Rethymno
Old lanes, a Venetian fortress above the sea and a long city beach make Rethymno a practical stop on Crete's north coast.
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Rethymno is a town on the north coast of Crete, Greece, between Chania and Heraklion. Its old quarter is a network of narrow lanes lined with houses and churches from the Venetian period. The Fortezza, a Venetian fortress on a rise above the harbor, gives views over the water and the coast.
The town also has Ottoman-era mosques and a long sandy city beach, so a morning in the old town and an afternoon by the sea fit into one day. Rethymno suits travelers who want a walkable town, a slower pace than the larger cities and a base for trips along the north coast by car or bus. Late spring and early autumn are comfortable for walking the old town and swimming, when midsummer heat is less of a problem. A few days covers the town itself, and longer if you plan to see the rest of Crete.
Rethymno in five
- Pick Rethymno as the central base for CreteIt lies between Chania and Heraklion, about 1 to 1.5 hours from each airport. That makes it a good base for Samaria, Arkadi and the south coast.Crete
- Visit the Fortezza at opening timeThe Venetian fortress above the old town is quieter early, and the walls give a view over the harbor. Check opening hours and ticket prices on the culture ministry page.
- Fly into Chania or Heraklion, not RethymnoThere is no airport in town, so you need a car, bus or transfer from Chania or Heraklion. Buses link both cities with the town.Compare car hire
- Go to Arkadi Monastery for the historyThe monastery, a short drive inland, is a symbol of the Cretan resistance and has a calm courtyard. Dress modestly, and check opening hours.
- Try the gorge from here, but start earlySamaria Gorge is a long day trip from Rethymno, with a long drive each way. Many people prefer to base in Chania for it.Samaria Gorge
Things to do in Rethymno
See all attractions in Rethymno
Need to know
- Airport
- Chania (CHQ) or Heraklion (HER), about 1–1.5 hours by road
- Getting there
- Intercity bus or rental car along the north coast highway
- Getting around
- Walking in town; buses and cars for the coast and inland
- Best base
- Old town for atmosphere; seafront for the beach
- Time needed
- 2–3 nights for the town and nearby; longer as a Crete base
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- FebruaryRain11 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, wetFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 157 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Mild, flowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Spring, EasterAprilClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Warm, openMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, open
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low22°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Hot, windyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, windy
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Warm sea, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calm
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Warm, fewer boatsOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fewer boats
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low16°ShowersNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 180 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Rethymno, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Rethymno
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Rethymno
10:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today21°19°8%Monday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue23°18°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed22°16°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu18°16°93%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Fri16°15°93%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Sat16°13°7%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sun17°12°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 10:38 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Before you go to Rethymno
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Rules for Rethymno, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU visitors may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's current EES guidance before you travel.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants. Check the current rules on the Greek government portal (gov.gr).
- The emergency number across Greece is 112, for police, fire and ambulance. It works from any mobile phone, including one with no local SIM.
Plan around Rethymno
Larger Venetian port, about an hour west
Read the guideIraklioCrete's capital and gateway to Knossos
Read the guideSamaria GorgeThe famous gorge walk, a long day from Rethymno
Read the guideCrete travel guideHow to split the island between bases
Read the guideAll of GreeceAthens, the islands and the mainland
Read the guideRethymno FAQ
Is Rethymno worth visiting?
Yes. It has a well-kept Venetian old town, a fortress and a beach in the center, and it is quieter than Chania in peak season. It is a good middle base for Crete.
Should you stay in Rethymno or Chania?
Chania for a bigger harbor town and Balos and Samaria trips; Rethymno for a calmer old town and the center of the island. Both are about an hour apart.
How many days do you need in Rethymno?
Two days cover the old town, the fortress and the beach. Three or four add Arkadi, the Preveli area and a day by car in the mountains.
How do you get to Rethymno from the airport?
From Chania or Heraklion by bus or rental car, about 1 to 1.5 hours. There is no airport in Rethymno itself.
Is Rethymno good for a beach holiday?
It has a long city beach and others along the coast, though the sea can be breezy. Southern beaches are a car trip away. Check the wind forecast.