Rethymno is the third largest city in the heart of Crete and the capital of the prefecture of Rethymno, the smallest county located on the west side of the island.

Rethymno is the best preserved Renaissance city in Crete, with mixed influences from Ottoman and Cretan architectural elements that rarely can be found anywhere else. The Loggia, the club of the nobility of Venice, the Neratze Mosque with its imposing minaret that today houses the modern Conservatory of the city, the Veli Pasha Mosque and the Kara Moussa Pasha Mosque, the church of Agios Frangiskos are fine examples of the city’s history.

At present, Rethymno is a modern city, internationally renowned as a tourist resort with all the necessary facilities that can satisfy all kinds of needs, such as banks, travel agencies, car rentals and all kinds of shops, many hotels, studios, furnished rooms-to-let and even smaller or larger apartments for long term rental. After the recent renovation of the city, bicycle lanes and paths for walking have been created, while during the summer months, the movement of vehicles from the afternoon until late in the evening is forbidden. The city-wheeled train and bicycles are an alternative way of touring in Rethymno.

On the west side of the city, the Venetian harbour and the lighthouse of Rethymno, which was added later by the Turks, are sights that can be visited combined with a walk, a dinner in one of the many fish taverns and coffee in one of the cafeterias along the harbour. The Megali Porta (Great Gate), one of the gates of the early Venetian fortifications and the entrance to the almost intact Old Town, is one of the major attractions of the city. Inside the quaint alleys more treasures are “hidden”, such as the Rimondi Fountain and all Fountains of the city, the church Kyria ton Aggelon (the Lady of the Angels), the Turkish School and others. The Municipal Garden and the Public Library of Rethymno complete the puzzle of this historic city.

Apart from architecture, Rethymno maintains its rich cultural tradition by holding the Renaissance Festival of Rethymno, the Treasure Hunt and the Rethymno Carnival, all of which have become institutions and major attractions not only in summer but throughout the year.