Rethymno Rocks! #5 returns to Fortezza Castle from 27 to 30 August 2025 with four nights of live rock and metal. Fans created the festival for fans, bringing leading acts and diverse sounds to one of Greece’s main summer stages.
Tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday start at €20 (£17, $22) and are available online.
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Set in the centre of Rethymno Town, 1.1 km from Rethymno Beach and 2 km from Koumbes Beach, Elisabeth’s Penthouse at the heart of the city offers air conditioning. This beachfront property offers access to a terrace and free private parking.
With free WiFi, this 1-bedroom apartment offers a flat-screen TV, a washing machine and a kitchen with an oven and microwave. Towels and bed linen are featured in the apartment.
Popular points of interest near the apartment include Archaeological Museum of Rethymno, Venetian Harbour and Historical and Folklore Museum. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 69 km from Elisabeth’s Penthouse at the heart of the city.
from
€162
/night
Located 1.7 km from Koumbes Beach, V77 Seafront Suites offers accommodation with a patio, as well as barbecue facilities and a terrace. The accommodation features a spa bath.
The air-conditioned units feature a living room with a flat-screen TV, a kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, a safety deposit box, and a private bathroom with bathrobes and slippers. There is a seating and a dining area in all units.
A à la carte breakfast is available daily at the apartment.
A car rental service is available at V77 Seafront Suites, while cycling can be enjoyed nearby.
Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Archaeological Museum of Rethymno, Venetian Harbour and Historical and Folklore Museum. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 60 km from V77 Seafront Suites.
Next to the historic site of Loggia and just 50 metres from the Venetian Harbour, Hotel Leo offers rooms with free Wi-Fi in the centre of Rethymno’s old town. The castle of Fortezza is 300 metres away.
Set in a listed 1450s Venetian house, Leo features stylish and individually furnished rooms with air conditioning. All rooms come with a satellite TV, a seating area and modern bathroom.
Breakfast is served in the picturesque medieval street right next to the property’s entrance.
Several shops, taverns and ancient alleys are within a short walk from Leo Hotel. The beach of Rethymno is a 10-minute walk away. Free public parking is available 300 metres away.
from
€97
/night
Located in Rethymno Town, less than 1 km from Rethymno Beach and 400 metres from the centre, Μuses Suites provides air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi, and a terrace.
The apartment offers a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with bathrobes, slippers and walk-in shower. Some units include a balcony and/or a patio with sea views.
Breakfast is available daily, and includes continental, Full English/Irish and American options.
Μuses Suites offers a hot tub.
Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the accommodation, while cycling and walking tours can be enjoyed nearby.
Popular points of interest near Μuses Suites include Koumbes Beach, Archaeological Museum of Rethymno and Venetian Harbour. The nearest airport is Chania International, 70 km from the apartment, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th is one of the most significant holidays in the Greek Orthodox calendar, celebrating the “falling asleep” and Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Neapoli hosts the largest festival in the prefecture, attracting thousands of visitors and Cretan musicians.
Celebrations begin on August 14th with a cycle race and a long-distance run ending in Neapoli’s central square. After the evening church service, young men race up and down the steep mountainside to the Timios Stavros summit. The square transforms into a lively party with traditional singing, dancing, live music, and a market offering toys, icons, and clothing, continuing into the early hours.
On August 15th, a lengthy church service is followed by a grand procession of the Virgin Mary’s icon through the town, accompanied by priests, dignitaries, and the Neapoli Town Band. The festivities, combining religious, sporting, and cultural events, make this a unique and vibrant two-day celebration.
The Traditional Strata is a music and dance event held by the Municipality of Chania on Tuesday evenings through the summer. The Traditional Strata gathers more than 1,500 dancers and musicians from over 20 traditional associations, from across Crete and other countries, who move through the narrow streets of Chania’s old town in traditional costume.
In 2026, the event runs on Tuesdays from June for several months, and August 11, 2026 is one of the listed dates. Each evening follows the same route through Chania Old Port and begins at 8:00 PM.
The Traditional Strata is a procession of music, dance, and song organized by the Municipality of Chania. The Traditional Strata represents the customs of Chania through costumes, instruments, and vocal performances from member associations, including groups from Crete and international regions.
The Strata takes place on Tuesday evenings from June for several months in 2026, and August 11, 2026 is one of the scheduled dates. The programme begins at 8:00 PM, so early evening is the time to arrive.
The procession follows one route through Chania Old Port each evening, in three stages. The main stages of the evening are listed below.
The harbour and squares of the old town fill with spectators on Strata evenings, and the surrounding tavernas make the event easy to combine with dinner. For more on the area and where to stay, see the guide to Chania.
The Traditional Strata is a traditional music and dance event organized by the Municipality of Chania. More than 1,500 performers from over 20 associations parade through the old town in costume.
The Strata runs on Tuesday evenings from June for several months in 2026, and August 11, 2026 is one of the listed dates. The evening programme starts at 8:00 PM.
The Strata takes place in Chania Old Port and the streets of the old town. It begins at the Neorio Moro Chania Sailing Club and ends at Cathedral Square by the Trimartiri Cathedral.
The Municipality of Chania organizes the Traditional Strata. Member associations from Crete and other countries take part.
More than 20 traditional associations take part, with over 1,500 dancers and musicians in total. The groups include performers from Crete and international regions.
Chaniartoon – International Comic & Animation Festival was started in 2017.
Since then the festival has been embraced by locals and by people from around the world with short animation entries from all corners of the globe. The animation films are viewed at the open air cinema of the Municipal Garden.
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