Travel Guide Rethymnon

With just over 35,000 inhabitants, Rethymnon is the third largest city in Crete. Located halfway between Heraklion and Hania, this city is, like all the northern coast of the island, overwhelmed by tourists in summer. However, the capital of the prefecture has managed to preserve a certain charm and a provincial side, thanks to its old center and its lively pedestrian streets. The historic district, between the Venetian port and the imposing fortress, with its narrow streets and Venetian and Ottoman houses, its small squares, its minarets and fountains, offers a very pleasant setting for a walk. All the points of interest are concentrated in the historical heart of the city, which is bounded by Dimakopoulou and Gerakari streets and Iroon Square. The main artery of this area is the Arkadiou shopping street. The city of Rethymno is also blessed with a long sandy beach (13 km) in the center of the city, which runs east from the port towards Perivolia and is never completely crowded, even in the height of summer. The sea water is, of course, less clean than in the small isolated coves, but the beach has the advantage of being supervised. The number of cafes, taverns and disco-bars, which line the seafront of Rethymno, is impressive..