Rethymnon Beach

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Rethymnon Beach lies to the east of Rethymnon town in the central west of Crete in Greece.

This beautiful beach stretches for 13 km and is lined with hotels, apartments and resorts. There are plenty of tavernas, cafes and convenience stores here, and it is only a short walk to the old town of Rethymnon, along the pleasant esplanade of Sofokli Venizelou.

The waters are beautiful turquoise turning to deep indigo, as there are shallow areas for youngsters and deeper areas for adults. Various spots have life guards with towers.

With views across the bay to the old town with its small harbour and ruined Venetian Fortezza atop a small hill overlooking the Cretan sea, and the old lighthouse, this wide sandy beach is ideal for holidays combining sea and history, sun and cultural experiences, sand and Cretan cuisine.

Make no mistake, this is a busy town beach with umbrellas, showers, equipment and water sports. This is a very popular holiday destination, great for kids of all ages, perfect for families.

Rethymnon Beach Activities

Rent a jetski, banana boat ride, parasailing experience, water ski ride or 'crazy sofa' ride with Popeye Watersports at the marina on Sofokli Venizelou.

Lottie Watersports offers flyboard or hydroflights, boat and jet ski hire as well as cave boat trips by speed boat, leaving from the beach near the the marina on Sofokli Venizelou. You can also go nuts on the banana or sofa ride.

Go parasailing or kite surfing off this beach with Ikarus Watersports (bright parasail pictured above) based at Baja Beach Club, 12 Chiou St, Platanias, which also has pools, kids activities, water slides, a restaurant and bars. Rent gazebos or sun loungers in luxury.

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Accommodation  on
Rethymnon Beach

Palm Beach Apartments are located on Rethymnon Beach across the road from the beach. This family-run hotel has good quality rooms with lovely views, all beach equipment, and its own cafe-bar on the ground floor. From here stroll 1.5 km to the Old Town of Rethymnon easily and enjoy the historic and cultural centre of town. This hotel is 69 km from Chania Airport.

Sofokli Venizelou 66, Rethymnon

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Creta Palace on Rethymnon Beach

Creta Palace Resort is one of the best hotels on Crete, sitting on beachfront of this marvellous sandy beach, it offers quality five-star accommodation with 10 in-house restaurants, cafes, bars, 2 pools and a day spa. This hotel is 4 km from town. This resort is 71 km from Chania Airport.

Choose from bungalows or suites dotted about in the gardens or guestrooms in the central hotel. Relax as there are plenty of activities organised for the children. Visit the organic farm that grows the food for all the restaurants here - Agreco Farm - about 6 km inland - to see the whole growing process, be a farmer for a day, bake bread, pick vegetables and visit the animals at the petting zoo. Enjoy fresh traditional Cretan food at the farm taverna.

Missiria, Rethymno

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Exploring the Old Town

Enjoy the highlights of the Old Town of Rethymnon:

• The characteristic narrow streets
• The tightly packed little Old Venetian Harbour
• The tiny Rimondi Fountain on the north end of Petichaki Square
  
• The Venetian Loggia
• The ruins of the Venetian Fortezza
• The Porta Guora or Great Gate which formed the entrance to the old town
  
• The Minaret of the Nerantze Mosque
• The Historical and Folk Museum
• Take a walking tour of the historic town with local wine and food tasting
• Take a ride on an old pirate ship to hidden caves and beaches
  

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Day Trips Around the Region

Explore around the Rethymnon Region:

• Arkadi Monastery
• Margarites Village
• Preveli Monastery and Beach
• Plakias Beach
• Bali Beaches
• Agia Fotini Beach & Taverna
  

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Tavernas and Restaurants

Restaurants along the beach side:

Le Dome - traditional Greek food and great service

Seperi - modern Greek food, great for vegetarians

Petit Fleur - an experience with Mediterranean cuisine

The Living Room Cafe - a funky cafe-bar by the marina

Prassin Aloga - for Cretan cuisine and seafood on the walk into town

For beach bars you can relax at Baja, Copacabana, Bora Bora and Cactus.

In town you can't go past:

Lemonokipos - Greek food in a relaxed courtyard

Veneto - set in the atmospheric courtyard of a restored Venetian mansion, this is one of the best restaurants on the island

Avli - a bar, restaurant, enoteca, grocery store and suites show the modern creative flair of this historic location mixed with design nous

Mesostratis Taverna - a traditional taverna with live folk music

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Turtle Conservation

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Getting to Rethymnon Beach

This beach lies 1 km to the east of the town centre.  Arrive here via ferry or flight into either Chania or Heraklion, although Chania is slightly closer. Rethymnon town is 65 km from Chania and 82 km from Heraklion.

Then take a hire car or bus, see timetables below. The beach starts about 2 km from the bus station, therefore, depending upon where on the beachfront you need to get, it is best to get a taxi for under €10 to your destination.

See the location of this beach on this map:

Getting here by flights, ferries, bus and hire car below:

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Be a Pirate

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More about the Rethymnon region...

More beachside accommodation in the region...

More town guesthouses...

More Beaches in Crete...