RETHYMNO

The prefecture lies in the middle of the 2 highest mountain ranges of Crete, The Lefka Ori, (White Mountains) and the Psiloritis ( Ida Mountains)
With approx. 77000 inhabitants it’s the smallest county of Crete.
But it’s the best agricultural prefecture of our island, with many sheep and goat stock, rabbits, pigs, chicken, etc. Drive through the millions of olive & fruit trees from Avocado until Grapefruits.

Rethymno city is the 3rd in line of the island and it’s what we see as a small copy of Chania. It has a picturesque venetian harbour, small streets with shops and restaurants and some musea. The biggest is the “Fortezza” the Castle Fortress situated prominently on the top of the city. Here in the summer festivals are held. The tourist visiting Rethymno live mainly in the hotels from the suburbs, like Platanes, Adele and Pigi They are about 5-8 Km away, but also many day visitors come to enjoy this charming city with its central position on Crete.

Let’s go south....here we meet the tourist resort Plakias where we meet “a special taste” of Crete. Smaller hotels, pensions with studios and apartments, villas, the most southern youth hostel of Europe and beautiful beaches even some nudist. Its the Nr.1 walking area of the island. Nearby are interesting sites like Prevelli monastery, the Palm Beach, Pappa Michaelis museum, the Koutaliotiko gorge. Places nearby are Rodakino, much more remote but maybe you like a quiet holiday.

On the east of Plakias is the lovely resort Agia Galini. For sure a very nice place for shopping and dining and the beach here is clean and sandy but not very big. There are transfer boats to some superb sandy beaches nearby like Agios Georgios, Agios Pavlos and Triopetra. A daily services there to the Palm beach of Prevelli. In the village plenty of accommodation in the hotels and pensions.

A special area we find is the Amari valley, which is worth a day tour with your car or motor bike. On your way there are plenty of traditional villages, old churches & monasteries and above all a beautiful country side, with today 2 artificial lakes. The first one was at Vizari and suplies the area specially in the summer with drinking water. The new one is at Voliones which will supply Rethymno with drinking water and electricity in the future.

We must reveal our favourite village, its Panormos 25 Km. from Rethymno, towards Heraklion on the north. Find here a good combination of an old fishermen’s village with limited tourism. Even the big powerful hotel chains were forced to built their premises on the outskirts of the village.

Rethymno is our home city and prefecture and you are always welcome in our office for more information