellía, Rethymnon, Roumeli, Adele, Drosia, Eleftherna, Kalonyktis, Roussospiti, Prínos, Anógeia, Sfakaki, Kouloukonas, Charkia, Prines, Maroulas, Rodakino, Perama, Axos, Panormos, Platanés, Platanos, Arkadi, Magnisia, Livadia Keramoti, Episkopi, Roústika, Stavromenos, Myrthios, Pigianos Kampos, Melidoni, Argiroupoli, Damnoni, Triopetra, Asteri, Agia Paraskevi, Kerames, Lambi, Skouloufia, Margarites, Erfoi, Spili, Myxorrouma, Choumeri, Armenoi, Sises Geropotamos, Melissourgaki Geropotamos, Agios Vasilios, Loutra, Venio, Aghia Triada, Kato Rodakino, Achlades, Akoumia, Petres, Koxare, Vederi, Gonia, Kirianna, Gallos, Vlichada, Viranepiskopi, Pikris, Kare, Agios Pavlos, Petrochori, Garazo, Mikro Metochi, Adelianos Kampos, Chromonastiri, Nithafri, Somatas, Fourfouras, Aggeliana, Atsipades, Mariou, Keramota, Karoti, Agia Fotini, Bali, Roupes and Pagkalochori.

For the broader travel overview: Crete.