Rethymno walking tour & city guide

The old town

The old town grew under Venetian rule from the 13th to the 17th century and then under the Ottomans, and both left their mark. The Rimondi Fountain, with its lion-head spouts, is a favourite meeting point, and nearby the Neratze Mosque, a former church, keeps a slender minaret. The lanes around them are full of arched doorways, small craft shops and courtyards.

Ethnikis Antistaseos street runs from the Porta Guora, the last surviving gate of the old walls, into the heart of the old town and is lined with shops selling herbs, cheese and local products.

The Fortezza and the harbour

The Fortezza, built by the Venetians in the 1570s after pirate raids, crowns the hill at the western edge of the town. Inside its walls are a domed mosque, churches and wide views over the sea and the rooftops. Below it, the small Venetian harbour with its lighthouse is lined with fish tavernas, and the long seafront promenade leads east along the beach.

A walking route

Enter the old town through the Porta Guora and follow Ethnikis Antistaseos to the Rimondi Fountain. Wander the side streets to the Neratze Mosque, then walk out to the Venetian harbour and its lighthouse. Climb up to the Fortezza in the late afternoon, and finish with an evening stroll along the beach promenade.

Visiting tips

Rethymno is about an hour by road from Chania and an hour and a half from Heraklion, which has the nearest big airport. The Arkadi Monastery, a symbol of the Cretan struggle for freedom, is a short drive inland, and the palm beach of Preveli lies on the south coast. Summers are hot, so explore the old town in the morning or evening.