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Voykit pocket guide · Greece
Rethymno
Spend 1–2 days in Rethymno: enough for the Old Town, Fortezza, a beach walk and one nearby site.
Rethymno is a small Cretan town where the historic Venetian Fortezza, narrow Old Town lanes and a long sandy beach are clustered near the harbour. One full day covers the main sights; a second day lets you visit a nearby attraction such as Arkadi Monastery or Preveli Beach.
- Country
- Greece
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (high heat)
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; card terminals are required in many businesses.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed · High €70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; a passport is needed to register.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 166
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Leave the coins, €0.50–1.; Taverna or restaurant: 5–10% in cash on the table; not expected at gyros shops.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night.; Boat crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure.
- Toilets
- Use cafés (buy something), museums and sites. Paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
Get in
By air
- HER · Heraklion International Airport
- ≈80 km (50 mi) by road, about 1 h 20 min, €6+ bus fare (check).≈50 mi (80 km) by road, about 1 h 20 min, €6+ bus fare (check).
- CHQ · Chania International Airport
- ≈56 km (35 mi), about 1 h by bus, €6+ (check).≈35 mi (56 km), about 1 h by bus, €6+ (check).
Typical fares
- Bus Rethymno → Heraklion
- ≈ €6 one‑way, about 1 h 20 min (check)
- Taxi to lighthouse parking
- ≈ €2 per hour parking, €10–12 ride
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Public buses run hourly to Heraklion and Chania; buy tickets at a shop before boarding. Taxis are shared and can be hailed on the street; parking near the lighthouse costs €2 per hour.
See and do
Known for
- Fortezza citadel
- Old Town pedestrian lanes
- Rimondi Venetian fountain
- Long sandy beach
- Arkadi Monastery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arkadi Monastery | KTEL bus from Rethymno station, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
| Preveli Beach & Monastery | Bus to Agios Vasilios, then local minibus 30 min | ≈2 h total |
| Kotsifou Gorge | Bus to Sellia, then walk 15 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Youth Hostel Rethymno
- Dorm beds €12–14 per night, central Old Town location.
- Idili Guesthouse
- Seaside guesthouse €60–105 per night, Panormos area.
- Jo An Beach Hotel
- 3 km (1.9 mi) from beach, mid‑range rooms, price not listed.1.9 mi (3 km) from beach, mid‑range rooms, price not listed.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Συγγνώμηsignómi |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώefharistó |
| How much is it? | Πόσο κοστίζει;póso kostízei? |
| Where is the bus stop? | Πού είναι η στάση του λεωφορείου;poú eínai i stási tou leoforeíou? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'kaliméra' (morning) or 'kalispéra' (evening) on entering shops and tavernas; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Hospitality: Accept offered coffee, sweets or raki; it is part of the welcome; avoid: Refusing flatly — take a little
- Churches: Covered shoulders and knees; quiet voices; a small candle donation; avoid: Turning your back on the altar for photos during a service
- Gestures: Wave with the palm turned towards yourself; avoid: The open palm pushed forward (moutza)
- Conversation: Family, food and football are easy topics; avoid: Lecturing on the debt crisis, Türkiye or the name of North Macedonia
- Dinner at a home: Bring pastries or wine; arrive a little late; avoid: Leaving food on the plate if you have been served more
- Dress: Casual; long trousers or skirt for monasteries; avoid: Swimwear in town, shops and churches
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus tickets must be purchased in advance at a kiosk; no on‑board sales.
- Roads along the north coast are steep and windy; drive cautiously.
- High‑speed ferries to Santorini run only in peak season; check schedules.
Rethymno is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and drive carefully on winding coastal roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rethymno yet. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fortezza citadel
- Old Town pedestrian lanes
- Rimondi Venetian fountain
- Long sandy beach
- Arkadi Monastery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Rethymno official tourism site: www.rethymno.gr/
- Wikivoyage: Rethymno, revision 5272367 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5272367
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/rethymno). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.