Direct Holiday Lets Blog

Situated almost exactly at the halfway point between the former and current capitals of Crete, Rethymnon is the third largest town on Greece’s largest island.  Dating back to the 3^rd century AD and being in a location which was strategically important to its European neighbours, it wears the influences of the many attempts to hold it captive, most notably those of the Venetians and the Turks.

Like its neighbours, Chania and Heraklion, Rethymnon is a delightful mix of the ancient and the modern.  Old shuttered buildings dating back to Venetian times nestle comfortably alongside more recently-built shops, restaurants and cafes, leaving no visitor to the town short of interest.  Whether you want to explore the ‘Fortezza’, the Venetian fortress which sits at the heart of Rethymnon and overlooks the town, soak up the atmosphere of the narrow alleyways and streets which sit behind the harbour, shop in the many modern boutiques that the town has to offer or do like the Greeks and simply while away the hours looking out to sea over a leisurely cup of coffee, you will never find yourself short of things to do, whatever the time of day or evening.

Of course, as a popular tourist destination, Rethymnon offers all the facilities such as banks, post offices and pharmacies that visitors would expect to find, as well as a delightful range of shops selling local produce and souvenirs.  At the same time, however, this is a place which gives up nothing of its year-round charm to blatant commercialism.

As in Crete’s other two major cities and the many towns and villages which are visited by thousands of tourists every year, visitors will find that the majority of the locals speak English and that most of the street signs are in English too.  If you feel inclined to learn the basics, however, the locals will be only too honoured to teach you a few words of Greek.  Don’t expect too much though as the title of the book, Learn Greek In 25 Years, is only slightly tongue-in-cheek!

If the island of Crete is known for one thing in particular, it is its hospitality.  No matter how far back in time you go, you will come across stories of how impoverished Cretan people offered their last morsel of food and a bed for the night to strangers on their travels, and this mentality is still very much in evidence even in the 21^st century.  Wherever you go, you will be treated to the warmest of welcomes by an island nation which is both fiercely patriotic and intensely passionate.

With the exception of the small and sparsely inhabited island of Gavdos, Crete is the most southerly point in Europe and, as such, benefits from gloriously long hot summers and short, mild winters.  January and February tend to be the coolest months, as well as those with the highest levels of rainfall, vital for the Cretan people in ensuring a good crop of their precious olives later in the year.

For a list of available properties in the area, please view our rentals  in Rethymnon and Crete page.