Miss Maude, Mr Thatcher; Sep 2007
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The old town is a lovely place, very picturesque. Despite being hounded by local restaurant owners the place is calm but beware of the crazy moped drivers! It is best to stay in the centre as the harbour is quite pricey and pushy bar owners can be annoying. WHATEVER YOU
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Overview: Anyone could be forgiven for mistaking the hugely popular
package tour holiday resort town of Rethymnon for a sort of
Cretan-inspired theme resort, but the best thing about the town is
that its picturesque historic heart is actually genuine. The old
town is just that, old, its winding alleys overhung with pretty
wooden flower-bedecked balconies flaunt historic Venetian and
Turkish architectural influences. Fortunately a recent mad spate of
tourist development has left the old town untouched, so it can now
delight the many snap-happy visitors and serve as a bustling venue
for tavernas, restaurants and souvenir shops. To the east is one of
Crete's longest sandy beaches, which has become the target of
developers and is lined with apartment blocks and hotels.
Excursions are easily made to Heraklion, Hania or the monastery of
Arkadhi.
Shopping: There is an overwhelming amount of gift shops geared towards
holidaymakers offering tourist souvenirs, as well as a variety of
handicrafts such as pottery, baskets, woodcarving and woven goods.
Cretan embroidery can be found at Haroula Spridaki, while various
items carved from olive wood are at Olive Tree Wood. Palaiopoleiou
offers genuine antiques and old textiles and those interested in
modern ceramics and Greek pottery should stop at Omodamos.
Self-caterers will find numerous general stores and mini
supermarkets scattered about, and there is a daily market below the
Porta Guora, as well as a bakery just behind the Rimóndi
fountain.
Restaurants: The inner harbour of Rethymnon sports an array of restaurants
perfect for holidaymakers and fish tavernas, many of which are
expensive for what they are; the Samaria taverna and O Zefyros are
more reasonably priced and two of the best here. Better value can
be found in the streets around the Rimóndi fountain where
there are some old-fashioned cafes serving local fare including
delicious helpings of traditional yoghurt and honey. These include
Kyria Maria, Agrimia and Zanfoti Kafenío, all overlooking
the fountain.
Nightlife: Nightlife in Rethymnon ranges from noisy pubs and bars around
the inner harbour or inside the old town, to more relaxed bars on
the beach where holidaymakers can enjoy the sounds of the sea while
sipping on the favourite drink. Fortezza Disco is the flashiest in
town, along with other dance clubs like the Metropolis, NYC, Nitro
and the Opera Club. A new younger bar scene has appeared above the
inner harbour around the Platía Plastira, with music bars
sporting outdoor terraces, such as Enzzo, Karma and Art.
Activities: Daily boat excursions are the latest activity in Rethymnon,
taking holidaymakers to the beautiful beaches at Bali or Marathi,
and include lunch at a local taverna with unlimited wine. Evening
cruises are also a popular activity.
Negatives: Rethymnon is not known for its nightlife and travellers looking
for a party scene should consider other resorts.
Nearby Attractions
Monastery of Arkádhi
Situated about 14 miles (23km) south of Rethymnon, the Monastery
of Arkádhi is something of a national Cretan shrine. During
the 1866 rebellion against the Turks the monastery became a refuge
for Cretan insurgents and their families. They were surrounded by
the Turks and... see full details | |
The Samaria Gorge
It is an arduous trip but well worth it to see one of the great
natural wonders of Europe, the Samaria Gorge in the White Mountains
in western Crete. From the top of the gorge it is a 10-mile (16km)
hike through the... see full details | |