RETHYMNON
Area: Crete
Country: Greece


Location:
About midway along Crete's N coast, 12 miles E of Georgioupolis. 50 miles from Heraklion airport; 40 miles from Chania airport.

Telephone code from UK:
30 28310

Position:
Faces N on a small bay with harboured waterfront. The fertile valley of Amari and the Nida plain stretch out behind, with olive groves, forests, agricultural plastic houses, which contrasts with the sternness of one of the most mountainous regions, with its many rocky gorges.

Description:
The island's third largest, and a university town, thought of locally as the intellectual centre of Crete. A place fashioned by periods of turbulent upheavals throughout its history, it has ancient and modern, it has charm and elegance and meets the demands of today's tourism. Remains of a Venetian fortress dominate the old town area, looking out over the bustling waterfront with a palm-lined promenade, brightly multicoloured boats moor alongside. A definite Eastern flavour comes from a towering minaret and there is Nerandzes mosque. Venetian stone archways and Turkish balconies adorn many of the houses. Many Venetian fountains. Continual tourist development is extending on both sides of the town in the smaller village resort areas along the old coast road.

Suitability:
An excellent base for exploring W Crete and has general interest for most visitors, whether desirous of the luxury facilities or economy-minded who enjoy the basics and the beach.

Accommodation:
Very good choice of hotels in all classes, also some holiday complex types, apartments.

Shopping:
There is an open-air market held on certain days; a good selection of shops such as food stores, leather, jewellery and local crafts which are crowded together in the narrow streets as well as the more modern outlets in the modern high street and hotels.

Beach:
With sand fronting the central promenade there are long curved stretches of good wide sandy, some shingle, beaches for miles to the E of town; said to be some of the best in Crete. Bathing is good and generally safe. Water sports of most types are always close at hand.

Entertainments:
Daytime: much local historical interest, gardens etc. Nightlife: bars with musical entertainment, tavernas, discos and bouzouki nightclubs, and one or two cinemas.

Eating:
Good restaurants with excellent (but not always cheap) seafood around the old port. Many local-style tavernas and restaurants to be found at hotels.

Public-transport:
Frequent bus services to neighbouring resorts, Chania, Heraklion, Aghios Nikolaos which makes exploring relatively simple. Ferries to mainland Greece and some smaller islands. Many car and bike hire outlets.

Local-excursions:
Flower festival in early season, a wine festival is held in the public park (once a Turkish cemetery) in July. Local archaeological museum and various historic buildings and sites in the town. Ferries from the harbour; day trips to Knossos & Heraklion Archaeological Museum; Chania, Akrotiri; Plateau of Lassithi; Aghios Nikolaos, Spinalonga; E Crete; Samaria Gorge; Cretan village evenings; barbecues and others to the S of Crete.